Orrock, Rev. John, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1871, this two-story cottage at 68 Winchester Street in Brookline was the home of Reverend John M. Orrock, editor of the Advent Herald, a weekly religious newspaper published in Boston by the American Millennial Association. He lived here for more than thirty years. The house is much smaller than the other Mansard-style homes on the street, yet its features look ahead to later houses of the type: a tall mansard roof with a near-hip roof above it, three round-headed windows in each bay, arched dormers with pilasters, paired brackets under the cornice, a paneled frieze board, two-story bays and a side-hall entrance. Bevel siding and panels add varied textures that point toward the Queen Anne style, while the brackets are holdovers from the Italianate. It was judged a rare example of a late, elaborate Mansard cottage. In 1984 the building was moved forward on its lot to make room for a seven-story apartment block behind it.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a rare example of a late, elaborate Mansard-style cottage, meeting criterion C. Its mansard-with-hip roof, animated facade, varied textures and panels anticipate the Queen Anne style. Its Italianate-derived brackets are typical of vernacular Mansard houses on the street.
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 85003304, listed October 17, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 64 Winchester St. (formerly 68), Brookline |
|---|---|
| County | Norfolk County |
| Listed | October 17, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85003304 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Mansard |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Communications, Religion |
| Level of significance | National, State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a residence; moved forward on its lot in 1984, when a seven-story apartment block (non-contributing) was built at the rear of the lot. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.34251, -71.13033 (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 85003304.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7317681
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.