HomeMy WebLinkAboutoakland-street_0023 FORM B - BUILDING Arra Form no.
.� Lexington
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'_6' +�_ - s23 Oakland Street
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' ►� J is Mame George B. Grant House
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s. - riginal Residence
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resent Residence
hip: Private individual
T T Private organization
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Public
- - -° iriginal owner
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SKETCH MAP
N Draw map showing property's DESCRIPTION:
location in relation to nearest 1887
cross streets and other buildings Date
or geographical features.
- Indicate north. Source Mimute—man ,Jc�vj22, (��7
Style Queen Anne
OArchitect
Exterior wall fabric aluminum siding
Outbuildings 2 car garage
ry
_ -9v
0
`' Major alterations (with dates)
1 window 1953
/ E
\ 'r% Moved Date
Approx. acreage .7 (29137')
Recorded by Audrey R. MacCarey; Anne Grade Setting Meriam Hill; residential street
Organization Lexington Historical Comm. of ample houses built in the late nine-
Date 4-16-76; Iiarch, 1984 teenth century.
(Staple additional sheets here)
ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE (describe important architectural features and
evaluate in terms of other buildings within community)
end gable; half-hip roof.
Fine example of Queen Anne
Front door recessed in glassed-in porch, left, w/turned columns, dentiled
cornice, railing w/slats. Stairs left rear side to back porch. 3-sided bay
up 4 down on right; modified palladian window 2nd floor.
This house is slightly more vernacular in design than most of its
contemporaries on Meriam Hill, but comparable in size.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE (explain the role owners played in local or state history
and how the building relates to the development of the community)
George B. Grant established the Lexington Gear Works in the mid 18805
in a building constructed for the purpose on Fletcher Street. The factory
specialized in iron and brass gearing from one inch to six feet in diameter
and in high precision gearing. Grant had built up his business in Boston,
and the factory in Lexington was additional manufacturing space. (Note: the
buildings remain in use today as the Jefferson Union Company.) Grant Street
was named for Mr. Grant.
BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES
_ Hurd, D. Hamilton, editor. History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts,
Volume I, p. 631. Philadelphia: J.W. Lewis and Company, 1890.
'1889 atlas
1906 atlas
1887 Directory
1894 Directory 20M-2/80
INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Town Property Address
LEXINGTON 23 OAKLAND ST.
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
MASSACHUSETTS ARCHIVES BUILDING
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD 375
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
This house was one of a handful of dwellings constructed on Meriam Hill in 1887(see also 14, 16, 20 &25 Oakland
Street). David W. Muzzey sold the land to George B. Grant in July(Minute-man,July 22, 1887). The only mention of
the construction of the house in the local newspaper was the completion of a sidewalk by Grant the following year
(Minute-man, October 19, 1888). George Grant is shown as the owner on the 1898 but apparently sold the property
shortly thereafter.
By the time of the 1899 directory,the property was owned by Edwin Bayley, a Boston lawyer. Bayley continued to live
here until about 1926. By 1930 the house was owned and occupied by Clarence I.Lewis, a Harvard professor, and his
wife Mabel. Clarence and Mabel Lewis sold the house in 1953 to Samuel and Helen Kitrosser,who retained ownership
until 2000.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Lexington Directories,various dates.
Lexington Minute-Man, July 22, 1887; October 19, 1888.
Middlesex County Register of Deeds, Cambridge, Mass.
U.S. Census Records, 1900-1930.
Supplement prepared by:
Lisa Mausolf
June 2009