Robinson House
Why it's listed
Located at 19 Winter Street in Arlington, this mid-19th century house was originally owned by the Robinson family and remains a dwelling today. Its Greek Revival character is evident in full-length windows, a pedimented front gable and a colonnaded porch that wraps around two sides. Aluminum siding covers the exterior, but the form still reads clearly as a fine example of the style. The house has a near-identical neighbor at 13 Winter Street, the W.W. Kimball House. Together with the open land between them and mature pear, copper beech and silver maple trees, the two form a distinguished ensemble. Both were probably built on speculation. Regular train service from Boston through Arlington began in 1846, and development along Massachusetts Avenue increased afterward. The house was listed for its link to Arlington's early suburban growth and for its architecture, and it retains integrity of location, design, setting, workmanship, feeling and association.
Significance in brief: The house is a fine example of the Greek Revival style, with full-length windows, a pedimented front gable and a wraparound colonnaded porch. It forms a distinguished ensemble with its stylistic twin at 13 Winter Street, the open land between them and old trees. It also reflects Arlington's early suburban development after train service began in 1846.
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 85001044, listed April 18, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 19 Winter St., Arlington |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | April 18, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85001044 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is a dwelling; it has aluminum siding, no outbuildings, no major alterations recorded, and has not been moved. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.40698, -71.14065 (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 85001044.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7353030
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.