Symmes, Stephen, Jr., House
Why it's listed
Located at 215 Crosby Street in northern Arlington, this clapboard house was built in 1841 in the Greek Revival style, though local tradition gives a construction date of 1746 and some fragments of an earlier structure may survive. Its full pediment, one-story Doric porch and wide corner pilasters make it probably the grandest Greek Revival house in the area. The building is well preserved. Chimneys, fireplaces and a new interior plan were added around 1900. The house is also tied to local charity. Stephen Symmes Jr. died in 1901 and left his farm to the town for a hospital site. Town officials sold the house to the Fairchild family instead, and the money from that sale paid for the hospital, which was built on its present site. The property was recognized for its architecture and for its link to the earliest benefactor of Symmes Hospital. It remains a private residence on less than one acre.
Significance in brief: The house is a well-preserved example of Greek Revival style, probably the grandest of that style in the area, with a full pediment, a one-story Doric porch and wide corner pilasters. It is also associated with Stephen Symmes Jr., the earliest benefactor of Symmes Hospital, whose farm was donated to the town in 1901.
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 85001049, listed April 18, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 215 Crosby St., Arlington |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | April 18, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85001049 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residence; the form describes the house as well preserved with integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.43029, -71.15579 (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 85001049.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7610629
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.