HomeMy WebLinkAboutmassachusetts-avenue_1403 FORM B - BUILDING In Area no. Form no.
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COb1MISSION D 137
Office of the Secretary, State House, Boston
JAW • 76
ovn Lexington
} cress 1403 Mass L \le-.
me Munroe School
r
x r 3sent use Elementary school
" - - sent owner Town of Lexington
5cription:
;e 1904
4
Source Town records
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4. Map. Draw sketch of building location Architect �► a� �. ���,,.
in relation to nearest cross streets and
other buildings. Indicate north. Exterior wall fabric brick (orig. shingle)
-_ Outbuildings (describe)
Other features two doors, dart moulding
"georgian" brackets support door hoods;
(� bagMent level-fi6ldstone
Altered es enlarged Date 1915
_ Moved Date
r
----X- �� �� . Lot size:
9 One acre or less Over one acre x
L Z 4 Approximate frontage 175'
� '. Approximate distance of building from street
50'
O NOT WRITE IN THIS SPACE 6. Recorded by Ruth Beebe
USGS Quadrant
Organization Lex. Hist. Com.
HC Photo no.
Date 7/30/75
(over)
7. Original owner (if known)
Original use
Subsequent uses (if any) and dates Jr. High, 1923
8. Themes (check as many as applicable)
Aboriginal Conservation Recreation
Agricultural Education Religion �?
Architectural Exploration/ Science/
The Arts settlement invention
Commerce Industry Social/ Y
Communication Military humanitarian
Community development Political Transportation
9. Historical significance (include explanation of themes checked above)
This&4i]d'.�was altered in 1915, according to plans by W.R. Greeley:
brick wings were extended toward Massachusetts Avenue; brick fabric was
installed over older wood shingles.
S. Lawrence Whipple, 1984
Original building- central block, shingled - rear central portion-still shingled.
10. Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records,
early maps, etc.)
Ed Worthen-Calendar History of Lexington - p. 105
3/73
INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Town Property Address
LEXINGTON 1403 MASS. AVENUE
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
MASSACHUSETTS ARCHIVES BUILDING
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD 137
BOSTON,MASSACHUSETTS 02125
ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:
A description of the new(then un-named) school appeared in the Lexington Minute-man on July 16, 1904:
The new Lexington primary school building on Mass. avenue, nearly opposite Pelham road, displays quite an
imposing structure from the perspective plans of the architect,Mr. Willard D. Brown. The structures is
somewhat after the Italian Renaissance style—plain and dignified and of excellent proportions,rather than
ornate. The windows are numerous and arranged to as to add to the pleasing effect of the fagade and redeem the
design from monotomy or commonplaceness. The contractor,E.W. Pitman of Lawrence,promises to complete
the structure by Oct. 1 s`. We should judge this to be an impossible feat of accomplishment,with less than three
months to do it in.
There will be six class rooms, each well lighted. Beside the ordinary school room equipment,they will have
wide shelves for plants and roomy book closets. There are two front entrances leading through covered porches
into entrance vestibules,whence two staircases lead up and down. A transverse hall runs the entire width of the
building. In this are placed the ventilated wardrobes,the footwarmers and drinking fountains. In front of this
hall between the entrances is the teachers' room, and at the rear are large class rooms, each connected with the
hall by two doors opening outward and also communicating with each other.
The second floor is planned like the first, except that in place of a teachers' room there is an emergency room and
a supply room. In the basement are the boys' and girls' play rooms and the heating and ventilating plant,
consisting of furnaces for the class rooms and an auxiliary steam boiler for heating the ventilating ducts, for
furnishing direct heat to the corridors and coat rooms, and for heating auxiliary heating coils in the class rooms.
There are separate coal pockets for the furnaces and boiler, each holding a season's supply of coal.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
The new Lexington primary school opened in October 1904. The wooden structure was built at a cost of$28,000. It was
named the Munroe School in March 1905. In 1915 the town voted$60,000 to enlarge the Munroe School and the front
and side walls were faced with brick. Beginning in 1923 the building was used for a Junior High School.
The Munroe School was closed in 1979. A few years later it became the Munroe Center for the Arts.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Hinkle,Alice and Andrea Cleghorn. Life in Lexington: 1946-1995.
Hudson, Charles. History of the Town of Lexington.
Kelley, Beverly Allison. Lexington: A Century of Photographs. Lexington Historical Society, 1980, p. 56.
Lexington Directories,various dates.
Lexington Minute-man, July 16, 1904.
Worthen, Edwin B. A Calendar History of Lexington, Massachusetts. Lexington: 1946.
Supplement prepared by:
Lisa Mausolf
June 2009
INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Town Property Address
LEXINGTON 1403 MASS. AVENUE
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
MASSACHUSETTS ARCHIVES.BUILDING 137
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD
BOSTON,MASSACHUSETTS 02125
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Munroe School prior to 1915 alterations.
Source: Beverly Allison Kelley,Lexington: A Century of Photographs, 1980, p. 56.