HomeMy WebLinkAboutforest-street_0018-0020 FORM B - BUILDING In Area no. Form no.
K 434
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION r-
Office of the Secretarv. State House. Boston
m Lexington
ress 18 - 20 Forest St. r�
ie J�fbO'f'Ma�e.✓ �u.� t �uYV1►�
X-- �� sent use Dwelling (2 family)
sent owner Vincent Benf ante
cription:
_ 1896
>ource Lexington Minute Man, Aua. 14, 1896
_ e
4. Map. Draw sketch of building location Architect
in relation to nearest cross streets and
other buildings indicate north. Exterior wall fabric White Alum. Siding
Outbuildings (describe)
4v' Other features Fieldstone & granite found.
Center entr. - wide door 2 storey bay windo,.
to left of door, porch across front at
fi 1st. and 2nd. floor
Altered Small back entr. Date
&'glassed in porch
Moved Date
\' 5. Lot size:
7050 ft.2
C One acre or less Over one acre
Approximate frontage 75'
i' \\ Approximate distance of building from street
65' .
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS SPACE 6. Recorded by Elizabeth C. Whitman; Anne Grady
USGS Quadrant
Organization Lexington Historial Commission
MHC Photo no.
Date April 99, l97h; April, 1984
(over)
5M-2-75-R061465
7. Original owner (if known)
Original use
Subsequent uses (if any) and dates 2 family?
8. Themes (check as many as applicable)
Aboriginal Conservation Recreation
Agricultural Education Religion
Architectural x 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)
Cross gable roof, very high 3rd floor, door lets out onto 2nd floor porch.
Turned posts support upper porch. Brackets under 3rd. floor roof line.
To right of lst. floor door a small rectangular "rose" window. To right
of upstairs porch door oval stained glass window with elab. moulding frame.
(See Continuation Sheet)
10. Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records,
early maps, etc.)
INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Community: Form No:
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL CU+ffSSION Lexington 4.34
Office of the Secretary, Boston
Property Name: 18-20 Forest Street
Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below.
ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE
This substantial house is embellished with typical Queen Anne/Colonial
Revival features: bay windows, oculus window, deep console brackets at the over-
hanging pedimented gable, and porch with balustrade above. This building is
nearly identical in design with 22 Forest Street.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
The process of elimination makes this house and its neighbor to the west
at 22 Forest Street the "apartments" referred to in the local newspaper:
The second apartment building on Forest Street is going
up now. (Lexington Minute Man, June 12, 1896)
Mr. Slootmaker's apartment buildings on Forest Street are
being finished and being painted buff with cream trimmings
and red with light trimmings. (Lexington Minute Man,
August 14, 1896)
This is the only reference so far discovered to "apartments" in Lexington
in the late nineteenth century. Perhaps there were multiple units in these
buildings. No information about Mr. Slootmaker has been turned up.
BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES
Lexington Minute Man, June 12, 1896, August 14, 1896.
1889 atlas
1898 atlas
1906 atlas
1894 Directory
1899 Directory
1906 Directory
Staple to Inventory form at bottom