Swadkins, Thomas, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1882 at 160 Westminster Avenue, this small clapboard house sits at the top of a steep hillside in the Crescent Hill area of northwestern Arlington, Massachusetts. It is one of two heavily decorated small houses in the neighborhood. Its detailing reflects mid-19th century styles: the gable trusses are punched and decorated, and the porch rail and brackets are Gothic in feeling, while the window surrounds are Italianate. The architect is unknown. The house has no outbuildings, has not been moved, and has had no major alterations. It is still used as a residence. Crescent Hill was first developed in the 1870s by the Mechanics Cooperative Association, which offered favorable terms to encourage people of modest means to buy homesites. A neighborhood improvement association later grew out of that cooperative interest. The house was recognized for its architectural character and for retaining integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association.
Significance in brief: The house is one of two heavily decorated small houses in the Crescent Hill development. Its form and detailing show the influence of mid-19th century styles, combining Gothic-feeling ornament with Italianate window surrounds. It meets Criterion C.
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 85001048, listed April 18, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 160 Westminster Ave., Arlington |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | April 18, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85001048 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Italianate with Victorian Gothic elements |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residential; no major alterations and not moved. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.43016, -71.18642 (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 85001048.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7794290
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.