HomeMy WebLinkAboutstratham-road_0014 AREA FORA N0.
FORM B - BUILDING 4.20
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION
294 WASHINGTON STREET, BOSTON, MA 02108
own Lexington
address 14 Stratham Road
iistoric Name George Francis and
4
_ � ' - _ �-�• � Sarah Robinson House
- _ - �
- _
- ase: Present residential
Original residential
_ - = DESCRIPTION:
_ _
- )ate 1880s, 1887?
_ Edwin B. Worthen,
Source Lexington Minute Man, Aua. 12, 1887
SKETCH MAP
_ Show property's location in relation Style Shingle Stvle
to nearest cross streets and/or
geographical features. Indicate Architect
all buildings between inventoried
property and nearest intersection. Exterior wall fabric clapboards, shingles
Indicate north.
O 0 Q Outbuildings garage
S� Q
'j Major alterations (with dates) porch
oenclosed (within the last few years)
0
Moved Date
Approx. acreage 4.4.600 ft.
Recorded by Anne Grady Setting A prominent site on the southern
Organization Lexington Historical Commission slope of Robinson Hill overlooking the
Date April, 1984 town center.
(Staple additional sheets here)
ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE (Describe important architectural features and
evaluate in terms of other buildings within the community.)
The most prominent feature of this house is its circular three-story
tower with steep conical roof at the right front corner. It gives the impres-
sion almost of a rocket poised for takeoff, so distinct is it from the rest of
the building's design. Rows of two different types of patterned shingling are
used to enrich the exterior walls: staggered butt shingles and shingles which =
look diamond shaped from a distance but which are actually shaped like this:
There are brackets at the corners of the eaves and a vergeboard with patera
trim. The current owners enclosed a porch on the right hand 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 is probably the on(2 referred to in the following quote:
"George Robinson, Esq. will occupy a new house on his estate just beyond his
present residence. It occupies a commanding position and the interior is hand-
somely finished throughout with polished and finished hardwood" (L-exington
_Minute Man, August 12, 1607) . This would mark the third time since coming to
Lexington In 1846 that Robinson had acquired an up-to-date residence. He must
have felt that his mansard house adjacent was passe. Local tradition states
that. Robinson's unmarried daughters, Frances and Sarah, did not like the
design of this house, and so constructed the house at 10 Stratham Road soon
after his death in 1893. See the 10 Stratham Road form for more information
on the Robinson sisters, and the 6 Stratham Road form for George W. Robinson's
history.
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. 586. Boston:
Houghton Mifflin Company, 1913.
Lexington Minute Man, August 12, 1887.
Worthen, Edwin B. "George Slept -- Where?" Lexington Minute Roan, November 13,
1969.
1889 atlas
1898 atlas
1906 atlas
10M - 7/82