Skillings Estate House
Why it's listed
Built in 1880 at 37 Rangeley Road in Winchester, this 2½-story house combines Queen Anne and Shingle style details. David Skillings, a lumber entrepreneur from Maine, had developed a walled residential park west of the railroad tracks, and he began the house as a rental on the grounds of his estate, Rangeley. He died as construction started, and his children completed and leased it. George D. Rand designed it. The walls are mostly brick, with patterned shingles on the upper stories, and a slate gable roof covers the house. The asymmetrical facade is dominated by a projecting cross gable carried on shingled brackets and arches, with a carved floral panel between windows and a partly glazed verandah below. The house represents the grander suburban homes of late 19th-century Winchester and is recognized for its architectural quality and its role in the Rangeley development. It remains a dwelling in excellent condition.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant for the high quality of its Queen Anne and Shingle style design, including its mix of brick and patterned shingles, a carved floral panel, and a gable carried on shingled arches. It also represents Winchester's growing stature as a fashionable suburb, here the exclusive Rangeley Estates.
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 89000645, listed July 5, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 37 Rangeley Rd., Winchester |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | July 5, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89000645 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | George D. Rand (architect); built by David N. Skillings |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne/Shingle style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as in excellent condition and used as a dwelling; a sunporch was added to the east elevation, probably in the 1920s. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 42.44822, -71.14096 (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 89000645.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7535220
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.