middle-street_0023 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE (Describe important architectural features and evaluate in terms of other buildings within the community.) This Eansard cottage, with three dormers in front and two at the sides, has been all but obscured by subsequent additions, all apparently made before 1925: the sunnorch on the south and east, a two-story ell on the west, and rear ells on the east and north. The mansard roof has its original slate shingles, but the hixp roof has probably been raised, obscuring the upper cornice of the mansard. Brackets still exist under the lower mansard cornice at the northeast and northwest corners of the house. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE (Explain the role owners played in local or state history and how the building relates to the development of the community.) This house was built by David Tuttle in 1875 for Mrs. .-7illiam II. Cary, the owner of the Cary estate. It was apparently a farmhouse for the estate, comprised of 200 acres between Shade and Middle streets (see 12 Bicentennial Way form) . It is not shown on the 1689 map, and in 1906 was owned by a Davis who is not listed in the 1906 Directory. In the 1920s the house and associated farm, occupying 12 acres in the triangle between Middle and Marret roads, were acquired from the Parkers by the Napoli family and became known as Idvlwilde Farm. There was a barn to the east of the house approximately where Idvlwilde Road now is, and other farm outbuildings including a roadside stand-on Route 2A. The farm specialized in raisins; turkeys but also grew vegetables for sale at the stand. Between 1969 and 1971 all the farm buildings were demolished and the land sold and subdivided for the houses that now exist along Idylwilde Road. BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES (name of publication, author, date and publisher) David A. Tuttle notes (1904) , Lexington Historical Society Archives. 10M - 7/82