Renting the HLN House

The Hooper-Lee-Nichols House is one of the oldest houses in Cambridge, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Built in 1685 and transformed into a Georgian mansion in the 1730s, the house is an architectural and social history treasure. The Cambridge Historical Society makes the house available for rental on a limited basis in order to raise money for its upkeep, and to further introduce people to its history. We hope you will appreciate the Society’s need to keep rental activities within certain parameters, in order to preserve the Hooper-Lee- Nichols House for the future.

Rental Information

The Hooper-Lee-Nichols House is suitable for small events, including receptions (cocktail parties or other similar events), meetings, presentations, and filming interviews or short scenes. The maximum number of people who can be accommodated depends on the type of event:

Capacity

  •     Receptions up to 65 with tray service but no tables or up to 50 with buffet style service but no tables
  •     Meals up to 40 seated at tables in two rooms with table service
  •     Meetings up to 25 if seated conference-style
  •     Presentations up to 40 if seated auditorium-style

Renters are permitted to use two rooms on the first floor of the house, including the Bosphorus Room and the Chandler Room (Library). Renters are also permitted to use the screened porch and the lawn. We do not make kitchen facilities available, caterers can use the screened in porch, which has an electric outlet or park a truck in the driveway.

The renter is responsible for hiring catering and bartending services. The Society will provide a list of suggested caterers, but the renter is not limited to using these Companies. Caterers are required to be approved by the Society staff and provide a copy of their current catering license, and a certificate of insurance. Bartenders must be licensed. Caterers and bartenders must abide by rules established for them by the Society. If alcohol is being served, and if the guests are paying a fee for entrance into the event, then the renter must obtain a one-event liquor license from the City of Cambridge. No red wine or liquids that permanently stain.

Groups using the Hooper-Lee-Nichols House for meetings will be permitted to self-cater an event with light refreshments at the discretion of CHS staff. A licensed caterer or licensed food service or grocery establishment must deliver prepared refreshments to the house prior to the event. Self-caterers will need to adhere to CHS alcohol policies if serving any form of liquor.

The Society has 50 folding chairs, and five six-foot rectangular folding tables available for use by the renters.  These will be set up by the Society staff as needed prior to the start of the event, and may be left in place after the event. Renters are responsible for renting round dining tables and chairs (if desired) through their caterer, if a dinner is planned. The caterer is responsible for setting up this furniture. Decorations that are no confined to the tables must be discussed with Society staff.

There is no smoking in the Hooper-Lee-Nichols House. No open flames (including candles of any form and sterno) will be allowed during rentals. Also not permitted (in deference to our neighbors) is loud music. There may be no DJ equipment set up. Free parking is available for the rental party during the event on certain areas of Brattle Street near the house. Parking is not permitted on Kennedy Road, or in the house’s driveway, except for short periods by the caterer or delivery person. All events must be over by midnight, including cleanup. Please be sure to inform your guests of the above house rules.

For each event, the Society will have a staff host on hand to supervise and to assist. This person is delegated the responsibility for assuring that rules are followed, and is authorized to use his or her judgment in order to protect the rental party, the house and its contents from risk.

Fees

$150 per hour with a three-hour minimum for all rentals

The time needed for set up and clean up should be taken into
account when determining the number of hours that the house will be
rented (typically one hour on each end for setup and cleanup).

More information

Please contact the CHS Staff to discuss your event and the available dates. You can reach the us by phone at (617) 547-4252 or by email at info@cambridgehistory.org.

The Cambridge Historical Society will place a hold on a date for any interested party. The potential renter will be informed if another party shows interest in the date. The date will be considered rented when a deposit of 1/3 of the fee is received by CHS. The deposit is due upon receipt of the contract. The final payment for the event is due two weeks prior to the event date. The renter will forfeit the deposit fee if he or she cancels the event with less than a two weeks notice. If the event exceeds the hours paid, the renter will be billed for any additional hour(s).