Newman, Andrew, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1823 at 23 Fairmont Street in Cambridgeport, this small wooden house was first occupied by Andrew Newman, a local rope-maker. It stands on land once owned by Peter Tufts. The building is a one-story, center-hall house with a massive central chimney, a form that differs from the standard Federal-period houses of its time. Its chimney and compact massing recall eighteenth-century structures, and it is described in the Late Georgian style. Only one other house of this type is known to survive in Cambridgeport, which makes the Newman house a rare example of this house form in the neighborhood. Records describe it as unaltered and still on its original site, and it continues to be used as a residence. It was recognized for its architectural interest, particularly its departure from the typical house design of the period, and for the survival of an early house type in an area that has largely changed.
Significance in brief: The house departs from the standard Federal-period house type, with a one-story center-hall plan and a massive central chimney that recall earlier eighteenth-century buildings. It is one of only two surviving houses of its type in Cambridgeport. The reviewer recommended listing under Criterion C for architecture.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 82001963, listed April 13, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 23 Fairmont St., Cambridge |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | April 13, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001963 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Late Georgian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Unaltered and unmoved; present use residential. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 42.36143, -71.11021 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 82001963.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4758116
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.