Welcome to Centers and Squares

As a Cambridge real estate agent, the city squares of Cambridge, Somerville and Medford and the town centers of Arlington, Watertown and Belmont, Massachusetts are my home turf. And as a lifelong New Englander who’s lived within twenty miles of Boston most of my life, I can introduce you to other nearby towns as we search for your new home. If you’re planning to sell your home in Cambridge, MA or nearby you’ll find plenty of info about the home selling process here too. Questions? Send me an email or call me at 617-504-1737.

Richard Pinkham House – Octagon House in Medford

Richard Pinkham House Medford - Octagon House

Richard Pinkham House Medford - Octagon House

We were on our way to a brokers’ open house in Medford when I stumbled upon the house at right. I love octagon houses and knew there was an unusual example of one in Medford but I never knew where it was.  Turns out it’s the Richard Pinkham House at 24 Brooks Park in Medford.

Richard Pinkham was a house builder and this was his own home.  The house’s construction dates from 1850 – 1855. Pinkham purchased the land in 1850 and the house first appears on a map in 1855.  Richard Pinkham lived in the house for at least 50 years.

The house is very distinctive – blending elements of three architectural styles: Greek Revival, Italianate and Octagon Mode. What’s most unusual about the house is that the octagonal element is enveloped by the rest of the house with wings or rooms projecting from three sides of the ocatagon.  It’s best appreciated in an aerial view.

The Richard Pinkham house was restored and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008.

Next door to the house (with a parking lot that straddles the Pinkham house) is this handsome building.  It’s a large Federal Colonial style apartment building at 20 Brooks Park.  The building was designed by Stirling / Brown Architects of Winchester.  It’s a beautiful city building. You really have to look long and hard to realize that it’s only a few years old rather than 150 years old or more.  Why can’t more new buildings look so good?

20 Brooks Park Medford MA

20 Brooks Park Medford MA

I’ve always liked Brooks Park.  The loop of the street circles the grassy park of the same name.  It’s tucked away but close to Medford Square, just across Main Street from the Royall House.  There’s an interesting asssortment of houses of different eras including the house for sale at 13 Brooks Park that was our reason for visiting the neighborhood.

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