HomeMy WebLinkAboutmassachusetts-avenue_0805 FORM B - BUILDING In Area no. Form no.
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION E." P 222
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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
Outbuildings (describe)
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Other features Gable end to street, full
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i> altered 1974.
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Altered Date
— rP _ A ii Moved Date
5. Lot size:
1MOne acre or less x Over one acre
VApproximate frontage 60'
Approximate distance of building from street
15'
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS SPACE 6. Recorded by AnnCGrady
USGS Quadrant
Organization Lex. Hist. Com.
HC Photo no.
Date 7/75
(over)
7. Original owner (if known) Augustus Childs
Original use Post Office for E. Lex; store
Subsequent uses (if any) and dates formerly Wardrobe's pharmacy until 1973
8. Themes (check as many as applicable)
Aboriginal Conservation Recreation
Agriculcural Education Religion
Architectural Exploration/ Science/
The Arts settlement invention
Commerce Industry Social/
Communication Military humanitarian
Community development X Political Transportation
9. Historical significance (include explanation of themes checked above) .,
Worthen 1 p. 60 'When the present store building at the lower corner of Curve St.
was built, Mr. Childs moved with the Post Office to the new building. East Lex. P. 0.
had originally been in the Brick Store. 1836-1867. When Augustus Childs was appointed
postmaster, Childs moved P. 0. , first to old Adams Schooll*building, now demolished,
then to this site.
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Descrip: cont: land to rear makes two story gable roof addition possible. One small
chimney , center ridge.
Historical significance (continued)
See photo in the collection of the Lexington Historical Society, c. 1885.
S. Lawrence Whipple, 1984
10. Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records,
early maps, etc.) .
Ed Worthen. Calendar History of Lexington.
3/73
INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Town Property Address
LEXINGTON 805 MASS. AVENUE
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
MASSACHUSETTS ARCHIVES BUILDING
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD 222
BOSTON,MASSACHUSETTS 02125
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
According to E.B. Worthen, in the late 19'b to early 20t"century there were three buildings on the northeast side of Main
Street below Curve Street: the post office(this building),Chisholm's harness shop(803 Mass Ave.)and Carl
Mandelberg's carriage house(no longer extant). When Augustus Childs was appointed postmaster in 1867, he was
operating a small grocery store in the building later owned by Mandelberg which had originally constructed in 1837 as a
schoolhouse. It was only used as a school until 1858 and then it was moved across the street where it became Augustus
Child's grocery store and initially the post office was located there as well. In 1875,this building at 805 Massachusetts
Avenue was constructed and Childs moved the grocery store and post office here. The cellar was used for a stable and
harness room. The second floor was occupied as a barber shop. The post office boxes occupied the left side of the street
floor and the grocery counter was on the right side. The large back room stored extra stock. Augustus' son, Carlton
Childs was appointed postmaster in 1895. In 1900 Lucius Austin was appointed postmaster and continued to operate
here. The office was discontinued in 1909 with the establishment of free delivery(Worthen: 49-50; Hudson, vol. 1,p.
296). Austin continued to operate a groceries and provisions store here until about 1915.
By 1942 this building contained Wardrobe's Drug Store. The store remained here until 1973.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Hudson, Charles. History of the Town of Lexington.
Lexington Directories,various dates.
Lexington Minute-man, January 1, 1876(see below).
Worthen,Edwin B. Tracing the Past in Lexington, Massachusetts. New York: Vantage Press, 1998.
Supplement prepared by:
Lisa Mausolf
June 2009
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INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Town Property Address
LEXINGTON 805 MASS. AVENUE
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
MASSACHUSETTS ARCHIVES BUILDING
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD 222
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
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Source: Beverly Allison Kelley,Lexington: A Century of Photographs, p. 132.