White, S. B., House
Why it's listed
Built around 1850 at 8 Stevens Street in Winchester, this small Gothic Revival cottage is a 1 1/2 story wood-frame dwelling clad in clapboards. A steeply pitched gable roof with a central cross gable covers the house, and icicle-like vergeboards and pronounced label moldings over the windows give it a decorative character. Although the cross gable suggests a symmetrical front, the three-bay facade has a sidehall layout with the entry in the northern bay, framed by sidelights and fronted by a gabled porch added in the late 19th century. Samuel B. White, Jr. built the house and owned it until about 1875, when he built a larger house nearby. White helped found the Congregational Church and served as the town's first treasurer after incorporation in 1850. The house was listed for its architecture: it is considered one of the most advanced examples of Gothic Revival design in a town with many examples of this uncommon style, and it retains a high degree of integrity.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is an exceptionally well designed and preserved example of Gothic Revival style, with icicle-like vergeboards, steep gable roofs and label moldings over the windows. It is described as one of the most advanced examples of this rare style in a town known for many such buildings. It meets criterion C.
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 89000622, listed July 5, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 8 Stevens St., Winchester |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | July 5, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89000622 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Samuel B. White, Jr. (builder; architect unknown) |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is a dwelling; condition is described as excellent. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 42.45345, -71.13044 (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 89000622.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7387384
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.