HomeMy WebLinkAboutwood-street_0307 —AREA FORM NO.
FORM B - BUILDING 601 j
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION
- 294 WASHINGTON STREET, BOSTON, MA 02108
_ n Lexington
E
dress 307 wood Street arc f Fe' 2<sq
storic Name Cutler Farmhouse
All
Present residential
� = - Original residential
_-
- ESCRIPTION:
,I�
_ - e c. 1762
z�
Burgess 1
source
---� r e s 965.84
SKETCH MAP
- Show property's location in relation Style Seoond Peri od' vernacular
to nearest cross streets and/or
geographical features. Indicate Architect
all buildings between inventoried
property and nearest intersection. Exterior wall fabric clapboard
Indicate north.
Outbuildings barn
Major alterations (with dates) two-story
ell with one-story ell on east; lean-to
extension at rear (before 1898, probably
�Y much earlier)
Moved Date
�oo�
- STR
Approx. acreage 15. 3 A.
Recorded by Nancy S. Seasholes Setting On open land across from large
Organization Lexington Historical Commission scientific lab; near intersection with
-- Date April, 1984 major street with office parks.
(Staple additional sheets here)
ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE (Describe important architectural features and
evaluate in terms of other buildings within the community.)
This is one of perhaps half-a-dozen Second Period Vernacular houses built
in the mid-eighteenth century or earlier which survive in Lexington. It is a
fine example of an eighteenth century farmstead and preserves a nineteenth century
barn and some of its farm acreage.
Noteworthy Second Period features include the building's profile, the
narrowness and placement of the windows with two windows on either end of the
facade grouped together, the substantial central chimney, and the cornice molding
(see Continuation Sheet)
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE (Explain the role owners played in local or state
history and how the building relates to the development of the community.)
According to the genealogist of the Cutler family, this house was built
by Solomon Cutler, who inherited the land, apparently with no buildings, from
his father in 1760. The house was presumably built sometime between that date
and 1772 when Solomon moved to New Hampshire, for, in 1787 when he sold the
property to his brother Thomas, it apparently contained "one dwelling house and
barn and other buildings." The property remained in the Cutler family until
the mid-nineteenth century: Thomas' son Amos inherited it in 1812 and sold it
to his brother Leonard in 1820; Leonard died in 1852 and it was then acquired
by Hugh J. Maguire, a farmer. The property is still owned by Maguire descendents
(Burgess 1965:84) .
BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES (name of publication, author, date and publisher)
Burgess, Marjorie Cutler. A Genealogy of the Cutler Family of Lexington,
Massachusetts, 1634-1964. Concord, New Hampshire: Evans Printing Company,
1965.
Lexington Historical Society archives, Burr Church collection.
IOM - 7/82
INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Community: Form No:
M.k.SSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL CCMKSSION Lexington 601
Office of the Secretary, Boston
Property Name: 307 Wood Street
Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below.
ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE
at the eave. An unusual feature is the off-center placement of the chimney.
This implies that the plan of the house is asymmetrical, even though window place-
ment is symmetrical. Period finishes are repprted to survive on the interior.
There is a lean-to (non-integral) across the right-hand three bays at the
rear of the building and an addition extends from the lean-to to the right of the
house. Construction date of these additions appears to be nineteenth century or
earlier.
Second Period Vernacular houses similar to this house remaining in
Lexington include the Whittemore Muzzey house on Marrett Street, the Joseph Bridge
house at 419 Marrett Road, the Smith house at 29 Allen Street, the Merriam Viles
house at 37-39 Woburn Street, and the Amos Muzzey house at 42 Forest Street. The
high style Second Period buildings in Lexington are well recognized and protected.
The Vernacular buildings mentioned above are equally important to Lexington's
architectural history, and because of their simplicity their significance has
generally escaped notice.
The site of this building is potentially valuable if a zoning change is
approved. It is adjacent to Hartwell Avenue which is zoned for commercial use
and has been built up with numerous office buildings over the past 20 years.
Whatever the future of the site, preservation of the building should be an
integral part of the plan. A more thorough study of the building would be useful
to both the owner and the town.
r,
l
•
Staple to Inventory form at bottom