Niles, Louville, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1890 at 45 Walnut Street on Prospect Hill in Somerville, this clapboard house was designed in the Queen Anne style by Edwin K. Blaikie, who trained at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Notable features include a conical tower with a copper finial, half-timbered gables, asymmetrical massing, a mix of patterned shingles and clapboard, and a small oriel window in the front gable. It remains in excellent condition with no major alterations, and it is still used as a residence. The house was built for Louville Niles, a Boston provisioner born in Maine in 1839 who joined his brothers in the firm Niles Brothers. He moved to Somerville in 1882, bought the Bradshaw estate, and later developed real estate in the Prospect Hill area. His house was one of the last prestigious single-family homes built on the hill and reflects the Boston merchants who commuted from Somerville by public transportation.
Significance in brief: The house is described as one of the most stylish and best-preserved examples of Queen Anne architecture in Somerville. It is also associated with Louville Niles, a Boston provisioner and Somerville real estate developer who typified the middle-class resident/entrepreneur of the late 19th century.
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 89001295, listed September 18, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 45 Walnut St., Somerville |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | September 18, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89001295 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Edwin K. Blaikie (architect) |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residence; condition is stated as excellent with no major alterations and no outbuildings. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.38314, -71.09526 (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 89001295.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6689889
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.