Three brick and brownstone rowhouses from 1860, among the earliest surviving examples of their type in Cambridge.
At a glance
The Urban Rowhouse is a historic residential block at 26–32 River Street in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Built in 1860 by Frederick Clapp, it is among the city’s earliest surviving rowhouses. The three units combine brick and brownstone masonry with wood trim treated to resemble brownstone.
History
Frederick Clapp built the rowhouses in 1860. They survive as early examples of a building type then emerging in the Boston area. Their design bears some resemblance to rowhouses constructed at the same time in Boston’s South End. The property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.
What you see
The block presents a mix of materials. Brick and brownstone carry the main walls. Some trim is made of wood that has been treated to look like brownstone, a practical gesture toward economy. The overall composition echoes the rowhouses rising across the river in Boston’s South End.
Cultural significance
As one of the earliest surviving rowhouses in Cambridge, the Urban Rowhouse documents a shift in the city’s residential fabric. It shows how builders adapted popular Boston housing forms to Cambridge streets. The National Register listing in 1983 recognizes that local significance.
Key facts
- Country: United States
- City: Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Coordinates: 42.3647, -71.1059
- National Register of Historic Places: 1983
Practical information & getting there
The rowhouses stand at 26–32 River Street in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The site is a private residential address.
Sources & resources
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