Nichols, John F., House
Why it's listed
This house at 17 Summit Street in West Somerville was built around 1890 in the Queen Anne style. Its architect is unknown. It has clapboard and shingle walls, a prominent corner oriel or bay, shingled gables, and jigsawed trusswork in the gable ends. The full front porch has turned posts and a jigsawed frieze board. The decorative detailing is well preserved, and the house has had no major alterations. It sits in a residential neighborhood of late-19th-century dwellings near College Avenue and Powder House. The house belongs to the former William Russell estate north of Davis Square, one of the last large tracts subdivided in West Somerville, with about ninety lots platted around 1880. John Nichols is recorded as owner in 1895, though his occupation could not be traced; he was likely a local merchant or businessman, like many early owners there. The subdivision's stylish homes have a suburban character, unlike the earlier workers' houses nearby. The house was listed for its architectural quality.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a well-preserved, finely detailed example of Queen Anne architecture, representing the houses built in the Williams Russell Farm subdivision between 1886 and 1900. It meets Criterion C at the local level and retains integrity of location, design, materials, workmanship and association.
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 89001285, listed September 18, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 17 Summit St., Somerville |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | September 18, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89001285 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Recorded in excellent condition with no major alterations and not moved; used as a residence. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.39999, -71.11952 (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 89001285.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6232484
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.