HomeMy WebLinkAboutmarrett-road_0123 AREA FORS N0.
FORM B - BUILDING
583 j
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION
2.94 WASHINGTON STREET, BOSTON, MA 02108
rOWn Lexington
kddress 123 Marrett Road
s j Ristoric Name Cotton Farm
h , 771
r = Use. Present residential
_ Original residential
DESCRIPTION:
Date c. 1800-1810
Source stylistic analysis
SKETCH MAP
Show property's location in relation Style Federal/G-re k. Revival
to nearest cross streets and/or
geographical features. Indicate Architect
all buildings between inventoried
property and nearest in ersection. Exterior wall fabric clapboards
Indicate north.
O Outbuildings attached barn
o
OA
Z
Major alterations (with dates) barn
O �
O v
converted to ell, ell raised to two stories
Oq�a�r czo�p greenhouse window added (dates unknown)
Moved Date
Approx. acreage 7 acres
Recorded by Anne Grady Setting Retains its farm-like setting
Organization Lexington Historical Commission with open land on three sides; a large
Date April, 1984 new dwelling, "Cotton Farm" is at the
rear of the site.
(Staple additional sheets here)
ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE (Describe important architectural features and
evaluate in terms of other buildings within the community.)
This is probably one of the earliest of the Country Federal/ Greek
Revival houses in East Lexington. The roof is constructed with a five-sided
ridge pole, typical of c. 1800 buildings in Lexington, rather than the narrow
board placed vertically which is the characteristic ridge pole of c. 1830
roof construction there. The building has the typical 5-bay wide, one-room
deep configuration with rear chimney and small stair hall behind the entrance.
(see Continuation Sheet)
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE (Explain the role owners played in local or state
history and how the building relates to the development of the community.)
L. (Luther) Spaulding is listed as occupant of the farm in 1853. About
1860 George Wyman Adams (1819-•1905) was the owner. In 1889 the Cotton family
purchased the property from Adems. Henry Ward Beecher Cotton, a lawyer and
member of the Common Council in Boston, resided here. His son, Judge Joseph
R. Cotton, inherited the property and lived here until he sold to the current
owners.
Further research is neec.ed to clarify the original owner and building
date of this house.
BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES (name of publication, author, date and publisher)
Hudson, Charles. History of the Town of Lexington, revised and continued to
1912 by the Lexington Historical Society, Volume II, pp. 8, 131, 657.
Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1913.
Research notes by Yvonne Schwemmer, 1976.
10M - 7/82
INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Community: Form No:
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL CCWISSION Lexington 583
Office of the Secretary, Boston
Property Name: 123 Marrett Road
Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below.
ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE
An Italianate porch and balustrade with turned balusters is a later addition
to the facade, as is the roofless balustraded veranda across the front.
The ell was originally a one-story barn. A former owner raised the roof
to two stories. The present owner restored it, replacing all but one beam with
ones from a comparable structure built in 1752 in New Hampshire.
Staple to Inventory form at bottom