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FORM B - BUILDING AREA FORM NO.
475
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION
294 WASHINGTON STREET, BOSTON, MA 02108
AIL
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7n Lexington
cress 19 Slocum Road
10
;toric Name Sven Engstror., House
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— 7 A oll!i 1 IIIA Iilli
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oPFuR nor -r Met sir, ji?( Present residential
- - Original residential
)ESCRIPTION:
�e c. 1910
Source stylistic analysis
SKETCH MAP
Show property's location in relation Style Colonial Revival with Queen Anne
to nearest cross streets and/or e emen s
geographical features. Indicate Architect
all buildings between inventoried
property and nearest intersection. Exterior wall fabric stucco
Indicate north.
Outbuildings carriage house
O ,
ss Major alterations (with dates)
Q
ryhy ��P
° Moved Date
yJ �.
Approx. acreage
Recorded by Anne Grady Setting Suburban residential street
Organization Lexington Historical Comsiission of generally smaller and later houses.
Date Diarch, 1984
(Staple additional sheets here)
ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE (Describe important architectural features and
evaluate in terms of other buildings within the community.)
This is a substantial house with a number of special touches. Ar:onc;
these are the circular enclosed porch which projects at the left, perhaps
originally an open porch, the semicircular entrance porch, the Porte-cochere
(all of the above capped by balustrade with turned balusters) , and a small
cantilevered ser:.icircular balcony on the left side.
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 was probably built by Sven O. Engstrom, a n.anufacturina
chemist in Boston, who lived here before 1913. 14. 4te--i�Q'�c, }' `��s
+cY .ci rlor[ a n� C hag. Penzi, later- ja_1Qd -'®
BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES (name of publication, author, date and publisher)
1889 atlas
1906 atlas
10NI - 7/82
INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Town Property Address
LEXINGTON 19 SLOCUM ROAD
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
MASSACHUSETTS ARCHIVES BUILDING
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD 475
BOSTON,MASSACHUSETTS 02125
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
As previously stated,this house appears to have been built for Sven O.Engstrom who is first listed in the 1913 directory
as living at 19 Slocum Road. The 1915 & 1918 directories list the occupant as Richard(English translation of Sven?)
Engstrom whose occupation is also listed as a manufacturing chemist. By 1920 Richard Engstrom had moved from 19
Slocum Road to the large brick mansion at 6 Eliot Road(#507).
The next owner of the property was Charles Ponzi(1882-1949)best known as one of the greatest swindlers in history.
The term"Ponzi scheme" is a widely known description of any scam that pays early investors returns from the
investments of later investors. Ponzi had married Rose Griecco in 1918 and lived luxuriously, buying"a mansion in
Lexington with air conditioning and swimming pool". Ponzi's wealth peaked early in 1920 but by November 1920 his
schemes had been exposed and he was sentenced to federal prison for five years for mail fraud
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles Ponzi).
In April 1923 the property at 19 Slocum Road was sold by the Trustee in the Bankruptcy of Charles Ponzi to John H.
Devine(Book 4601,Page 366). John H. Devine was a lawyer who worked in Boston and lived herewith his wife
Florence. Ownership of the property passed to John Allen Devine in 1980 and was sold by John A. Devine to Robert and
Alice Molvar in 1994.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Lexington directories,various dates.
Middlesex County Register of Deeds, Cambridge,Mass.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Ponzi
Supplement prepared by:
Lisa Mausolf
March 2009