Nomination for Fletcher, Jonathan, House

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Form No. 10-300 (Rev. 10-74) PH014286/ UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE DATA SHEEI FOR NPS USE ONLY NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM RECEIVED JUN 4 1975 DATE ENTERED JUN 2 8 1975 3 4 SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES -- COMPLETE APPLICABLE SECTIONS NAME HISTORIC Jonathan Fletcher House AND/OR COMMON same LOCATION STREET & NUMBER 283 High Street CITY.

TOWN Medford _NOT FOR PUBLICATION CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 7th STATE - VICINITY OF CODE COUNTY Middlesex CODE 017 Massachusetts CLASSIFICATION 025 CATEGORY DISTRICT XBUILDING(S) STRUCTURE SITE _OBJECT OWNERSHIP _PUBLIC XPRIVATE _BOTH PUBLIC ACQUISITION IN PROCESS _BEING CONSIDERED STATUS XOCCUPIED -UNOCCUPIED _WORK IN PROGRESS ACCESSIBLE - YES: RESTRICTED _ YES: UNRESTRICTED XNO PRESENT USE AGRICULTURE a_MUSEUM -COMMERCIAL _PARK _EDUCATIONAL X PRIVATE RESIDENCE - ENTERTAINMENT - RELIGIOUS _GOVERNMENT _SCIENTIFIC _INDUSTRIAL -TRANSPORTATION _MILITARY _OTHER: OWNER OF PROPERTY NAME Frank & Charlotte A. Scuderi STREET & NUMBER 283 High Street CITY. TOWN Medford VICINITY OF LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION STATE Massachusetts 02155 COURTHOUSE. REGISTRY OF DEEDS, ETC.

Middlesex County Registry of Deeds STREET & NUMBER 208 Cambridge Street CITY, TOWN Cambridge REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING STATE Massachusetts da -pua TITLE Inventory of the Historic Assets of the Commonwealth DATE 1974 _FEDERAL XSTATE COUNTY _LOCAL DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS Massachusetts Historical Commission CITY. TOWN Boston STATE Massachusetts 7 DESCRIPTION CONDITION XEXCELLENT _GOOD FAIR _DETERIORATED _RUINS CHECK ONE _UNALTERED XALTERED CHECK ONE ORIGINAL SITE _MOVED DATE. _UNEXPOSED DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (IF KNOWN) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Description of the property

The Jonathan Fletcher House built in 1834-35, is situated on a deep half acre lot on High Street. A retaining wall of rock-faced and hammered granite blocks with square hammered granite gate posts surmounted by pyramid shaped tops defines the front of the lot line. The building is a typical three bay by four bay side hall Greek Revival structure, with transitional elements from the Federal period. The entrance is in the gable end, which is perpendicular to the street, and an accented cornice at the gable gives a pedimented effect. The facade has one window centered in the gable end, three windows across the second story, and two windows and the entrance in the first floor. The side elevation which runs parallel to the street has regular fenestration , and two dormers, added in the late nineteenth century.

The building is shingled, and is painted deep red with white trim, as are all the ells and outbuildings. The roof is covered with asphalt shingles. Additions to the building include a rear ell attached to the northeast corner and a two story addition (1925) attached to the north side of the main structure. A porch was added to the first floor of the facade, and consists of six Tuscan columns supporting a roof which extends approximately fifteen feet eastward from the facade, and is two bays wide. A partially glazed porch, four feet deep, is attached to the main entrance, and is covered by a low sloping roof attached to the facade. Wriers are ad LEBNICH 6-17-75

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

SIGNIFICANCE PERIOD -PREHISTORIC -1400-1499 - 1500-1599 -1600-1699 -1700-1799 X 1800-1899 - 1900- AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE - CHECK AND JUSTIFY BELOW ARCHEOLUGY-PREHISTORIC COMMUNITY PLANNING -LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC -CONSERVATION -LAW AGRICULTURE -ECONOMICS -LITERATURE XARCHITECTURE EDUCATION -MILITARY ART LENGINEERING _MUSIC COMMERCE XEXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT _PHILOSOPHY _COMMUNICATIONS LINDUSTRY _POLITICS/GOVERNMENT LINVENTION -RELIGION -SCIENCE _SCULPTURE -SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN -THEATER -TRANSPORTATION _OTHER(SPECIFY) SPECIFIC DATES BUILDER

Statement of significance

/ARCHITECT c. 1835 STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE The Jonathan Fletcher House, built in 1834-35, is a significant example in Medford of the transition between the Federal and Greek Revival architectural styles, and contains many interior features taken from the designs of Asher Benjamin. The house has both Federal and Greek Revival features. The entrance is in the gable end, a Greek Revival plan, but the gable is perpendicular to the street. A four bay side elevation, with sloping roof and dormers, is presented to the street. The tops of the second floor windows are close to the cornice, an early architectural feature, and the corners are sheathed with narrow cornerboards, also a Federal detail. The main entrance to the house is an adaptation of entries shown in Plate 26 of Practice of Architecture, a book of Greek Revival designs published in 1833 by Asher Benjamin.

The paneled dado, surrounds and interior shutters of the first floor windows are taken from Plate 43 of the same book. Some of the interior doors, including the sliding double doors of the first floor parlor are of a five pane1 type illustrated in Plate XXXIX of The Architect or the Practical House Carpenter, also by Asher Benjamin. Many of the elaborately molded surrounds of other doors and windows in the house were also taken from The Architect and reflect the builder's attempts at keeping up with current taste. The land on which the Fletcher House stands was part of the industrial center dominated by the Brooks family. The land was the site of a tannery, a leather shop, and a slaughter house. A "dwelling house" is recorded on this lot as far back as 1795, but when Jonathan Fletcher bought the property in 1834, he built the present structure.

There is some evidence that he used the older house as a rear ell for his new building; some extant raised panel details in the ell are earlier than the main house, and the location of the hearths around the central chimney in the ell suggest that it was built to serve as the central chimney of an earlier house. Under Fletcher's ownership the property became residential, and paralleled the decline of industry and farming in the area. From the 1830's to the present the area has become increasingly residential, and is now a fairly high density suburban neighborhood. The Fletcher house is one of only four buildings in the area which have managed to retain their original large lots, and keep their rocky terrain. The granite retaining wall, granite gatepost, and stairs on High Street form an important part of the early nineteenth century streetscape of the area.

The rest of the file

Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.

MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES Middlesex County Registry of Deeds Benjamin, Asher, Practice of Architecture O GEOGRAPHICAL DATA ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY - UTM REFERENCES c.

acre A1,9 ZONE L3 25|3,2,0 EASTING 14,69,815,6,9 NORTHING LIILLL VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION ZONE EASTING .LIL NORTHING LIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNTY BOUNDARIES STATE CODE COUNTY CODE STATE CODE COUNTY CODE FORMPREPARED BY NAME/ TITLE Christine Boulding, Assistant Survey Director, and Brian Pfeiffer, Medford ORGANIZATION DATE Historical Commission Massachusetts Historical Commission May, 1975 STREET & NUMBER TELEPHONE 40 Beacon Street 617-727-8470 CITY OR TOWN STATE Boston Massachusetts 02108 12 STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER CERTIFICATION THE EVALUATED SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS PROPERTY WITHIN THE STATE IS: NATIONAL - STATE- LOCAL As the designated State Historic Preservation Officer for the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Public Law 89-665), I hereby nominate this property for inclusion in the National Register and certify that it has been evaluated according to the criteria and procedures set forth by the National Park Service.

STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER SIGNATURE liabeet R. Amadon TITLE Mass. State Historic Preservation Officer DATE 5/28/75 FOR NPS USE ONLY 1 HEREBY CERTIFY HAT THIS PROPERTY IS INCLUDED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER DATE DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF KEEPER OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER DATE 6/25/15 JOM 8 3 1975 GPO 888-445 udkens State asti TECHNICAL Photos Maps 2 Horking Mumber 4, 1. 25.598 Castiag ixciuect ae resubmitted separately CONTROL 4,4.75 HISTORIAN antigeen is a very diffiult area w/ ARCHITECTURAL, HISTORIAN unusual boumdasies- visited fall'74 anx was not convince 2 thar this was a dishrict. CONF. 4/4/75 18TH C Hors .27 HOUSES LoOK OLEn THHW THE ARCHEOLOGIST I share Ward's reluctance. soneence lebovrel 4-8OPHER HAER conf.

neturn Inventory - Review REVIEW UNIT CHIEF Called state to ten them we are BRANCH CHIEF KEEPER National Register Write-up Federal Register Entry Send-back 4,18.75 Re-submit6.4.15 Entered JUN % 3 1975 INT:210 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service WASO No. 7 Property Fletchen, Oonathan, Wruse Mass. Working Number 6. 4. 15./043 TECHNICAL Photos 2 dkatory Hf Maps 2nd. Coatral Shut m'iddlesex CONTROL cm 6.5.15 HISTORIAN ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN Aceept Teloveh 6: 13-15 ARCHEOLOGIST Roten photos- 6ldg. seemo signyficont OTHER fos it detailing of which we see pothris in pix. ACCEPT HaYa 6/17/15 HAER Inventory - Review REVIEW UNIT CHIEF Cole 6.17-75 BRANCH CHIEF KEEPER National Register Write-up Federal Register Entry 8-575 Send-back Re-submit Entered United States Department of the Interior National Park Service WASO No.

7 JUN 2 3 197 JUN 2 3 1975 INT:2106 - 74 Form No. 10-301a (Pev. 10-7%) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY JUN 4 1975 RECEIVED DATE ENTERED SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES ENCLOSE WITH PHOTOGRAPH 1 NAME HISTORIC Jonathan Fletcher House AND/OR COMMON same LOCATION CITY, TOWN Medford _VICINITY OF COUNTY Middlesex STA PHOTO REFERENCE PHOTO CREDIT Brian Pfeiffer DATE OF PHOTO 1975 NEGATIVE FILED AT Medford Historical Commission IDENTIFICATION DESCRIBE VIEW, DIRECTION, ETC. IF DISTRICT, GIVE BUILDING NAME & STREET South facade of Jonathan Fletcher House on High Street (first house on left) PHOTO I #1 PROPIRTY OF THE NATIONA Form No. 10-301a (Pev.

10-71) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY JUN 4 RECE/VED 1975 DATE ENTERED SUN 23 SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES ENCLOSE WITH PHOTOGRAPH NAME HISTORIC Jonathan Fletcher House AND/OR COMMON same LOCATION CITY. TOWN Medford VICINITY OF PHOTO REFERENCE PHOTO CREDIT Brian Pfeiffer NEGATIVE FILED AT Medford Historical Commission IDENTIFICATION DESCRIBE VIEW. DIRECTION, ETC. IF DISTRICT, GIVE BUILDING NAME & STREET East facade # COUNTY Middlesex STATE DATE OF PHOTO 1975 PHOTO NO #2 FROPERTY OF THE NATIONAL Form No. 10-301 (Rev.

10-74) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES PROPERTY MAP FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY RECEIVED JUN 4 1975 * JUN 2 3 1975 DATE ENTERED SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES -- ENCLOSE WITH MAP 2 3 4 NAME HISTORIC Jonathan Fletcher House AND/OR COMMON same LOCATION CITY. TOWN -VICINITY OF Medford MAP REFERENCE SOURCE SCALE U.S.G.S., Boston North quadrangle 1:24,000 DATE 1971 REQUIREMENTS TO BE INCLUDED ON ALL MAPS 1.PROPERTY BOUNDARIES 2. NORTH ARROW 3. UTM REFERENCES COUNTY Middlesex STATE MA INT: 2986-75 ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER STATE MASSACHUSESTS Date Entered JUN 2 3 1975 Name Location Fletchez, Jonathan, House Medford Midalesex County Hon. Edward Kennedy Hon. Biward Brooke Ilon. Tozbert H.

MacDonald Regional Director, North Atlantic Region PR MMott/row 6/24/75 Also Notified State Historio Preservation Officer Mes. Elizabeth R, Amadon Executive Director Massachusetts Historical Connission 40 Beacon Street Boston, Massachusetts 02108 dNR Data Sheet DATE: 3 22 77 Reviewer INITIALS: NR DOE June: 23, 1975 NAME AS IT APPEARS IN FEDERAL REGISTER: Fletcher, Jonathan, House OTHER NANES: LOCATION: STREET & NUMBER CITY. TOWN 283 High Street Medford VICINITY OF STATE Massachusetts CONGRESSIUNAL DISTRICT 7th COUNT Mtdd 1esecode 017.

OWNER OF PROPERTY: (Circle) ADMINISTRATOR (underline) PRVATE STATE FEDERAL (AGENCY NAME) : MUNICIPAL COUNTY OTHER NPS REGION: (CIRCLE) N.ATLANTIC MID ATLANTIC SOUTHEAST MIDWEST SOUTHWEST ROCKY MOUNTAIN WEST PACIFIC NORTHWEST FEATURES: INTERIOR Substantially intact-1 - unknown - - not applicable - 7 CONDITION - LEXCELLENT _GOOD -FAIR EXPÉRIOR ENYIRONS KSubstantially intact-2 -substantially intact-3 -unkn.own.-5 - unknown-6 - not applicable - 8 _Not applicable-9 _Interior, exterior, environs not intact-o _DETERIORATED _UNALTERED _RUINS LATERED _UNEXPOSED _Reconstructed LORIGINAL SITE _MOVED -Unkncwn _Unexcavated _Excavated ACCESS - Yes-restricted Yes-unrestricted No access Unknown historic district? YES NO WITHIN NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT? IF YES, NAME: YES NO WITHIN NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK? IF YES, NAME: YES NO ADAPTIVE USE: YES NO Saved?

YES FUNCTION (S): (use vocabulary words) then- private sesidence now- SAME SIGNIFICANCE: -ARCHEULUGY-PREHISTORIC -ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC -AGRICULTURE ARCHITECTURE - 4 ART _COMMERCE -COMMUNICATIONS Claims _CONSERVATION _ECONOMICS -EDUCATION _ENGINEERING SEXPEORATION -INDUSTRY -INVENTION "first" YES NO -LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE _RELIGION _LAW/Gov't/politics _SCIENCE _LITERATURE _MILITARY -SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN _MUSIC _PHILOSOPHY _POLITICS/GOVERNMENT -TRANSPORTATION _OTHER (SPECIFY) "oldest"' YES NO ._entertainment _health _recreation -settlement - socio/cultural - urban & commun planning "'only" YES NO ARCHITECTURAL STYLE: architect/m.builder: landscape/garden designer: interior decorator: ETHNIC GROUP: NAMES: (label role appropriate date) events EEK REUWAL ELEMENTS engineer: artist/artisan: builder/contractor: persoat - astra desan to beubab C.

Desquen - publechae DATES: institutional DATE OF CONSTRUCTION (spocifie date ox 1/4 of century) : 7835 DATE (S) OF "MAJOR" ALTERATIONS: 1925 HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT DATE(S) : SOURCE: (OF NOMINATION) PRIVATE STATE LOCAL GOV"T MUNICIPAL COUNTY OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY: ACREAGE: (to nearest tenth of an acre) COM MENTS: (tncludo archtecural tafornation heral FRAME, SHINCANEO, 202 STORIES, L- co a SAEA AARAEE PORCHI, BEDIMEANTED SÁDE-CRARANEOC POREIE; 2-SERI L ADDITION, 1925; DORMERS AND SIDE PORCH ADDED: EREEK REVIVAL UE- MENIS- INTERIOR DETAILS CORIED KROM DESKIN BOOK PUBUSHED VIL 1033 14 SIGNIFICANCE: (maximum two sentences) ASHER BENJAHIN: UNUSUAL PLAN WITH MAIN FACADE PERPENDICULAR TO STREET: