Swan, Henry, House
Also known as: #519
Why it's listed
Built in 1888 at 418 Massachusetts Avenue in Arlington, this Queen Anne/Shingle Style house was the home of Henry Swan, a member of an old Arlington family. Swan sold poultry and wild game at Faneuil Hall Market in Boston and served the town as a selectman and school committee member. The house has an open veranda along the front and side, a polygonal corner tower, and lion-headed console supports beneath the second story on the east side. Inside, beveled and stained glass windows, Italian tile fireplaces, and mahogany paneled doors and woodwork remain in excellent condition. It has been used as a funeral home since at least 1916, and a single-story stucco addition was added on the west side in the early 1930s. It was listed as a well-preserved example of the late 19th century mansions along Massachusetts Avenue and as a marker of Arlington's suburban growth. It sat close to public transportation routes.
Significance in brief: The house is presented as an exceptionally handsome example of the late 19th century mansions that once lined Massachusetts Avenue in North Cambridge and Arlington. It retains most of its original interior and exterior detail. It also reflects the growing sophistication and suburbanization of Arlington's residents and is tied to Henry Swan, a local merchant and town official.
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 85002688, listed September 27, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 418 Massachusetts Ave., Arlington |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | September 27, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85002688 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; built by Henry Swan (original owner) |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne/Shingle Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a funeral home since as early as 1916; original detail largely preserved, with a single-story stucco addition from the early 1930s. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Arlington Center Historic District (Boundary Increase) |
| Coordinates | 42.41364, -71.15036 (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 85002688.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5728891
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.