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INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Town Property Address LEXINGTON 1475 MASS. AVENUE MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No. MASSACHUSETTS ARCHIVES BUILDING 220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD 144 BOSTON,MASSACHUSETTS 02125 ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE: The former Muzzey High School was constructed in two phases. The original(1902)building is the section to the west. In 1924 a large addition was constructed to the east, and also resulting in some alterations to the 1902 structure, including the main entrance and the removal of the roof balustrade. On October 25, 1902 the Lexington Minute-man included the following description of the high school: Messrs. Cooper and Bailey are the architects of the building. It is built of pale red colonial brick laid in natural toned cement. The ornate cornice(sic), and pair of handsome Corinthian pillars which support the pediment over the recessed entrance,which breaks the middle distance of the fagade,are of wood,but the water table and window lintels are of buff Ohio limestone. Massive granite steps give dignity to the main entrance and there is a line of granite defining the underpinning. The building is 67 x 124 feet, facing south, and the long way to the avenue on the old site of the former High school, and has an area of eight thousand three hundred feet. It is situated ninety-five feet back from the sidewalk and a wide semi-circular driveway approaches it from either side of the building. The grounds are to be laid out for shrubbery and a lawn. Sixteen large windows give abundant light on the front and rear of the building,while there are eight windows on either end,besides the extremely large ones which light the corridors, from the ends as well as the front, under the ornate and pillared porticos. The corridors traverse the building the long way, are wide and spacious and reached by easy flights of stairs at either end of the building. Here are the clothes racks for the pupils on frames covered with heavy woven wire, gilded. The 1902 building also included a third floor hall measuring 44 x 52 feet and capable of seating four hundred. The heavy trusses and beam work were exposed and painted white, contrasting with the pale green walls and woodwork. (This room was later converted into classrooms.) The class rooms were also painted a light green while the corridors were a pomegranate shade of terra cotta with ash woodwork stained a golden oak color. On November 20, 1925 the Lexington Minute-man offered the following description of the new senior junior high school: The new Lexington High School as designed by Ritchie,Parsons and Taylor and erected on Massachusetts avenue, is of Colonial style of architecture using water-struck brick and stone trim,the exterior of the present building being modified in design to harmonize with the treatment of the new building,the two buildings being connected and forming in appearance an entirely new structure the Colonial motive(sic)of which is in pleasing accord with the Revolutionary historical atmosphere of these famous old town. The complete plan is"L" shape with provision for possible future extension of wings on the northern and eastern ends, and the construction includes fireproof corridors and stair towers throughout. The new building is the Senior High School;the old building with the interior remodeled during construction is used as a Junior High School. In the basement, plans provide for a double gymnasium,boiler room, fan room, coal pocket,fresh air room,janitor's room and supplies. On the ground floor are the shops,biology room,domestic science rooms, lunch room, lunch preparation room,recitation room, demonstration room,boys' lockers, showers and toilets,physical instructors' room, shop instructors' room and supplies. The first floor contains the auditorium with a seating capacity of 500, administration offices, class rooms, teachers' room, dental clinic, emergency room,toilet rooms, book room, storage and supplies.