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INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET LEXINGTON 739 MASS. AVENUE MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No. 220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD,BOSTON,MASSACHUSETTS 02125 Recommended for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. If checked,you must attach a completed National Register Criteria Statement form. ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION: Describe architectural features. Evaluate the characteristics of this building in terms of other buildings within the community. Setback from Massachusetts Avenue in East Village,the former Adams School dates to 1912. The building is two stories in height above a raised basement. It is constructed of red brick laid in a stretcher bond with buff brick trimmings including a watertable,molded cornice above the second story windows, decorative rectangular panels with diamond motifs on the facade and outline frames on the narrow end elevations. The recessed center entrance consists of transommed double doors with an arched surround decorated by quoins. Above the entrance is a rectangular concrete panel with raised letters reading"Adams School—MCMXII". The arch of the entrance is repeated in a molding above the second floor windows above which are also set into a quoined surround and the arched parapet above. There are bands of four 6/6 windows on either side of the central bay, linked by a continuous concrete sill. The trim is continued on the rear ell and later additions. HISTORICAL NARRATIVE Discuss the history of the building. Explain its associations with local(or state)history. Include uses of the building, and the role(s)the owners/occupants played within the community. This building was constructed in 1912 replacing the wood-frame, four-room Adams School which was built on a different site in the village in 1859. Extensive building construction in East Lexington during the early 20ffi century period had resulted in a large increase in the school population and significant overcrowding required the use of the Stone Building for several years. In 1911 the town voted to build a new brick school on a level piece of land behind the Stone Building. The sum of$55,000 was appropriated to erect the new school the following year. A building committee consisting of J.O. Richards,A.C. Washburn, F.G. Jones,Frank D. Peirce and Dwight F. Kilgour was assisted by architect R. Clipston Sturgis of Boston who acted as an advisor in the selection of an architect and examination of specifications and plans. Six architects competed for the design contract and Brainerd&Leeds of Boston were chosen. The firm designed a building which was as nearly fireproof as possible. The contractors were E.A. Peabody& Son Co. of Lawrence and the foundations and grading were subcontracted to Bartlett J. Harrington of East Lexington. Excavation for the foundation began on July 22, 1912. An article appearing in the Minute-man on August 24, 1912 described the plans: The building will have the effect of being three stories high in front, as the basement in this section of the building is almost entirely above ground. The exterior is to be of red brick,with a trim of sandstone colored brick,with foundations and other parts of cement. The plans show an imposing fagade of simple lines,broken with ornate shields either side of the entrance, on which are shown the national and state seals. The school was completed in time for classes in September 1913. A photograph of the completed building appeared in the architectural journal American Architect in 1917. In 1931 the town appropriated$85,000 for an addition to the school, designed by Kilham,Hopkins&Greeley. Additional alterations and additions were made in 1950. Kilham,Hopkins, Greeley&Brodie were the architects. Adams School closed in 1980 due to declining school population. Soon thereafter it was sold to the Waldorf School who continue to use it today. Continuation sheet 1