Nomination for Simonds Tavern

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Form No. 10-300 (Rev. 10-74) TH0355/1Y UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE DATA SHEET FOR NPS USE ONLY NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM RECEIVEO JUL 6 1976 DATE ENTERED 14 1976 1 3 4 5 SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES -- COMPLETE APPLICABLE SECTIONS NAME HISTORIC ** Simonds Tavern AND/OR COMMON same LOCATION STREET & NUMBER 331 Bedford Street CITY TOWN Lexington STATE Massachusetts VICINITY OF CODE 025 CLASSIFICATION 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: UNBESTRICTED XNO OWNER OF PROPERTY NAME John and Jean Shanahan STREET & NUMBER 331 Bedford Street CITY.

TOWN Lexington _VICINITY OF LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION COURTHOUSE, REGISTRY OF DEEDS,ETC. Middlesex County Registry of Deeds STREET & NUMBER 208 Cambridge Street CITY. TOWN Cambridge REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS TITLE -NOT FOR PUBLICATION CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 5th COUNTY Middlesex CODE 017 PRESENT USE AGRICULTURE -MUSEUM COMMERCIAL _PARK _EDUCATIONAL XPRIVATE RESIDENCE -ENTERTAINMENT _RELIGIOUS _GOVERNMENT -SCIENTIFIC _INDUSTRIAL -TRANSPORTATION MILITARY -OTHER: STATE Massachusetts 02173 STATE Massachusetts Inventory of the Historic Assets of the Commonwealth DATE 1975 _FEDERAL STATECOUNTY LOCAL DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS Massachusetts Historical Commission CITY. TOWN Boston STATE Massachusetts 71DESCRIPTION CONDITION XEXCELLENT _GOOD FAIR DETERIORATED _RUINS CHECK ONE XUNALTERED ALTERED CHECK ONE *ORIGINAL SITE MOVED DATE.

_UNEXPOSED DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (IF KNOWN) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Description of the property

Simond's Tavern is a free standing two-story, gabled block situated on the east side of Bedford Street inmediately before its intersection with the highway Route 128, and about Iz miles northwest of Lexington Center. The heavy traffic on Bedford Street detracts somewhat from the predominantly residential character of the neighborhood, as does Route 128. Despite these intrusions, Simond's Tavern remains unaltered. Simond's Tavern is built on a granite faced, brick foundation with the gables to the side. The facade which faces west, the north elevation, and the east elevation are sheathed in clapboard. The south elevation is brick with bridged chimneys. The ori- ginal Georgian house, c. 1795, is five bays wide, with a center entry and center chim- ney.

A wing was added to the house about 1810; it is three bays wide with an entrance anattenpioco bala placed in the first bay, in an attempt to balance the facade proportionally. The facade has been treated as a unit; the dentil course of the cornice continues un- interrupted for the full length of the building. The two entrances of the main facade are nearly identical with pilasters, a simple entablature and a projecting, flat cornice with modillions above a dentil course. The southern door, however, has a simpler and narrower architrave than the northern entrance. Fenestration throughout is six-over-six sash. On the facade, the bays are equally pro- portioned except for the bay south of the south door, which is slightly wider; this tenas to emphasize the distinction between the two sections of the building. Second floor window tops are flush with the cornice.

On the north elevation, at the attic level, are two small windows placed close together. The windows of the east and south elevations are more randomly placed; all are original and are framed by a simple, flat molding. Sheds and outbuildings to house animals were attached to the building and have since been removed.

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

SIGNIFICANCE PERIOD PREHISTORIC -1400-1499 -1500-1599 _1600-1699 X1700-1799 X1800-1899 -1900- AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE -- CHECK AND JUSTIFY BELOW ARCHEOLOGY-PREHISTORIC XCOMMUNITY PLANNING -LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC -CONSERVATION -LAW AGRICULTURE -ECONOMICS -LITERATURE ARCHITECTURE _EDUCATION _MILITARY ART ENGINEERING _MUSIC XCOMMERCE -_EXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT PHILOSOPHY -COMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY POLITICS/GOVERNMENT INVENTION _RELIGION SCIENCE _SCULPTURE _SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN -THEATER -TRANSPORTATION _OTHER (SPECIFY) SPECIFIC DATES STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE BUILDER

Statement of significance

/ARCHITECT The Simonds Tavern is significant because of its association with the early settlers of Lexington and the commercial history of the Federal era of the Town. The Simonds family arrived in Lexington in 1686 and were large landowners. In 1760, Joshua Simonds acquired thirty-six acres of land where the Tavern was later built. He was a member of Captain Parker's company of Minute Men and participated in the Battle of April 19, 1775. Joshua Simonds Jr. (1770-1858) inherited the land and built the ori- ington.orth section of the tavern about 1794, when he married Abigail Cutler of lex- He kept a tavern (now lost) on Monument Street (now Massachusetts Avenue), at the base of Fiske Hill, west of Lexington Center.

Sensing the opportunity created by the growing traffic of drovers bringing cattle, sheep and turkeys to the Boston market from the north, in 1802 he opened a tavern in his house on Bedford Street. TARE 1806, Bedford Street was rebuilt west from the Lexington Green, replacing the older more circuitous route. Simonds' new tavern prospered because of the new road, and an addition was built in 1810. Joshua Simonds apparently found running two taverns too strenuous and closed the Bedford Street tavern in 1828. Since then, the building has served as a farmhouse and residence for a succession of Lexington families. The present owners have meticulously preserved the magnificent interior panelling of the older north section. Architecturally, Simonds Tavern is significant as one of the few double Federal houses in Lexington.

The rest of the file

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

MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES Bliss, Edward; "The Old Proceedings Of the Lexington Historical Society, Volume I, Lexington:1887. Hudson, Charles; History of the Town of Lexington, Massachusetts, Houghton Mifflin, Boston: 1913 10 GEOGRAPHICAL DATA ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY _ .2 acre UTM REFERENCES AL119 3|115/5/610/ ZONE EASTING 1417/023/91210/ NORTHING ZONE DLL LLILu VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION LIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNTY BOUNDARIES STATE CODE COUNTY CODE STATE CODE COUNTY CODE 11 FORM PREPARED BY NAMSÓseph R. Orfant National Register Editor and ORGANIZATION Massachusetts Historical Commission STREET & NUMBER 294 Washington Street CITY OR TOWN Boston Elizabeth W.

Reinhardt Chair Lexington Historical Commission DATE 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- X As the designated State Historic Preservation Officer for the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Public Law 89-665). 1 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 Oiebuch RulAmadon Executive Director, Massachusetts Historical Commission 6/14/76 FOR NPS USE ONLY I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS PROPERTY IS INCLUDEO /THE NATIONAL REGISTER DATE DATE 10/14/76 10-8.76 KEEPER OF THE NATIONAL REGI GPO 892.453 RECEIVED JUL 6 1976 NATIONAL REGISTER SIMONDS TAVERN LEXINGTON, MA. HARDING .-- BEDFORD ROAD STREET RD. SIMONDS N SCALE 1" = 100' BASEMAP: TOWN ENGINEER (1966) Property Simonds Javeen State mass. working Number 7.6. 76.3704 TECHNICAL Photos. / Maps 1, Araming e*Ra 7.7.16 HISTORIAN accpt B.

Groovenr 7/13/25 ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN nt huta 9-17.40 ARCHEOLOGIST OTHER HAER Inventory Review REVIEW UNIT CHIEB Aeetue 1016/76 BRANCH CHIEF Junng 16.7-76 KEEPER National Register Write-up Federal Register Entry 12-2-76 Send-back Re-submit - Entered United States Department of the Interior National Park Service WASO No. 7 14 1976 INT:2106-74 Simonds Tavern Lexington, MA. Elizabeth W. Reinhardt /19.75 10 Eliot Road uexington, MIDDLESEX COUNT Facing north-west Photograph #1 lavern X JUL 6 1976 doe OCT 14 1976 ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER STATE Date Entered MASSACHUSETTS OCT 1 4 1976 Name Location Simonds Tavern The Manse Washington Street Shoe District Lexington Middlesex County Northampton Hampshire County Haverhi11 Essex County Hon. Edward M. Kennedy Hon. Edward W. Brooke Hon. Paul Isongas Hon. Silvio 0. Conte Ilon. Michael J.

Harrington Regional Director, North Atlantic Region 880 MMott/row 10/21/76 Also Notified State Ilistorie Preservation Officer Mrs. Elizabeth R. Amadon Executive Director Massachusetts Iistorical Conmiasion 294 Washington Street Boston, Massachusetts 02108 INT: 2950-75 NEWS-TRIBUNE WALTHAM, MA D. 15,350 NOV 15 673 New England Newsclig Middlesed List Simonds Tavern in National Register simLedi Tan,, 31 Bdtnd Lesinglo Cent. .., West of Lexington, nominated for inclusion in the Sensing the opportunity. National Register of Historic created by the growing traffie" Places by the Massachusetts of drovers bringing cattle, sheep Histarical Commission, has been and turkeys to the Boston accepted, State Secretary Paul market from the North, in 1802 H. Guzzi, chairman of the com- he opened a tavern in his house mission,, has been informed bs on Bedford St.

In 1806, Bedford Gary Everhardt, director of the St. was rebuilt West from the National, Park Service in the Lexington Green, replacing the U.S. Department of the Interior. older and more circuitous route. It is significant becáuse of its Simonds' associated with the carly set- prospered because of the new tlers of Lexington and the com- road, and in addition was mercial history of the federal erected in 18iû. Jushua Simonda era of the town. apparently found running two taverns too strenuous and he The Simonds family arrived closed the Bedford street tavern in Lexington in 1686 and were in 1828. Since then, the building large Joshua landowners. In 1760, has served as a farmhouse and Simonds acquired 36 residence for a succession ol cares of land where the tavern Lexington familles. was later built. He was a The present owners, John and member of Capt.

Parker's Jean Shanahan, have company of Minute-Men and meticulously preserved the participated in the Battle of magnificent interior panelling of April 19, 1775. the older North section. Ar- Joshua Simonds Jr. (1770-1858) chitecturally, Simonds Tavern Ls inherited the land and built the significant as one of the few. original North section of tha double federal, houses tavern about 1794, when he Lexington. married Abigail Cutler Sheds and outbuildings to Lexington. He kept a tavern house animals were attached to (now lost) on Monument St. the building and have since been (now Massachusetts Ave.) at thelremoved. MYNR Data Shest DATE: Revlewer 7/13/76 INITIALS: 36 KP NR DOE OCT 14 1976 NAME AS IT APPEARS IN FEDERAL REGISTER: 'Stmonds Tavern OTHER NANES: LOCATION: STREET & NUMBER CITY.

TOWN STATE 331 Bedford Stgeet- Lexington Massachusetts - VICINITY OF 025 CONGRESSIUNAL DISTRICT 5th COUNTY Middlesex code 017 OWNER OF PROPERTY: (Circle) PRIVATE STATE LOCAL GOV'T MUNICIPAL COUNTY OTHER FEDERAL (AGENCY NAME) : ADMINISTRATOR(underline) NPS REGION: (CIRCLE) N.ATLANTIC MID ATLANTIC SOUTHEAST MIDWEST SOUTHWEST ROCKY MOUNTAIN WEST PACIFIC NORTHWEST FEATURES: INTERIOR - Substantially intact-1 + unknown - 4 - not applicable - 7 CONDITION - LEXCELLENT _GOOD -FAIR EXTERIOR ENVIRONS _Substantially intact-2 - Substantially intact-3 _ unknown.-5 - unknown -6 _ not applicable - 8 Not amlicacle-9 -Interioi, exterior, environs not intact-t intaet -DETERIORATED KUNALTERED LORIGINAL SITE _RUINS ALTERED _MOVED -UNEXPOSED -Reconstructed _Unknown _Unexcavater Excavated ACCESS - , Yes-restricted historic district?

Yes-unrestricted No access Unknown 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 NO FUNCTION (S): (use vocabulary words) then- house, tawers now- house SIGNIFICANCE: -ARCHEOLUGY-PREHISTORIC -ARCHEOLOGYHISTORIC _AGRICULTURE -ARCHITECTURE -ABT CCOMMERCE -COMMUNICATIONS Claims ""first" YES -CONSERVATION -ECONOMICS -EDUCATION _ENGINEERING _EXPLORATION -INDUSTRY INVENTION NO _LANDSCAPE ARCH'TECTURE -RELIGION _LAW/Gov't/politics _SCIENCE -LITERATURE -MILITARY -MUSIC _PHILOSOPHY _POLITICS/GOVERNMENT -entertainment +health -recreation -SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN Ksettlement -socio/cultural -TRANSPORTATION _OTHER (SPECIFY) _urban & commun planning "e oldest"' YES NO "'only" YES NO ARCHITECTURAL STYLE: Federal architect/m.builder: landscape/garden designer: interior decorator: ETHNIC GROUP: NAMES: (label role & appropriate date) personal engineer: artist/artisan: builder/contractor: Yoshua Jimonds - acquired land, 1160 - memberd Capt Parteró mimute nen, and pasticipated im Batle o Lexingta events institutional DATES: DATE OF CONSTRUCTION (specific date or 1/4 of century) : 17951810 DATE (S) OF "MAJOR" ALTERATIONS: 1810 - addution HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT DATE (S) : SOURCE: (OF NOMINATION) PRIVATE STATE LOCAL GOV"T MUNICIPAL OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY: ACREAGE: (to nearest tenth of an acre) COUNTY COMMENTS: (include architectural information here) lrick sowtte facade" deperipeoi: frame, clajoboanding 2½ striea, rectangular, gabled 1og interesin chimnees, augisal 5bay sectia su centa entamce and a yoll entablatun at dalkoasiant sctn pronontye polantera ieeg sibny saing tee gffcenter onfane tainmilan teatment in 3ae ayu bilema ya ghezdce, comn bordos, denticulded conic.

tederas. SIGNIFICANCE (maximum two sentences) Cre df Yuo double Yederel houses ii desingtor; Siemarda tawem woro member of Bitt an 2 houre yo yootua Simmda o., ea anem ealy t prminent losed it to conunta tavera cloelereen tocom,