Nomination for Bigelow, Dr. Henry Jacob, House

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Form No. 10-300 (Rev. 10-74) PH0281646 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE FOR NPS USE ONLY RECEIVEDNOV 5 1975 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM DATE ENTERED JAN 1 1976 SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES -- COMPLETE APPLICABLE SECTIONS 1 NAME HISTORIC Dr. Henry Jacob Bigelow House AND/OR COMMON Peabody School Extension 2 LOCATION STREET & NUMBER 742 Dedham Street/474 Brookline Street CITY.

TOWN Newton (Village of Oak Hill) STATE Massachusetts CLASSIFICATION - VICINITY OF CODE 025 NOT FOR PUBLICATION CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 4th COUNTY Middlesex CODE 017 CATEGORY x DISTRICT -BUILDING(S) STRUCTURE _SITE _OBJECT OWNERSHIP & PUBLIC _PRIVATE BOTH PUBLIC ACQUISITION -IN PROCESS BEING CONSIDERED STATUS _OCCUPIED X UNOCCUPIED _WORK IN PROGRESS ACCESSIBLE X_YES: RESTRICTED - YES: UNRESTRICTED _NO PRESENT USE -AGRICULTURE MUSEUM _COMMERCIAL -PARK EDUCATIONAL -PRIVATE RESIDENCE _ENTERTAINMENT -RELIGIOUS -GOVERNMENT -SCIENTIFIC _INDUSTRIAL -TRANSPORTATION -MILITARY -OTHER: 4 OWNER OF PROPERTY NAME City of Newton/ New England Peabody Home for Crippled Children STREET & NUMBER 1000 Commonwealth Avenue CITY. TOWN STATE Massachusetts 02161 Newton - VICINITY OF LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION COURTHOUSE.

Midalesex County Registry of Deeds REGISTRY OF DEEDS, ETC STREET & NUMBER 208 Cambridge Street CITY. TOWN STATE Massachusetts Cambridge, 6 REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS TITLE Inventory of the Historic Assets of the Commonwealth DATE 1975 DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS CITY. TOWN _FEDERAL XSTATE COUNTY _LOCAL Massachusetts Historical Commission Boston STATE Massachusetts 02108 7 DESCRIPTION CONDITION -EXCELLENT _GOOD XFAIR _DETERIORATED _RUINS _UNEXPOSED CHECK ONE _UNALTERED X ALTERED CHECK ONE XORIGINAL SITE _MOVED DATE. DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (IF KNOWN) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Description of the property

The Dr. Henry Jacob Bigelow House stands on one of Newton's highest hills (Oak Hill) and commands a magnificent view of the surrounding towns. The house was designed in 1886 and built a year later, one of the last works of architect Henry Hobson Richardson. Its exterior remains virtually unchanged from its original appearance, except for the evidence of deterioration. The Bigelow House is a two-story shingle style house built around a courtyard. The long east elevation contains the main entrance to the courtyard and has irreg- ularly spaced fenestration, sometimes with paired windows of 6 over 6 lights, or with larger openings of 8 over 8 and smaller ones of 3 over 3. Interrupting the plane of the east elevation is a second-story gabled section which projects from the facade. This main section of the house has a ridge roof and two brick chimneys.

The steep ridge roof of the southern section of the house runs perpendicular to .. that of the east side. This section contains a chimney and next to it a level area in the roof which was once a lookout. The variety in fenestration is again shown in the use of 4 over 4 lights. A small turret, projecting from the second story of the southwest corner, provides a bit of whimsy that is unusual for the house. The rear of the house which forms the west side of the courtyard is accented by a polygonal lantern with a cone-shaped roof. This segment of the house was used as a kitchen and servants' quarters. To the north is the carriage house, again with its ridge roof running perpendicular to that of the central section.' Except in the carriage house, the second story of the house slightly overhangs the first floor.

This effect is emphasized by a subtle flaring out of the shingles on the second floor. The interior of the Bigelow House has been considerably altered for use as dormitory and classroom space by the Peabody School (New England Peabody Home for Crippled Children). In 1963 the house was leased to the City of Newton who allowed the property to fall into a state of disrepair. More recently the city has agreed in the future to provide better maintenance and to conduct feasibility studies for housing and other alternative uses.

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- ARCHEOLUGY-PREHISTORIC ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC AGRICULTURE X ARCHITECTURE -ART _COMMERCE COMMUNICATIONS AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE -- CHECK AND JUSTIFY BELOW _COMMUNITY PLANNING _LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE CONSERVATION -LAW ECONOMICS _LITERATURE EDUCATION _MILITARY ENGINEERING MUSIC EXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT PHILOSOPHY _INDUSTRY _POLITICS/GOVERNMENT _INVENTION RELIGION SCIENCE _SCULPTURE _SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN _THEATER _TRANSPORTATION X_OTHER (SPECIFY) medicine SPECIFIC DATES Designed 1886; built 1887 STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

Statement of significance

BUILDER/ARCHITECT Henry Hobson Richardson The Dr. Henry Jacob Bigelow House, sitting high on Oak Hill in Newton, is among the last designs (January 1886) of Henry Hobson Richardson. Richardson was one of the foremost architects of his day and is known both for his Romanesque Revival and shingle style houses. The Bigelow House, although not one of Richardson's 950ry 1neos Flti for 2itne of R Chanton most outstanding shingle houses, is nevertheless the only shingle residence by the master in Newton. Its beautiful site on a wooded hill sets it apart from the housing developments on the nearest streets and calls to mind the period when the area consisted exclusively of farms and woodland. Dr. Henry Jacob Bigelow, for whom the house was built, was an eminent surgeon in the mid-19th century.

The Bigelow family had a long history in Massachusetts, and members of the family contributed greatly to cultural and academic affairs in the Commonwealth. Jacob Bigelow, Henry's father, was a prominent Boston physician and is also known for his founding of Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Mass- achusetts. Like his father, Henry attended Harvard Medical School and later served as a professor there and as a surgeon at the Massachusetts General Hospital. He was profoundly interested in the study of anaesthesia, and in 1846 performed the first painless operation at Massachusetts General with Dr. W. T. G. Morton administering sulfuric-ether to Gilbert Abbott. Bigelow later published the first account of the use of ether in a surgical operation.

He also made important contributions in the development of sophisticated surgery involving the correction of dislocated hips and devised an instrument to crush stones in the bladder and a means to remove the fragments. His work was influential on both sides of the Atlantic. Bigelow married Susan Sturgis whose family were prominent Boston mer- chants- Through their connections with shipping, the Bigelows were able to amass a fine collection of Chinese art, much of which is now at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.

The rest of the file

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

MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES Hitchcock, Henry-Russell. The Architecture of H. H. Richardson and His Times. Cambridge: MIT Press, 1970. Fogg Art Museum. Henry Hobson Richardson and His Office. Cambridge: Harvard College, 1974. Dictionary of American Biography, Vols. I & II. "Bigelow, Henry Jacob," New York: Scribners, 1946. 10 GEOGRAPHICAL DATA ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTYapproximately 5 acres UTM REFERENCES AL19 ZONE CLL L3| 1,9/7,4,0 EASTING L VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION 14,6/8,5/48,01 NORTHING 1 BLu LlILLL ZONE EASTING NORTHING DULLILL LIILu 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 Judy D.

Dobbs, National Register Editor and Jean Husher, Newton Historical Commission Massachusetts Historical Commission STREET & NUMBER 294 Washington Street CITY OR TOWN Boston October 23, 1975 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 Servige STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER SIGNATURE jabuth RudAmodm TITLE Executive Director, Massachusetts Historica1 Conmi SSiorDATE Och, 24,1975 FOR NPS USE ONLY | HEREBY CERTIFY THAT TUS PROPERTY IS INCLUDEP IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER ER OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER DATE DATE /19 12/31/5 GPO 888-445 property bujelan, Or Hdeany Paod, Youes Mass Working Number 1,5.75.1981 TECHNICAL Photos. Maps aignificant 4o anetactene medicno. middlesex CONTROL OK 1/05.75 HISTORIAN Acgept E.

Amith 12-16-75 ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN Ene o) Richardons kst worm- ARCHEOLOGIST OTHER HAER Inventory - Review - REVIEW UNIT CHIEF Acce 12.30.75 BRANCH CHIFI National Register Write-up Federal Register Entry 3-2-26 ACKEEPER Ryunt 12/31/75 Entered JAN 1 Send-back Re-submit INT:2106- 74 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service WASO No. 7 NPS Titl Loc. Photo z Peabody Schoal -extensién "Dr. Henry J. Bigelow Ertare 742 Dedham St. / 4sy Brookline St. 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 NOV 5 1975 DATE ENTERED 1 SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIESENCLOSE WITH PHOTOGRAPH T97B PJ for city NAME HISTORIC Dr.

Henry Jacob Bigelow House AND/OR COMMON Peabody School Extension LOCATION CITY. TOWN Newton VICINITY OF PHOTO REFERENCE PHOTO CREDIT Alan S. Barkin NEGATIVE FILED AT 540 Parker Street, Newton Centre, Mass. IDENTIFICATION DESCRIBE VIEW, DIRECTION, ETC. IF DISTRICT. GIVE BUILDING NAME & STREET View of house from northeast COUNTY Middlesex STATE MA DATE OF PHOTO 1974 eart PHOTO NO. 1 . puc Peabody Schoul -extensio "Di. Henry J. Bigelow Erfare" ine Sx 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 NOV 5 1975 DATE ENTERED SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES ENCLOSE WITH PHOTOGRAPH NAME HISTORIC Dr.

Henry Jacob Bigelow House AND/OR COMMON Peabody School Extension 4 LOCATION CITY, TOWN VICINITY OF Newton COUNTY Middlesex STATE PHOTO REFERENCE PHOTO CREDIT 1974 DATE OF PHOTO NEGATIVE FILED AT Alan S. Barkin 540 Parker Street, Newton Centre, Mass. IDENTIFICATION DESCRIBE VIEW. DIRECTION. ETC. IF DISTRICT. GIVE BUILDING NAME & STREET PHOTO NO. West elevation of ell and carriage house JAN 1 1976 Fli for cit y MA ohoro 2 rage house NI Peabody School- extens, on Dr. Henry T. Bigelow Ertafe" 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 NOV 5 1975 JAN 1 2 DATE ENTERED 1975 SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES ENCLOSE WITH PHOTOGRAPH NAME HISTORIC Dr. Henry Jacob Bigelow House AND/OR COMMON LOCATION CITY.

TOWN Newton Peabody School Extension _VICINITY OF COUNTY Middlesex STATE MA PHOTO REFERENCE PHOTO CREDIT Alan S. Barkin DATE OF PHOTO 1974 NEGATIVE FILED AT 540 Parker Street, Newton Centre, Mass. IDENTIFICATION DESCRIBE VIEW. DIRECTION, ETC. IF DISTRICT, GIVE BUILDING NAME & STREET PHOTO NO 3 Southwest view St Zive hoto 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 RECEIVEDOV 5 1975 DATE ENTERED JAN 1 SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES - ENCLOSE WITH MAP 1 2 4 NAME HISTORIC DI. Henry Jacob Bigelow House AND/OR COMMON Peaboc School Extension LOCATION CITY. TOWN Newton VICINITY OF MAP REFERENCE SOURCE USGS, Newton Quadrangle SCALE 1:24000 DATE REQUIREMENTS TO BE INCLUDED ON ALL MAPS 1. PROPERTY BOUNDARIES 2. NORTH ARROW 3.

UTM REFERENCES COUNTY Middlesex STATE 1970 19/6 MA INT: 3464 - 75 ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER STATE F255^C105-22- 201 N3 Date Entered Location Name Angle Iree Scone Rod Dric: School Blacton, Dr. lenry Jacob, Bouna Mortolk and Bristol Countios Exanl:5n Morfolk County Devton (Vtllsgo o2 00k: 1113.1) 11011eeoz County Tos. Diwazd N. Renacdy 1C2. 1. Cerc"3 Rons loreprpeNo0700 Eore dosona D. CALly Hon. Pobort P. Driran Regional Dircator, North Atlantic Pegion MMott/je 1/20/76 Also Notified 5tate nictorio reccrvaclon Corlcor 10.2001eh1. 22200 Froucivo larecter.

Caenachereeio Datorical Conrissioa 294 Fochington Street cocton, Lensecluseteo 02103 INT: 2950-75 Peabody School accepted as National Historic site The Peabody School Exten-linformed of the acceplance byjon' Oak Hill Is not one of his Elon, 742 Dedham St., Oak Hill, Gary Everhardt, director of themost outstanding'shingle houses, has been accepted for inclusion National Park Service in thelit is, nevertheless, the only Historic Places. National Register of U.S. Department of the Interior. shingle residence by the master The Peabody School Extension in Newton. Its beautiful sile on Also known as the Dr. Henry isamong the last. designs a wooded hill sets it apart from Jacob Bigelow Housé, it was(January nominated 1886) of famed ar- the housing developments on the by Marsachusetts chitect Henry Hobson Richard- nearest street and calls to mind Historical Commission. State son.

He is known both for his the period when the area con- Secretary Paul H. Guzzi, chair-Romancsque Pevival and shingke sisted exclusively of farms and man of the commission," was style houses. Although the house' woodland. The house wras built for Dr. Henry Jacob Bigeloss, an: eminent surgeon in the mid-19th.. century. The Bigelow family had a long history in Massachusetts,i and members of the family contributed greatly 1o cultural and academic affairs in theg Commonwealta. Jácob Bigelow, Henry's tather, was a prominent Bostonl physician and is also known for: his founding of Mt. Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge. Like his father, Henry at- fended Harvard Medical School and later served as a professor there and as a surgeon at the Massachusetts General Hospital.

He was profoundly inlerested in Waltham Tribune ithe study of anaesthesia, and lin 1845 performed the first pain- less operation at Massachusetts General Hospital with Dr. W.T.G. Morton administering sulfuric-either to Gilbert Abbott. Dr. Bigelow later published the first account of the use of lether in a surgical operation. He also made important con- tributions in the development of sophisticated surgery involving the correcton of dicocated hips and deviced an instrument io! ,crush siones in the bladder and mieans 10 Iemore the Iregments. The work of Dr. Bigclo was influontial on both sides of the :dantic. He married Surani Siurgis whose tamily rrumbers were priminent Eoston - r.er- chants. nections Through with their con- shipping, Bigelons icre cble to amess ¿ fine collection of Christian art, bouch of which is now at the Buston Mareum of Fine Arts.

The exferior of the twostory ishingle style house built in 1:06 remains virtually unchanged Irom its originsl atttarance, excent for evideace ci datertora- Gon. The Meor las tin C:7- Ceribly sitmeed for me es a saitory ad c'umom sare Bsane de Polsdy saal Ciw Hoaie lor ded C."ien). In 11/3, 1=: ......... CC: HCRS Advisory Council On Historic Preservation Middlosex Co.MAss 1522 K Street NW. Washington D.C. 20005 DEC ?^ 1978 it. charies J. Thonas Cormamity Develonment Coordinator ity of Xewton ity hall 000 Commonwealt! Avenue erton Centre, "assachusetts 02159 Jear r. Thonas: n Pecenber 11, 1978, the Council received a determination ron the City of Newton that the purchase and restoration of che Dr. lenry Jacob Disclow louso, uevton, Nassachusetts, would not adversely affect that National Register property.

Ixecutive Director does not objeet to your determination and comnends the city on its preservation efforts. ! cop! of your determination of no adverse effect, along with sunporting documentation and this concurrerce, should be included ir anv assessment or statement prepared for this undertaking in corpliance with the Rational Invironpental Policy Act and should be kept in your records as evidonce of your compliance with Section 106 of the Mational Historic Preservation Act of 106e (16 ".S.r. 470f, as amended, 90 Stat. 1320). "our continued cooneration is appreriated. ¿incerel", yra F. Harrison Assistant Director Office of Revier and Conrliance