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BUILDING FORM (97 Meriam Street) ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION Describe architectural features. Evaluate the characteristics of the building in terms of other buildings within the community. The Seaver House at 97 Meriam Street is a 11/2-story, wood shingled, Dutch Colonial building which was constructed in 1914. The wood-shingled dwelling rests on a stone foundation and is oriented with its gambrel end to the street and its principal facade facing the woods to the south. Centered on the three-bay facade,the main entrance contains a wooden door with two vertical panels and three panes of glass near the top. The door is fitted with a wooden screen door and is flanked by partial sidelights. The entrance is fronted by a segmentally arched entrance porch resting on a wooden deck with diamond latticed sides. To the left of the entrance is an original 8/1 window with molded surround. The boxed bay window on the other side was added c.1990 and designed to match the bay window on the gambrel front. The shed dormer spanning the front roof slope contains two central casement windows flanked by 6/1 doublehung sash. Elsewhere on the house there is a mix of 6/I and 8/1 windows. According to the present owner,the porch on the rear gambrel end, filling the space between the house and the garage wing, was a later addition. It has been converted in recent years to an enclosed room lit by continuous casement windows resting on a recessed panel base. At the end of the gravel driveway,the single-story garage(also probably a later addition) is set perpendicular to the house. There are two arched sets of double doors facing the street. A latticed breezeway links the garage and rear of the house. To the north of the house is a small shed, originally a hen house, constructed of vertical bead boards. Most of the glazing in the 15/6 windows has been removed. This building was originally used as a hen house and was constructed in 1917. The house is surrounded by woodland plantings, some of which were originally planted by Susan Seaver, a botanist. Among the plantings are mountain laurels,trillium and other woodland species. 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 1914 for Henry and Susan Seaver on parts of lots 42-44 which they purchased from William Swain in 1914. The house was designed to face the house to the south(95 Meriam Street)which was occupied by Henry's sister, Minnie Seaver, who was a designer. Henry Seaver was a professor of art history at M.I.T. His wife, Susan, was a botanist and was responsible for many of the woodland plantings which survive today on the property. Susan Seaver died in 1964 but Henry continued to live in the house until 1976. The property was purchased by Richard and Catherine Magnuson in 1976. The present owners are the third owners of the property, which they purchased in 1980. BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES Lexington Assessors Records. Lexington 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.