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FORM AREA FORM N0.B — BUILDING M 469
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION
294 WASHINGTON STREET, BOSTON, MA 02108
n Lexington
.ress 11 Winthrop Road
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Original residential
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SKETCH MAP
Show property's location in relation Style
to nearest cross streets and/or
geographical features. Indicate Architect attributed to Willard Brown
all buildings between inventoried
property and nearest intersection. Exterior wall fabric clapboards
Indicate north.
Outbuildings
Major alterations (with dates)
P-0.
d'tj E
Moved Date
Approx. acreage 21205 ft.�
Recorded by Anne Grady Setting Residential street of substantial
Organization Lexington Historical Commission houses built at the turn of the twentieth
Date April, 1984 century.
(Staple additional sheets here)
ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE (Describe important architectural features and
evaluate in terms of other buildings within the community.)
This is an early house by Lexington's most original early twentieth
century architect, Willard Brown (he designed Cary Memorial Library, for
example) . The house shares characteristics with other Brown houses of the pre-
World War I period: broad eaves, exposed rafters, emphasis on horizontality
through various devices (in this case flared, broad eaves and string course
between floors) , and porch with characteristic configurations of pediment at
the entry and square posts with simple shaped brackets (c.f. 19 Oakland Street) .
Fifteen and 20 Winthrop Road are also by Brown.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE (Explain the role owners played in local or state
history and how the building relates to the development of the community.)
Frank D. Brown, an insurance agent, was Willard Brown's oldest brother.
Willard Brown began practise in 1902. In the next four years he designed
houses in Lexington for himself and two of his brothers (20 and 28 Meriam
Street are the others) . The information that this house was built by F.D.
Brown comes from reminiscences by Willard Brown's daughter. It may well be
that Frank Brown gave his brother the commission, but did not live there
immediately, for Henry S. Piper, a traveling salesman, is listed as the
occupant in 1906.
BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES (name of publication, author, date &,d publisher)
Hudson, Charles. History of the Town of Lexington, revised and continued to
1912 by the Lexington Historical Society, Volume II, p. 70. Boston:
Houghton Mifflin Company, 1913.
Shoenhut, Sarah Emily Brown. "List of Houses in Lexington Designed by Willard
Brown." Lexington Historical Commission files.
1906 atlas
1906 Directory
10M - 7/82
INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Town Property Address
LEXINGTON 11 WINTHROP RD.
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
MASSACHUSETTS ARCHIVES BUILDING
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD 469
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
Archival research suggests that this house was constructed for Henry D.Piper,not Frank D. Brown, as was suggested in
the 1984 survey form. (There is no evidence that Frank Brown ever lived here. He did live at 15 Winthrop for several
years around 1915.)
On April 8, 1905 the Lexington Minute-man reported that
Mr. Henry D. Piper of Arlington,has purchased a lot of land on Winthrop road adjoining the Walter J. Luke
place[see 9 Winthrop Road]of Mrs. M.E. Downer of Lexington, and proposes erecting a residence for the
occupancy of his family.
A few months later,the house was nearing completion, as reported in the August 26, 1905 paper:
Mr. Henry Piper,recently of Arlington,now of Lexington, is superintending a house for the occupancy of his
family,that is in the process of construction on Winthrop road. The house is in the hands of the plasterers. The
exterior shows a pleasing fagade broken by gables and dormer windows with a broad piazza on the front. A good
sized hall opens on the left into a large living room and an imposing open fire place well placed. To the right is
the dining room with a recessed alcove for the buffet. The domestic department contains the usual model modern
equipment in conjunction with the butler's and kitchen pantries. A dormer window on the stair landing adds to
the picturesque effect of the hall,while four good sized chambers,toilette room,bath, and closets all help to
make it a house replete in all respects. Mr.Piper has built and occupied two houses in the Jason street district,
Arlington,which he has disposed of at advantageous sales,but he thinks this,his latest venture, is more nearly as
his home should be.
Henry Piper occupied the house until about 1913. By 1915 Harold and Dorothy Hall were living here; he worked in
Boston. Mrs. Hall was still living here in 1928. In 1932 the occupant was Enos Harrington.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Lexington Directories,various dates.
Lexington Minute-Man,April 8, 1905; August 26, 1905.
Supplement prepared by:
Lisa Mausolf
April 2009