HomeMy WebLinkAboutdepot-square_0013 FORM B - BUILDING In Area no. Form no.
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION A 26
Office of the Secretary, State House, Boston
Lexington
ss 13 Depot Square
Depot building
nt use Depositors Trust Bank, LaTienda
shop K end
-�
'Aped'. nt owner
_ - - ption:
After 1846 when opened
Ki sii �;i trce
_
Italziate, altered to Colonial Revival
't. Map. l.riuw tert Alterations by Wm. R. Greeley
in relation to nearest cross streets and
other buildings. Indicate north. Exterior wall fabric Clapboard
Outbuildings (describe)
- -- - Other features Main block center entrance with
4 roundheaded windows each side of door.
r ' / Door with transom lights, pilasters (over)
7 t J
Altered Date
Moved Date
_ `� �_�_------- 5. Lot size
f t' One acre or less Over one acre
r •�- 3
Approximate frontage 100,
Approximate distance of building from street
6'
O NOT WRITE IN THIS SPACE 6. Recorded by E. W. Reinhardt
USGS Quadrant
Organization Lexington Historical Comm..
HC Photo no.
Date October, 1975
(over)
r,M-,)-,7F-7Pn�;1465 (90M-2=76)
7. Original owner (if known) Lexington's West Cambridge Railroad
Original use Depot
Subsequent uses (if any) and dates (still used as communter's station)
8. Themes (check as many as applicable)
Aboriginal Conservation Recreation
Agricultural Education Religion
Architectural Exploration/ Science/
The Arts settlement invention
Commerce X Industry Social/
Communication Military humanitarian
Community development x Political Transportation x
9. Historical significance (include explanation of themes checked above)
huge split ogee pediment with central ,_,i-o, + porch full length & height of building,
square posts with Col. Revival additions. Porch has pedimented central
element + cornice railing. Cupola . Train shed to rear facing tracks -runs full
length of building. Arches of shed have keystones i'. wood.
Land for Emery Park bought by Town in 1922, (Ew p. 116) Park directly in front of
bank, semi-circular, surrounded by granite post & chain fence. Monument stone in-park
reads: Frederick L. Emery - Park - Named to honor a Leader in Civic Improvements.
Brass plaque in low rubble stone-monument with small pool in stone recess. Park well
maintained & landscaped. Beautiful mature trees.-
10. Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records,
early maps, etc.)
Worthen, Calendar History.
INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Community: Form No:
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL CUM SSION 26
Office of the Secretary, Boston
Property Name: 13 Depot Square
Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
In 1885, about 30 feet was cut off one end; it was redesigned as a train
shed in 1873 (see Lexington Minute Man, August 2, 1873) .
In 1873, tracks were laid to Concord (through Bedford) , and in 1886,
double tracks from Lexington to Boston were completed. From that time on, into
the early 1900s, the line was a busy one. At its peak, there were 22 trains a
day each way into Boston and return. Prior to the coming of the streetcar in
1900, the train was the most convenient method of traveling within the town,
i.e. , from Lexington Center to East Lexington.
In 1917, the depot was damaged by fire and the B&M were about to tear it
down until they were persuaded by town officials to renovate. Wm. Roger Greeley
of Kilham, Hopkins and Greeley was the architect for the renovation.
The structure was used as a depot until 1958 when it was purchased by Mr.
Anthony Cataldo for a branch office of the Depositors Trust (of Medford) . One
B&M passenger train per day continued to stop at the former depot until about
1977, when service ceased. (It went into Boston about 7:30 am, returned about
6:30 pm.) Slate roof was replaced with asphalt in 1976.
Sources: E.B. Worthen; W.R. Greeley article in July 2, 1959 issue of the
Lexington Minute Man newspaper.
S. Lawrence Whipple, 1984
Staple to Inventory form at bottom
FORM B - BUILDING Area Form no.
-26
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION
294 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02108
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Town LEXINGTON
Address Depot Square
exinE, on & Westam rldEe
Historic Name Railroad; LexinE-ton Depot
PHOTO (3x3" or 3x5", black 4 white) Use: Original railroad station
Staple to left side of form
PPresent bank
Photo number
Ownership:Q Private individual
Private organization
Depositore Trust Co.
Public
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Original owner L&QVC RR
SKETCH MAP
Draw map showing property's DESCRIPTION:
location in relation to nearest
cross streets and other buildings Date c. 1850; 1918
or geographical features.
Indicate north. Source
Style
Architect
Exterior wall fabric clapboard
Outbuildings
Major alterations (with dates) After
fire in 1918, several colonial Rev.
elements includinE cupola, balustraade,
Rnrl -('nll nnar1a_
Moved Date
Approx. acreage
Recorded by Peter Stott Setting Town center
Organization Imc
Date 10/22/80
taple additional sheets here)
7. Original owner (if known)
Original use
Subsequent uses (if any) and dates
8. Themes (check as many as applicable)
Aboriginal Conservation Recreation
Agricultural Education Religion
Architectural Exploration/ Science/
The Arts settlement invention
Commerce Industry Social/
Communication Military humanitarian
Community development Political Transportation
9. Historical significance (include explanation of themes checked above)
10. Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records,
early maps, etc.)
ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE (describe important architectural features and
evaluate in terms of other buildings within community)
Early single-story wood-frame passenger station approximately 96 feet in
length and 53 feet in width. The gable roof shelters a 25-foot wide train-
shed typical of many medium-sized mid-century ramlroad stations.
This is believed to be the only trainshed depot left in Massachusetts -- if
not in the countyy. Interior has been renovated for a bank, and much of
the exterior fenestration has been altered, though not disfigured.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE Cexplain the role owners played in local or state history
and how the building relates to the development of the community)
First regular passenEer service, provided by the Lexington and West
Cambridge Railroad which terminated here, began in 1846, and the depot
may date to about that date. Damaged by fire in 1918, the station was
renovated by the railroad with the construction of a new roof, in addition
to a Colonial revival cupola, balustrade, and colonade.
BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES
Kelley, Beverly Alison, Lexington, A Century of Photographs (Lexin€ton, 19e0;
pp. 106-107.
20M-2/80
INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Town Property Address
LEXINGTON 13 DEPOT SQUARE
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
MASSACHUSETTS ARCHIVES BUILDING
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD 2C
BOSTON,MASSACHUSETTS 02125
vi
Undated photograph of depot as it appeared before alterations.
Source: Kelly,Beverly Allison. Lexington: A Century of Photographs. Lexington Historical Society, 1980,p. 106.
Supplement prepared by:
Lisa Mausolf
March 2009