National Register of Historic Places

Orvis Road Historic District

Arlington, Middlesex County, Massachusetts
Listed
September 26, 1985
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
85002677

About this property

The Orvis Road Historic District is a residential historic district in eastern Arlington, Massachusetts. Built as a planned development between 1918 and 1930, Orvis Road contains a well-preserved collection of single and double-family houses of the period, as well its distinctive landscaping, which includes a grassy median not found in Arlington's other planned subdivisions. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. Orvis Road is located in eastern Arlington, west of Lake Street and south of Massachusetts Avenue, major collector roadways in the area. Prior to subdivision, the land was part of the market garden farmland of John Squire. Development pressures in the early 20th century prompted many garden farmers to sell their land. Squire's land was attractively sited, with ready access to public transit and the road network. Orvis Road runs north–south between Massachusetts Avenue and Brooks Avenue, with a small circle just south of the latter. The road consists of two one-way sections, divided by a wide grassy median planted with trees and shrubs. The houses that line it are typically wood-frame structures, between 1-1/2 and 2+1⁄2 stories in height, some of which have been finished in stucco. Most of them are stylistically representative of the Colonial Revival of the Craftsman/Bungalow movement. Many of the properties have c. 1920s garages, indicating the growing importance of the automobile to local residents. There are a total of 26 properties included in the district; all front on Orvis Road, except the house at the southwest corner of Orvis and Newcomb Road, which has a Newcomb Road address. National Register of Historic Places listings in Arlington, Massachusetts "NRHP Document for Arlington, Massachusetts MRA". National Park Service. 1985. Retrieved December 18, 2009.

Location

Arlington, Middlesex County, Massachusetts
42.40612, -71.14529

Categories

COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENTARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
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LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
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Finds & Access
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Literature
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Spotlight
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Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
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Nearby Historic Sites

Capitol Theater Building
Industrial
0.1 mi
House at 5-7 Winter Street
Industrial
0.2 mi
Kimball, W.W., House
Industrial
0.2 mi
Calvary Methodist Church
Industrial
0.2 mi
Robinson House
Industrial
0.2 mi

Nearby Battles

Skirmish at Menotomy (Arlington)
1775Revolutionary War
0.8 mi
Battle of Menotomy
1775Revolutionary War
0.8 mi
Siege of Boston – Cambridge Lines
1775Revolutionary War
2.9 mi

Questions about this property

When was Orvis Road Historic District listed on the National Register?

Orvis Road Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 26, 1985.

What type of historic resource is Orvis Road Historic District?

Orvis Road Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Orvis Road Historic District?

The period of significance for Orvis Road Historic District is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Orvis Road Historic District?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Orvis Road Historic District will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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