Nomination for Peak House

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

PH0229300 Form No. 10-300 (Rev.

10-74) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE DATA_SHEET FOR NPS USE ONLY RECEIVED JUN 1 0 1975 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM DATE ENTERED SEP 5 SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES -- COMPLETE APPLICABLE SECTIONS 1 NAME HISTORIC Peak House AND/OR COMMON same 2 LOCATION STREET & NUMBER 347 Main Street CITY, TOWN Medfield _NOT FOR PUBLICATION CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 10th STATE Massachusetts VICINITY OF CODE 025 COUNTY Norfolk CODE 021 3 CLASSIFICATION CATEGORY DISTRICT XBUILDING(S) _STRUCTURE SITE _OBJECT OWNERSHIP PUBLIC XPRIVATE _BOTH PUBLIC ACQUISITION IN PROCESS _BEING CONSIDERED STATUS -OCCUPIED *UNOCCUPIED _WORK IN PROGRESS ACCESSIBLE XYES: RESTRICTED - YES: UNRESTRICTED _NO PRESENT USE AGRICULTURE I MUSEUM COMMERCIAL -PARK _EDUCATIONAL _PRIVATE RESIDENCE _ENTERTAINMENT _RELIGIOUS GOVERNMENT -SCIENTIFIC _INDUSTRIAL -TRANSPORTATION MILITARY _OTHER: 4 OWNER OF PROPERTY NAME Medfield Historical Society STREET & NUMBER c/o Mr.

Paul Hurd, President, 3 Westview Road CITY. TOWN STATE Medfield Massachusetts 02052 5 LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION COURTHOUSE. REGISTRY OF DEEDS. ETC. Registry of Deeds, Norfolk County STREET & NUMBER 650 High Street CITY.TOWN STATE Dedham REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS TITLE Inventory of the Historic Assets of the Commonwealth Massachusetts 02026 DATE 1967 _FEDERAL XSTATE COUNTY _LOCAL DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS CITY. TOWN Massachusetts Historical Commission Boston STATE Massachusetts 7 DESCRIPTION CONDITION x EXCELLENT _GOOD -FAIR _DETERIORATED _RUINS _UNEXPOSED CHECK ONE -UNALTERED XALTERED CHECK ONE X ORIGINAL SITE _MOVED DATE. DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (IF KNOWN) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Description of the property

The Peak House is a typical 17th century cottage of a one-room plan. Its most unusual and salient feature is its exceptionally steep pitched roof, which, according to Abbott Lowell Cummings of the Society for the Preserva- tion of New England Antiquities, is the highest 17th century roof pitch on record. It was from this feature that the house derived the name "Peak" by which it has been known for a hundred years. The house is one and one-half stories and has an attic which has been formed by covering over the collar beams of the roof. The Peak House is 24 feet long by 14 feet 10 inches wide and measures 10 feet from the ground to the eaves and 12 feet from the eaves to the top of the The four exterior walls and the roof are covered with wooden shingles. The eight window openings are furnished with restored casement sash, having diamond-shaped leaded panes.

The batten door at the southern facade of the house is characteristic of 17th century doors with vertical boards on the exterior and horizontal boards on their interior. The large main room of the first floor is illuminated by three windows. A small room behind the fireplace wall contains another window and a door which opens to the cellar stairs. The cellar has a dirt floor and walls of fieldstone set with lime mortar. In the northeast corner under the stairway there is a section laid dry (with- out mortar which may well represent the original condition. In the center of the cellar is a stone and brick arch of the 18th century which supports the restored fireplace and chimney. An enclosed staircase leads to the second floor from the first floor entry. The second floor consists of one large room with a window in each end and an exposed, tapering chimney.

A steep, open, ladder-like set of stairs leads to the third or attic story which contains small, diamond paned leaded windows at the east and west ends. All of the interior walls of the first and second stories are sheathed with horizontal boards, those at the west end of the house being original and nicely molded. Early, if not original, sheathing is also apparent on the southeast wall of the stairwell. The four corner posts are shouldered or flared, having a "gunstock" profile. The central summer beam is chamfered, and the joists which are framed into it and which form the support of the floor of the second story appear to have been cut by an early up-and-down sawmill. The first and second floors are laid with wide boards in double layers. The frame of the roof is exposed and noteworthy for the sophistication of its jointing system. The rafters are bridle-jointed at their apex.

Mortise and tenon joints are used for those collar beams which are footed in the end girts (serving as tie beams) and which, therefore, resist compression. Dovetail tenons are used for those collars which are housed in rafters bird-mouthed over the plate and which, lacking a tie beam, are in tension.

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

SIGNIFICANCE PERIOD PREHISTORIC -1400-1499 -1500-1599 X 1600-1699 _1700-1799 - 1800-1899 - 1900- AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE -- CHECK AND JUSTIFY BELOW ARCHEOLUGY-PREHISTORIC COMMUNITY PLANNING _LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE -RELIGION ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC _CONSERVATION LAW SCIENCE AGRICULTURE _ECONOMICS _LITERATURE XARCHITECTURE -SCULPTURE _EDUCATION _MILITARY -SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN ART -ENGINEERING -MUSIC -THEATER _COMMERCE _EXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT _PHILOSOPHY -TRANSPORTATION _COMMUNICATIONS _INDUSTRY XPOLITICS/GOVERNMENT X_OTHER (SPECIFY) INVENTION Farly example of historic preservation SPECIFIC DATES 1677 STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE BUILDER

Statement of significance

/ARCHITECT The architectural significance of the Peak House is noteworthy on several counts. First, the house is one of the few surviving examples of the one-room, one-and-one-half story type which was once the most common form of dwelling built by the early settlers in the 17th century. Today the majority of these cottages have been added to or drastically altered through the years. There is no surviving evidence that the chimney of the Peak House was originally located in its traditional position at one end of the single-room house- Current opinion is that the Peak House may exhibit an unusual planning convention as yet little known. In addition to its unusually high pitch, the roof of the Peak House may be the earliest known example of a roof form consisting entirely of principal rafters without purlins. According to Abbott L.

Cummings, no immediate English precedent for such a roof form is known and it may be an innovative development of inland Massachusetts communities. In 1924 the Peak House was thoroughly restored with the advice of William Sumner Appleton of the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities, and his photographic and documentary records of that restoration are on file in the SPNEA library. Thus the house takes its place among the earliest examples of historic preservation.and is a tribute to Mr. Appleton's fore- thought and wisdom in recognizing the kinds of questions which might be asked by later generations. Today the Peak House is a museum of colonial living administered by the Medfield Historical Society. The basic framework of the house which was essentially unaltered during the restoration serves as an important laboratory for the study of colonial construction methods.

The position of the house (facing south) further illustrates the wisdom of the original settlers in taking advantage of solar heat. Demonstrations of various aspects of colonial life, such as spinning and weaving, also contribute to the understanding of early American culture. The Peak House, built in 1677 for Benjamin Clark, remained in the Clark family until 1818. For three generations members of the Clark family played an active role in local and state government. Benjamin Clark was a Selectman from 1685 to 1712 and Seth Clark was Town Treasurer and

The rest of the file

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

MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES Appleton, William Sumner. Annual Report to Society for Preservation of New England Antiquities, 1924, 141 Cambridge Street, Boston. Barber, John Warner. New England Antiquities. Worcester: Dorr Howland & Co., 1839. Cummings, Abbott Lowell. Notes on visits to Peak House, July 25, 1974 and October 21, 1974, at 141 Cambridge Street, Boston. Leighton, Barbara. Chimney Report. July 1974, Medfield Historical Society, 6 Pleasant Street, Medfield.

(Continued) 10 GEOGRAPHICAL DATA ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY - 1/10 acre (4465 square feet) UTM REFERENCES A/19/ 13/1,013100/ 14.617312,0,01 ZONE EASTING NORTHING LIILL ZONE EASTINC NORTHING ULLILULILILII VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION LIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNTY BOUNDARIES STATE CODE COUNTY CQDE STATE CODE COUNTY CODE 11 FORM PREPARED BY NAME / TITLE Judy Dobbs, National Register Fditor ORGANIZATION DATE Massachusetts Historical Commission May 1975 STREET & NUMBER TELEPHONE 40 Beacon Street 617-727-8470 CITY OR TOWN STATE Boston Massachusetts 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 Ojahier R. Amadon TITLE Mass. FOR NPS USE ONLY State Historic Preservation Officer DATE6/4/75 I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS PROPERTY IS INCLUDED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER Pwortaure DATE DATE SEP 9/5/75 4 1975 KEEPER OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER GPO 888-445 Form No. 10-300a (Rev. 10-74) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY RECEIVED JUN 1 0 1975 DATE ENTERED SEP 5 1975 CONTI NUATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER 8 PAGE Selectman in the Medfield town government. William S. Tilden's History of Medfield (1887) described Seth, Jr.

as "one of the most influential men in town." Seth, Jr. also served as a Representative to the General Court in 1765 and in 1768, and was a delegate to the historic Provincial Congress in 1775. The Peak House was occupied by other families throughout the 19th century and a photograph of the 1880's shows it attractively furnished in the current Victorian fashion. In 1924 the house was donated by the owner, Frederick M. Smith to the Medfield Historical Society who restored it for future generations. ITEM NUMBER 9 Society for Preservation of New England Antiquities. Vital Records of Medfield, Mass, to 1850. Boston, 1903, at Medfield His- torical Society, 6 Pleasant Street, Medfield, Massachusetts. United States Department of Interior, Office of National Parks, Buildings, and Reservations. Branch of Plans and Design.

2 blueprints of Peak House, Historic Buildings Survey #2-77; 2 photographs by Arthur C. Haskell, October 1934, Library of Congress numbers 34907-1-1 and 34907-1-2. Property Peak. Hause state Mase. Working Number6. /0, 25./066 TECHNICAL Photos J Maps | contimunt: Sant :< 8,9) Tery good momination. Narfik CONTROL OK 6.1l.75 HISTORIAN 4ccep Esmith 8-21-75 ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN ACCEPT LEBOVICH 4-16-35 ARCHEOLOGIST OTHER HAER Inventory Review REVIEW UNIT CHIEF AccEM cole 9/2/75 BRANCH CHIEF National Register Write-up Federal Register Entry 11-4-25 Send-back Re-submit 9475 KEEPER SEP 4 1978 h Entered SEP 5 1976 INT:2/06-74 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service WASO No. 7 PROPERTY OF THE NATIONAL REGIST Peak House 347 Main St 4-7-14 Medfield, Ma 02052 n.-1a Historical Society) 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 1 0 1975 RECEIVED DATE ENTERED SEP 5 SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES ENCLOSE WITH PHOTOGRAPH 1975 NAME HISTORIC Peak House AND/OR COMMON same LOCATION CITY. TOWN Medfield VICINITY OF PHOTO REFERENCE PHOTO CREDIT Medfield Historical Society NEGATIVE FILED AT Medfield Historical Society 347 Main Street, Medfield 02052 IDENTIFICATION DESCRIBE VIEW. DIRECTION, ETC.

IF DISTRICT, GIVE BUILDING NAME & STREET Southwest view COUNTY Norfolk STATE MA DATE OF PHOTO April 7, 1974 PHOTO NO 1 64 2 AC -S 17365 ROBERT SPROUL 36774 - 20882 1.3 3A-s 71 27000 ROAD 19680 78 23990 79 24000 80 67 AC.-S Peak House 68 4465 69 26100 76 7355 20500 38 - -LI 77 1.3 AC 112 l19 23310 !!> 21014 120 MAIN 115 L.I AC ll8 1.9 AC 1l8 cLka 28000 112 200 11I 2.2 AC 113 1.4AC 25 AC N Map of Medfield, Massachusetts showing the Peak House,; 347 Main Street ]" = 100' 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 JUN L 0 1975 RECEIVED DATE ENTERED SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES -- ENCLOSE WITH MAP 1975 3 NAME HISTORIC Peak House AND/OR COMMON same LOCATION CITY, TOWN Medfield -VICINITY OF MAP REFERENCE SOURCE Town of Medfield Assessor's Maps #43 and #44 SCALE 1 inch = 100 feet DATE 1972 revision REQUIREMENTS TO BE INCLUDED ON ALL MAPS 1. PROPERTY BOUNDARIES 2. NORTH ARROW 3. UTM REFERENCES COUNTY Norfolk STATE MA INT: 34 64 - 75 ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER STATE HASGACHUSETTS Date Entered SEP 5 1978 Name Location Peak House Medfield Norfolk County Also Notified Hon. Edward M. Kennedy Hon. Bdward W. Brooke Hon. Margazet M.

Heckler Regional Directox, North Atlantic Region PR MMott/je 9/15/75 State Historic Preservation Officer Mes. Elizabeth R. Amadon Esecutive Director Massachusetts Historical Cormission 294 Washington Street Boston, Massachusetts 02108 INT: 2950-75 ouu NR Data Sheet DATE: Reviewer 3/39/77 INITIALS: NR DOEsept. 5,. 19/5 NAMEAS IT APPEARS IN FEDERAL REGISTER: Peak House OTHER NANES: LOCATION: STREET & NUMBER CITY. TOWN 347 Main Street Medfield Medtield VICINITY OF STATE Massachusetts OWNER OF PROPERTY: (Circle) CONGRESSIUNAL DISTRICT 10th couNTNorfolk code 021.

PRIVATESTATE IOCAL GOV'T MUNICIRAL COUTY OTHER ADMINISTRATOR(underiine) NPS REGION: (CIRCLE) FEDERAL(AGENCY NAME) : N.ATLANTIC MID ATLANTIC SOUTHEAST MIDWEST SOUTHVEST ROCKY MOUNTAIN WEST PACIFIC NORTHWEST FEATURES: INTERIOR _ Substantially intact-1 - unknown - 4 - not applicable - 7 CONDITION - _EXCELLENT _GOOD MFAIR EXTERIOR ENVIRONS -Substantially intact-2 Substantially intact-3 unknown- _ unknown -6 - not applicable - 8 _ Not applicable-9 -Interioz, exterior, environs not intact-0 _DETERIORATED _UNALTERED _RUINS EXLTERED _UNEXPOSED -Reconstructed _ORIGINAL SITE _MOVED _Unkncwn _Unexcavater _Excavated ACCESS- Yes-restricted historic district? Yes-unrestricted No access Unknown YES 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 NO - FUNCTION(S): (use vocabulary words) then- peridence now- museum SIGNIFICANCE: -ARCHEULUGY-PREHISTORIC _ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC AGRICULTURE LAMCHTECTURE - 4 -ART _COMMERCE COMMUNICATIONS Claims "first" _CONSERVATION -ECONOMICS -EDUCATION LENGINEERING - /] -EXPLORATION INDUSTRY INVENTION _LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE _LAW/Gov't/politics LUTERATURE _MILITARY _MUSIC _PHILOSOPHY PUTICS GOVERNMENT YES NO "eoldest?

YES NO _RELIGION -SCIENCE _SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN "only" ._entertainment _health _recreation -settlement _socio/cultural _urban & commun YES presemation ARCHITECTURAL STYLE: Colenial architect/m.builder: landscape/garden designer: interior decorator: engineer: artist/artisan: builder/contractor: ETHNIC GROUP: NAMES: (label role personal & appropriate date) events Berzamin Clark - ais resideur selechman 1e85-/712 Seleerman institutional DATES: DATE OF CONSTRUCTION (Specific date or 1/4 of century): 1677 DATE (S) OF "MAJOR" ALTERATIONS: 1924 rstored HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT DATE (S) : SOURCE: (OF NOMINATION) PRIVATE OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY: ACREAGE" (to nearest tenth of an acre) LOCAL GOV"T MUNICIPAL COUNTY COMMENTS: (include architectural information here) Fame, shingeng; 1 seoini nutanguli, sogly venlank: gertled: not, iiterior chimney off-cutrrestank door wiih simipli lintel, diamandmpaie pane.

Haded cavement wiridenir fieldstone cellar Wiih Stöne aud brick firplace eerch, enclaved SIGNIFICANCE®(maximum two sentences) stair- , Chautered mmn beam 3 Restorid, 1924. Onea yew parviririg uxamplis o lolonial me-room, 1 E-story dwellinqur Purtinsnoted yos unueual" 10o fammap wubour pantas; ealy ammpet storic preservahm effats. Museum.