# Cox Hicks House

The Cox-Hicks House, located at 98 Winthrop Street in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is a historically significant structure built around 1806. It represents a rare surviving example of the modest housing available to the working class in Cambridge during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The 1½-story frame house is positioned atop an early 18th-century Roxbury puddingstone retaining wall, contributing to its distinctive appearance. The house is part of the Winthrop Square National Register District and the Massachusetts MPS Harvard Square Historic District (NAID: 63792030), reflecting its significance within the broader architectural and cultural heritage of Cambridge.

## Historical background

The house was constructed by Israel Porter as a tenant residence for Susannah Cox, who later returned ownership to Porter in 1810. Soon after, the property was sold to Sarah Hicks Flagg, resulting in its combined name. The Cox-Hicks House is considered the only remaining example in Cambridge of the modest accommodations once occupied by lower-income individuals or those experiencing financial hardship in the 18th century. Its placement on the Roxbury puddingstone retaining wall reflects historical construction techniques used in the area during that period.

## Architectural significance

The structure is an example of vernacular architecture, characterized by its small scale and utilitarian design. Unlike more elaborate Federal-style residenes such as the Augustus Wyeth House at 69 Dunster Street and the Samuel Stedman House at 17 South Street, the Cox-Hicks House provides insight into the simpler housing solutions available to the working class in early Cambridge. The associated retaining wall at 106 Winthrop Street, built to terrace the hillside into level residential lots, remains intact and is composed of Roxbury puddingstone, shale, and granite. The wall retains its original materials and craftsmanship, representing early urban engineering techniques in Cambridge.
The significance of the Cox-Hicks House is heightened by its association with the retaining wall at 106 Winthrop Street, an eight-foot structure built to terrace the hillside into flat residential lots. Made from Roxbury puddingstone, shale, and granite, the wall retains its original location, materials, and craftsmanship, reflecting early topographical engineering in Cambridge. The wall is also a noteworthy example of early urban engineering techniques, which were critical in adapting the landscape for residential use in this hilly region.

## Cultural and archaeological importance

The Cox-Hicks House and its surroundings hold considerable archaeological potential, reflecting changes in social, cultural, and economic patterns in the Harvard Square area. The preservation of Winthrop Square and the adjacent streetscape contributes to an understanding of early civic and residential development in Cambridge. Excavations and studies in the area could yield artifacts related to the early residents and urban life in the 18th and early 19th centuries, offering a deeper understanding of the historical context in which the Cox-Hicks House was built.

## Preservation

The Cox-Hicks House continues to be a part of the evolving history of Harvard Square. The preservation of the house and its surrounding historic landscape contributes to an ongoing understanding of Cambridge’s architectural and social history.