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HomeMy WebLinkAboutsomerset-road_0044 FORM B -BUILDING Assessor's number USGS Quad Area(s) Form Number 56/114A Boston N. 1132 + Town Lexington - i _ Place (neighborhood or village) Upper Meriam Hill g� maw Address 44 Somerset Road Historic Name Lawrence&Olive Burnham House Uses: Present Residential Original Residential Date of Construction 1927 Source Lexington Valuation Lists P b` M Style/Form Dutch Colonial Architect/Builder unknown •' 4 -r # Exterior Material: " Foundation brick Y33< < Wall/Trim brick/wood shingles PS 4 Roof asphalt shingle Outbuildings/Secondary Structures none 27° Major Alterations with dates 1988-open orch on north 7 side, rear addition and built-in garage r l 6 J i _ ` . . less �•'��Mk RSEr ' / / r Condition good — 4 Moved ® no ❑ yes Date AM r- Acreage 14,004 SF Recorded by Lisa Mausolf Setting early 20th century residential neighborhood Organization Lexington Historical Commission Date (month/year) May 2000 Follow Massachusetts Historical Commission Survey Manual instructions for completing this form. BUILDING FORM(44 Somerset Road) ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION Describe architectural features. Evaluate the characteristics of the building in terms of other buildings within the community. A good example of the fairly common Dutch Colonial Revival style, 44 Somerset Road is a 1 3/4-story brick house which is capped by a characteristic gambrel roof. The brick is laid in a stretcher bond with a soldier brick water table. Centered on the broad,three-bay facade, the main entrance consists of a six-panel door flanked by narrow sidelights extending the height of the door. The gabled entrance porch with curved underside is supported by Roman Doric columns resting on a brick stoop. On either side of the entrance there is a tripartite window consisting of a central 6/1 flanked by 4/1 units. A wood- shingled shed dormer spans the front roof slope. The center window opening consists of a pair of 4/1 windows. On either side is an individual 6/1 window, all of which are flanked by wooden board shutters with cutout details. Extending up from the south gambrel end is an exterior brick chimney which breaks through the roof of the single-story,hipped roof sunporch, lit by 8/1 windows. A driveway to the south of the building leads to the built-in garage below. HISTORICAL NARRATIVE Describe the history of the building. Explain its associations with local(or state) hi tory. Include uses of the building and the rcrle(s) the owners/occupants played within the community. �S�M �� c This and was originally part of the 400-acre Francis B. Hayes estate which extended from Adams and cock Streets to Woburn Street(the house known as Oakmount or The Castle was built in 1884 and demolished in 1941). This portion of the Hayes estate was laid out in houselots in 1909. This house was constructed about 1927 for Lawrence and Olive Burnham, formerly of Belmont. The Burnhams were first assessed for a house at 44 Somerset Road in 1928. The house was valued at$8,500 and stood on part of lot 34 of the Hayes subdivision. Directories indicate that Lawrence Burnham was employed as a mechanical engineer. The Burnhams continued to own the Somerset Road property until about 1940. Later owners included Theodore Shoemaker (c.1940). Eugene and Josephine Mirabelli purchased the property prior to 1950 and Mrs. Mirabelli still occupies the house today. BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES Lexington Assessors Records. Lexington Directories, various dates. Lexington Valuation Lists, various dates. recommended for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. If checked,you must attached a completed National Register Criteria Statement form.