HomeMy WebLinkAboutmassachusetts-avenue_1625 FORM B - BUILDING In Area no. Form no.
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION A tU 3 I
Office of the Secretary, State House, Boston
,' _ - _ _own Lexington
3dress 1625 Massachusetts Ave.
Ile -INN
iv = __ ime Town Office Bldg.
-esent use
—g - - esent owner Town oP Lexington
scription:
1927
INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Community: Form No:
MASSACHUSETTS HI STORI CAL CCMII SS I ON Lexington to 3
Office of the Secretary, Boston
Property Name: Town Office Bldg.
Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below.
Other features :
Slate roof with copper ridge and seams. .Salconet with wrought iron
railing above entrance . Entrance has rectangular sidelights and transom
lights . 8/8 double hung sash windows, with flat brick arches as lintels.
Two squat brick chimneys on south slope. Sympathetic later addition in
rear. In gable of main building, above entrance is white wooden plaque
with Town Seal in Gold.
Staple to Inventory form at b^ttom
7. Original owner (if known) Town of Lexington
Original use town offices
Subsequent uses (if any) and dates
S. 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)
10. Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records,
early maps, etc.)
INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Town Property Address
LEXINGTON 1625 MASS. AVE.
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
MASSACHUSETTS ARCHIVES BUILDING 631
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
At town meeting in January 1927 the town voted to appoint a committee to consider the erection of a town
office building to replace the old Town Hall which was built in 1871 and stood at the corner of Main and
Waltham Streets. As a result of the vote, the old town hall was sold for $50,001 and was subsequently
demolished in 1928.
The new Town Office Building was erected on land given by the trustees of the Isaac Harris Cary Educational
Fund. The home of Harris E. Shaw formerly stood on the site of the present Town Office Building. It was torn
down in 1927,prior to the construction of the new building. Cary Memorial Hall was constructed adjacent to
the Town Office in 1927-8, on the site of the Plumer House which was also torn down.
The Town Office Building was designed by the Boston architectural firm of Kilham, Hopkins, Greeley and
Brown. James S. Greenwood was the general contractor. The waterstruck brick for the project were purchased
from a company in Epping,New Hampshire. When the Town Office building opened for business in June
1928, the Police Department occupied the entire ground floor. After the current police station was built in 1956,
the assessors and building department also moved to the police building at 1575 Massachusetts Avenue.
In 1970-1 the Town Office Building was remodeled and expanded according to the specifications of Perry, Dean
and Stewart. Great care was taken to preserve and duplicate the appearance of the original section of the
structure including red brick, white trimmings and a slate roof. The square footage of the building doubled and
included additional space for town administrators, the comptroller, conference and committee rooms. The
heating system, plumbing, wiring and other services were updated and an elevator and air conditioning were
added. A. Bonfatti Co., Inc. of Norwood served as the general contractor. With the completion of the
addition, the Assessors and Building Department returned to the Town Office Building. On October 15, 1971
the renovated and enlarged Town Office Building was open to business. It was dedicated on January 9, 1972.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Hudson, Charles. History of the Town of Lexington. Cambridge: The Riverside Press Co., 1913.
Kelly, Beverly Allison. Lexington: A Century of Photographs. Lexington Historical Society, 1980.
Ostrow, David. Historic American Buildings Survey, HABS No. MA-1174, Town Office Building,
1625 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington, Mass., August 16, 1981.
Worthen, Edwin B. A Calendar History of Lexington, Massachusetts, 1620-1946. Lexington: 1946.
Worthen, Edwin B. Tracing the Past in Lexington, Massachusetts. New York: Vantage Press, Inc., 1998:
23-4.
Supplement prepared by:
Lisa Mausolf
December 2009