HomeMy WebLinkAboutrowland-avenue_0006 AREA FORM N0.
FORM B - BUILDING
477
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION
294 WASHINGTON STREET, BOSTON, MA 02108
wn Lexington
dress 6 Rowland Avenue
` AV7 — storic Name Lucinda Munroe House
s - t3
w ' its
® � - - e: Present residential
Original residential
_.-ANN DESCRIPTION:
to early nineteenth century
Source Edwin B. Worthen
SKETCH MAP
Show property's location in relation Style mid-nineteenth century Vernacular
to nearest cross streets and/or
geographical features. Indicate Architect
all buildings between inventoried
property and nearest intersection. Exterior wall fabric clapboards
Indicate north.
Outbuildings garage
Major alterations (with dates) doorway
OO (recent alteration)
from 1454 (9Q
P` Moved Massachusetts Avenue Date
OSSS Approx. acreage 6656 ft.`
Recorded by Anne Grady Setting Suburban residential street of
Organization Lexington Historical Commission mostly post-World War II houses.
Date March, 1984
(Staple additional sheets here)
ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE (Describe important architectural features and
evaluate in terms of other buildings within the community.)
This.house has the plan of the early nineteenth century Federal vernacular
building it was originally: rear chimneys, five-bays wide, one-room deep. Now,
however, its exterior appearance is that of a mid-nineteenth century vernacular
building with elements of Gothic Revival. Features include vertical proportions,
a steep roof pitch, central facade gable, and fascia of the raking eave with
intermittent patera trim. As the only nineteenth century house in an otherwise
mid-twentieth century streetscape, the house becomes a focal point.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE (Explain the role owners played in local or state
history and how the building relates to the development of the community.)
This house originally stood around the corner on the site of 1454
Massachusetts Avenue. It was built shortly after 1800 by Col. William Munroe,
proprietor of the Munroe Tavern from 1771 until his death in 1827. The house
was occupied by his unmarried daughter, Lucinda, until her death in 1863.
Thereafter it was owned for many years by Albert Griffiths, a saw manufacturer
in Boston. Very likely Griffiths gave the house its mid-nineteenth century
appearance. The house was moved c. 0 to make way for the construction of
the current house at 1454 Massachuset s Avenue.
BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES (name of publication, author, date and publisher)
Hudson, Charles. History of the Town of Lexington, revised and continued to
1912 by the Lexington Historical Society, Volume II, p. 462. Boston:
Houghton Mifflin Company, 1913.
Note attached by Susan Muzzey attached to historic photograph. Lexington
Historical Society archives.
Worthen, Edwin B. Report prepared for the study committee of the Historic
Districts Commission, 1963. Worthen Collection, Cary Memorial Library.
10M - 7/82
INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Town Property Address
LEXINGTON 6 ROWLAND AVE.
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
MASSACHUSETTS ARCHIVES BUILDING
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD 477
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
A brief mention appearing in the Lexington Minute-Man on September 29, 1906, confirms that this house was moved to
its present house in that year to make room for a new house being erected by Benjamin Fitch at what is now 1454 Mass.
Ave. The article notes:
l
The frame is up and boarded in for Mr. Benjamin Fitch's new house on the site of the former residence of Albert
Griffith's family known as"The Lilacs"....The old house which years ago was known as the Aunt Lucindy
Munroe place, is now placed on a rear lot of land to the east of its former position and is being occupied by Mr.
Fitch's family while his new house is building. The old place just alluded to was also known at one time, before
the Griffiths occupied it, as the D. Cutts Nye place. The old ell of the main structure was moved off the premises
on Tuesday and presented a curious sight as it proceeded up Mass. avenue on wheels.
The house at 6 Rowland Avenue was still owned by Benjamin's daughter, Mary Fitch, in the 1920s. Later owners
included Leon and Emma Kinsman who sold it to Mario and Marianne Plaff in 1954. The Plaffs continued to own the
property until 1993.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Lexington Directories,various dates.
Lexington Minute-Man, Sept. 29, 1906.
Middlesex County Register of Deeds, Cambridge,Mass.
U.S. Census
Supplement prepared by:
Lisa Mausolf
February 2009