Upper Magazine Street Historic District
Why it's listed
Magazine Street in Cambridgeport runs from Central Square toward the site of the old powder magazine on the river. This district covers the upper stretch, where fine residences appeared early and mansions for local businessmen were built shortly before the Civil War. Later churches, apartments and houses added further layers. William Street is notable for Greek Revival houses with full-width porticos, built between 1835 and 1860, a rare grouping in the area. Key buildings include Pilgrim Congregational Church (1871), designed by Thomas W. Silloway, and Grace Methodist Church (1886), a Queen Anne design by Franklin E. Kidder. Other landmarks are the Mansard-style Joseph Hinman House (1875), the Brewer-Pulsifer House (1852), which blends Greek Revival and Italianate features, and the Bracketed Italianate Edward Hixon House (1857). The boundaries were drawn to include properties that contribute to the partly preserved nineteenth century streetscape, and the area remains in good condition.
Significance in brief: The district preserves part of a nineteenth century streetscape that peaked as a fashionable residential street shortly before the Civil War. It includes Greek Revival, Italianate, Mansard and Queen Anne buildings, including two notable churches by known architects. The reviewer recommended listing under Criterion C as a significant concentration for Cambridgeport.
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 82001981, listed April 13, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Cottage, Magazine, William and Perry Sts., Cambridge |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | April 13, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001981 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1830-1885 |
| Architect / builder | Thomas W. Silloway (Pilgrim Congregational Church); Franklin E. Kidder (Grace Methodist Church) |
| Architectural style | Mixed: Queen Anne, Federal, Mansard, Italianate, Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition, with mixed church-related and private residential use. |
| Acreage | 5.3 |
| Coordinates | 42.36331, -71.10638 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 82001981.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7898761
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.