Otis House

Acorn Street

This street, while one of the most photographed in Boston, is also the narrowest street in the city.  The row houses, which have foundations and door and window lintels made of granite, were mostly built by architect Cornelius Coolidge in the late 1820s.  They were once home to coachmen who worked for the families living in the mansions on Chestnut and Mount Vernon Streets. The style of the houses is indicative of the transition from Federal to Greek Revival architecture.  The street itself is a historic structure.  In recent years, cobblestones were removed for utility work.  Fiercely protected by residents, these stones were put in storage and when the work was completed they were painstakingly re-laid.