Almshouse

The Almshouse is a three-story stone structure with an octagonal central section and four extending wings built from slate quarried on the property itself. The building combines Greek Revival and Italianate styles, featuring dark granite corner reinforcements and rows of gabled dormers.

Architect Gridley J.F. Bryant designed the building in 1850 as the fifth and final almshouse constructed by Cambridge. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston acquired it in 1927 for educational and religious purposes.

The building reflects attitudes toward poor relief in 19th-century Massachusetts through its design and original function. Its layout shows how society then approached caring for vulnerable people in institutional settings.

The building sits on Matignon Road and is visible from outside, though public interior access is limited. Visitors can study the exterior architecture from the street and appreciate the structure's historical importance firsthand.

The roofline features distinctive rows of gabled dormers that give the facade a particular visual character rarely seen on similar institutional buildings of that era. These elements create a decorative accent that breaks up the otherwise solid stone exterior.

Location: Cambridge

Architects: Gridley James Fox Bryant

Official opening: 1850

Architectural style: Greek Revival architecture, Italianate architecture

Address: 45 Matignon Road

GPS coordinates: 42.40194,-71.13278

Latest update: December 14, 2025 16:46