HomeMy WebLinkAboutwalnut-street_0025 FORM B — BUILDING Assessor's Number USGS Quad Area(s) Form Number
4/148 Boston
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION North
MASSACHUSETTS ARCHIVES BUILDING
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125 Town: Lexington
Place: (neighborhood or village)
Photograph East Lexington
Address: 25 Walnut Street
L . 4 Historic Name: William G. Potter House
Uses: Present: residential
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Original: residential
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Date of Construction: 1915
' Source: visual inspection, deeds
i r'� ,•kfi _ Style/Form: Bungalow
Architect/Builder: unknown
Exterior Material:
Foundation: rubble
Wall/Trim: vinyl siding
Topographic or Assessor's Map Roof: asphalt shingles
Outbuildings/Secondary Structures:
none
Major Alterations(with dates):
Date? siding, rear addition
I �
148
fry;oa Condition: fair(due to siding)
Moved: no x yes Date
•,., Acreage: 1.59 acres
Setting: on large lot, setback from well traveled road
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Recorded by: Lisa Mausolf
Organization: Lexington Historical Commission
Date(month/year): Feb. 2010
Follow Massachusetts Historical Commission Survey Manual instructions for completing this form.
INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET LEXINGTON 25 WALNUT STREET
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD,BOSTON,MASSACHUSETTS 02125
Recommended for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.
If checked,you must attach a completed National Register Criteria Statement form.
ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION:
Describe architectural features. Evaluate the characteristics of this building in terms of other buildings within the community.
The house at 25 Walnut Street is a 1 'h-story side-gabled bungalow set on a rubble foundation with a rubble base supporting the
front porch which is tucked under an extension of the front roof slope. A large gable dormer rises from the front roof slope and
there is a three-sided bay window on the south gable end, adjacent to the exterior brick chimney. A large addition with deck
extends behind the original house.
HISTORICAL NARRATIVE
Discuss the history of the building. Explain its associations with local(or state)history. Include uses of the building, and the role(s)the
owners/occupants played within the community.
Along with the nearby house at 19 Walnut Street,this house was constructed for the Potter family. It appears that this house was
constructed first—for William G. Potter, a farmer, and his wife Eva in 1915. The land,which belonged to Charlotte Kimball in
1910 was sold by Thomas Ray to William Potter in April 1915 (Book 3 96 1,Page 227).
In 1920 William and Eva were living here with their two young sons and a boarder. (The house at 19 Walnut was constructed
in the 1930s for son,Murray and his wife,Doris). In the 1942 directory William Potter's occupation is listed as"livestock"
while Murray is described as a hog dealer. In 1960 there were 2,000 pigs at Potter's Piggery.
The property at 25 Walnut Street was sold by Murray and Gail Potter to James Reilly in 1972. Reilly continued to own it until
1993 when it was sold to Ernest Seasholes,the present owner.
BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES
Hinkle,Alice and Andrea Cleghorn. Life in Lexington, 1946-1995.
Middlesex County Register of Deeds, Cambridge, Mass. (Plan Book 189,Plan 46; Book 3961, Page 227).
Town Directories
U.S. Census,various years.
Continuation sheet 1