Sands, Hiram, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1848 at 22 Putnam Avenue in Cambridgeport, this two-story brick house was home to Hiram Sands, a member of a prominent Cambridge brickmaking family who ran a brickyard nearby. It is the second of three brick Sands family homes put up in Cambridge in the mid-nineteenth century. The design blends Greek Revival massing and pedimented window lintels with Italianate features, including widely projecting eaves on paired brackets, a bracketed front portico and an irregular L-shaped plan. The front and side walls use dense pressed brick, likely made in the family's yards across the street. Carpenter Levi Perkins was probably the builder. Hiram Sands lost the property to a mortgage holder in 1854, and it stayed a single-family home until 1975. Its original appearance survives to a remarkable degree. It is regarded as the most significant building in the Putnam Avenue area and one of the few reminders of Cambridge's brick industry.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant for its link to Cambridge's brickmaking industry and as one of the most outstanding architectural examples in Cambridgeport. It combines Greek Revival and Italianate elements and is an unusually elaborate mid-nineteenth century craftsman's residence. It is also one of the few remnants of the city's brick industry, which ended in 1952.
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 76000238, listed April 30, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 22 Putnam Ave., Cambridge |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | April 30, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76000238 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | possibly Levi Perkins |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival and Italianate (Bracketed) |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as in excellent condition and occupied; it remained a single-family residence until 1975, when it became a rehabilitation institution. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 42.36930, -71.11338 (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 76000238.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q12060167
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.