lowell-street_0072 Enhanced Building Form

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INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET LEXINGTON 72 LOWELL ST. MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No. 220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125 Continuation sheet 3 LEX.658 have in their possession a Delft tile that was given to them by a previous owner, with the oral history that it once formed part of the decoration of one of the fireplaces. It is a biblical tile of 18th century manufacture. The south, or front, porch, extending across the width of the house, was probably constructed at this time; the lowering of the windows in the east and west parlors served to increase the visual connection between these rooms and the porch. Construction of a substantial wing, attached to the northwest corner of the house, was contemporary with this work. The wing is two stories in height, and rests on a banked brick masonry basement. The wing was originally heated with stoves that were vented through a small chimney located near the center of its plan. It has a flat roof. Ca. 1900 The addition of a one-story wing in front of the southwest parlor at this time obliterated the porch on this sideThis alteration, and the north porch, which has squared columns, do not appear in a late-19th century photograph of the house, which does show the large northwest wing as extant. Alterations and other work undertaken by the present owners, 1998-present A back stair, located between the two kitchens, was removed, the two kitchen fireplaces were reopened, and paneling was restored or modified and replicated where needed. The firebox of the west kitchen’s chimney was altered to accommodate a modern cooking surface, and portions of its firebox and paneling were removed at that time. A beaded casing was inserted into the ceiling in front of the west kitchen fireplace as part of this work. This work was undertaken in 1998-2000. Other work undertaken by the current owners has included the introduction of a paneled wainscot in the southwest parlor; removal of the wing added to the south façade, and the restoration of the porch replicating its earlier design; and substantial alterations to the room arrangement and finishes in the first and second floors of the 19th century wing. Reused 19th century doors have been introduced where the originals were missing. Partitioning in the spaces flanking both the east and west chimney stacks at the second-floor level has been altered by the present owners, together with the doors and architraves giving access to these spaces. Two small rooms have been carved out of the east end of the northeast chamber, facilitating the installation of a modern bathroom and a large closet. A second bathroom has been installed in the former location of the rear staircase. On the first floor, a half bath has been inserted in the area under the main staircase. This work entailed the relocation of the east hall wall about a foot to the west. Exterior improvements have also included the construction of a pergola to the west of the main block of the house, and a deck, attached to the west end of the wing. Alterations to the basement under the wing facilitated the introduction of two vehicular bays in that location. Graffiti and other finds The attic contains, on one of its floor beams, and inscription that reads “RR 163”—the last number of tentative identification. This inscription was generated by a compass and straight edge, and looks to be imitative of 17th century work, rather than being genuinely from that period. It is possible that the inscription intended to record a date that is now partially obscured, with the last digit not visible today. When undertaking work on the west kitchen fireplace a cavity was discovered, in which was found a wood box lock, possibly dating to the initial construction of the house. It retains four cut nails that formerly secured it to a door. Its date of deposition in the cavity is unknown. Summary Said to have originally been constructed in 1789, the house was subsequently divided into two households, ca. 1800. This work involved the alteration of a fireplace into one that could be used for cooking, resulting in two functional kitchens within the dwelling. Additional alterations, since reversed or superseded by later work, may have increased the internal functionality of the two halves of the house. Alterations undertaken 1840-1850 chiefly resulted in the upgrading of finishes. Subsequent alterations in ca. 1885 further upgraded finishes and a substantial wing was constructed at the northwest corner of the house, creating additional bedrooms, possibly for farmhands.