Old Cambridgport Historic District
Why it's listed
Old Cambridgeport is a small residential district of about 4.3 acres in Cambridge, Massachusetts, around Washington, Cherry and Harvard Streets. It marks the first development north of Massachusetts Avenue in Cambridgeport. In 1805-06 Andrew Boardman sold generous one-hundred-foot-square house lots here, though growth stayed sparse because the Broad Canal venture failed after the Embargo of 1807. Several Federal houses survive in moderately good condition, among them the 1807 Margaret Fuller house, described as exceptional in architectural and historical importance. A number of Greek Revival houses add to the mix. The 1805 Samuel P. P. Fay House, built by housewright Amos Ramsdell, recalls a probate judge and civic leader who protested the Embargo Act. Other homes belonged to the Reverend Thomas Wittemore and historian Lucius Paige. The neighborhood remains private, residential and in good to excellent condition, preserving an early, prosperous, conservative community.
Significance in brief: The area was the first development north of Massachusetts Avenue in Cambridgeport and holds some of the oldest surviving houses in that part of the city. It includes Federal houses, notably the 1807 Margaret Fuller house, and several Greek Revival houses. It was a prosperous, conservative neighborhood home to substantial citizens.
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 83000820, listed June 30, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Cherry, Harvard and Washington Sts., Cambridge |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | June 30, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83000820 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1805-1850 |
| Architect / builder | Amos Ramsdell, housewright (Samuel P. P. Fay House) |
| Architectural style | Federal and Greek Revival; mixed styles |
| Areas of significance | Literature, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Area survey describes condition as good to excellent and use as residential, with private ownership. |
| Acreage | 4.3 |
| Coordinates | 42.36582, -71.09675 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 83000820.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7083579
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.