William C. Nell House
- Style
- Federal
- City
- Boston, MA
- Collection
- federal boston
The William C. Nell House at 3 Smith Court on Beacon Hill was built between 1798 and 1800 by two white bricklayers, standing opposite the African Meeting House. It takes its name from William C. Nell, the noted abolitionist who was among the many African American residents who rented rooms here starting in 1830, and it is now preserved as a stop on the Black Heritage Trail.
the building
Narrow alley construction. The house is a narrow building with painted clapboarding on its front facade, while the rear is a windowless brick wall — a construction type typical of Boston residences built before 1803, especially along alleys like Smith Court.
the style
The house's plain, functional design reflects Federal-era Boston construction before 1803: painted clapboard facing the street and an unadorned brick rear wall, a pattern common to homes built along alleys like Smith Court.
More on Federalsignificance
The house is a National Historic Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and is included among the Smith Court residences on the Black Heritage Trail of the Boston African American National Historic Site.
nearby
- Massachusetts State House
- Nichols House Museum
- Nathan Appleton Residence
- Chester Harding House
- David Sears House
- Boston Athenæum