River Street Firehouse
Why it's listed
Built in 1890 at 176 River Street in Cambridge, this brick firehouse was constructed for the City of Cambridge and still serves as a firehouse. It was designed in the Queen Anne style by George Fogerty, who worked with his father, James Fogerty, in a busy Cambridge architectural practice whose commissions included firehouses, schools and public buildings. The building follows the standard late nineteenth century firehouse form: two stories high and two bays wide, with an attached tower used for drying hoses and housing a bell. Short corner towers flank the two-bay facade, and a triple arched window is set against a background of herringbone brick work. The survey records no alterations and no move. Reviewers accepted the firehouse as a nicely designed example of its type that remains in its original function and survives from its period, which supported its inclusion in the Cambridge listings of 1982.
Significance in brief: The building is presented as a typical late nineteenth century firehouse: two stories, two bays wide, with an attached hose drying and bell tower. It was designed in the Queen Anne style by George Fogerty, a member of a prolific Cambridge family of architects. A reviewer accepted it as a well-designed firehouse that remains in its original use and survives from its period.
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 82001973, listed April 13, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 176 River St., Cambridge |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | April 13, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001973 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | George Fogerty |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a firehouse, its original use; the form records no alterations and no move. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 42.36324, -71.11002 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 82001973.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7337835
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.