HomeMy WebLinkAboutoakland-street_0019 AREA FORM N0. !
FORM B - BUILDING
H 373
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION
294 WASHINGTON STREET, BOSTON, MA 02108
;l % a _ n Lexington
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- x'a„ ress 19 Oakland Street _-
toric Name E.P. Bliss House
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Present residential
4 Original residential
- -.SCRIPTION:
1883-1884
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.,ource Lexington Minute Man, July 13, 1883
SKETCH MAP
Show property's location in relation Style Queen Anne
to nearest cross streets and/or Allen and Kenway;
geographical features. Indicate Architect remodeled by, Wi lard Brown
all buildings between inventoried Jb h A y, C6Y7 Vd G r
property and nearest intersection. Exterior wall fabric shingles
Indicate north.
Outbuildings garage
A3,
0
Major alterations (with dates) right
hand half of house added (c. 1906)Moved Date
Approx. acreage 1.2 A. (52300 ft.2)
Recorded by Anne Grady Setting On the precipitous southern
Organization Lexington Historical Commission slope of Meriam Hill; residential street
Date March, 1984 developed primarily in the late nineteenth
century.
(Staple additional sheets here)
ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE (Describe important architectural features and
evaluate in terms of other buildings Within the community.)
The left hand (east) half of the house is the original, 1884 portion of
the house. The right hand half was added c. 1906. The original house, designed
by the same architects at the same date as 17 Oakland Street, was Queen Anne in
style and decorative features included brackets at the eaves, patterned shingles
in the small gable which extended above the hip roof, and an oriel window with a
heavily molded base. Francis Allen, of the architectural firm which designed
the house, later designed Riverside Church in New York in partnership with
(see Continuation Sheet)
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE (Explain the role owners played in local or state
history and how the building relates to the development of the community.)
Edward Penniman Bliss, an importer of carriage goods in Boston, built
the house. Bliss and George S. Jackson of 17 Oakland Street had been summer
guests at the Massachusetts House for several summers. They decided to buy
adjoining lots on the newly created Oakland Street and build houses. Jackson's
was a summer residence at first; presumably, Bliss' was too.
BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES (name of publication, author, date and publisher)
Album of works by Willard Brown. Lexington Historical Society archives.
Hudson, Charles. History of the Town of Lexington, revised and continued to
1912 by the Lexington Historical Society, Volume II, p. 34. Boston:
Houghton Mifflin Company, 1913.
Lexington Minute Man, May 11, 1883, July 13, 1883.
Plans of addition by Willard Brown in possession of owner.
1889 atlas
1906 atlas
1887 Directory
'1894 Directory
1899 Directory
1906 Directory
10M - 7/82
INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Community: Form No:
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL CCWSSION Lexington 373
Office of the Secretary, Boston
Property Name: 19 Oakland Street
Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below.
ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE
Charles Collens. The contractor was John May of Magnolia,/ n arKtitect of
the c. 1906 addition, Willard Brown, was careful to repeat the basic design
features of the 1884 house on the exterior except when he added a porch with
half-timbered pediment and exposed rafters. The porch and rafter treatment
were almost a trademark of Brown' s and were included in many of his houses of
the period.
The interiors added by Brown are among the architect's most creative work.
The precipitous site allowed a full basement on the rear side but was encumbered
by an outcropping of bedrock. Brown incorporated the rock into the grotto he
designed for the basement. A bed for ferns borders the rock. (Photographs of
the addition when new are in an album of works by Willard Brown at the Lexington
Historical Society.) Stained glass windows along the south wall are of palm
trees rendered in blues and greens. Upstairs along the rear elevation, a porch
was enclosed and extended across the addition to form an area called on the
plans a "promenade" or a "cloister. The added living room has a free-standing
two-sided fireplace of geometric design covered with tiles. Windows are
geometric leaded and stained glass somewhat similar to the windows Frank Lloyd
Wright was designing for his Prairie Style houses. Photographs show that the
original wallpaper in the living room was an oversize William Morris style print.
The living room must have seemed very modern when it was designed. Upstairs two
bedrooms and a bath were added.
The house at 19A Oakland Street was originally an outbuilding, probably
the carriage house for this estate. Now it is under separate ownership.
Staple to Inventory form at bottom
INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Town Property Address
LEXINGTON 19 OAKLAND ST.
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
MASSACHUSETTS ARCHIVES BUILDING
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD 0 373
BOSTON,MASSACHUSETTS 02125
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
In the spring of 1883,the Lexington Minute-Man noted the impending construction of this house as well as the house next
door at 17 Oakland Street:
Mr. E. P. Bliss, and Mr. Geo. Jackson, both of Boston and former guests at the Massachusetts House during two
summers have bought building lots on the hill back of Lexington station and facing on the new portion of
Oakland street. This is a very sightly and attractive part of the town, and no doubt more building projects will
soon follow,now that the start has been made(Minute-man, May 11, 1883).
In 1888 a stone wall was built around the premises(Minute-man, Oct. 19, 1888).
A brief article appearing in the Lexington Minute-man on March 16, 1907, offers an unusual glimpse into the interior of
the house and the Willard Brown addition:
At Cedarcroft, on Saturday last, a party of the"oldest Lexington boys"were elaborately entertained. To see the
Bliss' house is educational and entertaining. The grotto in the basement,with the trickling waters falling into a
granite basin,where fishes are sporting, surrounded with exotic plants and blossoms, is a rare sight; and also, in
connection,there is a sunny conservatory which adds to the enchanting scene. The living room is filled with rare
curios,many from the old world,and its construction is unique and pleasing. The loggia should not be omitted,
as from it there is an extended view toward Boston. It is largely encased in glass and well warmed for the winter
season, so it is a constant delight. The feast was bountiful and should have to be seen and partaken of to be
described. The guests returned to their homes feeling they had been royally entertained,and grateful to the genial
host for the favors they had received.
According to the Town History,Edward Penniman Bliss(b.1850)was educated at Harvard and came to Lexington in
1882. He served on the school committee from 1886-1901 and was chosen selectman in 1912. He was active in the
Historical Society,the Hancock Church and the Old Belfry Club. He died about 1915.
Edward and his wife Mary did not have any children. In 1920 Mrs. Bliss was living here with her 88 year old mother
Mary McKay and four servants. Mrs. Bliss was still living here in 1926 but was gone by 1932.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Lexington Directories,various dates.
Lexington Minute-Man, May 11, 1883; Oct. 19, 1888; March 16, 1907.
U.S. Census Records, 1900-1930.
Supplement prepared by:
Lisa Mausolf
June 2009