Prentiss-Payson House
Why it's listed
Built in 1856 at 224-226 Pleasant Street in Arlington, this frame house sits close to the street, and its rear overlooks Spy Pond. It has a large main block and a small rear addition, with clapboard walls. The gable roof has return eaves and the windows have enframements, which are Italianate in feeling. The main entrance, with a full transom beneath an unbroken pediment, reflects Greek Revival influence. Dormers and upper-story window enframements were added around 1880. The first occupants were a Miss Prentiss and a Miss Payson, who moved from Charlestown. Later the home of Payson Prentiss, he served as organist at the First Parish Church and the Universalist Church, taught music, and was commodore of the original Arlington Boat Club on Spy Pond. The western shore of the pond was a center of seasonal recreation in the later 19th century. The house was listed for its architecture, as a typical mid-19th century suburban residence along Pleasant Street that retains its integrity.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is typical of the mid-19th century suburban residences built along Pleasant Street. It combines Italianate and Greek Revival features and retains integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association. It also has ties to Payson Prentiss, a local organist, music teacher and commodore of the original Arlington Boat Club on Spy Pond.
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 85001040, listed April 18, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 224--226 Pleasant St., Arlington |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | April 18, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85001040 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival/Italianate with later 19th century modifications |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residential, the same as its original use. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.40694, -71.16155 (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 85001040.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7240566
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.