Dogget, Solon, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1872 by Henry G. Pratt, this one-and-a-half story house at 50 Union Street in Quincy is the most elaborate dwelling on its street, set on a corner lot among modest late 19th and early 20th century homes. Its Second Empire character shows in a mansard roof carried on brackets and broken by dormers. Details from other picturesque styles add variety: patterned shingles below the windows on clapboard walls, Stick Style brackets supporting the door hoods, and stick-work at the base of the bay window. Two Queen Anne porches, added in the 1880s, have turned posts, spindle friezes, corner brackets and raised panels showing a radiating sun. Part of the east roof appears to have supported a tower. Pratt sold the house the same year to Solon Dogget, a Quincy artist and author of several books of poetry. Later owners included a leather goods manufacturer's proprietor and his company president. The house is recognized as a locally significant example of vernacular Second Empire design.
Significance in brief: The house is argued to be an elaborately detailed example of a vernacular version of the Second Empire style, meeting Criterion C at the local level. It retains integrity of design, location, materials, feeling, association and workmanship. It is the most elaborate house on Union Street, and it was sold in 1872 to Solon Dogget, a Quincy artist and poet.
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 89001379, listed September 20, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 50 Union St., Quincy |
|---|---|
| County | Norfolk County |
| Listed | September 20, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89001379 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Henry G. Pratt (builder); architect unknown |
| Architectural style | Second Empire |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition described as good; in use as a single family dwelling; not moved. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 42.24900, -70.99724 (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 89001379.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7558813
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.