Fields Corner Municipal Building
Why it's listed
Built in 1874 at the corner of Adams and Arcadia Streets in Dorchester, this H-shaped brick building has gabled wings, limestone trim, pointed arch windows, parapeted dormers, a slate roof and a cupola with its original weathervane. A cast iron fence follows the lot and climbs the stairs to the entrance. It is most probably the work of George A. Clough, who became Boston's first City Architect in 1873, although the building records no longer exist. The building replaced the old District 11 Police Station on Hancock Street. The eastern wing held the new station, with jail cells still in the basement, and the rear wing housed the Dorchester branch of the Boston Public Library, part of the first branch library system in the United States. It also served for a time as a district court. It was listed for its High Victorian Gothic design, which is unique in the Dorchester area, and for its civic role in the neighborhood.
Significance in brief: It is presented as a fine and unique example of High Victorian Gothic architecture in the Dorchester area and as work of Boston's first City Architect. It is also significant for its role in Dorchester's civic and community development, housing a police station and a branch library.
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 81000620, listed November 12, 1981. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1 Arcadia St., 195 Adams St., Boston |
|---|---|
| County | Suffolk County |
| Listed | November 12, 1981 |
| Reference number | 81000620 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1874-1875 |
| Architect / builder | George A. Clough (?) |
| Architectural style | High Victorian Gothic |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as unoccupied and vacant, in fair condition and unaltered; the City of Boston sees its preservation as key to revitalizing Fields Corner. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 42.30210, -71.06018 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 81000620.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5447199
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.