Prescott, Gustavus G., House
Why it's listed
Built about 1840-1850 at 65-67 Perkins Street in East Somerville, this clapboard house is an early example of Greek Revival design in a vernacular form. It follows a traditional five-bay center hall plan, is two bays deep, and has a series of rear ells added in stages. Its most prominent feature is a colonnaded wrap-around portico with fluted Doric columns. Other details include flushboarding on the lower story, wide eaves, some surviving 6/6 movable sash windows, and full-length windows across the first-floor facade with the lower portions of exterior blinds still in place. Inside, gilded anthemion motifs on the lintels, high baseboards, plaster ceiling medallions and an ornate staircase survive. Gustavus Prescott, a Charlestown merchant, is the associated owner. Local tradition holds that it was built as a small inn, as was its twin at 69-71 Perkins Street. The two were known as The Ivaloo and The Hawthorne. It was listed for its architectural value and its good integrity.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a rare, well-preserved example of early domestic Greek Revival architecture in East Somerville, built on a traditional five-bay center hall plan. It cites the colonnaded wrap-around portico with fluted Doric columns and the retained interior features. It also notes that it keeps integrity of location, design, materials, workmanship, feeling 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 89001278, listed September 18, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 65--67 Perkins St., Somerville |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | September 18, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89001278 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residence; condition listed as excellent; some original 6/6 sash replaced with 2/2. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.38434, -71.07878 (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 89001278.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5621550
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.