Symmes, Marshall, Tenant House
Why it's listed
Built in the 1870s at 233 Main Street in Winchester, this Italianate house was erected as a rental property on the estate of Marshall Symmes, a blacksmith who lived to age 100. It is a three-bay, gable-roofed building with a slate roof, broad eaves, and a center entrance under a flat-roofed porch with square columns. Two-over-two windows have bracketed lintels and sills, and a polygonal bay rises on the south side. The paired cornice brackets have been lost, though their outlines remain visible. A gabled ell and a two-bay barn stand at the rear. The house is one of four associated with the Symmes family near Symmes Corner, directly across from Symmes's own residence. The family descends from Reverend Zachariah Symmes, who received a land grant of about 300 acres there before 1650, and his sons began farming it soon afterward. The house was listed for its link to this early settler family.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant under Criterion A for its association with the Symmes family, among Winchester's first settlers and prominent in local affairs throughout the town's history. It is one of four houses tied to the family near Symmes Corner on Main Street. It is also a conservative example of Italianate design.
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 89000637, listed July 5, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 233 Main St., Winchester |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | July 5, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89000637 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Italianate (Bracketed) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition described as excellent; present use is as a dwelling. |
| Acreage | 0.6 |
| Coordinates | 42.44318, -71.13581 (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 89000637.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6773797
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.