HomeMy WebLinkAboutpercy-road_0014 AREA FORM NO.
FORM B - BUILDING 0 491
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION
294 WASHINGTON STREET, BOSTON, MA 02108
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\ V► t Lexington
4
_ 4 -ess 14 Percy Road
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- f " toric Name ;Baird House
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a- - — 1Qxe-} Charles Thornton House
'< Present residential
Original residential
DESCRIPTION:
to 1893-1894
4 Source Lexington Minute Man, June 16, 1893
SKETCH MAP
Show property's location in relation Dtyle shingle style
to nearest cross streets and/or
geographical features. Indicate Architect Day, contractor
all buildings between inventoried
property and nearest intersection. Exterior wall fabric shingle, fieldstone
Indicate north.
Outbuildings garage
Vn
Major alterations (with dates)
Ro,4C i
Q 1
z
/ D C] S
rn Moved Date
Approx. acreage 69075 ft•2
Recorded by Anne Grady Setting A prominent site on the eastern
Organization Lexington Historical Commission slope of Munroe Hill; amid houses of
Date March, 1984 similar period.
(Staple additional sheets here)
ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE (Describe important architectural features and
evaluate in terms of other buildings within the community.)
A house with imposing site, this building combines an oversize gambrel
roof which encompasses the second and third stories with a fieldstone first
level. The broad overhang of the roof is supported by exposed beams.
There are rough-cut granite sills and lintels.
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 for Col. Charles C.G. Thornton by Mr. Day, a
contractor from Magnolia, Massachusetts. This was a winter residence for
Thornton, the newspaper tells us, for in October 1894 his return from summer
residence in Magnolia was noted. The newspaper described Thornton's new
house as "beautiful, unique, and picturesque" and stated that the location
and house were "unusually fine for a country suburban place." Thornton
built a cottage for his niece at 16 Percy Road at the same time as his house.
Before 1899, Thornton died and his widow moved to the cottage. The main
house was bought by William E. Harmon, a real estate broker.
BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES (name of publication, author, date and publisher)
Lexington Minute Man, June 16, 1893, October 12, 1894, October 26, 1894.
1906 atlas
1894 Directory
1899 Directory
1906 Directory
Personal communication from Mary Baird.
10M - 7/82
INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Town Property Address
LEXINGTON 14 PERCY ROAD
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
MASSACHUSETTS ARCHIVES BUILDING
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD 491
BOSTON,MASSACHUSETTS 02125
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
Like many residents of Munroe Hill, Col. Charles Thornton first came to Lexington as a summer visitor. The Lexington
Minute-Man of July 28, 1892 states:
Col. Thornton and family, of Cambridge, who have so many seasons been guests at the Russell House,have
rented the residence of A.S. Parsons off Main street, for the winter and taken possession of the same. Col.
Thornton is another instance of a mere summer visitor to the town being so attracted by its natural charms that he
has been led to finally make his home here permanently, and is even now building a residence for himself on Mt.
Vernon. This has been so frequently the case that it has become quite worthy of note.
A description of the house while it was under construction appeared in the Minute-Man on October 20, 1893:
Col. Thornton is erecting quite a unique style of house,the low,rambling effect being characteristic of the
structure,which will be decidedly picturesque when completed. The place is located off Percey road and has a
fine approach, as it nestles to the side of the hill. The driveway is slightly terraced with field stone and the
foundation walls of the house,up as far as the hip roofed gables, are of field stone with granite finish. Next to
Col. Thornton's house there is a smaller structure being built, similar in style to his own, for the occupancy of his
sister.
Col. Thornton died on January 21, 1898. The house was sold to William E. Harmon, a real estate broker. George Childs,
a provisions dealer in Boston owned the house from about 1905 into the 1920s. It was subsequently owned by the Baird
family from 1948 to 1988.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Lexington Directories,various dates.
Lexington Minute-Man,July 28, 1892; October 20, 1893.
Middlesex County Register of Deeds, Cambridge, Mass.
1898 Atlas.
Supplement prepared by:
Lisa Mausolf
January 2009