Nomination for Sanderson House and Munroe Tavern

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Form No. 10-300 (Rev. 10-74) DATA SHEET UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE FOR NPS USE ONLY NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM RECEIVED MAR 2 5 1976 DATE ENTERED APR 2 6 1976 2 3 4 6 SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES -- COMPLETE APPLICABLE SECTIONS NAME HISTORIC Sanderson House aud Munroe Tavern AND/OR COMMON same LOCATION STREET & NUMBER Sanderson House: 1314 Massachusetts Avenue Munroe Tavern: 1332 Massachusetts Avenue NOT FOR PUBLICATION CITY.

TOWN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT Lexington - VICINITY OF Fifth STATE CODE COUNTY CODE Massachusetts 025 Midalesex 017 CLASSIFICATION CATEGORY DISTRICT XBUILDING(S) _STRUCTURE -SITE _OBJECT OWNERSHIP _PUBLIC XPRIVATE _BOTH PUBLIC ACQUISITION IN PROCESS BEING CONSIDERED STATUS X OCCUPIED _UNOCCUPIED - WORK IN PROGRESS ACCESSIBLE XYES: RESTRICTED - YES: UNRESTRICTED _NO PRESENT USE -AGRICULTURE MUSEM COMMERCIAL PARK EDUCATIONAL _PRIVATE RESIDENCE -ENTERTAINMENT _RELIGIOUS GOVERNMENT -SCIENTIFIC INDUSTRIAL -TRANSPORTATION _MILITARY _OTHER: OWNER OF PROPERTY NAME Sanderson House: Lexington Minute Men, Inc. Munroe Tavern: Lexington Historical Society STREET & NUMBER Minute Men: 1332 Massachusetts Avenue Historical Society: Box 514. CITY.TOWN Lexington VICINITY OF LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION STATE Massachusetts 02173 COURTHOUSE. REGISTRY OF DEEDS, ETC.

Middlesex County Registry of Deeds STREET & NUMBER 208 Cambridge Street CITY. TOWN STATE Cambridge REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS TITLE Historic American Buildings Survey (MASS-550, Munroe Tavern) Inventory of the Historic Assets of the Commonwealth DATE 1941 and 1975 XFEDERAL X STATE _COUNTY_LOCAL DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS Library of Congress; Massachusetts Historical Commission CITY. TOWN Washington, DC; Boston STATE Massachusetts 7 DESCRIPTION CONDITION -EXCELLENT XGOOD :: -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 Sanderson House and the Munroe Tavern are located on contiguous properties on the southerly side of Massachusetts Avenue (formerly Main Street) near the center of the Town of Lexington. The Sanderson House is first mentioned in a deed of 1747, and it is suggested that it was built by local townsman John Mason, Jr. Mason's father lived across the street and the property of his father-in-law Joseph Ioring was adjacent to his. John Mason, Jr. married Lydia loring in 1731, thus suggesting a possible date for the house. The Sanderson House is a story and a half and is covered with shingles stained nearly black. The house faces southeast with its gable end toward the street. Either side of the ridge roof has three small dormers, each with 6-over-6 sash. The house is six bays wide and three bays deep.

Judging by the roof framing, it seems to have been built three bays at a time, the northern section toward the street being the older. The second three bays were undoubtedly added within a few years, for the architectural characteristics of the rafters of the two portions are similar but not identical. The main facade has a slightly off center entrance with a porch of later vintage. The entrance is flanked by two windows (2-over-2 sash) to the right and three more closely spaced windows (2-over-2 sash) to the left. The large chimney is not quite on line with the door, being slightly to the right of center. The middle of the three dormers is slightly to the left of center. The broad north gable end toward the street has two windows (2-over-2 sash) at the first story level paired on the left half of the elevation. The right half of this elevation has only one window (2-over-2 sash).

In the gable peak there is one win- dow (2-over-2 sash) and a small six-paned window immediately to its right. A one-story ridge roof ell of later date has been added to the south gable end of the house. Iwo windows (8-over-8 sash) in the gable of the old house at the second story level may be seen, one on each side of the roof line of the ell. A second chimney rises from the roof of the old house at this south gable end. The neighboring Munroe Tavern demonstrates the accretion of parts typical of old New England houses.

The main block is composed essentially of three parts: 1) a two and a half story, center entrance, one-bay deep section which faces the street, 2) a two and a half story, two-bay deep ell on the south side with center entrance, gable roof and chimney at the southernmost end, and 3) a two-story, three-bay wide, nearly flat- roofed section of indeterminate date tucked into the L shape created by the right angle junction of the other two sections of the building. The section facing Massachusetts Avenue pre-dates 1719, and the southerly ell is c. 1695. The roof line at the point where these two sections join slopes back to accommodate that juncture making the Tavern seem to be hip-roofed when viewed from the southeast corner. A one-story ell extends from the rear of the house to which is attached at the westernmost end a modern greenhouse.

The main facade faces northeast toward Massachusetts Avenue and is five bays wide with windows of 6-over-9 sash. The second-story windows are placed with their lintels flush against the eave line of the house. Restoration in 1939 altered the door from an early Classical Revival with sidelights the full height of the door and a heavy, continued

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- ARCHEOLUGY-PREHISTORIC ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC AGRICULTURE ARCHITECTURE ART _COMMERCE _COMMUNICATIONS AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE -- CHECK AND JUSTIFY BELOW _COMMUNITY PLANNING -LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE _CONSERVATION -LAW _ECONOMICS -LITERATURE _EDUCATION XMILITARY _ENGINEERING MUSIC _EXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT _PHILOSOPHY LINDUSTRY _POLITICS/GOVERNMENT LINVENTION -RELIGION -SCIENCE -SCULPTURE -SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN -THEATER -TRANSPORTATION _OTHER (SPECIFY) SPECIFIC DATES BUILDER

Statement of significance

/ARCHITECT STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE The Sanderson House and the Munroe Tavern have stood comfortably side by side since the early eighteenth century. The early history of each involves ownership by mem- bers of Iexington's most prominent early settlers - the Sanderson House with the Mason family and the Munroe Tavern with the Buckman and Munroe families. However, it is their shared history in 1775 which gives them their lasting historical significance. Sargeant William Munroe of the Lexington Minute Men and great-grandson of the first William Munroe (1625-1717) in Lexington, bought the tavern which was to be associated with his name from John Buckman in 1770. Iwo years later, his cousin, Mary Munroe, great-granddaughter of old William though by different descent, married Samuel San- derson of woburn and moved into the old house just south east of the Tavern.

San- derson, a corporal in the Iexington Minute Men and a carpenter-coffin-maker by trade, carried on his business in the cellar of his house. On the night of April 18, 1775, Sargeant Munroe entertained Solomon Brown, back home in Iexington after a day in Boston. Brown told Munroe that he had passed a group of British officers on the road out from Boston. Munroe, suspecting trouble, gathered eight other Minute Men to guard the parsonage of Reverend Jonas Clarke where John Hancock and Samuel Adams were spending the night. When fighting erupted between Colonials and British regulars, first in the early - morning of the 19th and again in mid-afternoon as the British made their painful re- treat toward Boston from Concord, Cpl. Sanderson and Sgt. Munroe were among Capt. Parker's troop of defending Minute Men. Molly Munroe Sanderson fled to her parents' home on Woburn Street, while Mrs.

Munroe and her children escaped to the woods behind the Tavern when it was ocaupied the afternoon of the 19th by General Percy leading a palntad sre ried Brat eo ocer pon tro seret, cloce l the a relief force of British soldiers to rescue Col. Smith's exhausted regulars. Percy House and the Tavern, the other across the street, closer to the Green. Percy turned the Munroe Tavern into a field hospital to teeat the many seriously wounded men of Col. Smith's demoralized troops. Spacious as the Tavern was, it was insufficient to hold all those who needed care, so at least one man was deposited at the Sanderson House. When Molly Sanderson returned to her home late in the afternoon after the British had left lexington she found the cow which had been part of her dowry slaughtered wantonly and a bleeding British soldier in the bed.

Years later, she would recall that she gave him such a tongue-lashing in broad Scots that he was afraid to eat the food she gave him for fear of being poisoned. According to at least one source, the soldier, a German, recovered and lived in Iexington for many years. continued 9

The rest of the file

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

MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES Hudson, Charles. History of the Town of Lexington, Volumes I & II. Revised and continued to 1912. Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin, Co. 1912. Interim Report of the Boston National Historic Sites Commission Pertaining to the Lexington-Concord Battle Road. Government Printing Office, Proceedings of the Lexington Historical Society, Volume I, 1889; Volume III, 1905.

10 GEOGRAPHICAL DATA ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY 77,234 square feet (1% acres) UTM REFERENCES A[L91 1312,716,8,9 EASTING CLL VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION 14.710.019,8,0 NORTHING BL.LL,LL.1.L EASTING NORTHING The boundary begins at the corner of Massachusetts Avenue and Tavern Lane and runs southeast along Massachusetts Avenue to the southeastern property line of the Sanderson House, thence along the west property line of said house to the southeastern property line of the Munroe Tavern, thence southwest to Tavern Lane, thence north along Tavern Lane to the point of beginning. LIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNTY BOUNDARIES STATE CODE COUNTY CODE STATE CODE COUNTY CODE 11 FORM PREPARED BY NAME / TITLE ORGANIZATION Massachusetts Historical Commission STREET & NUMBER 294 Washington Street CITY OR TOWN Boston Anne Grady and Elizabeth W. Reinhardt, Judy D.

Dobbs, National Register Editor and Lexington Historical Commission March 12, 1976 TELEPHONE 617-727-8470 STATE Massachusetts 12 STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER CERTIFICATION THE EVALUATED SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS PROPERTY WITHIN THE STATE IS: NATIONAL - STATE - LOCAL 02108 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 TITLE Eljalutt Red Amcedn Executive Director, Massachusetts Historical Commission DATE mar.

15,1976 FOR NPS USE ONLY I HEREBY CERTIFY THATTHIS PROPERTYS IRELODED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER AetIng DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF ÁRCHEOTO ATTEST: KEEPER OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER GY AND'HISTORIC PRESERVATION DATE 4/26/91 DATE 4.23.26 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 MAR 2.5 1976 APR 2 61976 DATE ENTERED CONTINUATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER 7& 8 PAGE 2 #7: flat entablature, to its present appearance with simple triangular pediment, pilas- ters instead of sidelights and a row of transom lights. This restoration also changed the facade from three bays with windows of 2-over-2 sash to the present five bays. The southern facade retains something of its older appearance.

The central entrance has been altered from a tall, narrow door frame without lights and a plain entabla- ture with projecting flat cornice, to a doorway with five transom lights and pilasters. The entablature has been widened to extend across the width of the pilasters. The facade keeps the older fenestration with two windows paired to the left of the en- trance on the first floor, balanced by one larger window to the right. There are three second-story windows, one centered over the door and one to each side. The windows were changed from the nineteenth century 2-over-2 sash to their present 6-over-9 appearance. All wall surfaces of the Tavern are sheathed in clapboard and all windows are wood framed with wood sash.

The Sanderson House and Munroe Tavern are within Iexington's local district known as the Munroe Tavern Historic District, which was established under special act of the state legislature in 1956. #8: After the war, in which both Sanderson and Munroe did later service, both men returned to their previous occupations, one to his carpentry, the other to his inn-keeping. In 1789 George Washington ate but did not sleep at the Tavern. William Munroe kept the Tavern until 1815 when his son Jonas became innkeeper. The Munroe Tavern thus became one of the dozen taverns that flourished in Lexington in the early 19th century, servicing the drivers coming down from Vermont, New Hampshire and Canada on their way to the Brighton markets. Jonas Munroe, famous for his hospitality, kept the old Tavern open until 1848.

It was the last public house in Lexington to close after the opening of the railroad lines to the north in the early 1840's completely changed the patterns of travel. From 1848 until 1911, when it was acquired by the Lexington Historical Society from James S. Munroe, the Tavern remained in the hands of the Munroe family. The Histor- ical Society has maintained the Tavern as a house museum open to the public from April to October. Samuel Sanderson, after the Revolution, continued to build coffins in his house next to the Tavern until the end of the eighteenth century when the family moved to Lancas- ter, Mass. Samuel died there in 1802 and his wife returned to Lexington where she lived to be 104 years old, sharp-tongued and Scots to the end. A daguerrotype of Molly Munroe Sanderson hangs in the Munroe Tavern. continued Form No. 10-300a (Hev.

10-74) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY RECEIVED MAR 25 1976 DATE ENTERED APR 2 61976 CONTINUATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER 8 PAGE 3 #8: After the Sandersons left, the house was briefly occupied by a wheelwright named Downing who left for Concord, New Hampshire c. 1820 and founded the famous Concord Stage Coach Co. Since then the Sanderson House has been in private hands until it was acquired by the Iexington Minute Men, Inc., a private, non-profit organization which claims a continuous existence from the eighteenth century company of Minute Men. The house is now open to the public as a museum of the Revolutionary period specializing in military artifacts. Property and Sanderson House/Mønroe Tavern State Mass Working Number 3.25.76.2855 TECHNICAL Photos _ 4 Maps 2 2 cont.

sreete Perhapes this property should te listed as «She sanderson Horse and Monroe Davern" Midd lesex CONTROL OK 3.31.74 HISTORIAN 4cçept 2. Smitk 3-31-76 ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN Uccept vard Zosh zApril 1976 ARCHEOLOGIST OTHER HAER Inventory. Review REVIEW UNIT CHIEF (0l2 4.16.76 BRANCH CHIEF National Register Write-up Federal Register Entry Send-back- 6-1-76 Re-submit United States Department of the Interior National Park Service WASO No. 7 KEEPER Hungr Entered APR 2 61976 INT:2106-74 MORTOTY OF THE NATIONAL FP- PROPERTY OF THE NATIONAL- NPS Number 5,1476 APR 26,1976 mitle: Sanderson House and Manroe Tavern Lexington, Mass. Middlesex County Loc. Sanderson House - north end and east facade 1L/ Form No. 10-301a (Pev.

10-74) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY RECEIVED MAR 2 5 1976 DATE ENTERED SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES ENCLOSE WITH PHOTOGRAPH APR 2 6 1976 NAME HISTORIC AND/OR COMMON Sanderson House and Munroe Tavern 2 3 Same LOCATION CITY.TOWN Lexington _VICINITY OF PHOTO REFERENCE PHOTO CREDIT Elizabeth W. Reinhardt NEGATIVE FÍLED AT 10 Eliot Road, Lexington, MA 02173 IDENTIFICATION DESCRIBE VIEW. DIRECTION, ETC. IF DISTRICT, GIVE BUILDING NAME & STREET Sanderson House: north end and east facade. COUNTY Middlesex STATE MA DATE OF PHOTO 1975 PHOTO NO. I mf/ PROPERTY OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER NPS Number APR 26,1976 Title: Sanderson House and Munroe Tavern Lexington, Mass. Middlesex County Ioc. Sanderson House - east (main) Facade 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 MAR :1976 DATE ENTERED SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES ENCLOSE WITH PHOTOGRAPH APR 2 6 1976 2 3 4 NAME HISTORIC Sanderson House and Munroe Tavern AND/OR COMMON LOCATION CITY. TOWN Same Lexington VICINITY OF PHOTO REFERENCE PHOTO CREDIT Elizabeth W. Reinhardt NEGATIVE FILED AT 10 Eliot Road, Lexington, MA 02173 IDENTIFICATION DESCRIBE VIEW. DIRECTION, ETC. IF DISTRICT. GIVE BUILDING NAME & STREET Sanderson House: east (main) facade. COUNTY Middlesex STATE MA DATE OF PHOTO 1975 PHOTONO 2 2 PROPERTY OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER MPS Number APR 26,1976 T1t1e: Sanderson House and Munroe Tavern Lexington, mass. Middlesex County Ioo. Munroe Tavern - looking west at facade 30L4 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 MAR 25 1976 DATE ENTERED SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES ENCLOSE WITH PHOTOGRAPH APR 26 1976 2 3 4 NAME HISTORIC Sanderson House and Munroe Tavern AND/OR COMMON Same LOCATION CITY. TOWN Lexington -VICINITY OF PHOTO REFERENCE PHOTO CREDIT Elizabeth W. Reinhardt NEGATIVE FILED AT 10 Eliot Road, Lexington, MA 02173 IDENTIFICATION DESCRIBE VIEW. DIRECTION, ETC. IF DISTRICT, GIVE BUILDING NAME & STREET Munroe Tavern: looking west at facade. cOUNTY Middlesex STATE MA DATE OF PHOTO 1975 PHOTONO 3 IT RAYMOND B. BARNES 59 GLEASON ROAD LEXINGTON, MASS.

02173 50212 FEB 1 2 1975 RUPCKIY UF THE CA CEO 20.0.L WPS Humber April 26,1926 TItle: Sanderson House and Munroe_Tavern Lexington, Mass. Middlesex County Loo. Munroe Tavern- Looking northwest 4074 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 MAR 976 DATE ENTERED APR 2 6 1976 SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES ENCLOSE WITH PHOTOGRAPH 2 3 NAME HISTORIC Sanderson House and Munroe Tavern AND/OR COMMON Same LOCATION CITY. TOWN _VICINITY OF Lexington PHOTO REFERENCE PHOTO CREDIT Raymond B. Barnes NEGATIVE FILED AT 59 Gleason Road, Lexington, MA 02173 COUNTY Middlesex STATE MA DATE OF PHOTO 1975 4 IDENTIFICATION DESCRIBE VIEW. DIRECTION, ETC. IF DISTRICT, GIVE BUILDING NAME & STREET Munroe Tavern: Looking northwest.

PHOTO NO. 4 aL4 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 NPSU RECEIVED DATE ENTEI SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REG/S TYPE ALL ENTRIES -- ENCLOSE WITH MAP NAME HISTORIC AND/OR COMMON Sanderson House and Munroe Tavern Same LOCATION CITY. TOWN Lexington _VICINITY OF COUNTY Mido 3 MAP REFERENCE SOURCE SCALE Sketch map, traced from Town Engineer's Map 1" = 100' DATE 1966 REQUIREMENTS TO BE INCLUDED ON ALL MAPS 1. PROPERTY BOUNDARIES 2. NORTH ARROW 3. UTM REFERENCES TAVERN MUNROE SANDERSON DISTRICT (BUILDINGS) MASSACHUSETTS N MUNROE TAVE AN / AVENUE i LANE -SANDERSON HOUSE SCALE 1" = 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 RECEIVED MAR 25 1976 APR 2 6 1976 DATE ENTERED SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES -- ENCLOSE WITH MAP 2 NAME HISTORIC Sanderson House and Munroe Tavern AND/OR COMMON Same LOCATION CITY. TOWN Lexington _VICINITY OF COUNTY Middlesex STATE MA 3 MAP REFERENCE SOURCE USGS, Lexington Quadrangle SCALE 1:24000 DATE 1971 REQUIREMENTS TO BE INCLUDED ON ALL MAPS 1. PROPERTY BOUNDARIES 2. NORTH ARROW 3.

UTM REFERENCES INT: 3464 - 75 ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER STATE HASSACHUSURSS Date Entered APR 2 61976 Name Beauport Maple-Union Corners Sanderson House end Munroe Tavern Spuxr, John House McKnight Diatrict Burt, Elfjah House Location Gloucester Vicinity Essex County Springfield Eampden County Lexington Middlesex County CharIton Worcester County Springfield Hampden County East Longneadow Hampden County Also Notified Hon. Edward M. Kennedy Hon. Idward W. Brooke Hon. Michael J. Ilarrington Hon. Edward P. Boland Hon. Paul Taongas Regional Director, North Atlantic Region VPR:M Mott:coc 4/29/76 State llistoric Frescrvation Officcr Mre. Elizabeth R. Anadon Executive Diroctor Masaachusetts Historical Coumission 294 Washiugton Street Boston, Massachusetts 02108 INT: 2950-75 MINUTE MAN LEXINGTON, MASS. W. Mass.

Englan: MAY 13 1976 A shared history Sanderson House, Munroe Tavern in National Register Massachusetts ave Sanderson House and wnominated by both on the Massachusetts. Historical Commission for inclu- sion in the National Register of Historic Places, " have been accepted, State Secretary Paul Guzzi chairman of the commission, has been informed by Gary Everhardt, director of the National Park Ser- vice in the United States Department of the Interior27422 The Sanderson House and Munroe Tavern have stood comfortably side by side since the early 18th century on contiguous properties on the southerly side of Massachusetts ave. not far from the center of the town of Lexington. The early history of each involves ownership by members of Lexington's most prominent' early settlers - the Sanderson House by the Mason family and the Munroe Tavern, the Buckman and Munroe® -families.

However, it is their shared historv in 1775 which gives them their lasting historical significance. Sergeant, William Munroe of the Lexington Minute Men and great-grandson of the first William Munroe (1625-1717) in Lexington, bought the tavern, which was to be associated with his name. from John Buckman in 1770. Two years later, his cousin, Mary Munroe, great- granddaughter of old Williarn though by different descent, married Samuel Sanderson of Woburn and s moved into the old house just southeast of the tavern. Sanderson, a corporal in the Lexington Minute Men, and a carpenter and cabinet-maker by trade, carried on his business in the cellar -of his house. On the night of April 18, 1775, Sergeant Munroe entertained Solomon Brown, back home in Lex- ington after a day in Boston. Brown' told Munroe that he had passed a group of British officers on the road out froin Bostön. Munrçe.

suspecting trouble, gathered eight other minute men to guard the parsonage of the Rev. Jonas Clarke, where John Hancock and Samuel Adams were spending the night. April 19, 1775 When fighting erupted between Colonials and "British regulars, first in the early morning of the 19th and again in mid-afternoon as the British made their painful retreat toward Boston from concord, Corporal Sanderson and Sergeant Munroe were among Captain Parker's troop of'defendings minute men. Molly Munroé Sanderson fled to herparentst home on Woburn st., while Mrs. Munroe and.her? children escaped to the woods behind the taverns whén it was occupied the afternoon of the 19th by General Percy leading a relief force of British: -soldiers to rescue Colonel Smith'sexhausteds regulars.

Percy mounted two field pieces to cover the road one on' the hill behind the Sanderson) "House and the tavern, the other across the street? closer to Lexington Green EMVY-tAn di Percy turned the Munroe Tavern into a fieldr hospital to treat the many seriously wounded med? of Colonel Smith's demoralized troops: Spacious as: the tavern was, it was insufficient to hold all those!. who needed care, so at least one man was deposited at the Sanderson House. 1053 When Molly Sanderson returned to her home late in the afternoon after the British had left Lexi. ngton, she found the cow which had been part of ier dowrv slaughtered wantonly and a bleeding British soldier in the bed. Years later she woulds recall that she gave him such a tongue-lashing in? broad Scots that he was afraid to eat the food she s gave him for fear of being poisoned.

According at least one source, the soldier, a German, recovered and lived in Lexington for many years.) The Sanderson House is now the property of Lexe ington Minute Men, Inc., and the Munroe Tavern.is owned by the Lexington Historical Society:.c RECEIVED MAY 19 19/6 MASS. HIST. COMM. -. ~NR Data Sheet DATE: Reviewer 4-16-76 INITIALS: K C 4-26-76 NAME AS IT APPEARS IN FEDERAL REGISTER: Sanderson House and munroe Tavern OTHER NAMES: LOCATION: Vsolset and Buzz, Mas L1332 Massachusetts ArO Anaes.

Ave STREET & NUMBER munne Taveca 1332 = CIY TOW Lexington CONGRESSIUNAL DISTRICT VICINITY OF STATE Mass COUNTY middlesex code 017 OWNER OF PROPERTY: (circle) PRIVATE) STATE LOCAL GOV'T MUNICIPAL COUNTY OTHER ADMINISTRATOR(underline) FEDERAL (AGENCY NAME) : NPS REGION: (CIRCLE) N.ATLANTIC MID ATLANTIC SOUTHEAST MIDWEST HABSO SOUTHWEST ROCKY MOUNTAIN WEST PACIFIC NORTHWEST FEATURES: INTERIOR - Substantially intact-1 unknown - 4 _ not applicable - 7 CONDITION - _EXCELLENT _GOOD _FAIR EXTERIOR -Substantially intact-2 - unknown.-5 - not applicable - g -Interior, exterior, environs not intact-0 _DETERIORATED _UNALTERED _RUINS ALTERED _UNEXPOSED -Unexcavated -Reconstructed -Excavated ENVIRONS - Substantially intact-3 unknown -6 Not applicakle-9 _ORIGINAL SITE _MOVED _Unknown ACCESS - Yes-restricted Yes-unrestricted No access Unknown historic district?

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) munroe Tavem then- Taverw hospital Sanderson residene store now- musewm museun SIGNIFICANCE: ARCHEOLUGY-PREHISTORIC ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC -AGRICULTURE _ARCHITECTURE ART -COMMERCE _COMMUNICATIONS Claims "'first" YES -CONSERVATION LECONOMICS -EDUCATION _ENGINEERING _EXPLORATION.

_INDUSTRY _INVENTION NO _LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE _LAW/Gov't/politics _RELIGION 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 ARCHITECTURAL STYLE: Colomial architect/m.builder: landscape/garden designer: interior decorator: ETHNIC GROUP: NAMES: (label role personal appropriate date) events institutional engineer: artist/artisan: builder/contractor: Sargeani william munroe 1770-1815 owner tavern Samuel Sanderson 1772-1802 owner house George washington 1789 - visited Revolutionary War Battle of lexington and Concord DATES: House); DATE OF CONSTRUCTION (Specific date or 1/4 of century) : Sanderson1# 1731-81747V DATE (S) OF "MAJOR" ALTERATIONS: A1695-B1719 - munroe munroejsl 650-11700 Tavern HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT DATE(S): 1939- munroe SOURCE.

(OF NOMINATION) PRIVATE - OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY: - ACREAGE: (to nearest tenth of an acre) 1.5 STATE LOCAL GOV"T MUNICIPAL 3 7lauae (731-174?); COUNTY MTau. (1650-) COMMENTS: (include architectural information here) HABS- (Mass-550, Munroe Tavern) Tolect (19654) 1941,1975 13 photos (1941, 2965*) Munroe Tavern rectansle è ett mainblock ) 2'la-center entrance Ibaydeep a) a'la shary 2 bayell, gable rof zchimnzy 3) 2 story. 3 flat root gection Sanderson House rectangle z'ell l'2 stories frame, shingled hipped roof l-ston ell SIGNIFICANCE (maximum two sentences) The Sauderson itouse and the munroe Tavern paoeinneey hi ene wti matne, he actnaander leingaloge. it is their sloued participation asin the retreat from the Batlle of Lefington and concord whict gives them their joins wishreet siguificance.

monrse Tauern: Frane, clapboonding; a stries, rectangulan, hepped roaf, frnt centn pedemented entrance wih toa5-ight hansm. gengian. Sandersm Hrusei frane, Htapboartungshunglinig; 1Ya storis, Asat, repea ron angan dt, anto eo wce somenene a mcn, cccn, c and Amrie familles.