HomeMy WebLinkAboutmassachusetts-avenue_0430 AREA FORM NO.
FORM B - BUILDING 523
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION
294 WASHINGTON STREET, BOSTON, MA 02108
A r
N in Lexington
-
tress 430 Massachusetts Avenue
;toric Name Willard Cooke House
6.
MOW
Present residential
-
f Original residential
e n
)ESCRIPTION:
to 1892
Source Lexington Minute Man, Dec. 9, 1892
SKETCH MAP
Show property's location in relation Style Queen-Anne
to nearest cross streets and/or
geographical features. Indicate Architect
all buildings between inventoried
property and nearest intersection. Exterior wall fabric aluminum siding
Indicate north.
Outbuildings
0 Major alterations (with dates) wooden
M ASS . A V�,
balustrades removed or replaced with
❑ ❑ ❑ , ❑❑ Q _ metal ones (recent date)
4� Q Q Moved Date
BR�P-IoIAN-b Approx. acreage 5700 ft.
Recorded by Anne Grady Setting A prominent site on a hill
Organization Lexington Historical Commission considerably above Massachusetts Avenue.
Date April, 1984
(Staple additional sheets here)
ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE (Describe important architectural features and
evaluate in terms of other buildings within the community.)
An historic photograph shows this house to have been a substantial late
nineteenth century structure with elements of Shingle and Queen Anne styles,
including a balustraded porch, bay windows and a palladian window. All
original finish and trim has been replaced with artificial siding or metalwork.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE (Explain the role owners played in local or state
history and how the building relates to the development of the community.)
The local paper reports that this house was built in 1892 by "Theodore
Munroe, a Lexington boy." The paper called the house "quite pretentious" and
further stated, "Mr. Munroe bought a large tract of land as a speculative
scheme and has had it cut up into house lots . . . several of which are already
sold. " (Note: there is no reference to Theodore Munroe in the local genealogy.)
The development was laid out with 52 tiny lots, averaging 6,000 square
feet, adjoining Hillside Avenue, Lisbeth Street, Clelland Road. People were
enticed to see the lots by offer of a free train ticket, but few lots sold,
evidently, and most have proved unbuildable because of the precipitous slope
and rock ledge.
Lexington resident, Dorothy Foster's, grandfather, Willard Cooke, a
journalist, was one of those who accepted the train ticket and bought a lot,
but soon afterward (in 1893) bought Munroe's house.
The Hillside Avenue development was one of two early 1890s development
schemes which offered free transportation to potential buyers. The other was
Meagherville in North Lexington. There too many of the lots proved unbuildable
being wetlands. Munroe does not appear in the Lexington directories by 1894.
BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES (name of publication, author, date and publisher)
Lexington Minute Man, December 9, 1892.
Historic photograph in the possession of Dorothy Foster.
1906 atlas
1894 Directory
1899 Directory
1906 Directory
Personal communication from Dorothy Foster.
10M - 7/82
INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Community: Form No:
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL CCRvIISSION Lexington 523
Office of the Secretary, Boston
Property Name: 30 Massachusetts Ave.
Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below.
a
Early 19th century in the possession of Dorothy Foster, 9 Plainfield St.
Staple to Inventory form at bottom