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HomeMy WebLinkAboutarea-jt 5 q U qqq ^, FORM A - AREA Massachusetts Histo ri cal Commission 220 Morrissey Boulevard Boston, Massachusetts 02125 Assessor's Sheets USGS Quad Area Letter Form Num bers in Area 49 Boston N.J 90-93; 422-426; 439; 1279-1324 Town: Lexington Place (neighborhood or village): Name of Area: Parker St./Upper Clarke St. Present Use: Residential Construction Dates or Period: c.1860-c.1930 Overall Condition: good Major Intrusions and Alterations: additions, new construction behind 26 Parker Acreage: approx. 13 Recorded by: Lisa Mausolf Organization: Lexington Historical Commission Date (month/year): Jan. 2000 Q - 37c O 3'D Fore5-f Sf . (See C h1tua_,hAn q F, M F C tks q fl n.n l nnnn tar k S-rreet n q ^^a Qoq g q 7 I VI AREA FORM ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION Describe architectural, structural and landscape features and evaluate in terms of other areas within the community. Parker Street/Upper Clarke Street constitutes one of Lexington's more architecturally cohesive neighborhoods. The tree-lined streetscape is unified by houses which are nearl y all of a similar size, materials, lot size and set back. Ranging in height from 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 stories, many of the houses are oriented with their gable end facing the street. While much of the area was developed in the late 19th century additional construction continued to occur through the 20th century. The following area form update is intended to supplement the original area form completed in March 1984 by bringing together information contained in the 1984 survey, providing coverage for all of the buildings within the area and presenting new information, where available. The earliest house in the neighborhood is the Tuttle-Wellington House at 49 Parker Street (MHC #426), a Greek Revival- style residence which was moved to its present site in 1892 from the site of the present Hancock Church on Mass. Ave. The house is notable as the first of many houses in Lexington built by prolific local builder, David Tuttle and dates to 1840. The earliest houses to be constructed on Parker Street are found at the south end of the street, near Mass. Ave. The 2 1/2- story houses at 5 Parker Street (MHC #91) and 7 Parker Street are twins of each other and display cross gable plans and widely projecting eaves which end in returns. Constructed in the early 1870s, the houses are Italianate in their inspiration. The houses have seen various alterations over the y ears including the addition of aluminum siding to 5 Parker Street. Across the street the houses at 6 Parker Street (MHC #92) and 8 Parker Street are also twins of each other and were constructed ab) ut 1873. The two houses display a 2 1/2-story, three bay-wide gablefront with simple brackets supporting the cornice reirns. The front porch supported by turned posts is a later addition. The Byam House at 15 Parker Street (MHC #422) is notable as one of Lexington's best preserved gablefront Italianate residences. The building displays a number of three-sided bay windows, chamfered posts and paired brackets at the eaves. The property is also notable for its detached carriage house with gable wall dormer. The house at 14 Parker Street is a two- story gablefront dwelling which retains paired brackets but has been altered by several additions. It is the Queen Ann- style expressed in a 2 1/2-story gablefront form which predominates in the neighborhood. The Daniel Owen house at 25 Parker Street (MHC #425) is an excellent example of the style, sheathed in a combination of shingles and clapboards. Contrary to information contained in the previous survey, the house was constructed in 1890. It was built by prominent Lexington builder, Abram C. Washburn. The house at 20 Parker Street (MHC #423) is another well-preserved Queen Anne-style dwelling, notable for its brackets, bay window and wrap-around porch with Chippendale balustrade, decorative frieze and turned posts. This house was constructed by well known local builder David Tuttle for Ellen Lane in 1885. The house at 24 ParkerStreet (MHC #424) displays flared shingles in its gables and a wrap-around porch with turned posts and a spindle frieze; its barn has been removed. One property which retains its detached barn is 40 Clarke Street. The Queen Anne style is also evident in detailing on the houses at 35 Clarke Street, 26 Parker Street, 33 Parker Street, and 47 Parker Street. A deteriorating but intact example is visible at 31 Clarke Street. A hip-roofed example of the style is visible at 40 Parker Street. The house at 30 Parker Street is an unusual example of a Queen Anne-style, gablefront duplex, while 44-46 Parker is a former barn which was converted to a duplex about 1894. The building displays decorative trusses in the side gables.. The house at 41 Clarke displays a characteristically irregular massing but its integrity has been impaired by the installation of wide, synthetic siding. The house at 16 Parker Street has been nearly completely rebuilt and a large addition constructed after a fire in 1995. 1\ ore modest Queen Anne homes include 4, 5, 6 and 7 Jackson Court. The latter displays an octagonal corner tower capped by a conical roof. Contrary to local legend, the houses on Jackson Court were not moved from other locations but were all built for George Jackson for rental use. q Recommended as a National Register District. If checked, you must attach a completed National Register Criteria Statement form. INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Town Property Address Lexington Parker St./Upper Clarke St. Massachusetts Historical Commission Area(s) Form No. Massachusetts Archives Building 220 Morrissey Boulevard Boston, Massachusetts 02125 ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION (continued) The Shingle Style is represented by the house at 10 Parker Street which displays a gablefront pent. Unfortunately the house has been sheathed in aluminum siding, lessening the visual effect of the original shingle cladding. Examples of the Dutch Colonial Revival with the ubiquitous gambrel roof are located at 34 Clarke Street and 39 Clarke Street. After the turn-of-the-century, the increasing influence of the Craftsman style is visible in the design of several houses in the neighborhood including three-hipped roof Four Square houses 19, 21, and 35 Parker Street. The latter is notable for its exposed rafters and distinctive front porch posts flanked by latticed panels. The house at 21 Parker Street retains its original novelty siding and remains largely intact. A modest but well-preserved example of a side-gabled Bungalow style stands at 11 Parker Street. After 1920 the Parker Street neighborhood continued to see infill construction on vacant lots . Many of these were "Colonial" in inspiration. The house at 29 Parker Street is a later Dutch Colonial Revival home, constructed in 1928. The Cape Cod dwelling at 31 Parker Street was constructed in 1953 while the Garrison Colonial mode is visible at 36 Clarke Street and 9 Parker Street. The addition of detached garages to older properties was common in the early 20th century. Small, intact garages include those at 19, 20, 30-32, 44-46 and 45 Parker Street. The area continues to exhibit great architectural integrity and most of the houses (except 31 Clarke Street) are in good- excellent condition. While there are cases of synthetic siding, generally speaking care has been taken not to remove trim. In recent years a number of owners have improved/rehabilitated their homes including returning exteriors to historically appropriate paint schemes. Several houses including 47 Parker Street have seen the construction of large rear additions in recent years. The house at 16 Parker Street was largely rebuilt after a fire in 1995. Other recent construction includes two larger homes which are out of scale with the neighborhood which have been constructed in the back lot of 26 Parker Street. HISTORICAL NARRATIVE Explain historical development of the area. Discuss how this area relates to the historical development of the community. The Parker Street/Upper Clarke Street neighborhood was lotted in 1872 on land which Richard Blinn purchased from Asa Cottrell in 1866. Blinn's plan for the neighborhood refers to this as the `Belfry Hill Stock Farm". What is now Parker Street was labeled as Stark Street. The subdivision also included lots on Clarke Street which extended to Forest Street extension. The 1872 plan shows that at that time there was only a single building on the acreage and that was on Forest Street. Blinn had moved to Lexington from Bedford in 1852. He was president of the Lexington Railroad, a member of the first board of trustees of the Lexington Savings Bank and served as a member of the Massachusetts Legislature in 1869 and 1874. Blinn lived in the former Greeley House on Mass. Ave. (1948 Mass. Ave., MHC #64). The Panic of 1873 put Blinn into bankruptcy and he left Lexington. Blinn died in Chicago in 1906. By the time of the 1875 map there were four houses on Parker Street (at 5,6,7 and 8 Parker Street). In 1885 Clarke Street was extended from Forest Street to Parker Street. By the time of the 1889 map, one more house had been constructed on the west side of Parker Street (15 Parker Street) with six additional houses built on the east side at what are now 14, 16, 20, 24 and 30-32 Parker Street as well as at 31 and 35 Clarke Street. To the west of Parker Street were baseball grounds and the Lexington Gun Club. Lexington Parker St./Upper Clarke St. Area(s) Form No. INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Town Property Address Massachusetts Historical Commission Massachusetts Archives Building 220 Morrissey Boulevard Boston, Massachusetts 02125 HISTORICAL NARRATIVE (continued) Inspection of the 1898 map indicates that between 1889 and 1898 four more houses were located on the west side of the street including new construction at 25 Parker Street, 33 Parker Street, and 47 Parker Street as well as the house at 49 Parker Street which had been relocated from Mass. Ave. New construction on the east side of Parker Street included 40, 48 and 50 Parker Street as well as 41 Clarke Street. According to Edwin Worthen, the house at 44-46 Parker Street was formerly a barn on the Robinson Estate, Stratham Road, and was sold to George Jackson who moved it here and converted it to residential use. Valuation records indicate it was moved in 1894. Jackson Court was laid out east of Parker Street between 34 and 38 Parker Street prior to 1898 although by 1898 only the house at 8 Jackson Court was in place. Between 1898 and 1903 three other houses on Jackson Court had been constructed (6, 7 & 9) as well as the house at 34 Parker Street. The final two houses, at 4 and 5 Jackson Court were built between 1903 and 1906, as was the house at 45 Parker Street. Contrary to local tradition these houses do not appear to have been older structures moved to the site. Various articles appearing in the Lexington Minute-man describe the construction of the houses for George H. Jackson between 1901 and 1904. The house at 9 Jackson Court was built by Jackson for his clerk, George A. Warner, in 1901. An article in December 1901 notes that another foundation was being installed on Jackson Court for Jackson who "owns quite a tract of land and has already built several dwellings for rental" (December 14, 1901). Jackson added another house for rental in 1904 for Jackson who is described as owning "a little colony of houses in this locality" (Feb. 13, 1904). George H. Jackson came to Lexington in 1868 and lived at 7 Parker Street for many years. He was in the provision business, served as a trustee of the Saving Bank and was an assessor. He owned extensive real estate; for example in 1902 he was assessed for eight houses in the Parker Street area. In 1905 the Minute-man reported that the barn on the P.J. Keenan property (formerly owned by Dr. Rolfe) had been sold to Edward Montague, a builder, who had moved it to Parker Street (the present 45 Parker Street) and converted it into a dwelling (April 15, 1905). Montague was also apparently responsible for construction of his own house at 33 Parker Street and for moving a former barn from Concord Hill (2318 Mass Ave.?) to 48 Parker Street and converting it to a residence. Between 1908 and 1918 three additional houses (13 Parker Street, 34 and 39 Clarke Street) were built on vacant lots within the neighborhood. Another five houses at 19, 21, 35, 35A and 38 Parker Street date to the 1918 to 1927 period. The house at 29 Parker Street was constructed in 1928. The post World War II period saw the construction of houses at 31 Parker Street in 1953 and 9 Parker Street in 1958. BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES Comprehensive Cultural Resources Survey of Lexington, 1984. Hudson, Charles. History of the Town of Lexington. Revised and continued to 1912 by the Lexington Historical Society. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1915. Lexington Directories, various years. Lexington Minute-man, various issues. Lexington, Town of List of Persons, various years. Lexington, Town of Valuation Lists. Assessors' Office, Town Hall, Lexington, Massachusetts. Sanborn Map Co. Lexington, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. New York: Sanborn Map Co., 1887, 1892, 1897, 1903, 1908, 1918, 1927, 1935. Microfilm. Worthen, Edwin. Notes on Moved Buildings. [Courtesy of Nancy Seasholes]. 1875, 1889, 1895, 1906 maps. Area(s) Form No. Town Property AddressINVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Lexington Parker St./Upper Clarke St. Massachusetts Historical Commission Massachusetts Archives Building 220 Morrissey Boulevard Boston, Massachusetts 02125 DISTRICT DATA SHEET AREA J PARKER ST. UPPER CLARKE ST. Assessors Resource Address Style Date MHC# 49/132 Milton Holt House 27 Clarke Street Garrison Col. 1964 1279 49/131 J.J. Buckley House 31 Clarke Street Queen Acme 1875- 1889 1280 49/88A Sarah & Lester Smith House 34 Clarke Street Dutch Colonial 1912 1281 49/130 Mary & H.A.C. Woodward House 35 Clarke Street Queen Anne 1875- 1889 1282 49/88B Gus Geckos House 36 Clarke Street Garrison Col. 1967 1283 49/129 House 39 Clarke Street Dutch Col. Revival 1906- 1908 1284 49/89A Edward Wood House 40 Clarke Street Queen Arnie 1893 1285 Carriage House 40 Clarke Street c.1890 1286 49/128 Wm. Tanton House 41 Clarke Street Queen Anne/ Eastlake 1894 1287 49/87 Blinn-Crone House 30 Forest Street Italianate c. 1870 439 (K) 49/117 G.H. Jackson Rental Property 4 Jackson Ct.Queen Anne 1903- 1906 1288 49/122B G.H. Jackson Rental Property 5 Jackson Ct.Queen Anne 1903- 1906 1289 49/118A G.H. Jackson Rental Property 6 Jackson Ct.Queen Anne 1898- 1903 1290 49/121A G.H. Jackson Rental Property (built for William A. Jackson) 7 Jackson Ct.Queen Anne 1898- 1902 1291 49/119 G.H. Jackson Rental Property 8 Jackson Ct.Queen Anne 1889- 1898 1292 49/120 G.H. Jackson Rental Property (built for George Warner) 9 Jackson Ct.Queen Anne 1901 1293 49/180 House 2016 Mass. Ave.Queen Anne c.1890 93(B) 49/181 House 2030 Mass. Ave.Federal c.1810 90 (B) 49/106 House 5 Parker Street Italianate c.1870 91(B) 49/107 George B. Dennett House 6 Parker Street Italianate c.1873 92 (B) 49/105 House 7 Parker Street Italianate c. 1870 1294 49/108 S.W. Hendley House 8 Parker Street Italianate c.1873 1295 49/104 Welsh House 9 Parker Street Garrison Col. 1958 1296 49/109 House 10 Parker Street Shingle Sty le 1898- 1903 1297 49/103 Mitchell House 11 Parker Street Bungalow 1914 1298 49/110 House 14 Parker Street Italianate c.1875 1299 49/102A Barn House 15 Parker Street Italianate c.1880 422 (J) Barn 15 Parker Street c.1880 1300 INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Town Property Address Lexington Parker St./Upper Clarke St. Massachusetts Historical Commission Area(s) Form No. Massachusetts Archives Building 220 Morrissey Boulevard Boston, Massachusetts 02125 DISTRICT DATA SHEET AREA J PARKER ST./UPPER CLARKE ST. Assessors Resource Address Style Date MHC# 49/111 Willis House 16 Parker Street c.1880/ 1995 1301 49/102B House 17 Parker Street Col. Rev.c.1990 1302 49/101 Gilson House 19 Parker Street Craftsman Four Sq. 1921 1303 Garage 19 Parker Street 1926 1304 49/112 Ellen Lane House 20 Parker Street Queen Anne 1885 423 J Garage 20 Parker Street c.1910 1305 49/100 House 21 Parker Street Craftsman/ Four Sq. c.1923 1306 49/113 Vickery-Litchfield-Lane- Talcott House 24 Parker Street Queen Anne c. 1885 424 (J) 49/99 Daniel E. Owen House 25 Parker Street Queen Anne 1890 425 (J) 49/114A Francis Cobb House 26 Parker Street Queen Anne 1897 1307 49/98 Michelson House 29 Parker Street Dutch Colonial 1928 1308 49/115 Ferguson Double House 30-32 Parker St.Queen Anne c1880 1309 Garage 30-32 Parker St.c.1920 1310 49/97 Hankard House 31 Parker St.Cape Cod 1953 1311 49/96 Edward Montague House 33 Parker St.Queen Anne by 1898 1312 49/116 G. H. Jackson Rental Property 34 Parker St.1900 1313 49/95 .Leighton House 35 Parker St.Craftsman/ Four Sq. 1923 1314 49/94 Double House 37 Parker St.1918- 1927 1315 49/123 Spencer House 38 Parker St.Craftsman 1919 1316 49/124A Desmond House 40 Parker St.Queen Anne 1895 1317 49/125 Robinson-Jackson Double House (Robinson Barn moved from Stratharn Rd.) 44-46 Parker St.Stick/ Queen Anne (moved here 1894) 1318 Garage c.1930 1319 49/93 McCaffrey House (Rolfe Barn moved from 1963 Mass Ave. 45 Parker St.Greek Revival/ Col. Revival moved here 1905 1320 Garage 45 Parker St.c.1920 1321 49/92 Cheney House 47 Parker St.Queen Anne 1892 1322 49/126 Tanton-Montague House (former barn moved from Concord Hill?) 48 Parker St.Queen Anne c. 1890 (or moved before 1898) 1323 49/91 Tuttle-Wellington-Glass House 49 Parker St.Greek Revival 1840 (moved 1892) 426 (J) 49/127 Tanton-Gurney House 50 Parker St.Queen Anne e.1890 1324 Lexington Parker St./Upper Clarke St. Area(s) Form No. i INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Town Property Address Massachusetts Historical Commission Massachusetts Archives Building 220 Morrissey Boulevard Boston, Massachusetts 02125 view down Clarke Street view down Jackson Court toward Parker Street Lexington Parker St./Upper Clarke St. Area(s) Form No. Town Property AddressINVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Massachusetts Historical Commission Massachusetts Archives Building 220 Morrissey Boulevard Boston, Massachusetts 02125 49 Parker Street 5 Parker Street Lexington Parker St./Upper Clarke St. Area(s) Form No. Town Property AddressINVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Massachusetts Historical Commission Massachusetts Archives Building 220 Morrissey Boulevard Boston, Massachusetts 02125 45 Parker Street 33 Parker Street Lexington Parker St./Upper Clarke St. Area(s) Form No. INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Town Property Address Massachusetts Historical Commission Massachusetts Archives Building 220 Morrissey Boulevard Boston, Massachusetts 02125 20 Parker Street 38 & 40 Parker Street Lexington Parker St./Upper Clarke St. Area(s) Form No. Town Property AddressINVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Massachusetts Historical Commission Massachusetts Archives Building 220 Morrissey Boulevard Boston, Massachusetts 02125 5 Jackson Court 9 Jackson Court Lexington Parker St./Upper Clarke St. Area(s) Form No. INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Town Property Address Massachusetts Historical Commission Massachusetts Archives Building 220 Morrissey Boulevard Boston, Massachusetts 02125 35 Parker Street 21 Parker Street INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Town Property Address Lexington Parker St./Upper Clarke St. Massachusetts Historical Commission Area(s) Form No. Massachusetts Archives Building 220 Morrissey Boulevard Boston, Massachusetts 02125 11 Parker Street 29 Parker Street Lexington Parker St./Upper Clarke St. Area(s) Form No. m Town Property AddressINVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Massachusetts Historical Commission Massachusetts Archives Building 220 Morrissey Boulevard Boston, Massachusetts 02125 45 Parker Street 30 Parker Street Lexington Parker St./Upper Clarke St. Area(s) Form No. Town Property AddressINVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Massachusetts Historical Commission Massachusetts Archives Building 220 Morrissey Boulevard Boston, Massachusetts 02125 34 & 36 Clarke Street 24 & 26 Parker Street INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Town Property Address Lexington Parker St./Upper Clarke St. Massachusetts Historical Commission Area(s) Form No. Massachusetts Archives Building 220 Morrissey Boulevard J Boston, Massachusetts 02125 16 Parker Street A1 !!irs 26 Parker Street Lexington Parker St./Upper Clarke St. Area(s) Form No. F II 1 i Town Property AddressINVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Massachusetts Historical Commission Massachusetts Archives Building 220 Morri ssey Boulevard Boston, Massachusetts 02125 7 /2!3.3 220 j 1 f —`1 ^^ „^^ ^^rIS _irrT ^2 Zrl 9 /22/ 9 MASSACHUSETTS 123 6 ^^ — O r . rrjt:, vrr/r 2r/ 9 ,rr/^1 ^'.p _ ^^ t ^'OOO^^ 111 rrrs \^i l ^j m ^ ^r ^ N I.,\\110 6 .^\ 9 G }^ i I2/I ^^--v qr 1 lPIJ ll/ 6 \^-1 `^t \\ 111.9 I ^I J ,.S.E, Im.LL \o r3 j ` GOUTS 3 ^^\\^r X13 - ^I II ^, I ` `," t. 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