Chelsea Homes: 19th & 20th Century Architecture

CHELSEA’S HOMES

Shown here are a selection of homes built during the 19th and 20th
century. Most of these homes still exist today. Many have been sold
and re-sold through the years, changing owners many times. Some have
been remodeled.

Residence of mayor John C. Loud, twentieth mayor
of Chelsea, located on County Road.

Residence of mayor Thomas Strahan, thirteenth
mayor of Chelsea, located on Bellingham Street.

KIMBALL HOUSE Circa 1880
This house, located at 295 Washington Avenue at
the corner of Jefferson Avenue represents one of the finest examples
of the QUEEN ANNE style in Chelsea. Several features include its
irregular plan, varitey of surface color and texture and multiple
roofs with a round turret. Planned and built by Mr. Charles Henry
Kimball, the house reflects the wealth and position of a successful
Chelsea businessman in the late 1800’s.

Residence of C. A. Campbell, Chelsea businessman
of the late 1800’s, located at
#1 County Road.

Residence of Thomas Martin, Chelsea businessman
of the late 1800’s. Located on Franklin Avenue.

Hermon Pratt home on Nichols Street at the
corner of Franklin Street. Later purchased by Our Lady of Grace
Parish and now the Don Guanella Home.

Home of Caleb Pratt, built in 1847, torn down in
1869. The home was located at the corner of Franklin Street and
Nichols Street.

The old Pratt House was at 481 Washington Avenue
near Lambert Ave. Torn down in 1953.

The Octagon House at 252 Revere Beach Parkway.

The Octagon House was located at 252 Revere Beach Parkway. It was
built in 1838 and the only change from the original structure was the
addition of a wing to both sides. It was built in the shape of an
Octagon as the name implies. The sides of the Octagon were not all
equal. Four sides were 12 feet long and four sides were 9 feet in length.
At the time of construction of this house the Octagon shape was
popular in England and this house was modeled after one of them. The
original reason for for the Octagon shape was that it could be easily
protected from every side by any attack. The house was made of wood
with clapboards on the sides. It had a flat roof and was built on a
stone foundation. It was later torn down and a red brick apartment
house now stands in its place.

Home of Mellen Chamberlain at
352 Washington Avenue.

Homes along Washington Avenue looking toward
County Road. (Photo 1900)

Homes on Counnty Road and Bassett Streets.
(Photo from December 7, 1900)

Home of mayor Eustis Fitz, 4th mayor of Chelsea,
located on Parker Street.

These two photos are from May of 1949 and show
the present day homes that were relocated from Locke Street during
the construction of the Mystic River (Now the Tobin) Bridge. The
photo on the left is Webster Avenue. The photo on the right is
Gilooly Road looking down from Webster Avenue.

These panoramic views of Chelsea were taken from
Powderhorn Hill in 1868 and show typical homes of the time. The
entire district shown in these photos were completely destroyed in
the 1908 fire. Only the homes in the immediate foreground survived
the fire and most still exist today.