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HomeMy WebLinkAboutpercy-road_0011 N 12 1 Vico i v. AREA FORM NO. FORM B - BUILDING 0 490 MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION 294 WASHINGTON STREET, BOSTON, MA 02108 - n Lexington IA cess 11 Percy Road Ft toric Name Warren Sherburne House `-. Present t residential Original residential DESCRIPTION: e 1893 ource Lexington Minute Man, May 18, 1894 SKETCH MAP Show property's location in relation Style Colonial Revival to nearest cross streets and/or geographical features. Indicate Architect Samuel D. Kelley all buildings between inventoried property and nearest intersection. Exterior wall fabric clapboards, shingles Indicate north. Outbuildings geodesic dome greenhouse 1 v �^ P Major alterations (with dates) t 3 a au < a �( Moved Date mi Approx. acreage 28800 ft.2 Recorded by Elizabeth Reinhardt; Anne Grady SettingA prominent site on the east Organization Lexington Historical Commission slope of Munroe Hill, overlooking Date 1975; March, 1984 Massachusetts Avenue (Staple additional sheets here) ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE (Describe important architectural features and evaluate in terms of other buildings within the community.) In 1893 Mr. Warren Sherburne, owner of a prosperous glassmaking company, commissioned Mr. Kelley, architect of Boston, to design him a house on land he had owned for ten years in Lexington. Sherburne's acquaintance with Kelley preceded this commission by several years, since the Commonwealth Avenue residence of the Sherburne family had been designed by Kelley. Other buildings by Kelley which may have had influence on Sherburne's decision included the Tremont Theater, the Perkins School for the Blind, Hoffman House and the Savoy (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.) (See National Register Nomination Form) BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES (name of publication, author, date and publisher) Biographical Dictionary of American Architects, Deceased. Bunting, Bainbridge. The Houses of Boston's Back Bay. Lexington Minute Man, May 18, 1894. Mary Loring, granddaughter of Mr. Sherburne. 10M - 7/82 INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Community: Form No: MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL. CCWSSION Lexington 4.90 Office of the Secretary, Boston Property Name: 11 Percy Road Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE Hotel, and a number of churches. Kelley also designed several houses in the Back Bay and on Bay State Road. He worked in the prevailing eclectic idiom of the late nineteenth century, moving easily from Richardsonian Romanesque, through Queen Anne to Colonial Revival. This handsome house is a splendid example of the exuberance of design possible to the eclectics. It draws upon characteristics of both the earlier Queen Anne and the emerging Colonial Revival styles. The barrel vaulted, pedimented entrance portico, supported by slender columns, leads to a generous door flanked by sidelights and fanlight of ornately leaded glass. The domin- ance of the central element is emphasized by a railed balcony at the second floor level, surmounted by a dramatic dormer two windows wide with a broken scroll pediment. Beneath the apex of the scroll is a delicately carved garland. All these details are reminiscent of the mid-eighteenth century. A "contemporary" touch is found in the tower-like mass which thrusts forward to the left of the central salient, surmounted by a conical roof, a design element typical of the late nineteenth century. Mr. Sherburne's glass business is made evident in the large panes of curved glass, one as much as 4 feet by 6 feet in dimension, found in the first floor bays. Other devices of interest include the carved garlands in the dormer pediments, the carved brackets at the cornice, and the restrained used of stained glass in the palladian window to the rear of the house. The interior is as generous and eclectic in conception as the exterior. The stained glass fanlight and sidelights of the hall entrance door and the "living hall" treatment of fireplace, seat and elaboratively carved stairs are completely in the Queen Anne tradition. The tiles around the hall fire- place may have been done by Low of Boston, one of the earliest art tile companies in America. However, other details, such as the McIntire inspired treatment of the living room and bedroom fireplaces and the molded plaster pattern of the walls in the hall relate directly to the eighteenth century. The harmonious mingling of these disparate elements has created a country house of charm and elegance. Staple to Inventory form at bottom INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Town Property Address LEXINGTON 11 PERCY ROAD MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No. MASSACHUSETTS ARCHIVES BUILDING 220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD 490 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125 HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE: A long article entitled"Another Beautiful Home"appearing in the Lexington Minute-man on May 18, 1894 provides a wonderfully detailed description of the nearly-completed house: The interior of the large and imposing new residence just built for the Lexington home of Mr. Warren Sherburne, at the foot of Mt. Vernon, is rapidly reaching completion, and will be ready for the family's occupancy by June 1St. The contract for the painting of the house was put in the hands of Bailey Bros., of Lexington, and they have done a thorough job and shown fine skill and workmanship in their decoration of the interior of the house, and on the expensive wood work finish. The house is so located that magnificent views are afforded from all sides. It is somewhat colonial in its style of architecture, a feature of the-?-being its deep circular bay windows,which give the rooms an oval shape decidedly pleasing, and has the effect of increasing the scope of the view obtained from the windows,which are all of the best French plate with casings of unusual size. In the parlor is a large semicircular window,the glass of which is one sheet and follows the curve of the window; and in the sitting room a mammoth window,which gives a broad sweep looking up Main street, is filled by a clear sheet of French plate. Of course these windows have added very materially to the expense of the house and it is in these details of finish that the house is distinguished,the owner being generous in the expenditure to make the house perfect in each department. A handsome ornamental, pillared porch gives entrance to the building and introduces the visitor into a broad hall,running through the middle of the same,with rooms on either side. Surrounding the house is a stone terrace which adds much to the dignity of the outside finish,which although plain is ornamented quite lavishly with wood carving. Broad double doors open at the main entrance into a vestibule paved with Florentine mosaic; and from here you pass directly into the large reception hall. The side wall at the left is broken by a broad open fireplace with a richly carved mantel, and just beyond is the staircase with a unique balustrade,handsomely constructed and carved which is spacious and gives much grace and dignity to the hall. The hall and long reception room opening to the left is finished in cherry. There is no paper used in the house. All the walls and ceilings are painted. The main rooms are decorated with an artistic design in stucco relief, and the colors used on the lower floor are variations in tone of one tint. The effect is a pinkish fan shade,the more quiet tint being strengthened in the decoration by a stronger accent of the pink shade. The parlor and sitting room are connected by a pillared archway, and both rooms have handsome, carved mantels. The first room to the right opening from the hall is the library, finished in oak,with high bookcases protected y glass door, either side of an open fireplace and over mantel of oak. The dining room,which is of excellent proportions, is next in order and is wainscoted in antique oak,the oaken construction beams of the ceiling being exposed and handsomely finished. A handsome mantel and wrought iron fixtures for the lighting of the room are other pleasing details. At the end of the hall is a toilette room and beyond is the kitchen, fitted with all the modern appliances. Leading out of the dining room is an elegant china closet protected by glass doors, and this with the pantry would be greeted with delight by a housekeeper. The laundry and summer kitchen is in the basement,where is also the mammoth heating apparatus. Fine electric appliances have been placed in the building for lighting and call bells by Lawrence and Haskill. The chambers of the family are located on the second floor and are beautifully decorated and fitted up with handsomely finished wood work,tinted walls and ceilings, and open fireplaces. A spacious dressing room leads out of Mr. Sherburne's room, and is furnished with a large wardrobe with commodious drawers and receptacles for clothing. There are three toilette rooms on this floor,which are attached to three of the sleeping rooms used by members of the family, and are elegantly fitted up with porcelain baths set on marble rests,with the wall space INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Town Property Address LEXINGTON 11 PERCY ROAD MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No. MASSACHUSETTS ARCHIVES BUILDING 220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD 490 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125 HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE(continued): surrounding them also in marble. Clothes presses and delightfully roomy closets are fixtures of the house,while on the third floor there is a spacious billiard hall, a pleasant studio and quarters for the servants. The space on the second floor affords fine spacious sleeping apartments, with the several baths and dressing room already mentioned. All of the finishings of the house, -the electric light fixtures,the door knobs, and fastenings,the plumbing and other hardware appliances are all the best of their kind, and handsome in design. The house is situated well up, on a side hill, from the Main street, and is approached by a winding driveway, although retired is yet at the same time conveniently located, and placed so that it is an ornament to the street and locality which it graces. BIBLIOGRAPHY: Lexington Minute-man,May 18, 1894. Supplement prepared by: Lisa Mausolf March 2009