Russell, Jason House
Why it's listed
Built about 1740 by farmer Jason Russell, this two-story clapboard farmhouse on Jason Street in Arlington began as a two-room half house. About 1750 Russell doubled it to a full five-bay house with a central door, stair and chimney. Later additions include a small porch around 1814, a lean-to around 1850 and a large two-story ell around 1863. On April 19, 1775, the house stood beside the route of British troops returning from Lexington and Concord. Russell and eleven Minutemen died there when a British flanking party surprised them, and bullet holes remain in the woodwork. Minutemen also sheltered in the cellar. The Arlington Historical Society acquired the building in 1923 and restored it the next year. The kitchen retains a large fireplace and a whitewashed ceiling with sponge-painted spots, considered the earliest form of interior painting in New England. Furnished with period pieces, the house serves as a museum and teaching site open to visitors.
Significance in brief: The house is tied to the opening fighting of the American Revolution on April 19, 1775, when Jason Russell and eleven Minutemen were killed there by a British flanking party. It is also a well-preserved example of the home of a well-to-do mid-18th century Massachusetts farmer, and one of only two Revolutionary-period houses left in Arlington.
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 74000363, listed October 9, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 7 Jason St., Arlington |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | October 9, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74000363 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 18th Century (specific dates 1740, 1775) |
| Architect / builder | Jason Russell (builder) |
| Architectural style | 18th century Massachusetts farmhouse |
| Areas of significance | Military, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Excellent condition; used as Arlington Historical Society headquarters and museum, open to the public at stated times without admission charge, with a resident caretaker in the rear ell. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Arlington Center Historic District (Boundary Increase) |
| Coordinates | 42.41601, -71.15846 (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 74000363.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6163398
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.