Nomination for Angle Tree Stone

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Form No. 10-300 (Rev. 10-74) UNIIEDSTATNATONAL PARK SERVCTHE INTEIH028/197 FOR NPS USE ONLY NATIONAL PARK SERVICE OCT 24 1975 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM RECEIVED WAN 1 DATE ENTERED SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES -- COMPLETE APPLICABLE SECTIONS NAME HISTORIC Angle Tree Stone AND/OR COMMON same 3 LOCATION W of haith attle bacoughff High st.

STREET & NUMBER off Peck Rd, Plainville; off High St., North Attlebor,UR PUBLCATION CITY, TO#Yainville and North Attlebor oushity oF CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT STATE CODE Massachusetts 025 CLASSIFICATION -Norfölk/Bristol 02f9805 {alzo min kaspole (o.) CATEGORY -DISTRICT _BUILDING(S) STRUCTURE SITE XOBJECT OWNERSHIP X PUBLIC _PRIVATE BOTH PUBLIC ACQUISITION _IN PROCESS _BEING CONSIDERED STATUS OCCUPIED X UNOCCUPIED WORK IN PROGRESS ACCESSIBLE YES: RESTRICTED YES: UNRESTRICTED _NO PRESENT USE _AGRICULTURE _MUSEUM COMMERCIAL -PARK EDUCATIONAL _PRIVATE RESIDENCE _ENTERTAINMENT _RELIGIOUS -GOVERNMENT _SCIENTIFIC _INDUSTRIAL TRANSPORTATION _MILITARY XOTHER: marker OWNER OF PROPERTY NAME Commonwealth of Massachusetts; Town of Plainville; Town of No. Attleboro STREET & NUMBER multiple CITY. TOWN STATE -VICINITY OF 5 LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION COURTHOUSE REGISTRY OF DEEDS, ETC.

STREET & NUMBER Chapter 37, Acts of 1790 State House CITY, TOWN STATE Massachusetts Boston REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS TITLE Inventory of the Historic Assets of the Commonwealth DATE " 1975 DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS Massachusetts Historical Commission CITY, TOWN _FEDERAL XSTATE _COUNTY LOCAL Boston STATE Massachusetts 02108 7 DESCRIPTION CONDITION _EXCELLENT _GOOD -FAIR XDETERIORATED -RUINS UNEXPOSED CHECK ONE XUNALTERED _ALTERED CHECK ONE X_ORIGINAL SITE _MOVED DATE. DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (IF KNOWN) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Description of the property

The Angle Tree Stone is situated in a small clearing in a wooded area which is surrounded by agricultural land. There are no roads in the immediate vicinity; the Stone is reached by a narrow right of way through the fields. It was erected in 1790 to mark the place where a tree had stood which identified the place where the boundary between the Massachusetts Bay and Plymouth colonies changed direction. The Angle Tree Stone is a slate shaft fourteen feet high, two feet wide and four inches thick. A circle carved into the top of the shaft is the only ornamental feature. The face of the north side of the circle has "Massachusetts Colony" inscribed on it; "Plymouth Colony" is inscribed on the south side.

The following inscription is cut into both faces of the shaft: "This monument, erected by order of the government to perpetuate the place on which the late station or angle tree formerly stood. The commissioners appointed by the old colonies of Plymouth and Massachusetts to run out and establish this line in 1664 were Robert Studson, Constant Southworth, Josias Winslow, Jos. Fisher, Roger Clapp and Eleazer Lusher. They began this work on the 10th day of May, the same year, and marked a tree then standing on this spot, it being 3 miles south of the southern most part of the Charles River. Lemuel Kollok, Esq. was appointed agent to cause this monument to be erected. By an order of the General Court the Selectmen of the towns of Wrentham and Attleborough were present viz: Samuel Fisher, John Whiting, Nathan Hawes, Nathan Comstock and Nathaniel Ware, Esquires of Wrentham.

From this stone the line runs due west the extent of the Commonwealth. Done at Wrentham the 29th day of Nov. 1790, by Samuel Fisher and Son." The stone has begun to deteriorate through _exposure to the weather and because of vandalism.. The slate has begun to spall at the edges, and graffiti has been scrawled across the surface. An iron railing was erected around the Angle Tree Stone to try to protect it from vandals and souvenir hunters. The fact that the stone is isolated protects it to a certain extent from maliçious damage because it is so hard to find, but its isolation also means that it is difficult to police. Potential plans for the Angle Tree Stone include the development of a small park around the stone, with interpretive materials available for educational purposes.

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

SIGNIFICANCE PERIOD PREHISTORIC -1400-1499 1500-1599 1600-1699 X 1700-1799 _1800-1899 - 1900- -ARCHEOLOGY-PREHISTORIC ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC AGRICULTURE ARCHITECTURE ART COMMERCE _COMMUNICATIONS AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE -- CHECK AND JUSTIFY BELOW _COMMUNITY PLANNING _LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE _CONSERVATION -AW _ECONOMICS -LITERATURE -EDUCATION -MILITARY _ENGINEERING -MUSIC X EXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT _PHILOSOPHY _INDUSTRY POLITICS/GOVERNMENT INVENTION _RELIGION SCIENCE _SCULPTURE -SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN _THEATER _TRANSPORTATION XOTHER (SPECIFY) early boundary marker SPECIFIC DATES 1790 STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE BUILDER

Statement of significance

/ARCHITECT The Angle Tree Stone marks a significant site in Massachusetts, and has gained, through its antiquity, significance in its own right as a monument. The Stone is located on the boundary between the old Massachusetts Bay Colony and Plymouth Colony established by the land grant given to the Massachusetts Bay Company by Charles I in 1628. The southern boundary of the Company's domain was designated as three miles south of the southern end of the Charles River. As the inscription on the stone states, Robert Studson, Constant Southworth, Josias Winslow, Jos. Fisher, Roger Clapp and Eleazer Lusher were appointed as commissioners in 1664 to survey the boundary between the Massachusetts and Plymouth colonies.

These commissioners marked a tree where the stone now stands, to identify the place three miles south of the southern end of the Charles River where the boundary changed direction from south west to due west, and runs into the Rhode Island border. The General Court of Massachusetts, in Chapter 37 of the Resolves of 1790, directed "that a stone monument be Erected on the Southerly line of the Old Colony of Massachusetts in the Place where the later Station or Angel (sic) Tree formerly stood." and further resolved that "Lemuel Kollock Esgr be a Committee to cause the said Monument to be erected." The line which was surved by the commissioners in 1664 now marks the boundary between Norfolk County and Plymouth and Bristol Counties.

The location of the Angle Tree Stone is easily identified on any map which shows this boundary, because it is located at the only angle and change of direction on the entire line.

The rest of the file

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

MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES North Attleboro Tercentenary Book, 1628 to 1930, North Attleboro Plainville Town Reports Resolves of 1790, Chapter 37, General Court of Massachusetts 10 GEOGRAPHICAL DATA ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY less than # acre UTM REFERENCES AL19 13/041090 1465,062 0 ZONE EASTING NORTHING CLLILL LLLu VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION OimoK-un BLULLILNLIILLI ZONE EASTING DULLILLI NORTHING LIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNTY BOUNDARIES STATE CODE COUNTY Norfolk CODE 021 STATE CODE COUNTY CODE Bristol 005 11 FORM PREPARED BY NAME / TITLE Christine Boulding, Assistant Survey Director, and Georgette Plante ORGANIZATION DATE Massachusetts Historical Commission October 16, 1975 STREET & NUMBER TELEPHONE 294 Washington 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), hereby nominate this property for inclusion in the National Register and certify that it has been evaluated according to the crteriad rocedure st foth by te Matona Par giyee STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER SIGNATURE aluth Rued Amadon TITLE Mass.

State Historic Preservation Officer DATE 10/17/75 FOR NPS USE ONLY I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS PROPERTY LYDED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER 1/1/96 QSEPER OITHE NATIONAL RECISTER DATE 12/30/25 GPO 888-445 Property Aagle Treuktone state Nass. Working Number 10.24.75.1899 TECHNICAL Photos Maps unusual- Norfolk / Bristol CONTROL pl 10.24.75 HISTORIAN Aeseptur 12/1/75 ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN ACLEPI. 12/2/75 ARCHEOLOGIST OTHER HAER Inventory - Review - REVIEW UNIT CHIEF Cole 12-3-75 BRANCH CHIEF aupt. Heugo 12.5.25 QAKBBPER Upeu 12/30/75 JAN I Entered 19/6 National Register Write-up Federal Register Entry 3.2-16 Send-back Re-submit INT:2106-74 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service WASO No. 7 PROPERTY OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER 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 RECEIVED OCT 2 4 1975 JAN 1 DATE ENTERED SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES ENCLOSE WITH PHOTOGRAPH 1976 NAME HISTORIC Angle Tree Stone AND/OR COMMON same LOCATION CITY. TOWN Plainville, VICINITY OF North Attleboro PHOTO REFERENCE PHOTO CREDIT Terry Martin NEGATIVE FILED AT Plainville Historical Commission IDENTIFICATION DESCRIBE VIEW. DIRECTION, ETC. IF DISTRICT, GIVE BUILDING NAME & STREET looking north at the south elevation of the stone Norfolk, COUNTY Bristol STATE MA DATE OF PHOTO 1975 PHOTO NO 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 RECEIVEDOCT 2 4 1975 JAN 1 IDATE ENTERED SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES - ENCLOSE WITH MAP 1976 1 NAME HISTORIC 2 3 4 Angle Tree Stone AND/OR COMMON same LOCATION CITY. TowN Plainville, _VICINITY OF North Attleboro MAP REFERENCE SOURCE U.S.G.S. Attleboro quadrangle SCALE DATE 1:24,000 REQUIREMENTS TO BE INCLUDED ON ALL MAPS 1. PROPERTY BOUNDARIES 2. NORTH ARROW 3. UTM REFERENCES COUNTY Norfolk, Bristol STATE MA 1964 INT: 3464- 75 ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER STATE MASSACHUSEPTS Date Entered SAN 1 Name Location Angle tzee stone Red Brick School Bigelow, DI. Henry Jacob, House Norfolk and Bristol Counties Franklin Norfolk County Newton (Village of Oak H111) Middlesex County Hon. Margaret M.

Heckler Hon. Joseph D. Eaxly Hon. Robert F. Drinan LPR Regional Director, North Atlantic Region MMott/je 1/20/76 Also Notified State Histozie Preservation Officer Mes. ELisabeth R. 2madon Executive Directos, Massachusetts Historical Connission 294 Veshington Street Boston, Massachusetts 02108 INT: 2950-75 the Franklin fentinel wel 1, rebruary", 476 Angle Tree Stone 'Historic Placé' PLAINVILLE - The Plainville the governor and are placed on Historical Commission the Register on approval by the reported that the Angle Tree National Park Service. It was Stone has been accepted by the through the efforts of the National Park Service for listing Plainville Historical Commission that the Angle Tree Stone was nominated and then accepted for Confirmation of the listing was this honor.

received Thursday in a letter from both Paul Guzzi, secretary of the Commonwealth, and Elizabeth Reed Amadon, state historic preservation officer. All historical areas in the National Park System, together with those properties eligible for designation as National Historic Landmarks, are of national significance and thus qualify automatically for the National Register. Properties of state or local significance are nominated by a state liaison officer appointed by AUCTION Sat., Feb. 14 - 10 A.M. at the VFW Hall Eastside Road, Wrentham Antique and classic furniture, tables, chairs, pine commode, maple twin bedroom set, braided rugs, glassware, china, many other household items.

AUCTIONEER DICK BERGMAN 384-3629 NATIONAL REGISTER DATA SHEET ONaMt as it appears on federal register: county code: Angle Tree Stone Nortol ounty) 1-1-76 005 QAOCATION st number (alScity , town vicinity state county of North Attleborough off High St. North Attleborough 6)NPS REGION MA Bristol Northatlantic OWNER OPRIVATE OSTATE ) MUNICIPAL -COUN XMULTIPLE OFEDERAL (agency name) Stat multiple 9) EXISTING SURVEYS JHAER ONHI FUNDED? CYES XNO (11)CONGRESS. DISTRICT 10 municipal 8ADMINISTRATOR (12) SOURCE OF NOMINATION XSTATE -FEDERA SWITHEN HATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIG DISTRIET? VITHIN MATIOMAL HISTORIC LANBMARK? " s'Shpo staff? less than .25 0L LOVES.

NAME .OCA UPRIVATE ORGANIZATION 1CONDITION xdeteriorated Oaltered *riginalsite 17) features: CSUBSTANTIALLY INTACT-1 *SUBSTANTIALLY INTACT - 2 Xunaltered 2OSUBSTANTIALLY INTACT - 3 Dexeellent Oruins Omoved CONOT INTACT-O ÇO NOT INTACT-O Ogood Junexposed Oreconstructed Ounknown GOUNKNOWN-4 QONOT INTACT - O WJUNKNOWN-5 Dfair =X UNKNOWN-6 Ounexcavated Oexcavated X XNOT APPLICABLE-7 WONOT APPLICABLE-8 LONOT APPLICABLE - 9 18 ACCESS OYES- Restricted DYES - Unrestricted - No Access - Unknown IADAPTIVE USE SAVED? DYES IS PROPERTY A HISTORIC DISTRICT?

Dyes *no 21) AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE : DENGINEERING-11 - LANOSCAPE ARCH.- 15 X POLITICS/ GOVT.- 21 -RECREATION -28 CLAIMS: explain CARCHEOLOGY -prehistoric-2 -COMMERCE - 6 DENTERTAINMENT-26 - LAW- 16 C RELIGION- 22 X 'first'O SETTLEMENT-29 CARCHEOLOGY-historic-1 J COMMUNICATIONS-7 CEXPLORATION -12 - LITERATURE-17 - SCIENCE - 23 -URBAN PLANNING-31 'oldest' O - AGRICULTURE-3 - CONSERVATION- 8 - HEALTH-27 - MILITARY- 18 CJ SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN-24 JOTHER (SPECIFY) - ARCHITECTURE-4 - ECONOMICS-9 - INDUSTRY- 13 - MUSIC -19 - SOCIAL/CULTURAL-30 'only' D -ART-5 - EDUCATION-10 C INVENTION -14 - PHILOSOPHY-20 TRANSPORTATION -25 (23) functions WHEN MISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT: Boundary Marker CURRENTLY: Boundary Marker &architectural style(s): dates of initial construction: 1790 ETHNIC GROUP ASSOCIATION major alterations: historic events: architect: master builder: engineer: n/a landscape architect / garden designer: &) interlor decorator: artist martisan: builder/contractor: NAMES give role & date PERSONAL: EVENTS: 3NATIONAL REGISTER WRITE-UP V slate shaft; 14' high, 2' wide, 4" thick; with inscription that memorializes the 1664 survey establishing the boundary between the Massachusetts Bay and Plymouth Colonies; identifies the location of the tree that marked the only angle and change of direction along the entire boundary line.

ST areviewers initiais 9/6/78 date. AI IF ADDITIONAL SPACE NEEDED, NUMBER & PUT ON REVERSE DH