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INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET LEXINGTON 12 Hancock Avenue MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No. 220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD,BOSTON,MASSACHUSETTS 02125 Recommended for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. If checked,you must attach a completed National Register Criteria Statement form. ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION: Describe architectural features. Evaluate the characteristics of this building in terms of other buildings within the community. The house at 12 Hancock Avenue was originally a simple 2 %2-story gablefront which was just two bays wide(similar to 13 Hancock Avenue). In this case,the house was later expanded by a 20'h century addition on the west side,resulting in an asymmetrical gablefront. What was a sidehall entrance was updated with a Colonial Revival fanlight and sidelights, sheltered by a pedimented porch resting on two pairs of Doric columns. Other alterations include the tripartite windows next to the entrance, the west porch and the garage underneath. An original single-story,three-sided bay window is located on the east side. Most of the windows contain 2/2 sash. HISTORICAL NARRATIVE 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. On October 4, 1873 the Minute-man reported that Mr. J.L.Norris had"sold the house last built by him on Hancock Avenue to A.L. Scott"for$3,000. Beginning in the early 1870s local builder and developer John L.Norris had constructed five mansard- roof cottages on the north side of Hancock Avenue (at 3,5,7,9 & 11)as well as a 2 '/2-story gablefront dwelling at 13 Hancock Avenue. He also constructed a gablefront dwelling for himself at 8 Hancock Avenue and lived there until 1875. Norris went onto become the driving force behind the development of the Bloomfield Street neighborhood in the 1880s and lived at 1430 Massachusetts Avenue. He was also a trustee of the Lexington Savings Bank and built the Norris Block at Lexington Center. The original owner of the house,A.L. Scott,was employed by the railroad. He is shown as the owner on the 1889 map but died the following year. The next owner was likely William Crowther, a provisions merchant who was born in England and became a Lexington resident in 1899. He and his wife Ethel were living here in 1910. By 1920 the house was occupied by Albert and Carolyn Carson. He was employed as an insurance inspector. The couple was still here in 1930, along with their two daughters and a brother-in-law. Later owners included Clifford and Helen Castle(?-1969),Marcia and Thomas Trainor(1969-1978) and Edward and Nonie Ward(1978-1997). BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES Hudson, Charles. History of the Town of Lexington. Cambridge: The Riverside Press Co., 1913,vol. 2,p. 137 & 610. Lexington Directories,various years. Lexington Minute-man, October 4, 1873. Sanborn Insurance maps,various years. U.S. Census,various years. 1875, 1889 maps Continuation sheet 1