Soule, Lawrence, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1879 at 11 Russell Street in North Cambridge, this two-and-one-half story brick house was designed by architect Frank Maynard Howe for Lawrence Porter Soule, a local mason and builder. Its hip roof is complicated by cross-gables and irregularly placed chimneys, and the walls show a rich surface texture of varied brick patterns. The style is Queen Anne, with overtones of the Stick Style and Panel Brick style. The design was published in American Architect & Building News in 1879, during Howe's partnership with Van Brunt, and is a rare documented example of his early independent work. Architect-designed houses in North Cambridge are rare, and the form calls this one of the finest brick Queen Anne residences in the city. Soule belonged to the group of entrepreneurs and craftsmen who transformed the area from farmland to affluent suburb. The house has remained residential and is recorded as unaltered and unmoved.
Significance in brief: The house is described as one of the finest brick Queen Anne residences in Cambridge, with complex massing, rich textural variety and fine craftsmanship. It is a rare documented example of Howe's early independent work, and architect-designed houses in North Cambridge are uncommon. Its original owner, a mason and builder, represents the craftsmen who turned North Cambridge from farmland into an affluent suburb.
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 82001978, listed April 13, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 11 Russell St., Cambridge |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | April 13, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001978 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Frank Maynard Howe (architect); Lawrence Soule (original owner, mason and builder) |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne, with overtones of Stick Style and Panel Brick style |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Residential use; not altered and not moved according to the survey form. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 42.39253, -71.12315 (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 82001978.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q152914
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.