Wyeth, John, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1841 for John Wyeth, a merchant engaged in the West India and other foreign trade, this wood-frame house is the earliest documented example of domestic Greek Revival architecture in Northwest Cambridge. It originally stood at 609 Mount Auburn Street, opposite the Mount Auburn Cemetery gate, and was considered large and commodious for its time. Its most prominent feature is a colonnaded portico with fluted columns and Ionic capitals that had been mass-produced, while the end gables are treated as classical pediments with heavy moulding. In 1922-23 development pressure on Mount Auburn Street forced the house to be moved around the corner to Aberdeen Avenue, where it still serves as a residence. Without the move it would likely have been demolished. Apart from the addition of artificial siding, the building remains wholly intact, and its architectural quality and historical associations outweigh the effect of relocation.
Significance in brief: It is described as the earliest documented example of domestic Greek Revival architecture in Northwest Cambridge. Its colonnaded portico with fluted columns and Ionic capitals, and its pedimented end gables, convey the style. Despite the move, it is largely intact apart from artificial siding, and the move saved it from demolition.
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 82001988, listed April 13, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 56 Aberdeen Ave., Cambridge |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | April 13, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001988 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Residential use; moved in 1922-23 and altered only by the addition of artificial siding. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 42.37660, -71.14691 (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 82001988.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6265017
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.