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HomeMy WebLinkAboutpelham-road_0005 AREA FORM N0. FORM B - BUILDING 0 i 513 � :ASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Z94 WASHINGTON STREET, BOSTON, MA 02108 t, r - L Lexington 'ess 5 Pelham Road toric Name G.L. Stowell House a t ,,-= .� •;.• III Present residential =mss Original residential :SCRIPTION: 0 1896 source—e Lin ton Minute Man, Oct. 2, 1896 �_ - SKETCH MAP Show property' s location in relation Style Colonial Revival to nearest cross streets and/or geographical features. Indicate Architect all buildings between inventoried property and nearest intersection. Exterior wall fabric clapboards Indicate north. I Outbuildings o� Major alterations (with dates) �o v O CZ�P� Moved Date Approx. acreage 50490 ft.2 Recorded by Anne G ady Setting At the edge of the Munroe Hill neighborhood; mostly turn of the twentieth Organization Lexington Historical Commission century substantial houses across the street from the former Tower estate open Date March, 1984 land now owned by the Grey Nuns. (Staple additional sheets here) ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE (Describe important architectural features and evaluate in terms of other buildings within the community.) This building is fairly true to its Georgian sources in the window caps and alternating pedimented and arched dormers. The portico and elliptical- fanlighted doorway are more Federal in style, however. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE (Explain the role owners played in local or state history and how the building relates to the development of the community.) The house was built :ye. r,e L. Stowell, a teacher. The following description appeared in the local newspaper at the time of its completion: The Nous- is strikingly typical of those built a hundred of more years ago in New England and is peculiarly hospitable and inviting in its aspect. It is a large house of two-and-one-half stories i,,ith a gambrel roof and sits on the lot with the broad side to the street while a large el further increases the room space. The house is not only planned for the residence of Mr. Stowell and his family but also to accommodate the students he prepares for college. A large hallway runs from the front entrance to the rear and the living rooms are placed either side, opening into the hall. The front entrance is simple but of excellent design. The pointed pediment is supported by two Corinthian columns while over the door is a glass lunette, and there are side lights, all after the style of old fashioned doorways. Character and beauty is given the whole house by the dignified hall and stairway. The length of the hall is broken by an archway and the stairway has a. most effective and rather classical arrangement of the upper landing. The wood work is all in white enamel and there is considerable panel work to add to the pleasing effect, besides a hand stair balustrade in white, with (see continuation sheet BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES (name of publication, author, date and publisher) 1906 atlas 1894 Directory 1899 Directory 1906 Directory q Q Lexington :inute Man, October 2, 1896 k- Ma ! t t 1 10NI - 7/82 INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Community: Form No: MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL CCMU SSION Lexington 513 Office of the Secretary, Boston Property Name: Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE rail in dark mahogany. The upper landing is arranged with a triple archway supported by Corinthian columns, the steps leading through the central arch, which leaves space either side for seats. This artistic archway devides the front upper hall from that of the rear hall. Besides numerous chambers on this floor there is a bath, fitted with all open-work plumbing and a porcelain bath tub. The appointments are all first class and the rooms light, cheery and attractively decorated and papered, the front rooms being particularly desirable, with their open fire-places and graceful proportions. There are five good rooms on the third floor, besides a room devoted to a shower bath, etc. On the first floor there are four rooms in the main house, the two front ones being finished in white enamel paint, with handsome mantels somewhat after the pleasing simplicity of the Empire style. The two rear rooms have been finished to represent dark mahogany. Out of the dining room is a large china closet, or butler's pantry, and the kitchen arrange- ments are convenient and well appointed, the laundry being particularly so. A roomy pantry is contiguous to the kitchen and there is a rear hallway and staircase leading to the floors above. The linen press is located in a recess in the upper hall and so placed that it is attractive to the sight as well as useful. The house strikes one as a model of simplicity and tastefulness and as being exceptionally adapted to the uses it is meant to fill. (Lexington Minute Nan, Oct. 2, 1896) Staple to Inventory form at bottom INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Town Property Address LEXINGTON 5 PELHAM ROAD MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No. MASSACHUSETTS ARCHIVES BUILDING 220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD � 513 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125 HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE: An additional brief note concerning the construction of the house appeared in the Lexington Minute-Man on May 29, 1896. It stated: The frame shows conspicuously of the large house Mr. George L. Stowell is building on land formerly of the Munroe estate, located in the vicinity of Col. Tower's residence. If we are not mistaken the house is located on what is named Pelham Road. In 1910 the house appears to have been occupied by Harriet Sias,mother of Thomas Sias who lived at 4 Bennington Road. Later owners included William and Annie Wentworth from at least 1913 to 1926 and J. Chester Hutchinson from 1928 to at least 1942. Robert and Margaret Mann acquired the house in 1958 and it remained in the family until 2007. BIBLIOGRAPHY: Lexington Directories,various dates. Lexington Minute-Man,May 29, 1896. Middlesex County Register of Deeds, Cambridge,Mass. U.S. Census,various years. Supplement prepared by: Lisa Mausolf January 2009