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BUILDING FORM ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION ❑ see continuation sheet Describe architectural features. Evaluate the characteristics of this building in terms of other buildings within the community. 43 Adams St. is one of only 10 side-gabled Greek Revival cottages in Lexington and is one of the most intact;the most comparable house is at 27 Maple St. (MHC#652). In addition,the setting of 43 Adams St.—on an open rise and very visible to those driving south on Adams St.—is a real reminder of Lexington's agricultural past. The house is rectangular, 1'/�stories, five- by-one bays, and side-gabled with a small rear chimney. The house has few period finishes other than cornerboards and a frieze board across the front and rear. An enclosed entry has been added as has a side-gabled rear addition with a small ridge chimney. HISTORICAL NARRATIVE ® see continuation sheet 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 house was started in 1840 by an Amos Locke. Distantly related to the Locke family who owned a large amount of land in north Lexington in the mid-19th century, Amos' father had moved to Lexington from what is now Arlington. In April 1840,when Amos was only 15V2 (if his birth date in Hudson's Genealogies is correct),he bought an eight-acre parcel that included the three acres on which this house is now located. There was no mention of a house when he bought this land, but, in April 1841 when he mortgaged this same eight acres,the agreement included the"buildings thereon,"indicating that he had probably built this house in the intervening year. Actually, Lexington assessors' records for 1841 indicate that these"buildings thereon"were a barn and a still unfinished house. In 1841 Amos also bought an adjoining 15 acres and in 1842 an additional 8 acres,thus amassing a 31- acre farm at the corner of what are now Adams and East streets. Amos was in constant financial difficulty—the house was not actually finished until 1843, and Amos had mortgaged the original 8-acre parcel not only in 1841 but also in 1840 when he first bought it, mortgaged the 15 acres when he bought it in 1841, and the additional 8 acres when he purchased them in 1842. Finally, in 1843 Amos sold the entire 31-acre farm to his brother William,who had to buy it again for a nominal sum when it was auctioned in 1844 to settle some of Amos' debts. BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES ❑ see continuation sheet May Baskin, personal communication 1998. Hudson, Charles. History of the Town of Lexington. Revised and continued to 1912 by the Lexington Historical Society. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1913. 2: 379, 85. Lexington Valuation Lists. 1841-1845. Middlesex Registry of Deeds. Deeds. Cambridge, MA. 392: 274, 401: 413, 407: 139, 415: 393; 395: 352, 408: 423, 423: 430, 450: 140; 481: 557, 787: 391, 932: 86, 2244: 247, 2244: 253, 2505: 152, 2505: 156, 4512: 326,4745: 216, 7006: 402, 7337: 529, 7310: 424. . Plan of Land in Lexington,Mass, Aug. 4, 1948. Plan No. 1252 of 1948. ❑ Recommended for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. If checked,you must attach a completed National Register Criteria Statement form.