HomeMy WebLinkAboutwaltham-street_0191 FORM B - BUILDING In Area no. Form no.
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION 457
Office of the Secretary, State House, Boston
-� vn Lexington
- tress 191 Waltham Sf►'P.c
a
ne_ Herbert A. Tuttle House
sent use Private Home
. � %
77
WTI
� F _ sent owner Tina DeSimone since 1, 950
ccription:
-- - -
-- MEta
e 1890`
�- .... >ource AvA
.e Queen Anne/Shingle Style
4. Map. Draw sketch of building location Architect
in relation to nearest cross streets and Clapboard & patterned
other buildings. Indicate north. Exterior wall fabric shingles, lt. green
& white
Outbuildings (describe) Garage
Other features See back
PprQ'� o
o � Altered Date
nMoved Date
5. Lot size:
� o
One acre or less 932 ft�ver one acre
/ Approximate frontage 75'
Approximate distance of building from street
O 25'
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS SPACE 6. Recorded by Grady, . Schwemmer; Anne Grady
USGS Quadrant
Organization Lexington Historical Commission
HC Photo no.
Date April 14, 1976; April, 1984
(over)
5M-2-75-8061465
7. Original owner (if known) Hw T�ufi�l�
Original use
Subsequent uses (if any) and dates
8. Themes (check as many as applicable)
Aboriginal Conservation Recreation
Agricultural Education Religion
Architectural x Exploration/ Science/
The Arts settlement invention
Commerce Industry Social/
Communication Military humanitarian
Community development Political Transportation
9. Historical significance (include explanation of themes checked above)
Foundation stone
5 sided bay & 3 sided oriel first storey
Frong porch wrapping around to left w. turned
balusters
Shortened palladian window 3rd storey
Carved diamond windows second floor over entry
4 sided bay or turret containing stairs with stained glass windows
Curved detail string course at lst storey
Varnished pannelling in side.
This is the last house to be built by David Ainsworth Tuttle, one of
Lexington's most prolific builders. Tuttle, who was the son of David Tuttle,
also a carpenter, built his first house in 1840. Many of the houses he built
survive. The Lexington Historical Society has a list of his works he prepared
in 1904. The house was built for his son, Herbert Ainsworth Tuttle, who
continued in the family field by becoming a lumber dealer in Boston.
10. Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records,
early maps, etc.)
Hudson, Charles. History of the Town of Lexington, revised and continued to
1912 by the Lexington Historical Society, Volume II, p. 712. Boston:
Houghton Mifflin Company, 1913.
David A. Tuttle's list of houses he built, 1904. Lexington HIstorical Society
archives.
1894 Directory
1899 Directory
1906 Directory
INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Community: Form No:
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL CCRAISSION Lexington 457
Office of the Secretary, Boston
Property Name: 191 Waltham Street
Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below.
ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE
This house is typical of the houses being built by Lexington contractors,
David A. Tuttle and Abram C-Washburn, in the 1880s and 1890s. This one is by
Tuttle. Whether he is responsible for the design we do not know, but it shares
features popular with both of these contractor/builders: patterned (staggered
butt) shingles on the second level, broad porches, bay windows, and asymmetrical
massing.
Staple to Inventory form at bottom
INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Town Property Address
LEXINGTON 191 WALTHAM ST.
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
MASSACHUSETTS ARCHIVES BUILDING
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD 457
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
On August 3, 1894 the Lexington Minute-man reported that:
An attractive and roomy house is being built by D.A. Tuttle,the veteran carpenter and builder, for the residence
of his son,Mr. Herbert Tuttle, on Waltham street in the vicinity of the Mulliken place. The location chosen is
extremely pleasant and suggests the enquiry why building lots on this street have not found a more ready sale.
The street has a fine road bed, an easy upward grade and there are certain points which are quite high and
command a pleasant outlook. Although it has the effect of being retired and"out of town," locations on the street
are within easy walking distance of the centre.
Herbert Ainsworth Tuttle(1853-1909)was the second son of David A. and Susan Tuttle and like his father and grand-
father,was born in Lexington. He died suddenly in 1909 at the age of 55 and worked in Boston as a wholesale lumber
merchant. It appears his widow Annie moved shortly thereafter. From about 1918 and into the 1930s the house was
owned and occupied by John Gilcreast, a Boston banker, and his wife Florence.
Note: In the early 20th century this house was known as 55 Waltham Street.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Hudson, Charles. History of the Town of Lexington. Cambridge: The Riverside Press Co., 1913,vol. 2, p. 712.
Lexington Directories,various dates.
Lexington Minute-Man,August 3, 1894; Aug. 21, 1909.
Supplement prepared by:
Lisa Mausolf
March 2009