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Dating back to the 1600s, the second-oldest home in Cambridge lists for $5.8M
The property has served as the Cambridge Historical Society (now known as History Cambridge) headquarters for the last 70 years.
There’s your regular historic home, and then there’s 159 Brattle St. in Cambridge, known as the Hooper-Lee-Nichols House.
Built circa 1685, the Georgian home, which is recognized as the second-oldest home in Cambridge, is now on the market for the first time in generations for $5.8 million. Officially recognized by the city of Cambridge as a two-bed, two-and-a-half bath home, there could be as many as 10 bedrooms in the spacious property.
Owned by the Cambridge Historical Society, now known as History Cambridge, since 1957, the property has served as the organization’s headquarters for the last 70 years. Finally ready to move to private hands, it’s ready to become a private residence — but it has a preservation restriction held by the Massachusetts Historical Commission to protect its historic integrity.
Located on Brattle Street, one of the most iconic stretches in all of Cambridge, the 17th-century property has undergone a variety of alterations throughout the years, demonstrating its transition through Georgian, Victorian, and Colonial Revival alterations. Richard Hooper, a local physician, purchased an 11-acre farm, including the land the home sits on, for 45 pounds, according to historic documents. In the following centuries, the property was passed through the hands of prominent Cantabrigians, ranging from merchants to ship captains. It even served as the home base in the 1800s to the Constellation Club, where neighborhood children came to stargaze and socialize.
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Boasting three stories, the 6,449-square-foot home welcomes guests up a brick walkway, through the wide front door, and into the foyer. In the living room, known as the Bosphorus room, you’ll find historic Parisian wallpaper that depicts scenes of the Bosphorus in Turkey, window seats, crown molding, interior shutters, and a wood-burning fireplace. The dining room — an original room of the home — has the same historic nature, but with wide pine floors and an arched doorway that leads into the Butler’s Pantry, which has glass-front cabinetry and wood countertops.
“One thing I’ll say about the house that’s really important is that the sunlight coming into it is incredible,” says Nicole Monahan of LandVest, who has the listing. “Often people think of older houses being dark, but it gets amazing light.”
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The library, referred to as the Chandler Room (for Joseph Everett Chandler, the preservationist who remodeled the home), has brick flooring and an oversized fireplace with an open hearth for cooking as the space was originally a kitchen. Built-in bookshelves are ideal for the library, and access to the screened-in porch helps embrace indoor/outdoor living.
On the second story, you’ll find several bedrooms, as well as the Naples room, which has Parisian wallpaper depicting the Bay of Naples. One of the original rooms of the house, the Naples room has been extensively remodeled, and features two large windows and a stunning fireplace. The third floor of the home is filled with bedrooms, two of which have fireplaces and walk-in closets.
There is an unfinished lower level with storage space and utilities. A detached carriage house/garage accommodates two cars.
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