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c , NPS Form 10-900 OMB Approval No.1024-0018 (Rev.10-90) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Franklin School Lexington(Middlesex), MA Section number 7 Page 2 The former Franklin School building is a load-bearing red-brick structure with cast stone trim. (Photo 1) It features a gambrel slate roof with four red-brick chimneys. The building is organized in a three-part plan with a central 2V2-story block flanked to the north and south by 1%- story projecting red brick wings. The west(primary/street-facing)fagade of the former Franklin School is clad in red brick on the first floor, is detailed with cast stone trim, and is set on a red- brick watertable. The second floor is separated from the first by a wide overhanging cave that extends along the entire length of the central section of the building and is articulated with'flat faschia boards and dentils. The central block of the 2'/-story portion of the building is dominated by a central pedimented two-story,red-brick bay with a sizable cornice and gable returns. Set within the pediment is an octagonal roof vent positioned above a white wooden banner that reads "FRANKLIN SCHOOL." The central section is further accentuated with a pair of restrained consoles framing the second story. Groups of five, 12112,double-hung windows with substantial wooden mullions are set on each side of the central bay at the first and second floors. The two ends of the central section exhibit rounded-arch red-brick pediments projecting above the roofline in a shed dormer,and feature diamond-shaped patterned brickwork at the second floor. The first floor of this bay projects from the main plane of the central section and features recessed modern aluminum and glass storefront entrances with slender side lights and substantial glass transoms in each end of the central section. Wooden soffit panels adorn the tops of these recessed openings, and cast stone panels, each etched withgeometrical designs,are located above the doorways. The two P/2-story north and south wings with peaked,slate-clad roofs flank the sides of the main portion of the building. Consistent in architectural detail with the central section, the wings contain groups of three, 12/12 double-hung sash on the west elevation. The north and south elevations of the former Franklin School building are exact duplicates of each other. The two ends of the gambrel roof of the main section of the building are constructed of red brick and feature an octagonal louvered opening near the ridge line. The red-brick ends of the peaked roof,one-story, north and south wings each contain a pair of four 12/12 double-hung sash set beneath a large multi-pane fanlight in the attic. The red-brick watertable extends around to the sides of the building,and a louvered vent is located beneath the groups of windows. (Photo 2) The east(rear)elevation of the building contains two 2'/-story,red-brick ells and a central two- story clapboard slightly rounded addition projecting from the rear of the building, constructed in 1985.(Photo 3) The two-story projecting addition extends beyond the rear wall of the red-brick wings and is two bays deep. Sheathed in pale yellow wooden clapboard with white trim,this addition features a nearly flat roof and small 6/1 double-hung windows. A substantial red-brick chimney extends well above the roof of the 1985 wing. The two 2Y2-story, red-brick ells are nearly identical and feature peaked roofs,a variety of window sizes, including 12/12, paired 9/9, 6/6, and 8/8 double-hung windows. Where the 1956 additions were removed,the original window openings were restored in their original locations and cast stone sills were employed. (continued)