The landowner, Hon. Francis Dana, apparently erected the building in a couple days' time around 1807 to oppose the extension of Harvard Street through his very large property. "Opposition House" failed, the street went through, and the house was moved nearby (and probably reconfigured), and is now the duplex I live in, at 2-4 Hancock Place.
What I've found in hard-copy form is pretty neat, and I haven't put it online yet, but here are some Web sources:
- Wikipedia entry
- Cambridge history site about a series of "Blue Oval Historic Markers" throughout mid-Cambridge--apparently there's one at our place ...
- ... except it's listed as missing, according to this site