HomeMy WebLinkAboutwaltham-street_0194 FORM B - BUILDING In Area no. Form no.
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION 458
Office of the Secretary, State House, Boston
>` rn Lexington
ress s 194 Waltham S L►
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sent use Private House
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- - sent owner Frank J. Opie
Iription:
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- Queen..-Anne
�. iviap. liraw sxeicn of oulicting location Architect
in relation to nearest cross streets and
other buildings. Indicate north. Exterior wall fabric Shingle -brown
Outbuildings (describe)
OOther features see bn.c}k
Altered Date
Moved Date
5. Lot size:
O 10930 ft.2
OOne acre or less Over one acre
Approximate frontage 50'
R
°moo Approximate distance of building from street
30'
O NOT WRITE IN THIS SPACE 6. Recorded by Grady, Schwemmer; Anne Grady
USGS Quadrant
Organization Lexington Historial Commission
HC Photo no.
Date April 14, 1976; April, 1984
(over)
5M-2-75-R061465
7. Original owner (if known)
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)
Stone foundation
2 curved bays to front, with adamesque garland detail above 2nd floor 2 dentils-
original windows 1/1 curved glass.
4 heavy brackets support wide roof over hang
Gable end delineated by 2 strong cornice or overhan elements
Front porch w clustered columns & railing
Decorative course on chimney
Side 2 storey bay window
Rt.side entrance w porch diamond like side lights (also on door)
curved pediment w dentils windows over door
2 chimneys
This house and the two to the east on Waltham Street were built between
1895 and 1898 on part of the Holmes estate opened up for building by Francis
H. Holmes, a real estate dealer. By 1899, Charles Henry Wiswell owned the
house. Wiswell, a teacher, served on the school board from 1898 to 1903.
ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE
This is one of /t late nineteenth century houSEs in Lexington with Adamesque
exterior ornament. Decorative swags trim the frieze on the second level of the
two gently-bowed bay windows on the facade. Whether these are made from wood
or composition has not been ascertained.
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. 776. Boston:
Houghton Mifflin Company, 1913.
Lexington Minute Man, August 9, 1895.
1889 atlas
1898 atlas 1894 Directory
1906 atlas 1899 Directory
INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Town Property Address
LEXINGTON 194 WALTHAM ST.
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
MASSACHUSETTS ARCHIVES BUILDING
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD 458
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
It appears that the original owner of this house(formerly known as 54 Waltham St.)was Charles H. Wiswell (b. 1852), a
teacher,who became a Lexington resident in 1890 and served on the school board from 1898 to 1903. In May 1897 the
Lexington Minute-man reported that Chas. H. Wiswell had bought on Waltham Street. Charles H. Wiswell was still
living here in 1928 and his daughter Katherine Wiswell was living here in 1932.
In 1942 George Kalinas, an auto mechanic,was living here.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Lexington Directories,various dates.
Lexington Minute-Man, May 14, 1897.
Supplement prepared by:
Lisa Mausolf
April 2009