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INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET LEXINGTON 537 LOWELL STREET <br /> MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No. <br /> 220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD,BOSTON,MASSACHUSETTS 02125 <br /> 2244 <br /> ❑ Recommended for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. <br /> ff checked,you must attach a completed National Register Criteria Statement form. <br /> Use as much space as necessary to complete the following entries, allowing text to flow onto additional continuation sheets. <br /> ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION: <br /> Describe architectural features. Evaluate the characteristics of this building in terms of other buildings within the community. <br /> 537 Lowell Street occupies a large lot near the busy intersection of Lowell and East streets, main thoroughfares in East <br /> Lexington. The building is set close to Lowell Street, facing the side of the parcel. Several outbuildings are scattered to the east <br /> of the house, and a large lawn area occupies the northern half of the parcel. The land slopes gently back from the street. <br /> Arborvitae and a small trees line part of the Lowell Street frontage; large trees are scattered throughout the lot. A paved <br /> driveway curves into the house from the south, with a brick walkway to the main entrance. <br /> The three by one bay main block rises two stories from a parged brick foundation to a shallow-pitched side gable roof; it faces <br /> the side of the parcel. A an irregular series of ells and additions includes a two-story, perpendicular gabled wing extending from <br /> the back left(northwest) corner of the main block; a one-story shed-roofed addition along the front(south)wall of the main block; <br /> a one-story, gabled addition at the front (south) right corner of the main block, with a cross-gable in front of the main block <br /> facade; and a two-story gabled addition at the back right(northeast) corner of the main block. The building has two exterior <br /> chimneys on the back walls of the northeast ell and northwest addition. <br /> Walls are sheathed with wood shingles without sill boards, corner boards, or wall fascia. The raking eaves of the main block and <br /> northwest ell have molded fascia and gable returns. Windows are chiefly 6/6 double hung replacement sash with a narrow <br /> band molding; some early or original 2/2 sash survives. <br /> On the main (south)fagade, the one-story, hip roofed addition contains a slightly off-center entrance with a single-leaf paneled <br /> wood door, full height sidelights, and gablet above, and a modern granite stoop and step. This addition has a poured concrete <br /> foundation. The two windows on the second floor of the main block's fagade are not vertically aligned with the door and window <br /> on the first floor addition. Extending to the right (east)of the entrance is another one-story gabled addition on a poured concrete <br /> foundation, rising to a cross gable with a center pair of casement windows at its western end and a small double-hung window at <br /> its eastern end. <br /> Proportioned and detailed similar to the main block, the northwest ell is set slightly back from the plane of the gable end of the <br /> main block. It rises from a decorative concrete block foundation and is characterized by 2/2 window sash. Its symmetrical <br /> fenestration comprises two symmetrical and vertically aligned windows on each floor. Its rear(north) elevation has two windows <br /> on each floor, flanking an exterior chimney. The rear elevation of the large northeast addition displays banded casement <br /> windows on the first floor, four single casement windows on the second floor, an exterior chimney, and a small square wood <br /> deck. <br /> Two outbuildings are visible from the street; a third appears on maps and bird's eye photographs near the back property line. <br /> Closest to the house is a large one-story garage near the northeast corner of the house. It has a front gable roof with gable <br /> returns, wood shingle siding, one wide wood-paneled garage door trimmed with a plain flat casing, and one 6/6 window each on <br /> the west side and back (north)elevations. To the southeast of the garage is a 1 '/2 story, side gabled structure with a saltbox <br /> form, concrete block foundation, and wood shingle siding with plain corner boards. It presently contains an apartment. The <br /> fagade (west) elevation contains an offset entrance with a modern single-leaf door and a modern angled bay window in the <br /> center. A low shed dormer extends across the back of the structure. <br /> Well-maintained, 537 Lowell Street is an interesting example of a simple, mid-19th century vernacular farmhouse, with a <br /> picturesque accretion of ells, wings, and addition. The building is notable for its modest original/early form, which is still <br /> intelligible (including its shallow-pitched gable roofs and one-bay main block and original/early northwest wing); its siting along a <br /> major thoroughfare; the large size of its lot; and its collection of outbuildings. <br /> Continuation sheet I <br />