Simonds, William, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1877 by William and Mary R. Simonds, this two-story wood-frame house at 420 Main Street in Winchester is a well-preserved example of the Mansard style. A bell-cast mansard roof of patterned slate crowns a symmetrical three-bay facade. Polygonal bays flank a glazed double-leaf entry and are linked by a one-story porch. Pedimented windows, matching dormers, corner pilasters and elaborate paired brackets under the overhanging eaves add to the ornamentation. Vinyl siding was applied around 1980 without removing the wooden trim. The house also shows how southern Main Street developed as a fashionable residential area in the 19th century. It stayed in the Simonds family for generations. After Mary Simonds died in 1915, it passed to her daughter Cora Simonds Morgan, who had earlier run a millinery shop there, and her husband, who lived in it until 1954. The house remains a dwelling in excellent condition.
Significance in brief: The house is a fine academic example of the Mansard style, with a symmetrical three-bay facade, a bell-cast mansard roof of patterned slate, elaborate paired brackets and lavish wooden ornamentation. It also reflects the continuing development of southern Main Street as a fashionable 19th-century residential area.
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 89000640, listed July 5, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 418-420 Main St., Winchester |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | July 5, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89000640 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Mansard |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition described as excellent; still used as a dwelling. The only alteration is vinyl siding added around 1980 without removing the wooden trim. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 42.44887, -71.13479 (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 89000640.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8018452
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.