Taylor Square Firehouse
Why it's listed
Taylor Square Firehouse, at 113 Garden Street in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is a brick fire station designed in 1904 by Charles Greco, a prolific local architect whose other area work includes the Main Post Office (1932) and many residences and schools. The building sits on a triangular lot and follows a functional, standard plan, but its decoration draws on several exotic styles. A tower and a boldly projecting cornice carry large scalloped wooden brackets, which the form relates somewhat to the California Bungalow style. Patterned brickwork enlivens the parapet, and Neo-Moorish arches mark the engine bays. It is one of six firehouses built within a few years of one another at the turn of the twentieth century, each by a different architect. The station was judged the most accomplished of these, which is why it alone was put forward for listing. It was built for the City of Cambridge, which still owns it, and it remains a firehouse. The form records no alterations.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as an architecturally notable firehouse combining elements of several exotic styles within a standard plan. It is one of six firehouses built around the turn of the century by different architects, and it is judged the most accomplished of the group. Only this station was nominated for that reason.
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 82001979, listed April 13, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 113 Garden St., Cambridge |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | April 13, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001979 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Charles Greco |
| Architectural style | neo-Moorish |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as a firehouse in present use; owned by the City of Cambridge. The form records no alterations and no move. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 42.38412, -71.12992 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 82001979.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7690135
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.