HomeMy WebLinkAboutmassachusetts-avenue_1984 FORM B - BUILDING In Area no. Form no.
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION g 96
Office of the Secretary, State House, Boston
zx Lexington
1984 Mass. Ave.
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nt use residence
Y nt owner.
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a C. 1820
4. Map. Draw sketch of building location Architect
in relation to nearest cross streets and
other buildings. Indicate north. Exterior wall fabric clapboard
brick sided half exposed
Outbuildings (describe) shed in rear.
Other featuresMain block: 5 bays wide, 1
deep, center entrance; foundation -granite
- "" block in front, brick along sides
Altered Date
Moved yes Date c' 1900
5. Lot size: (from lot SW of 1st Parish)
One acre or less x Over one acre
Approximate frontage 751
Approximate distance of building from street
25'
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS SPACE 6. Recorded by E.W.Reinhardt
USGS Quadrant
Organization Lex. Hist. Com.
HC Photo no.
Date 12/75
(over)
qM-?-75-R061465 (20M-2576)
7. Original owner (if known)
Original use
Subsequent uses (if any) and dates
8. 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)
Descrip cont: Main door - sidelights to bottom panel level. Heavy projecting lintel
over door; attractive cornice treatment over door.
Windows 6x6, symmetrically placed; two chimneys along rear eave line.
Dependencies: North side - 2 story ell, double pitch roof at right angles to roof
of main block; entrance in ell with flush boarded covered porch; ell is three bays
wide, windows 6x6. One story ell attached, double pitch roof on axis with two story
ell; entrance door with wide lintel over door, two windows 6x6 (serves as office space.)
South side - ell extends to south beyond main block, low chimney
at eave line, ell joined by one story addition, also with chimney.
10. Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records,
early maps, etc.)
INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Community: Form No:
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL CCHd SSION (p
Office of the Secretary, Boston
Property Name: 1984 Massachusetts Ave
Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
This house was formerly occupied (after 1850) by Joel Viles (b. 1793, d.
1873 -- see Hudson, Volume II, p. 720) . He represented Lexington in the State
Convention of 1853 to revise state constitution and also he was a selectman for
ten years. Before living here, he kept the Bull Tavern (or Viles Tavern) at
the junction of Marrett Road and Marrett Street, which he operated from 1820
until after 1850. (See Proceedings of the Lexington Historical Society, Volume
I; also archives of the Lexington Historical Society [reminiscences of Everett
M. Mulliken] .)
In the 1930s these premises were operated as a tearoom, and in the 1940s
and 1950s as an antiques shop by the Fosters.
Tradition says that in the early 1800s the owner (a Mr. Scott?) was
carrying on a fur dressing business here and also using the underground struc-
ture (still existing) as a potting shed.
Deeds to the property can be traced to Nathan Munroe, March 23, 1813 (212-
101) .
For many years in the mid-1800s it was a double house.
(Source: see acc. #6642 in the archives of the Lexington Historical Society.)
In the early 1900s until his death in 1921, Albert S. McDonald lived here
and raised flowers and plants for his retail florist shop in Boston (Temple
Place) . His greenhouses were behind the present house.
S. Lawrence Whipple, 1984
Staple to Inventory form at bottom