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INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Town Property Address LEXINGTON 39 HIGHLAND ST. MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No. MASSACHUSETTS ARCHIVES BUILDING 220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD 488 BOSTON,MASSACHUSETTS 02125 HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE: As documented in the inventory form completed for the house at 36 Forest Street(#442),the design of this house was based on an illustration published in the Supplement to the Scientific American—Architects and Builders Edition of October 1886 under the title"An$1800 Dwelling Designed by Frank D.Nichols,Bridgeport, Conn."(see accompanying illustration). From 1880 to 1905 Scientific American published a monthly magazine intended to inform the public about good building practices and modern construction techniques. By the mid 1880s it had become the builder's magazine with the largest circulation in the world. It appears that either the owner, George Norris, or the builder, Abram C. Washburn, had access to this publication and based the design of the house at 39 Highland Street on it. In 1896 Washburn chose to the use the same design for the enlargement of his own house at 36 Forest Street. George S.Norris owned the property until his death about 1925. His widow Cora was still living here in 1932. Harold and Alice Ashley were occupying the house in 1942. Their descendants still own the house today. BIBLIOGRAPHY: Lexington Directories,various years. Lexington Minute-man,June 29, 1901. Stewart,Barbara C. and Anne Grady. Inventory form for 36 Forest Street, Lexington, 1976 & 1984. Supplement prepared by: Lisa Mausolf March 2009