Wayside Inn
Also known as: #516
Why it's listed
Located at 393 Massachusetts Avenue at the edge of Arlington's Central Business District, this clapboard house dates from before 1750 and was originally a residence. It has a half-house floor plan that is unusual for Georgian-period homes, and a substantial third-floor overhang on its right side. Around 1860 a side ell and front porch were added, and the Greek Revival details of the porches remain well preserved. The Cutter family, among the area's first settlers, owned it in the 18th century, followed by the Whittemore family in the early 19th century. Phillip Whittemore also owned the Whittemore Hotel, so the house may have served as a stagecoach stop or hotel, though the name Wayside Inn appears in local documents only in the early 20th century, when it was a private dwelling. Hardware merchant Ralph W. Shattuck later lived here and kept his store next door. It is valued as one of Arlington's few pre-Revolutionary survivors and for its Georgian and Greek Revival character.
Significance in brief: It is one of Arlington's few remaining pre-Revolutionary structures and a fine example of Georgian architecture with Greek Revival additions. It is also associated with 19th century Arlington through the Cutter, Whittemore and Shattuck families. The form says it may have served as a stagecoach stop or hotel.
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 85002690, listed September 27, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 393 Massachusetts Ave., Arlington |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | September 27, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85002690 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Vernacular Georgian, with Greek Revival details |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in a fine state of preservation; present use is commercial. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.41294, -71.14912 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 85002690.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7976877
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.