stratham-road_0014 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE (Describe important architectural features and evaluate in terms of other buildings within the community.) The most prominent feature of this house is its circular three-story tower with steep conical roof at the right front corner. It gives the impres- sion almost of a rocket poised for takeoff, so distinct is it from the rest of the building's design. Rows of two different types of patterned shingling are used to enrich the exterior walls: staggered butt shingles and shingles which = look diamond shaped from a distance but which are actually shaped like this: There are brackets at the corners of the eaves and a vergeboard with patera trim. The current owners enclosed a porch on the right hand side. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE (Explain the role owners played in local or state history and how the building relates to the development of the community.) This house is probably the on(2 referred to in the following quote: "George Robinson, Esq. will occupy a new house on his estate just beyond his present residence. It occupies a commanding position and the interior is hand- somely finished throughout with polished and finished hardwood" (L-exington _Minute Man, August 12, 1607) . This would mark the third time since coming to Lexington In 1846 that Robinson had acquired an up-to-date residence. He must have felt that his mansard house adjacent was passe. Local tradition states that. Robinson's unmarried daughters, Frances and Sarah, did not like the design of this house, and so constructed the house at 10 Stratham Road soon after his death in 1893. See the 10 Stratham Road form for more information on the Robinson sisters, and the 6 Stratham Road form for George W. Robinson's history. BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES (name of publication, author, date and publisher) Hudson, Charles. History of the Town of Lexington, revised and continued to 1912 by the Lexington Historical Society, Volume II, p. 586. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1913. Lexington Minute Man, August 12, 1887. Worthen, Edwin B. "George Slept -- Where?" Lexington Minute Roan, November 13, 1969. 1889 atlas 1898 atlas 1906 atlas 10M - 7/82