HomeMy WebLinkAboutmiddle-street_0023 AREA FORIM N0.
FORM B - BUILDING
594
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION
294 WASHINGTON STREET, BOSTON, MA 02108 -
' iwn Lexington
[dress 23 Middle street
4 _ storic Name Idylwilde Farmhouse
� -
- ll ■r. 4 ;e: Present residential
- Original residential
DESCRIPTION:
. � ito 1875
Source David Tuttle's list (1904)
SKETCH MAP
Show property' s location in relation Style Mansard
- to nearest cross streets and/or
geographical features. Indicate Architect David A. Tuttle (builder)
all buildings between inventoried
property and nearest intersection. Exterior wall fabric shingle
Indicate north.
Outbuildings tool shed
3 0
Major alterations (with dates) sunporch
70
on south and east, two-story ell on west,
❑ rear ells, hip roof raised (all before 1925
a
Moved Date
m Approx. acreage 19366 ft.2
Recorded by T:ancy S. Seasholes Setting on quiet street near 1930s houses
Organization Lexington Historical Commission and 1970s houses built on former farmland
Date March, 1984 of this house.
(Staple additional sheets here)
ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE (Describe important architectural features and
evaluate in terms of other buildings within the community.)
This Eansard cottage, with three dormers in front and two at the sides,
has been all but obscured by subsequent additions, all apparently made before
1925: the sunnorch on the south and east, a two-story ell on the west, and
rear ells on the east and north. The mansard roof has its original slate
shingles, but the hixp roof has probably been raised, obscuring the upper
cornice of the mansard. Brackets still exist under the lower mansard cornice
at the northeast and northwest corners of the house.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE (Explain the role owners played in local or state
history and how the building relates to the development of the community.)
This house was built by David Tuttle in 1875 for Mrs. .-7illiam II. Cary,
the owner of the Cary estate. It was apparently a farmhouse for the estate,
comprised of 200 acres between Shade and Middle streets (see 12 Bicentennial
Way form) . It is not shown on the 1689 map, and in 1906 was owned by a Davis
who is not listed in the 1906 Directory.
In the 1920s the house and associated farm, occupying 12 acres in the
triangle between Middle and Marret roads, were acquired from the Parkers by
the Napoli family and became known as Idvlwilde Farm. There was a barn to
the east of the house approximately where Idvlwilde Road now is, and other
farm outbuildings including a roadside stand-on Route 2A. The farm specialized
in raisins; turkeys but also grew vegetables for sale at the stand. Between
1969 and 1971 all the farm buildings were demolished and the land sold and
subdivided for the houses that now exist along Idylwilde Road.
BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES (name of publication, author, date and publisher)
David A. Tuttle notes (1904) , Lexington Historical Society Archives.
10M - 7/82