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BUILDING FORM (50 Hill Street) ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION Describe architectural features. Evaluate the characteristics of the building in terms of other buildings within the community. Setback from the road by a long winding drive, 50 Hill Street is a two-story, clapboarded Colonial Revival structure constructed in 1902. The 3 x 2-bay main block is capped by an asphalt-shingled hip roof pierced by two tall interior brick chimneys. On the facade,the second story overhangs the lower level slightly with brackets at the ends. A wide frieze caps the first floor. The central bay on the second story consists of a boxed like projection which rests on the roof of the entrance porch. Set above wooden steps the entrance porch is supported by paired Roman Doric columns which support a wide frieze with a single triglyph with guttae and modillion block with incised holes located at each end. A dentil molding further embellishes the porch cornice. Underneath the porch the center entrance contains a two-panel door with sidelights and a semi-elliptical fanlight filled with leaded glass. The entrance displays a fluted surround and dentil molding and flanking pilasters with the adjacent wall consisting of recessed panels. On either side of the entrance porch there is a tripartite window consisting of a single pane window flanked by 4/1 sash and shutters. Above the entrance is another tripartite unit,this time featuring a 6/1 sash flanked by leaded tracery. Simple 6/1 windows fill the remaining facade bays. A hip-roofed dormer rises from the front roof slope and is fronted by a wooden geometric balustrade. A secondary entrance is located on the left side of the house which is two bays deep with 6/1 and modern tripartite windows. The iaised entrance is fronted by a concrete stoop and capped by a shallow,hip-roofed overhang supported by small bracyets. The right side elevation is three-bays deep. At the rear is a two-story,hip-roofed addition resting on a concrete foundation with an exterior brick chimney. The side entrance has a hip roof and Roman Doric columns. HISTORICAL NARRATIVE Describe 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 constructed in 1902 for George and Alta Walker. George Walker was the editor of Boston Commercial. Local assessors records indicate that in 1902 Alta Walker owned seven acres of pasture. By the time of the 1903 assessment, a house valued at$5000 had been constructed on the property. By 1912 a garage had been added. George Walker served on the school committee from 1907 to 1910. John and Ida Cranston rurchased the property prior to 1922 and continued to own it until 1948. He was employed as an inspector for the Street Railway. Svend and Virginia Nielsen sold the property to Arthur Ruge in 1951, who sold it to the present owners in 1977. The owners have copies of the original drawings for the house although the name of the architect has been lost. BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES InVrview with Claire Bertucci,August 2000. Ldington Assessors Records. Le.�ington Directories, various dates. Lexington Valuation Lists, various dates. Recommended for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. If checked,you must attached a completed National Register Criteria Statement form.