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FORM B - BUILDING AREA FORMK 433
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION
294 WASHINGTON STREET, BOSTON, MA 02108
p
in Lexington
cress 16 Forest Street
;toric Name First Church of Christ
- - Cientist
10 Present church
- r III Ian A
i _
=` Original kindergarten
- - -- -_ - - )ESCRIPTION: qq
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SKETCH MAP
Show property's location in relation Style Beaux Arts, simplified
to nearest cross streets and/or
geographical features. Indicate Architect remodeled by Willard Brown 1918
all buildings between inventoried
property and nearest intersection. Exterior wall fabric stucco
Indicate north.
Outbuildings
T J Major alterations (with dates) remodeled
(1918)
Moved Date
Approx. acreage 37635 ft.2
Recorded by Anne Grady Setting Residential street developed in
Organization Lexington Historical Commission the late nineteenth century and early
Date April, 1984 twentieth century; Lexington High School
property is visual perimeter to the rear.
(Staple additional sheets here)
ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE (Describe important architectural features and
evaluate in terms of other buildings within the community.)
This is an example of local architect, Willard Brown, working in a
simplified Beaux Arts style. The most prominent feature of the design is the
two-story recessed entrance with arched ceiling. The arch is embellished
with panelled trim and there are columns in antis at the entry. The elements
of the building's design are classical, but are corabined with Brown's usual
creative sense into a highly individualistic building. He makes use, for
example, of the flattened ellipse form, of which he was so fond, for- windows
over the entry and on the sides of the building.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE (Explain the role owners played in local or state
history and how the building relates to the development of the commmity.)
About 1900, a kindergarten was established and before 1906 it occupied
this building. The building was remodeled in 1918 and dedicated as a
Christian Science Church that same year.
BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES (name of publication, author, date and publisher)
Worthen, Edwin B. A Calendar History of Lexington, Massachusetts 1620-1946,
p. 114. Lexington, Massachusetts: Lexington Savings Bank, 1946.
1906 atlas
10M - 7/82
INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Town Property Address
LEXINGTON 16 FOREST ST
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
MASSACHUSETTS ARCHIVES BUILDING
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD 433
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
A brief mention appearing in the Lexington Minute-Man on September 1, 1899, confirms the construction of the original
building on this site in that year.
Monday ground was broken for a little building on Forest street,near its junction with Muzzey street, for Miss
Theodora Robinson's kindergarten. The location is convenient to the centre of the town and will doubtless prove
a successful venture. Mr. A. C. Washburn has the contract for putting up the building which will be pushed to an
early completion.
Another mention in 1904 chronicles the success of the kindergarten:
The Forest street kindergarten has completed the second week of the fall term. An attractive group of young
children are under Miss Theodora Robinson's care and training, relieving parents of no little care and
responsibility in starting them in the path of discipline and learning (Minute-Man, Oct. 15, 1904).
The daughter of Theodore Parker Robinson, Theodora Margaret Robinson(b. 1875)married Rev. George Ballard,rector
of the Church of Our Redeemer in 1911. The"Kindergarten Hall"was used by members of the Christian Science church
as early as 1906.
The renovated building was dedicated on June 30, 1918. At the time of the dedication of the First Church of Christ
Scientist, architect Willard D. Brown provided the newspaper with a description of the building:
In view of the quiet and constant manner in which the membership first of the Society,and then of the Church
has increased, it is peculiarly appropriate that the the new Church Edifice should be an actual outgrowth of the
former modest structure that served so well as the Church home.
The shingled walls have given place,to stucco, and the simple porch of the earlier building has become a
glorified arch supported on slender columns and approached by a broad flight of brick steps, flanked on either
side by buttresses bearing tall bronze lamp standards. The main entrance, of classic design, is surmounted by a
tympanum of Grueby tiles bearing the inscription: "First Church of Christ Scientist".
Broad double doors open into the ample foyer extending across the entire front of the building, on one end of
which is a coat room also a broad flight of stairs leading to the Sunday School rooms I the basement, additional
access to which is gained by a side entrance off the landing half way down.
Directly opposite the main entrance two pairs of leather covered doors open from the foyer into the auditorium
capable of seating about 200 people, lighted by groups of mullioned windows affording pleasant glimpses of
wood and meadow land outside, and crowned by an arched ceiling supported on paneled beams and cornices. In
an arched niche opposite the entrance is the rostrum with its high wainscots surmounted by the organ screen.
Here are the Readers' desks,paneled doors at the back giving access to their private rooms and to the Musicians'
room, all directly in the rear. On either side of the rostrum are doorways,the one on the left opening into the
Directors' room,that on the right to an emergency stairway leading to the outside as well as to the Sunday School
room under. This is a large room, some 30 x 40 feet in size,with a large primary class room about 15 x 21
opening out of it. Owing to the slope of the land these rooms are completely out of ground and are exceptionally
well lighted with groups of mullioned windows on either side.
INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Town Property Address
LEXINGTON 16 FOREST ST
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
MASSACHUSETTS ARCHIVES BUILDING
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD 0 433
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
In addition to the alcove,the basement contains a large coat room equipped with racks, etc. for the young people,
a small room for the work of literature distribution, and a toilet room off the front stair landing. In addition,there
are two heater rooms with [provision for coal storage, etc., one containing a vapor heating plant and the other a
hot air furnace,thus providing a heating and ventilating system at one flexible, economical and capable.
The woodwork of the entire first floor is finished in a soft gray tone harmonizing with the rough scoured plaster
walls and providing together with the dark stained floors, a most quiet and pleasing effect. The basement rooms
are stained a soft and satisfying shade of brown.
The grounds have been well laid out and already present a beautiful lawn with shrubs and evergreens bordering
the building(Lexington Minute-Man,July 6, 1918).
According to the Department of Public Safety Records at the Massachusetts State Archives, an addition or alterations to
the building were completed in 1955 according to designs by Boston architect Arland Dirlam.
In recent years the former church has been converted to a residence.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Dept. of Public Safety, Division of Inspection, Plan Records,Mass. State Archives.
Hudson, Charles,History of the Town of Lexington,vol. II. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1913, p. 587.
Lexington Minute-Man, September 1, 1899; Oct. 15, 1904; July 6, 1918.
Supplement prepared by:
Lisa Mausolf
April 2009