Russell, Charles, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1841 by Charles Russell, this house at 993 Main Street in Winchester is a two-and-one-half story Greek Revival dwelling with a rectangular plan and rear ell. Its five-bay facade is symmetrical, with a center entrance framed by transom and sidelights beneath a one-story Ionic porch with fluted columns. Wide corner pilasters, a wide entablature and a moderate-pitch gable roof are other typical Greek Revival features. The exterior has been covered in asbestos shingles, though clapboards remain visible at the rear. The house replaced the earlier Thomas Belknap House, which at times served as a tavern and briefly held the Woburn grammar school in 1728. Nearby, the Belknap family operated one of Winchester's three oldest mill privileges. After Russell died in 1851, his widow Elizabeth and son James inherited the house. James served on the School Committee, as an Assessor and as a Selectman from 1887 to 1892. The house was listed for this association and its architecture.
Significance in brief: The form cites associations with James Russell, who was active in Winchester affairs in the late nineteenth century, and the house's value as an important local example of Greek Revival architecture. It meets Criteria B and C. The site also carries earlier history tied to the Belknap family, a tavern and a mill.
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 89000617, listed July 5, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 993 Main St., Winchester |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | July 5, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89000617 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Charles Russell (builder); architect unknown |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as good; present use is a dwelling, as is the original use. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 42.46444, -71.14480 (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 89000617.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5082225
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.