20 Wheeler Street. Constructed as six units for Mr. Littlefield in 1899, this dwelling is a fascinating and rare variation of the common tripledecker. Typically rectangular in form with three tiers of porches at both the front and back of the building, this house has a three-story porch nestled in the corner, from the north and west wings, that are each three stories in height. The slender columns of the first and second story porches, window frames, broad string courses, and molded cornices all demonstrate the Colonial Revival style. The triple-decker was introduced to both Boston and Worcester around 1880 and was instantly recognized by developers as a fast and efficient way to house the less affluent. This building type recommended interior features such as Colonial Revival style mantelpieces and built-in china cupboards. The popularity of the triple-decker rose exponentially after the introduction of the electric trolley to Boston neighborhoods, circa 1890, and it proliferated in areas such as Dorchester and South Boston. The triple-decker persisted in popularity until 1915, and in some areas even later, such as Jamaica Plain where this multi-family housing type was still being built as late as 1930. In Somerville, triple-deckers are primarily found in the eastern portion of the City, while two-family dwellings remained more common in western Somerville. The noteworthy exception to this rule is the States Avenues section of East Somerville.