HomeMy WebLinkAboutgrant-street_0004 FORM B - BUILDING In Area no. Form no.
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION A 0
Office of the Secretary, State House, Boston
-_ n Lexington
resS 4 Grant Street
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4. Map. Draw sketch of building location Architect
in relation to nearest cross streets and
other buildings. Indicate north. Exterior wall fabric stuccoed concrete
Outbuildings (describe) fenced in transformers
Other features rectangular smooth surface
quoins trim the corners-windows and door
similarly treated in arch pattern
Altered Date
Moved Date
5. Lot size.,
One acre or less Over one acre
Approximate frontage
Approximate distance of building from street
O NOT WRITE IN THIS SPACE 6. Recorded by E.W.Reinhardt
USGS Quadrant
Organization Lex.Hist.Com.
MHC Photo no.
Date 3/27/76
(over)
c:M_,)_,7S_unA1465 00M-2=;761
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)
This is the site of several Muzzey family houses. Presumably, the first
Muzzey in Lexington (1640s?) built a house in this area, alongside Vine Brook.
The brook was dammed and Muzzey operated a sawmill here.
The present Muzzey house at 42 Forest Street (eighteenth century) stood
here before being moved to Waltham Street in 1841 to make room for the Muzzey
"Mansion House." In turn, the mansion house was cut in half in 1913 and moved
to Glen Road South (Muzzey owned land) , where it remains today (#14) .
S. Lawrence Whipple, 1984
10. Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records,
early maps, etc.)
INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Town Property Address
LEXINGTON 4 GRANT STREET
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
MASSACHUSETTS ARCHIVES BUILDING
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD 603
BOSTON,MASSACHUSETTS 02125
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
Although Lexington had electricity in 1893, it was not until 1914 that this station began supplying the power. The
Edison Illuminating Company provided the following description of their new building for the Lexington Minute-man of
November 1, 1913:
This new station is located at 401 Massachusetts avenue, corner of Grant street,with the entrance on Grant street.
It is what is called Station No. 34 by the Boston Edison Company. The building is about 67 '/2 feet front by 111
'/2 feet deep and sets 40 feet or more back from Massachusetts avenue. Special care has been taken by the
company to preserve the large trees on the street front,and the intervening grounds between the street and the
building will be made attractive by expert landscape gardeners. The basement walls are of concrete,above which
is brick,with steel frames,concrete floors, and roof,with metal sash and trimmings throughout. It is fire-proof of
the very highest class of construction. The general contractors of this building are Messrs. Whidden&Company
of Boston. A small temporary station used during the work on the new station will disappear as soon as the
larger station is entirely available. From this station the company will serve its customers throughout Lexington,
and connecting into the station will be trunk lines leading to the Waltham and Woburn stations,which will make
for increased efficiency and continuity of service. The apparatus,although of high capacity and efficiency, will
be practically noiseless in operation. There is of course no smoke or dust or dirt in connection with the operation
of such a station,which is only used for transforming high tension current down to commercial pressure.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Kelley,Beverley Allison. Lexington: A Century of Photographs. Lexington: Lexington Historical Society, 1980,
p. 117.
Lexington Minute-man,Nov. 1, 1913.
Supplement prepared by:
Lisa Mausolf
March 2009