Redtop

Redtop is a residence in Belmont with characteristic horizontal wood shingles covering the facades. The interior spaces display design elements typical of late 19th-century American residential architecture.

The house was designed in 1877 by architect William Rutherford Mead for writer William Dean Howells. Howells occupied it as both a home and workspace while creating several of his major works.

The house served as a gathering place for writers and artists who met here regularly to exchange ideas. Many well-known authors of the period visited the rooms and shaped the cultural life of the area.

The architectural plans and documents are accessible in the Amherst College Archives for research purposes. Students of architecture and history can access and study the detailed records stored there.

The name Redtop came from the red-stained wood shingles that originally covered the roof. This name was chosen after other proposals such as Sub-Hub and Monte Rose were rejected.

Location: Massachusetts

Architects: William Rutherford Mead

Architectural style: Shingle style architecture

GPS coordinates: 42.40028,-71.17944

Latest update: December 14, 2025 12:26