Withey, S. B., House
Why it's listed
Built in 1855-1856 at 10 Appian Way in Cambridge, this wood-frame house is a late example of Greek Revival design. It rises three stories and has a long rear ell. Its proportions are lighter than those of earlier Greek Revival houses, with relatively narrow cornice and corner boards and a street-front gable that is not a full pediment. The recessed doorway has traditional sidelights, though the door has octagonal panels and the entablature above is cut in a Tudor arch. Windows follow the familiar six-over-six pattern. Appian Way was laid out in 1810, and the street is now lined with modern brick institutional buildings such as Larsen Hall and Gutman Library. Against that setting, the Withey House is the last frame house on the street and the only one on its original site. It was recognized for its link to vernacular housing development on lower Brattle Street and as one of the few surviving Greek Revival houses of that kind there. Records show no major alterations and no move.
Significance in brief: It is the last remaining frame house on Appian Way and the only house still on its original site. It is one of the few surviving examples of vernacular Greek Revival housing on lower Brattle Street, and it gives an idea of the area's early residential character. It is argued to meet Criteria A and 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 86001318, listed May 19, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 10 Appian Way, Cambridge |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | May 19, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86001318 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | S.B. Withey/builder |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residential; the form lists no major alterations and says the house has not been moved. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 42.37527, -71.12184 (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 86001318.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7387385
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.