MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES American Architect and Building News. March 13, 1897. A History of Brookline, Massachusetts: 1630-1906. The Brookline Press Company, Brookline, 1906. 10 GEOGRAPHICAL DATA ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY47,784 square feet (1.09 acre) UTM REFERENCES AL,9| ZONE [3|2,4|9,2,01 EASTING 14,6/8,914,2,01 NORTHING VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION BLL ZONE EASTING LLL NORTHING Lhelu 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 ORGANIZATION Massachusetts Historical Conmission STREET & NUMBER 294 Washington Street CITY OR TOWN Boston Griggs Park Neighborhood Association, Harvard- Marion Neighborhood Association, and 70/80 Park Street Condominium Association May 27, 1976 TELEPHONE 617-727-8470 STATE 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). 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 Clishich Reed Amadon Executive Director, Massachusetts Historical Commission DATE 6/1/72 FOR NPS USE ONLY I HEREBY CERTIFY HAT THIS PROPERD INCLUDED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER Actins DIETOROTICE O ARCHOLORY ANEJISTORIG PREFEVATION KEEPER OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER DATE BATE 12/12/96 11.26.16 GPO 892-453 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 OCT22 1976 DEC 17 1976 DATE ENTERED CONTINUATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER 7 PAGE 1 The south elevation of the church consists of the rear wall of the apse and the south walls of circular pavilions located on either side of the apse. At the peak of the circular roof of the apse is an ixon and bronze cross. In its present state, St.
Mark's Church survives without significant alterations from its original design. In addition, the interior retains a monumental reredos of carved and paneled oak. This structure is located in the transcept and rises from an altar near the floor level of the nave to a choir loft above which are the organ pipes. The nave is supported by squat, carved columns of Indiana limestone. Throughout the interior there is much Romanesque Revival ornamentation carved in stone, wood and plaster. he act on this option. The church is presently rented to St. George's Russion Orthodox Church and the Childrens' Center of Brookline which runs a day-care program. It is the hope of the Griggs Park Neighborhood Association, the Harvard-Marion Neigh- borhood Association, and the 70/80 Park Street Condominium Association to have the church purchased by an association of civic groups and St.
George's Russion Orthodox congregation to be used both as an orthodox religious center and as a neighborhood center. These groups are also concerned with seeing the building preserved in its original state, especially since recent construction projects and fires have destroyed other 19th century churches in the area. SUMMARY ST. MARK'S UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF BROOKLINE Building is Not Historical Only 80-85 years old Several older churches in Brookline: St. Paul's, Church of Our Savior, Sears Chapel, First Parish, Harvard Church Several other major churches built around same period: All Saints, Leyden Other nineteenth-century churches: St. Lawrence's, St. Mary's No famous persons, such as Kennedys or Richardson, associated with church Not associated with significant events in American history Building is Not Part of Historic District To east, nursing home, vintage c.
early 1960's To southeast, row houses, vintage early twentieth- century To southwest, high-rise apartment buildings, vintage c. 1950's To northwest, apartment building, vintage c. 1940's To northeast, pocket park Building is Not Architecturally Significant Incomplete: distinguishing features never constructed Does not embody the distinctive characteristics of a type of architecture Architect was not a master or even a major figure in architectural history: relatively obscure; if he was noted at all, it was for municipal buildings, not churches Property is Owned by a Religious Institution Under federal regulations, churches are not ordinarily eligible for inclusion on the Register Numerous Sites are More Significant Property ft. Mack's Methadist Chuuck State Mass. Working Number 6. 16. 76.3590 TECHNICAL Photos- 4 Maps TetANTALMShet AA Norfolk CONTROL OK- 1.26.76 HISTORIAN accept B.
Gravena 10/26/24 ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN Cucept Lolorrih 10.26"6. ARCHEOLOGIST OTHER HAER Inventory - Review REVIEW UNIT CHIEF Qcczps cole 10.27-76 BRANCH CHIEF KEEPER National Register Write-up Federal Register Entry 2-1-72 Send-back Re-submit. Entered United States Department of the Interior National Park Service WASO No. 7 11.26.26 DEC 1V 1976 INT:2106-74 ST. MARKS PARK Town of Brookline st. Mark's Methodist Church Brookline, MA Co. Peter Freeman, photographer 1975 Brookline Historical Commission, Town Hall, Brookline, MA 02146 Looking at north elevation with rose window. Photograph #1 af DEC 1 7 1976 OCT 22 1976 -007 : OIZTI aaqunN SaN 92-21-2) PROPERTY OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER St. Mark's Methodist Church Brookline, MA Cu. Peter Freeman, photographer 1975 Brookline Historical Commission, Town Hall, Brookline, MA 02146 Looking at north elevation with rose window.
Photograph #2^4 DEC 1 7 1976 OCT 22 1976 NPS Numuer 12-17-76 Title: Loc. PROPERTY OF THE NATONAL REGISTER St. Mark's Methodist Church Brookline, MA en Peter Freeman, photographer 1975 Brookline Historical Commission, Town Hall, Brookline, MA 02146 Looking at east elevation. Photograph #3 -Y OCT 22 19/6 DEL 18 1978 3L-21-2/ JoqumN SaN PROR ERTY OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER St. Mark's Methodist Church Brookline, MA ek co. Peter Freeman, photgrapher - 1975 Brookline Historical Commission, Town Hall, Brookline, MA 02146 Looking at west elevation. Photograph #4 aL DEC 1 7 1976 OCT 22 1976 NPS Number Title: 12-17-76 Loc. IY OF THE L ISTE ROGER B.TYLER AUGUST R. MEYER RCHARDMLOVELL LORING P. JORDAN, JR. WILLIAM B. TYLER DAVID .COLT WALICKG. VAN DOKN GSORGEVANAGTAS PETER W.KILBORN HENRY H.THAYER BRIAN S. MEYER JOSEPH L. SERAFINI ALBERT M. FORTIER,JF DOROTHEA C.
CADIFF CARR ANDERSON LAWRENCE E. KAPLAN MICHAEL F.OCONNELL STUARTRTTLAND DEAN P. NICASTRO Á. ROBERT WINER RAYMOND J. BRASSARD RACKEMANN, SAWYER & BREWSTER COUNSELLORS AT LAW 28TH FLOOR 28 STATE STREET BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02109 AREA CODE 617 523-3550 HENRY HIXON MEYER 1920-197 OF COUNSEL NILLAMPAYS ALBERT B.WOLFE June 22, 1976 National Register Office of Archeology and Historic Preservation National Park Service United States Department of Interior Washington, D.C. 20240 Attention: William Murtagh Re: National Register of Historic Places - Nomination of St. Mark's United Methodist Church Brookline, Massachusetts Gentlemen: St. Mark's United Methodist Church vigorously opposes the efforts of its opponents to have the church placed on the National Register. We believe that the nomination of the church building to the Register would severely harm the work of the church.
The church has protested to the actions of the State Historical Commission which has agreed to re- consider its nomination of the church building. Until the state commission has given consider- ation to both sides of this question, we respectfully request that no action be taken by your department to place the church on the National Register. Very truly yours, Albert M. Fortier, Jr. Aelbrt l Frtin f Attorney for St. Mark's United Methodist Church, Brookline, Massachusetts AMF/cjw THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES DATE REC'D JUN 25 1976 INDIVIDUAL RESPONSE (ATTACHED) INF.RM TIVE MATERIAL SENT TELPHUNE CALL (ATTACHED) DATE ACTION TAKEN INITIALS TOL 201 BORIO 12 05100 27L BBEM2IEB WASO-166 (August 1971) U. S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE TELEPHONE REPORT 25, 1976 TIME OF CALL 1:45 1. CALL A C (amo) 2. ADDRESS (Tel. No.
if needed) Baston SHPO 3. SUBJECT, PROJECT NO., ETC. St mards Unitld methadist Chur. 4. DETAILS OF DISCUSSION Carol Strull said ohe wauld return form. In hauae prablem on comment perint. also a guestian of the entiie neizhashaal o aalu of the church in relation to some 3 prapaoal. guly 13/muting In prodess of biing mailed hach. Aloo: mass stPo has matiped atrany NAME OF PERSON PLACING/RECEIVING CALL TITLE Inlun H P. rag BASIC FILE RETAINED 7/21/76 IN PR bcc: Director's Reading File PR - w/cy inc. FNP:JKulczycki:bp1 cc: Mrs. Elizabeth R. Amadon Massachusetts SHPO - w/cy inc. Regional Director-North Atlantic Region w/cy inc. /.Kule ColE 7.20.26 IJUL 2 8 1976 H34-PR Mr. Albert M. Yortfer, Jt. Rackenann, Sawyer and Srevster Caisellors at Law 28 State Street, 28th Floor Boston, Massachusetts 02109 Norfolk Dear Ir.
Fortier: Thank you for your letter concerning the nondnation of St. Mark's Inited Methodtat Church, Brookline, Hassachusetts, to the llatfonal Register of Iistoric Places. The nominatien for St. Nark's Chureh has been returned to the State opon their request. As you may know, a meeting has been arranged for farther discusaton of this property by all concerned partles. Iisting in the lational Register te Federal recognicion that a property pessesses historte values and is worthy of preservation. Inclusion of a property on the latfonal Register Insuzes that the Advinory Council on Iltatorie Preservation is given an oppertunsty to zeview and comment upon any undertaking 1feensed, funded, or executed by a Federal ageney that may affect the property.
Kxecutive Order 11593, aigned in 1971, a copy of which is enclosed, extends the Advisory Counell's pover to connent on undertakings affeeting propezties vhteh asy be eligible for 1teting as well. Idsting hes no other effect on the property: le does not affeet, in any nanner, the zange of aetions s private owner could take, as long as Federalfinancing te not involved; and it gives no governental unit any enthority or contrel over the property, Its use or disposition. Should the Massachnsetta State Historie Preservacion 0Eficer resubnit the nowtnation for St. Mark'a Chuzeh, Sational Reglater proceduren provide a 10-day period for the subnission of written couments concerning the significance of the nondnated property. We hope this infornation w111 be uneful to you and ve shall be happy to anever any questfonsyou may have concerning the fational Begtater nemination process.
Sincerely yours, (Sgd.) William J. Murtagh Encâosure W1kJam J. Murtagh Keeper of the Mational Zegister MASSACHUSETTS ASSOCIATION OF PARAPLEGICS P.O. BOX 48, BEDFORD, MASS. 01730 October 1, 1976 Please reply to: Mrs. Vivienne S. Thomson, President Post Office Box 153 Jamaica Plain, Mass. 02130 VIVIENNE S. THOMSON, PRESIDENT Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts FLORENCE V. WEBB, VICE PRESIDENT Springfield, Massachusetts CYNTHIA M. RIEL, TREASURER Shrewsbury, Massachusetts National Register Office of Archeology LINDA HAZEN, SECRETARY Somerville, Massachusetts And Historic Preservation National Park Service BOARD OF DIRECTORS United States Department of Interior ELMER C. BARTELS Bedford, Massachusetts Washington, D.C. 20240 Attn. Mr. William Murtagh ROBERT BURROUGHS Brookline, Massachusetts HENRY DUFRESNE Dear Mr.
Murtagh: Worcester, Massachusetts TIMOTHY FOLEY 1 am writing to you regarding the nomination of St. Marks United Medhodist Boston, Massachusetts Church of Brookline, Massachusetts, in the National Register of Historic Places. SYLVIA GLICKMAN It is my understanding that al though the Church does not want this namination and Framingham, Massachusetts does not even feel that they have any Historical value that the community has DONALD W. HEY requested this in order to stop housing for the handicapped being built on this site. Webster, Massachusetts DONALD RIEL Shrewsbury, Massachusetts In 1975 the Massachusetts Association of Paraplegics which is a member organization of the Massachusetts Council Of Organizations of the Handicapped DORIS SARKISIAN Framingham, Massachusetts fully supported a plan to erect such housing on this site with the full support of VIVIENNE S.
THOMSON the Church, the town of Brookline and their selectman and after several meeting Jamaica Plain, Massachusetwwith the abbuttors we thought we had suceeded in getting their appraual for building this housing. We had applied for funding under Section 202 of the Housing South Dennis, Massachusett Urban Development Office and although we did not get funded in the first go FLORENCE v. WEBB around we have been led to beleeme that we will be funded when the next perood Springfield, Massachusetts comes up. DWIGHTWOODWORTH, JR.
Hopkington, Massachusetts Since 194l, all federal housing legislation has provided eligibility for the handicapped on an equal basis with the Elderly, However, from 1964-1975, only eight projects identified for the handicapped were funded by HUD and we feel quite strongly if our pilot program is funded and built it will serve to show HUD the great need for this type of housing wherein we strongly feel that in years to come the housing built on this site will have far more historical value than the church that is now standing and is not being used.
Please understand our position and beleive me if there were really a historic value to the church we would fully support this nomination but since this is only a wish of a few indivuals who do not want the handicapped in their community I truly hope you will take into consideration our request and the request of the Church that this namination not be approved. MEMBER MASSACHUSETTS COUNCIL OF ORGANIZATIONS OF THE HANDICAPPED Sincerely A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION, INCORPORATED JAN 20, 1965 MNs. Vurenne S. i nomson A CHAPTER OF THE NATIONAL PARAPLEGIA FOUNDATION iaut ncemonl Ecl colf taos OSISO .zzum nioli colomol KeO! sdoy lo Ionoitoli OTl2i SonA noilovaaa OLVN 1 T0 ni r VT1 THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES OCT7 1976 DATE, REC'D INDIVIDUAL RESPONSE (ATTACHED) IF RM TIVE MAIL.iAL SENT TELePHONE CALL (ATTACHED) DATE ACTION TAKEN INITIALS WASO-166 (August 1971) U. S.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE TELEPHONE REPORT FROM (Name) DATE TIME OF 10/12/76 CALL 10 1. CALL TO: Richard Early + wome . SUBJECT, PROJECT NO., ET St Marks Methodist Church 4. DETAILS OF DISCUSSION ADDRESS (Tel. No. if needed) MA SEAPO offic Reconsidered by commissioners at lasf eeting - approved again, now gelliig comments fom commisaioners-tvill lu sent to NR soon. NAME OF PERSON PLACING/RECEIVING CALL SOldhan TITLE OFFICE GPO 897-848 PAUL GUZZI Secretary of the Commonwealth The Commonwealth of Massachusets Office of the Secretary Massachuselts Historical Commission 291 Maashingion Street Boston, Massachuselts 02108 (617) 727-8470 October 15, 1976 Mr. Charles Herrington Registrar National Register National Park Service Department of the Interior Washington, D.C.
20240 Dear Charles: RECEIVED OCT 22 1976 NATIONAL REGISTER Enclosed please find nomination forms for the following property: Brookline, St. Mark's Methodist Church This property was reviewed by the Massachusetts Historical Commission (State Review Board) and has been signed by the State Historic Preservation Officer, Elizabeth R. Amadon. Sincerely yours, Pat Patricia L. Weslowski Survey Director Massachusetts Historical Commission encl. PLW/edh OCT 2 1 1976 E34-580 S'Olehan- 10/18/76 10-18.76 Eal lor Herrupton 10-20-16 Nrs. Vivienne S. Zhonson President Nassachusetts Assocfation of Paraplegles Post OfElce Box 153 Janaiea Plain, Massachusetts 02130 Dear lis. Thoason: Thank you for your letter regarding the nonination of St. Mark's Undted MethodistChureh in Brookline, Massachusette, for 1isting in the National Register of Iistoric Places.
The nondnation has been approved by the Massachusetta Iistorieal Conmisaion and after it has been aigned by the State ilistorie Preservation OfEicer, it vill be forwarded tothis office for our zevien. le will append your latter to the nomination for consideration by our professional stalf. The decision as to whether a property is acceptable for incluaion fa the Natfonal Register, hovever, is based on its histori- cal or arehitectural significance and not upon present or future uses of the buflding. leappreciate your concern about your plan for housing fer the bandieapped and would like to explaia the neaning of the liational Register status as it aight relate to your project. Idating in the Matfonal Reglater ia Federal recognition that a property possesses historie values and is worthy of preservation.
This insures that the Advisory Coucil on #lstoricPreservation is given an opportunity to revies and conment upon any undertakiag Ifcensed, fuaded, or executed by a Tederal agency (ia this case, the Departnent of lousiag and Uzban Developuent) that may affeet the property. Pinal deefaion on the undertakiag, hovever, rests with the Federal agency after recelving the conments of the Couci1. Listing has no other effect on the property; it does not affect, in any manner, the zange of actions an ovner could take, as long as the Pederal Goversent Is net Iavolved. If a Federal ageney is Iavelved, Ilsting on the HationalReglater vill facilitate the zeviev process viadeh all Pederal agencies aze reguired to follow under mandated respoasibilities. COLANT FINO KED w Bile (rines « AruL) STzuz Bat RAY CHAELES Pres doole STATe i0/ssf7b REC 10/52/76 6/16/76 ROGER B. TYLER AUGUST R.
MEYER RCHARDHLOVSLE LORING P. JORDAN, JR. WILLIAM B TYLER DAVID G COLT WALTERG.VAN DORN GEORGE V.ANASTAS PETER W.KILBORN H HAYER BRIAN S. MEYER JOSEPHERARINI ALBERT M. FORTIER. DOROTHEA CADIFER. STEPHEN ANDERSON AWRENCE E. KAPLAN MCHALLE OCONNELL STUART T. FREELAND . ROBERT WINER RAYMOND BRASSARD R. HEALY BARBARA KINO PERRY RACKEMANN, SAWYER & BREWSTER COUNSELLORS AT LAW 28TH FLOOR 28 STATE STREET BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02109 AREA CODE 617 523-3550 "CNKI MEYER OF COUNSEL WILLIAM November 1, 1976 Mr. William J. Murtagh Keeper of the National Register United States Department of the Interior National Park Service Washington, D.C. 20204 RE: Nomination to National Register of Historical Places of St. Mark's United Methodist Church, Brookline, Massachusetts -- #H34-PR Dear Mr. Murtagh: St.
Mark's United Methodist Church of Brookline, whose church building has been nominated for the National Register, vigorously opposes the nomination. Within several days, we will send you our formal statement of opposition. In the meantime, please do not take any action on this nomination. Very truly yours, Celbutthe Frtanh. bert M. Fortier, Jr. Attorney for St. Mark's United Methodist Church AMF/apb THE NATIUNAL REGISTER OF HiSluniC rLabes DATE REC'D NOV 1 8 1976 INDIVIDUAL RESPONSE (A: INF RM TIVE MATERIAL TLLEPHUNE CALL (ATTAUnED, DATE ACTICN TAKEN INITIALS aI LEK ROGER B.TYLER AUGUST R.MEYER RICHARD H. LOVELI LORING P. JORDAN, JR NILLIAM B. TYLER DAVIO COLE WALTER G. VAN DORN GEORGE V.ANASTAS PETER W. KILBORN HENRY H. THAYER BRIAN S.MEYER JOSEPH L. SERAFINI ALBERT M. FORTIER DOROTHEA c. STEPHEN CARR ANDERSON LAWRENCE E. KAPLAN ICHAELFOCONNEL STUART T. FREELANC A.
ROBERT WINER J.BRASSARD MAKIN K.HCALY BARBARA KIND PERRY RACKEMANN, SAWYER & BREWSTER COUNSELLORS AT LAW 28TH FLOOR 28 STATE STREET BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02109 AREA CODE 617 523-3550 IENRY HIXON 920-197 OF COUNSEL WILLIAM FATOON ALBERT B.WOLFE November 12, 1976 Mr. William J. Murtagh Keeper of the National Register National Park Service United States Department of the Interior Washington, D.C. 20204 RE: St. Mark's Methodist Church of Brookline, Massachusetts Dear Mr. Murtagh: The Massachusetts Council of Organizations of * the Handicapped, Inc., sent me this letter, which I infer is a copy of a letter mailed directly to you. Very truly yours, CiltrithIntah Albert M. Fortier, Jr.
* AMF/apb Enclosure THE NATIUNAL REGISTER OF HISTUNIC PLACES DATE REC'D NOV 1 8 1976 INDIVIDUAL RESPONSE (AIL INF RM TIVE MATERIAL TLLEPHUNE CALL (ATTAUnED, DATE ACTICN TAKEN NITIALS MASSACHUSETTS COUNCIL OF ORGANIZATIONS OF THE HANDICAPPED, INC. POST OFFICE BOX 153, BOSTON, MA 02130 MAUREEN WINN President GEORGE COUGHLIN Vice President VIVIENNE THOMSON Secretary RICHARD DRESSER, JR. Treasurer ROBERT BURROUGHS Director of Public Relations A Non-Profit Organization Representing More Than Twenty-Five Consumer Groups In The Commonwealth of Mo National Register Office of Archeology and Historic Preservation National Park Service United States Department of Interior Washington, D. C. 20240 Attn. Mr. William Murtagh Re: Nomination St. Marks United Methodist Church Brookline, Mass. Dear Mr. Murtagh: The Massachusetts Council of Organizations of the Handicapped, Inc.
an unbrella organization for more than 25 handicapped organizations in Massachusetts, strongly opposes the nomination of St. Marks United Methodist Church, Brookline, Mass. to the National Register of Historic Places. The site is the proposed location for approximately 108 low and moderate income handicapped housing units. The project has been delayed by both the unavailability of financing and opposition from local cormunity groups who have opposedthe project from its outset. A permit has been issued by the Town of Brookline Zoning Board of Appeals to build our development at this site. In the Greater Boston Metropolitan area alone there is a need for over 100,000 handicapped housing units which our project will help begin to fill.
We will be applying for funding under the the Deptartment of Housing and Urban Developments Section 202 program in November and are confident of being awarded funds at that time. We feel that the church has no historic signifiance and hope that you will appreciate the fact that this is another delay tactic by a neighborhood group to stop our project from going forward. The historical signifiance of a project such as ours greatly cutweighs any historical signifiance which St. Marks may have. Neither the Brookline Zoning Board of Appeals or ourselves would have permitted our project to beclocated atithis site if it were of historical signifiance. It is our hope that you will take all aspects into 2. consideration in making your decision and deny the request for the placing of the Church on the National Register.
Very truly yours, Mauneen Wunn Maureen Winn, President Massachusetts Council of Organizations of the Handicapped. AUGUST R.MEYER RICHARD H.LOVELL LORING P. JORDAN, JR. WILLAM S.TYLER BAVD G COLT WALTER G. VAN DORN SEORGE V.ANASTAS PCICKWKILCOKN HENRY H. THAYER BR'AN S. MEYER JOSEPH L. SERAFINI ALBERT M. FORTIER DOKOIHLA STEPHEN CARR ANDERSON LAWRENCE E. KAPLAN MICHAEL F. O'CONNELL FREELAND KOBERI WINER RAYMOND J BRASSARD MARHINPHSAY BARBARA KIND PERRY RACKEMANN, SAWYER & BREWSTER COUNSELLORS AT LAW 28TH FLOOR 28 STATE STREET BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02109 AREA CODE 617 523-3550 HENRYHO-INMEYER OF COUNSEL WILLIAM L. PAYSON ALBERT B.WOLFE November 12, 1976 Mr. William J. Murtagh Keeper of the National Register United States Department of the Interior National Park Service Washington, D.C. 20204 RE: St. Mark's United Methodist Church of Brookline Brookline, Massachusetts Dear Mr. Murtagh: St.
Mark's United Methodist Church of Brookline vigor- ously opposes the listing of its building on the National Register. The building is not significant historically or archi- tecturally, and to the best of our knowledge no one ever claimed it was significant until after construction of low- and-moderate income housing was authorized by the local zoning board and application for federal financing was made. There are numerous large stone churches in Brookline, and St. Mark's is one of the newest (younger than some of our members). The church edifice has no relationship to the surround- ing buildings (including a modern high-rise apartment, walk- up flats of the 1930's, a modern nursing home, and early twentieth-century row houses and apartments).
The style affected, Romanesque Revival, is much better expressed in a number of buildings in and around Brookline, designed by architects of much greater renown. What reputa- tion the architect possessed was for his public buildings in Boston, although he did design a few other churches. RACKEMANN, SAWYER & BREWSTER Mr. William J. Murtagh -2- November 12, 1976 The building as constructed deviated significantly from the architect's conception, irregular uncut stone having been substituted for cut stone, and the principal feature, a towering steeple, having been entirely omitted. In a chronology of events in the Church's relatively rief history, among the most significant were the numerous epointings of the masonry. That dramatizes not only the lack of historical significance, but the difficulty in pre- servation. Preservation of the structure is unlikely in any event.
Due to population shifts, the number of church buildings in Brookline greatly exceeds the demand. St. Mark's United Methodist Church, which now worships nearby, does not wish to retain the structure. From 1969 to 1974 it made numerous attempts to dispose of the property for a use which would preserve the building, but none of these attempts succeeded. Replacing the building with an apartment house is the only pratteable cossenaon. and the most socially responsible use, You suggested in your letter to me of July 28, 1976. chat listing in the Recister would not have a substantia] adverse effect on the Church. I would point out that this building was slated for demolition to make way for low-and- moderate income housing long before the attempt was made to put it on the National Register, and that federally-assisted financing is the only available financing.
The group behind Register listing is well aware that it would impede low- and-moderate income housing; previously they tried, unsuccess- fully, to rezone the property and to block environmental somenogerpalvate fhanetas te vaauees oue topee coudd would be seriously deminished by listing on the National Register. As a member of St. Mark's, I can testify that the pro- ceeds of a sale of this property are vitally needed for the work of the Church. I realize that, regardless of the harm to the Church, you would have to list the building if it were truly worthy of listing. But the building clearly does not meet the standards of the statute or the regulations, and it would be wrong to list an insignificant building because its apartment-house neighbors prefer an empty church to another apartment house next door. RACKEMANN, SAWYER & BREWSTER Mr. William J.
Murtagh -3- November 12, 1976 Brookline has many structures and places of historic interest and architectural significance; St. Mark's has never been considered one of them. Surely it is inappro- riate to list an insignificant building when there are so many that are far more deserving of listing. Very truly yours, Albrth Irtanf. Albert M. Fortier, Jr. Attorney for St. Mark's United Methodist Church of Brookline AMF/apb Enclosure IHE AniiN DATE REC D -iu FLAUES NOV 1 : 1976 ING /DIi SNS (RACHED) M.. PRX ALIT T:H.ùi Anhotad) DATE AC. N.AI I INITIALS MEMORANDUM OF ST. MARK'S UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF BROOKLINE IN OPPOSITION TO LISTING IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER There is nothing significant in the history of St. Mark's United Methodist Church of Brookline (see Appendix D). Therefore, listing must be based on architecture. I. Standards for Listing A.
It must possess integrity of location, design, setting, materials and workmanship, feeling and asso- ciation; It must be a classic example of a style or period, represent the work of a master, possess high artistic value, or be uniquely significnat on its own merit. II. : The Building Fails to Meet the First Test Because It Lacks Integrity of Design, Setting, Materials, and Workmanship A. The building is incomplete (see Appendix A). B. The building materials are inconsistent with the original design (see Appendix A). C. The workmanship is disappointing (see Appendix A). D. The setting of the building is among apartment houses and a nursing home of various vintages, from 15 to 70 years newer than the church. III. Even if It Passes the First Test, the Building is Disqualified for Failure to Meet the Second Test The building is not a classic example of a style or period (see Appendix A). B.
The building does not represent the work of a master (see Appendix A). C. The building does not posses high artistic value (see Appendix A). IV. V. D. The building does not qualify as a "significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction." This criterion appears to relate to districts rather than individual buildings. If it does apply to an individual building and such building is owned by a religious institution, it must posses significánce 'derived from architectural "dis- tinction." This building does not posses architectural significance and distinction (see Appendix A). Numerous Other Building in the Town of Brookline Are Far More Significant A. At least half a dozen houses of worship in the Town are far more significant (see Appendix C). Numerous other sites in the Town are far more significant (see Appendix B). C. St.
Mark's was not included in Historical Surveys of the Town (see Appendix B). D. The scores of significant structures should be listed on the Register ahead of insignificant ones such as St. Mark's United Methodist Church. There is No Reasonable Prospect for Preservation The plan to construct governmentally assisted housing on the site was adopted only after numerous attempts to preserve or recycle the building failed. It has been offered to the lown and community groups, but they are all unwilling or unable to purchase it. Appendix "A" Architectural Statement August 2, 1976 St. Mark's Methodist Church in Brookline, Massachusetts, was built between 1892 and 1896 for the use of the metho- dist Society of Brookline. The Architect was George Clough, whose work consisted mostly of municipal projects, especially schools.
Clough was one of the many Architects working in the Boston area in the last part of the Nineteenth Century. Although he did produce some "creditable" municipal buildings, he did not exercise any major influence on the course of American Architecture, or on the development of any particular building style. His work followed the major architectural trends of the period. 2 St. Mark's Church was not one of Clough's best works and was built with several major deviations from Clough's original design. The May 16,1891 issue of the Brookline Chronicle, in an article describing the proposed building, stated that "the chief characteristic feature of the exterior will be embodied in a tower...." This tower was, unfortunately, not built and its absence creates a major imbalance in the general massing and character of the building.
The original design also called for the exterior walls to be built of granite ashlar masonry. The exterior masonry was changed to a random fieldstone bond. Page 1 This resulted in a rather different feeling from the original intent. Over the years the exterior walls have suffered from extremely poor repointing with a rather inappropriate pink mortar which seriously detracts from the general appearance. Many details were not carried out as per the original design, a rendering of which was also published in the May 16, 1891 Brookline Chronicle. The design of the nave windows tracery and of the rose window voussoirs were not executed as designed and one of the entry porches was also not built. George Clough had his rendering published in the March 13, 1897 issue of the American Architect and Building News.
It is interesting that although the church was completed by 1897, Clough chose to publish his 1891 rendering rather than a photograph of the actual building. This may indicate on the part of Clough, a dissatisfaction of the execution and modifications of his design. St. Mark's represents an average commission of an average late 19th century Architect; neither the Architect nor the Building being of major architectural significance. Page 2 The preservation of this building cannot be justified solely because of its architectural significance. Willy alawig Willy Sclarsic - Registered Architect Architectural Lecturer - Boston Architectural Center Boston Center for Adult Education Suffolk University Footnotes 1. The following architectural references make no mention of Clough or St. Mark's Church. - Architecture of the 19th & 20th Centuries- H.R. Hitchcock - 1958 - The Architecture of H.H.
Richardson and - H.R. Hitchcock - 1936 His Times - The Architecture of H.H. Richardson and - R.B. Rettig - Ed.1972 His Contemporaries in Boston - American Architecture Since 1780 - American Churches - Old New England Churches The Book of Boston: The Victorian - Whitien - 1969 - R.A. Cram - 1915 - Marlowe - 1947 - M.D. Ross - 1964 Period (1837-1901) 2. In the few instances where Clough's name appears in architectural literature, it is usually in reference to his restoration of the Old State House or to his municipal commissions, not in reference to St. Mark's Church. Page 3 APPENDIX B Historic Surveys of Brookline 1. Pamphlet: "To: Persons Interested in Brookline His- toric Preservation, From: Paul C. Zucker, Resident Planner, Date: August 30, 1965 (draft)"; Sears Chapel (Christ Church) is the only church listed. 2.
"Historical Map of the Town of Brookline, December, 1965" Page 1 2 22 24 55 To: Persons Interested in Brookline Historic Preservation draft (PC From: Paul C. Zucker, Resident Planner Date: August 30, 1965 As part of Brookline's Community Renewal Program, Mr. Charles B. = chard has been engaged as a consultant on historic preservation. As part of his contract, he has prepared the attached list of var: historic sites, buildings, markers, etc. We would appreciate your rev! this material and noting any suggested changes or additions. We are pa. cularly interested in expanding the various lists by adding additional No attempt has been made at this time to analyze the various items terms of importance for preservation. While this will be undertaken at later date, our first goal is the completion of as comprehensive a list possible. Please send your comments to: Paul C.
Zucker, Resident Planner Planning Board Town Hall Brookline, Massachusetts or telephone me at BE 2-9000, ext. 278 or 279. 2 If ve can be of furtler assistaace, please de not hesitate to conault us. Sincerely yours, ((Sgd.) Willian J. Murtagh Will1an J. Murtagia Keeper of the Natiousl Register cc: Mrs. Elizabeth R. Anadon Executive Director, Massachusetts Histerical Coumission 294 Washington Street Boston, Massachusetts 02108 w/cy inc. bcc: Mr. William H. Hernandex, Jr. Area Director U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Developuent Bulfinch Building 15 New Chardon Street Boston, Massachusetts 02114 w/ey inc. IS2iso St.AmU: Suite 450 washington. D.(. 20005 Regional Director - North Atlantic Region - w/cy inc. 001 - Reading File 880- w/cy inc. FNP: S0ldham: vjf: 10.15.76 BASIC FILE RETAINED IN 880 1720 FV. :40 TOWN NUMTRISTON FIELD ESTATE GENT ARGEXT POND ROXBURY
OLDROTURY LINE EANDEEALTERNATE ROUTE [ROXBURY FRONE 18A4 ANNEXED BROONLINE FIELD LEVERETT RLY HISTORICAL MAP OFTHE TOWN OF BROOKLINE MASSACHUSETTS PREPARED BY THE BROOKLINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY IN COOPERATION WITH THE BROOKLINE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT SCALE OF FEET DECEMBER 345 200 :00 0 300 400 600 18 OUbN THE EFARM PLAY GROLAD RSH N POND KEY TO NUMBERS ALL DATES APPROXIMATELY CORRECT 5 L1 PUTTERHAM SCHOOL, 1768 ISAAC CHILD HOUSE, PRIOR TO 1740 3 WILLIAM SPOONER HOUSE, 1802 (THE COUNTRY CLUB) WIDOW HARRIS HOUSE, PRIOR TO 1796 JOHN GODDARD HOUSE,1767, AND SITE OF BARN CONTAINING REVOLUTIONARY STORES 6 CAPTAIN COOK-LITTLE HOUSE, 1810 GA AND 6B COOK COTTAGES, 1827 7 PERKINS-RICHARDSON HOUSE, 1804 8 JOHN WARRENHOUSE, 1809 9 DAVIS- GODDARD HOUSE, 1735 10 INGERSOLL-GARDNER HOUSE, 1806 11 CLARK-OLMSTED HOUSE, 1809 12 SITE OF FIRST SCHOOL, 1713, AND OLD CENTÉR OF TOWN V13 PIERCE HALL (TOWN HALL, 1824-1845) 14 JOSEPH SEWALL HOUSE, 1823 15 CLASSICAL SCHOOL, 1823 16 TAPPAN- PHILBRICK HOUSE, 1822 17 ELIPHALET SPURR HOUSE, 1798 18 SITE OF PUNCH BOWL TAVERN, PRIOR TO 174 19 CAPTAIN SAMUEL CROFT HOUSE, 1765 (MOVE 20 JONAS TOLMAN HOUSE, 1796 21 SITE OF COOLIDGE BROTHERS' STORE 22 EDWARD DEVOTION HOUSE, 1740 (HEADQUART 23 ENOS WITHINGTON HOUSE, 1794 24 SITE OF OLD TANNERIES, 1791 25 DEACON TIMOTHY COREY HOUSE, 1806 26 BENJAMIN GODDARD HOUSE,1809 (MOVED 27 BOYLSTON -HYSLOP-LEE HOUSE, 1736 28 HEATH-ATKINSON HOUSE, 1791 29 BENJAMIN WHITE HOUSE, 1790 30 SITE OF RICHARD'S TAVERN, 1770 31 JACKSON-GOODNOUGH HOUSE, 1820 32 ASPINWALL HOUSE, 1660 (SITE OF) ELEV.
IS HEIGHT IN FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL MAACON GEOURD SHEGRURNE B BRIGHTON ELEV. H, 264 CORS OUTLOON QUAR RAILROAD ATERTOWN ROAD 1720 DISTRICT AYENUE BSNYVET SQ. GB1G6S FIELD CHARLES RIVER CAMBRDGE ABBOTTSFORD ROAD, 51 KENNEDY HOUSE In 1921, Joseph P. Kennedy bought the house at 51 Abbottsford Road *, on the northeast corner of Naples and Abbottsford Road, in which Sen- stor Robert F. Kennedy was born. It is a 2) story wooden turreted house larger than the Beals Street house. The Kennedys lived there lor five years. Built by (owned in 1913 by Charles E. Osgood, in 1965 by Leo Fournier) ALBERTA ROAD, 15 THADEUS JACKSON, JR., HOUSE, 1820 This red house with white trim is well kept up but has been thoroughly renovated and the rear completely remodelled. Plain dados, shallow fireplaces and simple mantels of the 1820 period remain in the two front rooms. The house is now owned by David M.
and Sylvia A. Davis. AMORY STREET, 36 (MODERN ENGLISH) HENRY HOWARD HOUSE Architect: Charles A. Platt Built in 1905 by Henry Howard, this house is "a very simple and sober example of English work of the modern type. Mr. Platt has done very little work along these lines ... but as ir to illustrate his versa- tility he has given us in thiu house a delightful example of the English type. Brookline being, par excellence & Colonial town, the house is very properly simplified so as to be in harmony with the spirit of the place, and the doorway is treated in a classic manner.
The street .so 131 Naples Road BIBLIOGRAPHY & RESOURCES HEADINGS UNDER WHICH BROOKLINE ITEMS ARE LISTED IN ONE AND ONE HALF CARD CATALOG DRAWERS IN PUBLIC LIBRARY BROOKLINE Acts and Laws Annual Reports Budget By Laws List of Town Meeting Members Members of Advisory Committee Regulations Reports of Selectmen Surveys Traffic Rules Vital Records Zoning By Laws Planning Board Redevelopment Authority Agriculture Annexation Art Assessors BIOGRAPHY BOARD OF HEALTH BUILDING DEPARTMENT BUILDING LAWS CEMETERIES CHARITIES CHURCHES CLUBS AND SOCIAL LIFE DESCRIPTION DISTRICT SCHOOL LIBRARIES EDUCATION FINANCE GENEALOGY GOVERNMENT COUNTY RELATIONS ELECTIONS GYMNASIUM AND BATHS HISTORY REVOLUTION CIVIL WAR WORLD WARS HOSPITALS HOUSES AND ESTATES HOUSING INDIANS LAND GRANTS MAPS AND ATLASES MEDICINE MUSIC NATURAL HISTORY PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS PATRIOTIC AND HISTORICAL CELEBRATIONS PATRIOTIC AND HISTORICAL SOCIETIES PERIODICALS PLANNING BOARD POLICE POST OFFICE PUBLIC LIBRARY PUBLIC SCHOOLS STORES STREETS TAXATION TOWN HALL WATER DEPARTMENT WATER SUPPLY WIRES AND LIGHTS BROOKLINE Items listed as Brookli: opposed to Brookline, front is composed with a double gable in a manner quite characteristic of the English, the gables being set very close together.
It is sym- =etrical without being formal, and still picturesque enough to satisty the rost exacting enthusiast about English work." Photograph. Owned by Mark Fried. "Badly changed" according to Mr. Howard's daughter, (Modern English) One Hundred Country Houses, Aymos Emburg II, The Century Company, 1909 BEALS STREET, 83 KENNEDY HOUSE Ir August, 1914, Joseph P. Kennedy became the third owner * of an eleven room, 25 story wooden frame house at 83 Beals Street. The lot area was, ird is, 3829 square feet. The house, which was built in 1909 by Robert i. Goode of Boston, has a front porch and & second story balcony above it. It is a modest dwelling in a street filled with small to medium- sized wooden houses and is now the property of Mrs. Louis Pollack, who occupies it. It was occupied by the Kennedy family unt1l September, 1920.
On May 29, 1917, the future President, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, was born in this house and there are two markers calling attention to the historical significance of this spot. One is a bronze tablet placed oz a boulder in front of the house by the Town of Brookline. The other is & plaque attached to the front porch railing by the United State De- partment of the Interior, National Park Service, stating that this house hes been designated a Registered National. Historic Landmark. Roses named in honor of President Kennedy and donated by the grower, Jackson ;ed as occupied in 1913 by Howard S. Kline - second owner? 5. 6. and Perkins, have been planted in the ground in front of the house.
For the wording of the two plaques see section "Milestones, and Tab- lets." There is also a plaque inside the Devotion School, where he attended kindergarten and the 1st and 2nd grades, and another at Dex- ter School. CARLTON STREET NEW ENGLAND COLONIAL) Architect: PITMAN HOUSEKiLham and Hopking This house, built in 1900 by Benjamin F. Pitman, "resembles very closely the larger and handsomer village residences around Boston, such residences as used to be spoken of as mansions. It may be that the well-known Longfellow house was the suggestion for the Pitman house, and if so, it was used in the proper way, not as a basis for a copy but rather as an inspiration for a different and better treat- ment... Especially interesting is the front doorway...
with the charei: little trellis on either side of the Palladian motive; had the bulldir.: been an old one it would have become a shrine for lovers of the ColontE Even the fence with the interesting posts and the little arched en- trance-gate recalls very strongly the old work, yet the treatment of the porches is new, and though new, perfectly in harmony." Photo- One Hundred Country Houses Aymos Emburg II, The Century Company, 1909 CLYDE STREET, 191 WILLIAM SPOONER HOUSE, CIRCA 1802 This house was bought in 1882 by The Country Club and the house was en repaired and enlarged. Continuous additions have resulted in the mnlete disappearance of the original house (Mrs. Little, 1949). TIAGE STREET, 25 LNUEL GARDNER PERKINS HOUSE, 1803 nis house is of the so-called Southern Colonial type, with an over- inging roof supported by light columns, two side wings and a long 1l at the rear.
n 1874, the owner, Edward William Hooper, rented the house to Henry cbson Richardson, the noted architect, and in 1878 Mr. Richardson stablished his office there, having moved his family into the house lour years esrlier. Mr. Richardson, while in Brookline, designed dever Hall at Harvard, Trinity Church Rectory, the Hay and Adams houses in Washington, three railroad stations on the B & A Highland Branch and works in ten states and in England. He died in 1886 but his widow lived there until 1914. The present owner is Mrs. Henry Hyslop Richardson. COTTAGE STREET, 85 THOMAS DREW COOK ("CAPTAIN COOK") COTTAGE, 1827 A .Victorian Gothic cottage "in a valley" built by Captain Isaac Cook for his son, Thomas Drew Cook, who died before occupying the house. Eventually, Captain Cook and his wife made their home here and both died there at & great age.
The house has been considerably enlarged and altered. It is now owned by Mr. Charles H. Colby. 9. 10. 11. COTTAGE STREET, 126 ISAAC COOK COTTAGE, 1829 A small cottage, similar to the Thomas Drew Cook Cottage, built by Captain Isaac Cook for his son, Isaac, Jr., who died two years later. In recent years an apartment was added in the rear. In the mid 1950's, the cottage became part of the property of Ignatius Sargent and is now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Richard Harte and occupied by one of their employees. EUSTON STREET, 58 RICHARD BRIGGS HOUSE (NEW ENGLAND COLONIAL) Architect: Kilham and Hopkins This house, built in 1901 by Richard Briggs, "shows in the entrance doorway and the piazza the influence of the Italian work, the door- way being characteristically Italian and well adapted to the position in which it is used." Photograph. Owned by Augustus W.
Soule One Hundred Country Houses, Aymos Emburg II, The Century Company, 1909 GODDARD AVENUE, 235 JOHN GODDARD HOUSE, 1767 A square, compact, hipped roof house with & large central chimey at the apex of the roof. There has been some modernization, but it is still a well-preserved example of a prosperous eighteenth century - farmhouse. It was built by John Goddard, Wagon Master General in the Revolution, and in his large barn, a long gambrel-roofed structure which stood west of the house,supplies and ammunition were stored, later to be used in the Battle of Lexington and in the fortifications at Dorchester Heights. 12. 13- The house is owned by Dr. and Mrs. James M. Faulkner and is occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton Coolidge. On a boulder adjoining the side- walk there is a boulder in honor of John Goddard and his wife, Hannah.
HARVARD STREET, 347 EDWARD DEVOTION HOUSE, CIRCA 1740 This small, gambrel roofed house with a large central chimeny and fine pedimented front door on the side is of special interest to Brookline residents as it is owned by the Town and is the home of The Brookline Historical Society. It is also the best example of mid-18th Century architecture remaining in Brookline. Originally it was only one room in depth, the lean-to and ell on the west side being a later addition to provide a new kitchen downstairs with two chambers above. It is un- usual to find such & small building with such handsome interior trim. Fortunately, substantially all the original woodwork remains, together with the old hinges and latches, and all the floors are original throughout.
The building contains heirlooms presented by Devotion des- cendants and others, has been kept in good condition and is fortunate in having as its custodians, Mr. and Mrs. J. Frederick Nelson, who will show the house to visitors by appointment. HEATH STREET, 30 EBENEZER HEATH HOUSE, 1791 This square, two story, hipped-rocf house with two large chimenys ap- pears to be a transitional house, having characteristics of both the middle and late 18th century. It appears to have been very little changed, either in arrangement or in interior finish. Doors through- out are original.It is owned by a Heath descendant, Mr. Henry R. Atkinson. 14. ROUTH STREET, 360 ROUGHWOOD This large mansion, for many years the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest B. Dane and, later, of their son Edward, for some years Selectman of Brookline, has been a landmark for seventy years of more.
The house was built* in 1889-1890 by Mr. and Mrs. William E. Cox on land known as Brookline Woodlands. In 1904, the Danes bought slightly more than 34 acres of Cox land plus the main house, the coach stable, two gate houses, a section of the greenhouse and part of the cow- barn complex. Other buildings were added from time to time - the garage was built in 1905 and added to in 1915; the Music Room wing was completed in 1909 and in 1916 the organ loft was doubled in size to accomodate the increase in the organ which ended up with 82 stops and over 7500 individual pipes. The Danes had organ dinners and many distinguished musicians played in their Music Room. The greenhouses off Woodland Road were increased in size several times as the family's orchid collection grew.
The estate, which at one time consisted of a about 120 acres eventually was decreased by sale and gift (to the Town) to 79 acres, was sold in 1962 to Pine Manor Junior College, which is adapting the house to their use and making additions in the way of new buildings. irchitects: Andrews, Jacques and Rantone 15. NETHERLANDS ROAD, 20 DUTCH CHOCOLATE HOUSE This house was called in an article in The Brookline Citizen of No- vember 13, 1955, "one of the most unusual houses in America." It was erected by the Van Houten cocoa people for the purpose of dis- playing their wares at the World's Fair in Chicago in 1893. Mr. Charles B. Appleton bought the building after the Fair was over and moved it to a spot near the railroad tracks in Brookline. In a letter printed in The Brookline Chronicle of February 9, 1895, Mr.
Appleton says: "The Chicago building was largely copied from the brick town hall of Francker (in Friesland, Holland) ....built in 1591 and today regarded as a masterpiece of its style of architecture. The present building is forty feet square and was one of the few erected by private enterprise at Chicago to be awarded a medal.... The interior has been rearranged but the external appearance preserved in the main. The old doors and carved panels came from Hindeloopen, a small village in Friesland which has existed since 1228....The tiles are from sev- eral old Dutch houses and are about three hundred years old (They are blue and white Delft and there are well over one hundred of them).... The entire building and its contents were constructed in Holland and Belgium before being erected in Chicago. The Dutch architect 1s M.
Guillaume Wyuen, the Boston architects for reconstruction being Messrs. Kingsbury and Richardson, while E.F. McIntire of Salem had charge as builder... Tha building now contains a reception room 38 by 18 feet, dining room, kitchen, library, bath room and six chambers... there are over one thousand square feet of leaded green glass window surface." 16. 17. Inside, one finds the old world atmosphere complete and the rich dark wood a perfect foil for the Delft tiles. A ceiling-high dresser in the dining room displays a group of large Delft plates. In recent years there have been a number of owners, two of them having been artists and book designers. The present owners are Dr. and Mrs. Rob- ert D. Mehlman.
NEWTON STREET, 21 WIDOW HARRIS HOUSE, 1772-1796 A small story-and-a-half house with & gambrel roof and a large centra chimney built by the widow of Timothy Harris after the death of her husband in 1772 and listed by Rev. John Pierce as belonging to her in 1796. The fireplace, panelling and early window in inner wall appear to date from circa 1772 but many details of the 1800 period seem to indicate that the house was done over, possibly after the death of the Widow Harris in 1805. In recent years, the house was put in conditio: for modern use and some of the original features may have disappeared during the renovation. However, writes Mrs. Little, this is an ex- cellent example of a cottage of the Revolutionary period which has not been incorporated into an ell of a larger house. The house is now the property of the Town of Brookline and rented to Mrs.
Helen Damon, who has taken great interest in keeping it up and in showing it to visitors. It is at 21 Newton Street, having been moved a short distance from its original site. NEWTON STREET, 209 ISAAC CHILD HOUSE, PRIOR TO 1740 A three-story white clapboarded house with two chimeys and & modern ell. The two original top floors were raised in the middle nine- teenth century and a new first floor built under them. Mrs. Little calls this "a very interesting house because of the possibility that behind the nineteenth century woodwork may be the frame of an early eighteenth century house." There was a house, on or near the pre- sent one, belonging to Isaac Child as early as 1715 - It is a pos- sibility that this is the original Child house. The oldest wood- work now remaining is of the 1800 period. The house is now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Robert M. Jenney. NEWTON STREET, FAULKNER FARM (MRS.
CHARLES F. SPRAGUE'S HOUSE) Little & Browne, Architects; Charles A. Platt, Landscape Architect "Stateliness is surely the character note of the great house of "Feulkner Farm." It is a design that combines, in a very marked degree, the qualities of dignity, sobriety, and beauty, the three qualities essential to successful building, in a fine architectural ensemble. It is a house of great size, with wings and outbuildings that themselves cover almost as much area as the great central struc- ture; but it is a building that attracts one by its very dignified parts, and the thoroughly successful way in which a simple, direct, and straightforward use of good forms and the employment of good ma- terials have been joined in producing an effect that is at once grandiose and without effort or undue enrichment. "The garden which forms so fine a feature of the place, was designed and arranged by Mr.
Charles A. Platt after the house and & good of the structural work on the grounds had been built. No doubt, from the landscape architect's standpoint, this entailed certain disad- vantages, since perfect fredom of design was denied him; but of the artistic success of the garden there can be no doubt.... The gen- eral plan is simple. The house is a vast rectangle. A broad drive Leads up before one front, where is a great graveled forecourt, that affords ample space for waiting carriages. Beyond it - to one's right as one drives up to the house - is a grove of trees... adorned with a fountain at each end. The central path leads up to a beauti- ful circular temple. which stands on a level space on the apex of the hill on which the house is built. "The formal garden, the Italian garden, is to the right of the house.
It is not too large, measuring two hundred by one hundred and thir- teen feet. "At the farthest point from the house, and marking the limits of the garden, is the Casino, a graceful structure, entirely unenclosed on the garden front, and decorated within in the Pompeian style in co- . lors, a novel and effective decoration. Before it is a pool with a fountain, and on either side stretch the columns and piers of the pergola.... The Casino is at once a summer house and a retreat, and the climax to the garden as a whole." Nine photographs. American Estates and Gardens, Barr Ferree Munn and Company, 1904 This Georgian mansion, built in 1895 by Mrs. Charles F. Sprague, who later became Mrs. Edward I. Brandegee, has, since 1957, housed The American Academy of Arts and Sciences. The gardens are now being kept up by the Chestnut Hill Garden Club.
Most of the interior re- meins as it was at the time of Mrs. Brandegee's death in "European artisans crossed the Atlantic to implant their finest ro- coco handiwork on the mansion's ceilings, door jambs and mantel pie- ces. Many of the family artifacts have been removed but oriental Lamps and floor vases, Directoire clocks, and a Chippendale desk are still there. The dining room is in mahogany, the drawing room in oak, and a small adjoining room... is completely done in amber, white and grey marble with a ceiling mural of Prometheus whisking down with his gift of fire for man. "Most resplendent of all is the ballroom. Its glitter and gilt re- tains & freshness which the rest of the house has long since relin- quished. On the right are mirrors, windows and elaborate candelabra; on the left extend four elegant Jans des Gobelins tapestries.
Above, the ceiling is alive with wood carvings, a central mural of shepherds observing the cherubim, and two flanking reliefs which depict the twelve Greek muses." FOCUS (Supplement to "Brookline Chronicle Citizen") February 7, 1963 "Faullmer Farm" According to the daughter of Mrs. Brandegee (then Mrs. Sprague) the house was originally a white, wooden house which was enlarged and bricked over beginning about 1891. A ballroom was added, an extra floor on top and an extra flcor on the maid's wing. An architect calls it a Regency Palace. The American Academy of Arts and Sciences row occupies a floor. The whole estate is now a charitable foundation. 19. 20. 21. NEWTON STREET, 280 JOHN HARRIS HOUSE, BEFORE 1788 A small Cape Cod type cottage, clapboarded and painted red with white trim. The house was renovated in the mid 1930's and has a new porch and a small modern chimney.
It is on a tranquil and tree-shaded pri- vate way just below the barn of the Brandegee mansion, "Faulner Farn" It was built, presumably, by John Harris, who died in 1788. The house is on the estate of Mr. James Lawrence, Jr., son-in-law of Mrs. Brand- egee, and is rented to Mr. Theodore Melnechuk of the American Acadesy of Arts and Sciences which occupies a floor of "Faullmer Farm. " ROCKWOOD STREET, 105 HEDGE HOUSE (ART NOUVEAU) Built by Henry R. Hedge in 1905 Architect: J. Lovell Little "Many architects have resorted to all sorts of devices to get the pe- culiar quality of old work in new houses, and of these, the curving of the shingle roofs is as helpful a one as has yet been found." In this house it "has immensely aided in relieving the stiffness of the design.
The house is quaint and picturesque with the different lengths of the roof slopes, and their projection over the loggias at the corners. The proportions are pleasing and the details, while somewhat meager, are well planned and executed." Photograph. Owned by the heirs of Henry R. Hedge. One Hundred Country Houses, Aymos Emburg II, The Century Company, 1909 SEAVER STREET, 120 LONGYEAR MANSION In 1903, John Munro Longyear, capitalist and nining magnate, learned that he could not legally prevent a railroad from running tracks near his home in Marquette, Michigan. He, therefore, decided to look for a new site for their large native sandstone mansion. A plot on Fisher Hill, Brookline, was bought and the house was moved there stone by stone. Detailed drawings and photographs were made inside and out. The arches were numbered and marked, as were the piers and courses of the balustrade.
Each stone, except in the body of the house, was numbered according to its order of location in course, arch or pier, and the number or letter of the arch, course or pier was also placed upon the stone. Among the photographs taken were examples of a ty- pical window casing, bay, sill and cornice. As it stood in Marquette, the edifice was 120 feet long, sixty feet wide and three stories high. About 190 freight cars of various types were required for the shipments and they were dispatched as they were loaded. When the house was in place, it was said to be handsomer and more symmetrical than it had been originally. In Brookline, an ell for servants was added as well as a music room, fresh stone having been brought from Michigan. The moving and reconstruction of the house is said to have amazed builders all over the country. Mrs.
Longyear, long & generous supporter of the Christian Science movement, set up two foundations during her lifetime: the Long- year Foundation, which occupies the main part of the house, and the Zion Research Foundation, which occuples the south end. Visitors are wlecome daily, except Sunday, from 1 to 4:30 P.M. and mornings by ap- pointment. 22. 23. WALNUT STREET, 103 ELIPHALET SPURR HOUSE, CIRCA 1798 When this clapboard house with white trim was built it was only oze room deep, with the kitchen in an ell on the easterly side. The pre- sent ell at the rear was added about ninety years ago and the porch and marble mantelpieces were probably installed at the same time. The house is an interesting example of a transition house, as its raised panel doors, HL hinges and dentilled cornices appear to be earlier than one would expect in a house of this period.
Eliphalet Spurr, who built the house, was owner of a line of stage coaches which ran daily from "Punch Bowl Village" to Boston. The house is now owned by Bernard J. MeCarthy. WALNUT STREET, 182 JOHN TAPPAN HOUSE, 1822 This square stone house, which shows an interesting combination of Adam and Classic Revival features, was built by an architect, John Tappan, who collaborated with his brother in the building of se- veral stone houses in Brookline. The granite was from the Rockport quarries, Ioaded on scows and brought to Boston by water. The house was said to have been the one hundredth house built in the town. In 1929, "Brookline's first abolitionist," Samuel Philbrick, becane the owner and the house remained in the Philbrick family until the 1920's. In the 1830's and 1840's the Anti-Slavery movement was very unpopular in New England. In spite of this, Mr.
Philbrick invited the Grimke sisters of South Carolina, to spend the winter of 1836- 37 in his house to acquaint the people of the North with the dangers even then threatening the nation. A group of Brookline ladies were invited to the house to hear the sisters. One man, however, heard 24. the talk from the coat closet that used to be at the foot of the stairs - John Greenleaf Whittier. The Philbrick house was one of the principal stations of "Underground Railroad" and it is known that two fugitive slaves, William and Ellen Crafts, were concealed - in a back room for several days while the United States Marshal was searching Boston for them. The Crafts were finally driven into Boston by Theodore Parker and John Parkman and started on their way to Canada. The house is now owned by Bishop and Mrs. Anson Phelps Stokes, Jr.
WARREN STREET, 101 JOSHUA CLARK HOUSE, 1809-10 A square hipped-roof house with four chimneys and a large addition. for offices on the north side. Various alterations have unfortu- nately removed much of the original interior trim. When the house wes bought in 1883 from the Clark family by Frederick Law O1msted, the famous landscape architect, he converted the northeast ground- flour room into an office. Later, additional units of office space were attached in rambling structures on various levels. There are many flights of stairs throughout the office because Mr. Olmsted insisted on carefully adjusting the buildings to the topography and thereby preserving intact certain picturesque features of rock out- croppings and grade changes which had attracted him to the land in the first place.
The last member of the Olmsted family, Frederick Law O1msted, Jr., actively engaged in the firm retired in 1950. The house (101 Warren 25. Street) with the attached offices is now owned and occupied by Nr. Artemas P. Richardson, President of O1msted Associates, Inc. In 1963, the Department of the Interior announced that the house was eligible to be designated a Registered National Historic Landmark. On March 4, 1965, a bronze plaque was presented to Mr. Richardsor and has been installed in a niche just inside the office door. The plaque reads: FREDERICK LAW OLMSTED HOME HAS BEEN DESIGNATED A REGISTERED NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE HISTORIC SITES ACT OF AUGUST 21, 1935 THIS SITE POSSESSES EXCEPTIONAL VALUE IN COMMEMORATING AND ILLUSTRATING THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE 1965 WARREN STREET, 215 NEHEMIAH DAVIS HOUSE, CIRCA 1742 A white clapboard house of the so-called Southern Colonial type, w a long rear roof line, two bay windows and a pillared front exter: As originally built, this was a four-room house with a lean-to ro: two chimneys and a central hall. The large front addition was pro bably built by its owner, George Cabot, before 1900. The portico over the present front door (west side) and some of the woodwork c from the old Griggs-Downer house on Washington Street, Brookline i lage. The Davis house is one of the very earliest still standing 26. 27. Brookline and exhibits many Eighteenth Century features despite many alterations fron its original size and plan. Much of the renovating and restoration was done in the 1920's by Dr. and Mrs. Randall Clif- ford.
The builder of this house, Nehemiah Davis, was at one time owner of the famous Punch Bowl Tavern in Brookline Village. In 1793, the owner became Hon. George Cabot, U.S. Senator and appointed by John Adams the first Secretary of the Navy, an honor which he declined. He named his home "Green Hill." For many years the house belonged to the Goddard family and it is now the property of Mr. and Mrs. William F. Ray. WARREN STREEI, 305 JOHN WARREN HOUSE, 1812-1825 This house was built originally as a farmhouse with heavy construc- tion. About 1848, the northwest corner was added and in 1921 the - house was restored by Mrs. Arthur Williams. Since 1931, Mr. and Mrs. Bertram K. Little have been the owners. All doors and butt hinges and all window sashes and weights are ori- ginal.
The circular staircase, winding up one flight with reverse curve in upper hall, has unusual chisseled motifs on ends of each tread and is an outstanding feature of the house. The mantels are also original. WARREN STREET, 450 PERKINS-CABOT-LEE-SHATTUCK HOUSE, CIRCA 1830 This house built by Colonel Thomas Handasyd Perkins for his daughter, 28. Mrs. Samuel Cabot, was originally a wooden cottage with & long, sloping roof, pointed gable windows and a vine-covered veranda. The Cabots altered the house with masonry and a mansard roof. Much of the inside was also changed. More than one hundred years ago, Samuel Cabot built the tiny "Varieties Theatre" which was used for amateur theatricals up to the Civil War and in which Fanny Kemble once played Mrs. Malaprop. Dr. and Mrs. George C. Shattuck renovated the theatre in the early 1930's. Dr. Shattuck and his brother, Henry L.
Shattuck are the present owners and are great-great grandsons of Colonel Perkins. WARREN STREET, 514 LOUIS CABOT HOUSE This brick English type manor house was built by Mr. and Mrs. Louls Cabot in 1894 on the site of the "Mansion House" of Mr. Cabot's grandfather, Colonel Thomas Handasyd Perkins. The land and a house was sold in 1863 by Mrs. Samuel Cabot (Eliza Perkins) to William Gray who demolished the house and bullt a rew one. Mr. Gray in 1879 sold the estate to Amy H. (Mrs. Louis) Cabo: The house was destroyed by fire in 1894 and the present house* was then built and remained the property of the Cabots unt1l 1914, wher the estate was sold to Mr. Henry G. Lapham. In 1942, the Lapham es- tate sold the house and the remaining land to the Carmelite Fathers Discaled who added a tower enclosing an elevator. Photograph opposite page 704 of "History and Genealogy of the Cabot Famil; by L.
Vernan Briggs, Architect 29. 30. Mr. Lapham's son states that the estate, when his father owned it, emounted to about thirty-five acres with frontage on three streets- Clyde, Warren and Heath. The land in Mr. Lapham's day abutted The Country Club on the south and stretched on the west to the Warren Farm Golf Club. It included the present Cramond and Lapland Roads. During Mr. Lapham's ownership, the Olmsteds did a lot of landscaping on the place and there is still a formal garden. WELLINGTON TERRACE, 2 JOSEPH SEWALL HOUSE, 1823 The front part of this stone house has been modernized in this cen- tury but the rear still retains the simple woodwork and mantelpieces of the 1820's. The house is now divided into six apartments and is owned by stephen and George Theodore of 407 Huntington Avenue, Boston.
THE JACOBEAN HOUSE Architect: William Whitney Lewis Built in This house "is proportioned in a similar manner to the Howard residence, but instead of being modern English, is closely studied from the Ja- cobean work. The decorative form of the gables ... the use of brick with small coigns -.. and the ornamental chimney-pots are all charac- teristic of the time. While the house is by no means so dignified or so good a design as most of the others here illustrated, yet it has a certain charm and quaintness." Photograph. Owned by One Hundred Country Houses, Aymos Emburg II, The Century Company, 1909 ES OF WORSHIP 1. SEARS CHAPEL - COLCHESTER STREET "Why turn to fiction when truth is so much stranger?
A few minutes' ride from the heart of Boston...on a commanding site, where traffic of all sorts is continually passing and repassing, there is a buil- ding that might have come out of the romances of Dickens, Balzac or Poe. It is a church; and so numerous and unusual are the facts that gather about it, it is doubtful if there is another edifice of its kind, in America which provides more material for the writer of fact - fact that reads like romance." From "The Church that David Sears Built" by Edward H.
Cotton in "The Christian Register" of July 19, 1923 This church, without a pastor, or a congregation for most of the pre- sent century, was built in 1860 by David Sears (1787-1871) and dedi- cated June 30, 1862, as "Christ's Church - The First Gospel Church in the Spirit of Charity." David Sears, at his own expense, built it with the aim of providing a church where all sects might worship "in the unity of the spirit and in the bond of peace." He prepared a Liturgy or Book of Worship expressing his own ideas on religious matters, basing them on ideas he had received from the great Unita- rian divine, William Ellery Channing, and adding the plan of the Episcopal service. However, in the words of Harriet F.
Woods in her sauciaine raes a aeortin o ehe pod aotereio ber beneath it, and whose design failed, only because it is, or seems to be, a moral impossibility for human beings to lay aside their sectarian prejudices and together worship one God in whom all profess to believe." For a great many years, the Church has been used only for Sears weddings, funerals and burials. It is run by Trustees and usually open Saturday mornings at which time the sexton is glad to admit visitors. Sears Chapel sits on a shaded knoll facing the corner at the junc- tion of Chapel and Colchester Streets very near Longwood Towers and the Longwood M.B.I.A. station. It is constructed of Roxbury pudding- stone with sandstone trimmings. A square tower of commanding propor- tions rises more than a hundred feet above the church green.
Inside the church, the handsome, richly cushioned oak pews will seat at least five hundred persons and the galleries - now condemned for use - held several hundred more. Appropriate Bible texts, beauti- fully illumined, adorn the walls of the Chancel and a raised Cross, painted by a French artist, rests on the arch above the pulpit. On all sides, stained-glass windows of soft, blending colors give the interior a worshipful atmosphere- There is an especially fine "rose window" in the Chancel. There is a legend known to a number of Brookline people that a horse was buried in the church. Several people report having been told many years ago by an elderly lady of the neighborhood that as a young she remembered sitting on a fence across the street and seeing David Sears leading his old saddle-horse up the street. Near the church, Mr.
Sears shot his beloved ho: se and superintended his burial in the ground nearby. When the excavation for the new Longwood Tow- ers hotel was being made, they found, according to the story, the horse's bones, which were then reburied in another adjacent spot. ton ,les -9 MILESTONES 1. Milestone on the northeast corner of the grounds of the Harvard Church, Harvard Street. The initials probably refer to Paul Dudlez, who placed many milestones in and around Boston and (later) became Chief Justice of Massachusetts. In the 1948 Proceedirgs of The Brookline Historical Society it is stated: "It is reported that this stone was removed some years ago when the street was widered, and that Mr. Edward W. Baker found it in the Town dump and had it rescued and set up near its original location! However, in the 19c- Proceedings, in the President's Annual Aduress, Mr. Rufus G.F.
Card: states in speaking of the Charles H. Stearns house built in 1825 or. Stearns Road; "The door-step of that house, supposed to have been i= use as such from its building in 1825, was nore other than a Paul Dudley milestone, once occupying a site on the easterly side of tre 'Old Cambridge Road) now Harvard Street... As a door-step it was placed face down...Many years ago in making repairs to the house, the stone was taken up and its origin was revealed. It was restore: to its original location on the east side of Harvard Street....In 1902, on the corner of Harvard Street and Stearns Road, where the milestone stood, an apartment house was projected, and the stone... was removed by the lot owner...with the intention of building it into the wall of the new building.
That fact coming to the atten- tion of this Society, through it, notice was brought to the Select- men of the town, who had it transfered to the Town Hall...During 19- ...consent of the Harvard Church was obtained, and it was re-set op- posite to its old site, in the grounds of the church, where it is t= be hoped it may evermore remain! 2. Part of a milestone in the brick wall of the Park School grounds, on the north side of Walnut Street opposite the old burying ground. (S C msy refer to Samuel Clark who lived nearby.) 3. This milestore facing Boylston Street in the triangle on the corner of Warrer Street, according to an article by Charles F. Read in the 1909 Proceedings of the Brookline Historical Society, "is not in its proper location, it being evidently placed in its present position by the authorities of Brookline to ensure its preservation!!
It is now somewhat scratched on the surface, presumably by vandals. MISCELLANEOUS 1. SOME OF THE HISTORICAL ITEMS IN THE EDWARD DEVOTION HOUSE (As reported by Bertram K. Little in the 1951 Proceedings of the Brookline Historical Society) Three "exceedingly interesting 18th century portraits" - the pair of Reverend Ebenezer Devotion and his wife Martha Lathrop and the double portrait of Nathaniel Seaver and his wife Susanna White. A selection of the books on the shelves behind the Reverend Ebenezer are today a part of the Society's exhibits in the Devotion House, together with the Devotion family red lacquer-cased tall' clock, highboy and various Devotion heirlooms. A number of other well-known Brookline families are represented through pieces of furniture, furmmishings and various smaller an- tiquities.
The Society's collection of manuscripts, documents, publications, books, pictures and other historical material is in the main Brook- line Public Library carefully cataloged and prepared for use, Here also is the famous collection of lantern slides of early Brookline formed by the late Edward w. Baker.
Some of the gifts received by the Society for the Devotion House since 1951: A yarn winder, a niddy-noddy, a feather bed, a minia- ture of Jonathan Devotion of Norwich (grandson of Ebenezer), heir- looms and genealogical records of the Clark family of Brookline, a red leather fire bucket belonging to Nathaniel Goddard, a wooden model of the old house at 10 Walter Avenue which was originally part of the Ward farm in the Village, school bell from Putterham School, watercolor picture of the Boylston-Hyslop-Lee House on Boyl- ston Street, a melted metal clapper from the clock of the burned Fresbyterian Church, Limoges plate of the home of Joseph H. White, 535 Boylston Street, etc. BRONZE BELL In March, 1965, when the Town Hall wss being razed, the two-ton bronze bell which hung for seventy years in the tower was moved to the Larz Anderson Antique Auto Museum. OTHER BUILDINGS 1.
NEWTON STREET, 15 LARZ ANDERSON PARK ANTIQUE AUTO MUSEUM OF MASSACHUSETTS In 1949, Mrs. Larz Anderson left to the Town of Brookline her estate of eighty acres. The house has been demolished but the coach house, a palatial structure modeled after the famous French chateau at Chaumont, is now a museum for old automobiles and carriages. Ori- ginally a private museum, it was incorporated in 1953 as an educa- tional, non-profit organization to preserve the history of automo- tive transportation through the Anderson cars and others and to house a collection of educational and historical material pertaining to the automobile industry such as catalogs, photographs, engineering data, drawings, and automotive magazines and trade journals.
The nucleus is the collection of cars which belonged to the Andersons but there are many cars owned and restored by members of the Veteran Motor Car Club of America, as well as cars donated to the Museum by individuals and estates. The building also houses the Anderson collection of car- riages and horse-drawn vehicles. There is, among others, a Winton of the 1890's, with its motor under the seat; a 1900 Rochet-Schneider with its steering post in the back seat; a 1901 Winton "Racing Carriage" with a back entrance; "America's first Pullman car - a 1906 Charron Giradot et Voight which contains a full set of plumbing plus a rear seat which converts into beds; the Anderson's 1911 Panhard fitted with two writing desks and always used for Ambassador Anderson's White House calls - he took it to Japan with him; Mrs. Anderson's favorite, a 1908 Bailey Electric; a unique 1903 2. 3.
Gardner Serpollet. The Museum is open daily, except Mondays, from 1 to 5 P.M. Admission: Adults, 50 cents; Children, 25 cents. NENTON STREET, 297 THE PUTTERHAM SCHOOL, CIRCA 1768 A small yellow frame one-story wooden building with shed and privy ceased to be used as & school in 1922. The windows are boarded up and the building is empty except for a pot-bellied stove,in the now- bare schoolroom. The house was enlarged in 1839 and in 1847 the final additions were made which gave the school the appearance it has today. This was the fourth school built by the Town and there is a possibility that it may be moved and furnished to make it a museum, as an example of a two-hundred year old schoolhouse. WALNUT STREET, 382 PIERCE HALL, 1824 This building, except for its stone exterior, has been practically rebuilt, having been lengthened, had its ceiling removed and the old Ioof timbers encased.
Early in the 19th Centruy there came a demand for a Town. Hall and in 1824 it was voted to build.a combination schoolhouse and Town House. The district school was on the first floor with the town offices above. On January 1, 1825, Brookline's first Town Hall was dedicated. School was kept until 1843, when the High School was established. In 1845, & new Town Hall was erected on Washington Street. Until 1869, the building was used as & primary school, and, the town having then sold the building, it became a private school owned by Edward Atkinsor.. In 1890, The First Parish Church next door bought the building ard rame: it Pierce Hall after its distinguished minister, Rev. John Pierce. Pierce Hall is now a part of the First Parish Church and physically at- tached to the Church. PEOPLE ASPINWALL, WILLIAM (1743-1823) Physician.
After the Revolution, he opened in Brookline an inoculation hospital for small-pox, the second of its kind in the United States. (Dictionary of American Biography) ATKINSON, EDWARD (1827-1905) Industrial Economist and author of many published works in his field. (Dictionary of American Biography) BOYLSTON, ZABDIEL, (1679-1766) Physician and the first to introduce into the United States the prac- tice of inoculation for small-pox. (Dictionary of American Biography) BRADLEY, CAPTAIN BENJAMIN "Ben Bradley" writes Gorham Dana in a biographical sketch'in the 1950 Proceedings of the Brookline Historical Society, "was a picturesque character in Brookline in the early part of the 19th century! He ap- parently emigrated from Irelandand set up in business as a carpenter and contractor at which he became successful.
He was a mán of strong likes and dislikes and took unusual methods of showing his dislikes. He made himself a power in the town by his control over the carpen- ters and other laborers. In fact, he seems to have been one of the early labor bosses. He carried on & feud with Captain Benjamin Goddard who lived on the southerly slope of what is now Fisher Hill, with a fine view towards Boston. Ben Bradley bought land to the east of that location and built a row of cheap houses to cut off the view. He kept on buying land un- til he owned most of the hill between Sumner Road and Cypress Street. This hill, now covered by Philbrick Road, was sometimes called "Ven- geance Hill" but usually "Bradley Hill! Captain Bradley moved an old barn to this location, used it as a workshop and built a steeple on the roof.
He then installed an old pulpit from which he harrangued his followers in a manner considered by many to be sacrilegeous. Ed- ward Atkinson says in his Diary that Bradley boasted that as long as he lived his steeple house "should be the abode of civility, honor, morality and chastity, all qualities in which he was conspicuously wanting!! He bought a coffin for himself but outgrew it and used it for storing his supply of whiskey which he dispensed freely to his friends. He owned another settlement near the present Hart and Cypress Streets which was known locally as "Grab Village" "Dublin" and "Ireland! Mr. Dana thought that the term "Whiskey Point" may have originated with Captain Bradley. He kept building shacks and moving old buildings to his hill but these were cleared off in the 1870's. He was at one time .
a collector and a Constable and, when he died in 1856, left $500.00 to the poor of Brookline. On Sundays he held services in his "church" and anyone who could drink a glass of whiskey straight, could become a member of the parish, ac- cording to Dr. Carleton S. Francis. The latter goes on to say: "Cap- tain Bradley would vary the monotony of his life by every now and then going off on a trip with a certain convivial friend. In a day or two the old horse and chaise would come wandering home much the worse for wear, then in due time Mr. Bradley's companion, and in a day or two after the captain himself would turn up. He would then stay at home Ior & longer or a shorter time, holding services in his church until his pocket book became replenished.
He would then once more start out to see the world." CABOT, GEORGE (1752-1823) Merchant, Senator from Massachusetts, appointed the first Secretary of the Navy by John Adams, but refused. Owned and occupied the house at 215 Warren Street from 1793 to 1803. (Dictionary of American Biography) COBB, HENRY IVES (1859-1931) Architect. Designed Chicago Opera House, Newberry Library, Fisheries Building for Chicago World's Fair and was the architect of the Uni- versity of Chicago. (Who's Who) COLMAN, SAMUEL (1832-1920) Painter. Founder and first president of the American Society of Pain- ters in Water Color. Listed as resident by Bolton and Curtis. (Dictionary of American Biography) CUSHING, HARVEY WILLIAMS (1869-1939) Neurological surgeon, noted for brain surgery and as teacher and au- thor. Lived on Walnut Street.
(Dictionary of American Biography) FITZGERALD, DESMOND (1846-1926) Hydraulic engineer. Art collector and owner of private museum at- tached to his house on the corner of Washington and Cypress Streets. (Dictionary of American Biography) GARDNER,ISABELLA (1840-1924) Art collector and builder of Fenway Court. Lived at 135 Warren Street with her husband, John L. Gardner. (Dictionary of American Biography) GERICKE, WILLIAM (1845-1925) Musician. Conductor of Boston Symphony Orchestra 1884-1889, 1898- 1906. (Dictionary of American Biography) GODDARD, JOHN Born in Brookline in 1736, John Goddard was a distinguighed citizen c: this town. In the Revolutionary War he was a commissary-general for the American army in this vicinity. During the Siege of Boston, he was intrusted with the command of thre hundred teams, which worked in stealth in constructing the fortifica- tions on Dorchester Heights.
Not a whip was allowed among the men cr that moonlight March night lest some incautious crack might betray them. No wonder that General Howe, looking over from Boston the nex: morning, thought that "the Americans had done more in one night thar his whole army could do in weeks.". He did not know what had been go: on in the woods within six miles of his army. Four or five pieces c: carnon had been concealed under the hay in Mr. Goddard's barn in God- iard Avenue for weeks and had this night been stealthily removed to their position on Dorchester Heights. Guarded by a sentinél, several hundred pounds of gunpowder were stored in the loft of a shed opposite the Goddard house. There was reason to believe, after & time, how- ever, that suspicion had been aroused concerning the concealed army stores, and they were removed to Concord, Mr. Goddard himself driving one of the teams.
John Goddard was an eye-witness of the Battle of Lexington: When the American army moved from Boston to New York, General Washington was urgent that Mr. Goddard should accompany them, but his large family was & sufficiently strong reason why he should decline. When the Federal Government was established, he was chosen as the Representative of this town in the State Legislature from 1785 to 1792. He died in 1816. A tablet on a boulder near his house still standing at 235 God- dard Avenue commemorates John Goddard and his wife and refers to him as "Member of Conmittee of Safety" and "Wagon Master General American Revolution." OLEY, JEREMIAH (1701-1767) Lawyer, sometimes called the Father of the Massachusetts Bar. (Dictionary of American Biagraphy) ES, ROLAND Singer and composer. He has been honored by Cormand Performances at Buckingham Palace and at the Royal Palace in Madrid.
He has also re- ceived France's highest musical honors and eight honorary doctorates from American Universities. Lives at 58 Allerton Street.. (Who's Who) HEDGE, FREDERICK HENRY (1805-1890) Unitarian clergyman. Transcendentalist. Translator of German lit- erature. Minister of First Parish 1857-1872. (Dictionary of American Biography) KENNEDY, JOHN FITZGERALD The 35th President of the United States was born at 83 Beals Street, Brookline, on May 29, 1917. He attended Dexter School in Brookline, graduated from Harvard University in 1940 and served in the United States Navy, 1941-45, commanding a PT boat in the Solomons and winning Navy and Marine Corps medals and the Purple Heart. He covered the Potsdam Conference and the start of The United Nations at San Fran- cisco for International News Service.
He served as Representative in Congress from Massachusetts from 1947 to 1953 and was elected to the Senate in 1952 and again in 1958. In November, 1960, he was e- lected President of the United States and served until his assassi- nation in Dallas, Texas, on November 22, 1963. He was, without ques- tion, Brookline's most famous native son and a legend throughout the world. His birthplace is still standing (1965) and is marked by a plaque (see wording in group of tablets and plaques.) LOVISE ANDRENS ( ) Author of "The Brookline Trun! and many other published works. (Who's Who) .WRENCE, AMOS ADAMS (1814-1886) Merchant, philanthropist. (Dictionary of American Biography) :TTELL, ELIAKIM (1797-1870) Editor and publisher. Founded "Littell's Living Age." (Dictionary of American Biography) JWELL, AMY (1874-1925) Poet, critic, biographer.
(Dictionary of American Biography) OETL, GUY (1870-1927) Architect. (Dicticnary of American Biography) YMAN, THEODORE (1833-1897) Zoologist. (Dictionary of American Biography) INSTED, FREDERICK LAW Born in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1822, this famous landscape archi- tect and city planner settled in Brookline in 1883. He had previ- ously planned New York's Central Park, Chicago's Jackson Park and many other works throughout the country. By 1878, he was working on the de- velopment of the Arnold Arboretum and the Boston Park Commission had agreed to his development of what was then called "Back Bay Park." After moving to 99 Warren Street, he found time to enter into diverse landscape architectural work in the Brookline area.
He contributed ideas to the Boston and Albany Railroad stations development; laid out Aspinwall Avenue; engineered drainage solutions for The Country Club; created a Chestnut Hill subdivision; made revisions to Harvard Street, Commonwealth Avenue and Beacon Street; developed Corey Hill; drew plans for the Storrow place on High Street, the Lee estate on Dudley Street and for R.H. White's estate in Chestnut Hill. He was ac- tive for years in the development of the Philbrick estaté and the Schlesinger home on Warren Street. He drew plans for parkways at the south end of Brookline and developed the Brookline section of the Muddy River improvement. He also wrote innumerable reports about the influence of proposed and existing developments upon the future wel- fare of the Town.
His step-son John and his son, Frederick Junior, after their father's death in 1903, continued the practice which, carried on as Olmsted Brothers. They contributed to the development of Brookline, working out programs for the widening of Boylston Street and developing & prominent main entrance to the Town in the vicinity of the Fire Station at High Street and the Vil- lage Square improvement. They also worked on the Larz Anderson es- tate.. Frederick Junior was a member of the Brookline Planning Board from its inception in 1914 until his resignation in 1938. John died in 1920 and Frederick Junior in 1957, but the firm still continues its practice at 99 Warren Street under the 01msted name., In March, 1965, Mr. Olmsted's home and offices were designated a Registered National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service of the Department of the Interior.
Other Landmarks in the Boston area include Boston Light, Bunker Hill Monument, The Boston Subway and Faneuil Hall. In presenting the plaque (for the wording see the account of the Joshua Clark house) to Mr. Artemas P. Richardson, President of O1msted Associates, Inc., Mr. Eugene R. De Silets of the National Park Service said: "Frederick Law Olmsted founded the profession of landscape architecture in America, leaving his indel- ible mark as & monument in a Government bureau which has endured for nearly a century." In the terms of the award, the owner magrees to use all reasonable care to preserve the landmark intact and allows a representative of the Service to visit it biennially." RKINS, THOMASHANDASYD(1764-1854) Merchant. Philanthropist. State Senator. Lived at southwest corner of Heath and Warren Streets.
(Dictionary of American Biography) OR, HENRY VARNUM (1812-1905) Railroad journalist and economist. Compiler of "Poor's Manual of Railroads." (Dictiorary of American Biography) PROUTY, OLIVE HIGGINS Author of "Stella Dallas" and many other published works. (Who's Who) RICHARDSON, HENRY HOBSON This famous and internationally known architect lived at 25 Cottage Street from 1874 until his death in 1886. The house, built for & summer home in 1803 by Samuel Gardner Perkins was rented to Mr. Richardson by its owner, Edward Williám Hooper, and when the ar- chitect died, his widow lived there until her death in 1914. In 1878, Mr.
Richardson established his offices there and, while in Brookline, he designed Sever Hall at Harvard, the John Hay and Henry Adams houses in Washington, Boston's Irinity Church Rectory, three railroad stations on the B & A Highland Branch including the Chestnut Hill station recently demolished, and works in Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, New York, Penn- sylvania, Vermont, Wyoming, District of Columbia and England. The only work done by him in Brookline was for Dr. Walter Channing on Chestnut Hill Avenue, built in 1883 and, according to Dr. Chan- ning's grandson, torn down in 1920. In 1870, before Mr. Richardson moved to Brookline, he submitted plans for a new Town Hall but failed to win the competition (see pp. 109-110 and figure 22 in H.H. RICHARD- SON AND HIS TIMES by Henry-Russell Hitchcock - 1936.) ROCHE, JAMES JEFFREY (1847-1905) Journalist and poet.
(Dictionary of American Biography) SARGENT, CHARLES SPRAGUE (1841-1927) Arboriculturist. First Director of the Arnold Arboretum,, the creation and upbuilding of which became the outstanding achievement of his life. His Brookline estate, "Holm Lea," contains species of trees from all over the world. (Dictionary of American Biography) STANWOOD,EDWARD(1841-1923) Editor. Historian. (Dictionary of American Biography) WARE, WILLIAM (1797-1852) Unitarian clergyman. Author of "Zenobia" and many other published works. (Dictionary ofAmerican Biography) SITES 1. 2. MUNICIPAL BATHHOUSE (ORIGINALLY BUILT IN 1896)* According to Augustus W. Soule, Chairman of the Park and Recreation Conmission, (Proceedings of the Brookline Historical Society, 1957), the original pool (torn down in 1956) was the first built in the United States by any town.
INDIAN FORT From "Brookline, History of a Favored Town" by Charles K. Bolton, "an Indian fort stood on what is now the eastern corner of Beacon and Powell Streets." From "Historical Sketches of Brookline" by Harriet F. Woods "In the 'forest primeval' which shaded the site of our beautiful Longwood, on a knoll in the centre of what the early settlers called 'the great swamp', the Indians had one of their forts, or strongholds, .... The old fort, which remained an object of historic interest in & tolerable state of preservation until 1844-45, was built of palisades, enclosing about an eighth of an acre of ground in square form and sur- rounded by a ditch about three feet in depth, and & parapet three feet in height, with an opening or gateway on each side, one of which was toward the swamp. The residence of William Amory, Esq., is (1874) located upon the site of this fort." 3.
THE COUNTRY CLUB - 191 Clyde Street In the words of the history of this Club published in 1932, "The * Now called Brookline "Swimming Pool" * Plaque from old building reads "Brookline Public Baths" 4. Country Club was the first-born of a huge family which has spread from Maine to California, and from Alaska to Florida! The Club - the T in The is always capitalized to the amusement of many," was orgenized on September 13, 1882, and incorporated on November 7, 1882. The Country Club is generally admitted to have played a key role in the development of golf interest hereabouts because of the spectacular playoff triumph of a Brookline native, Francis Ouimet, in the 1913 Open Championship was again held at The Country Club. On December 19, 1920, The Country Club opened the first indoor rink of artificial ice, devoted exclusively to curling, ever built in the world.
PUNCH BOWL TAVERN Prominently mentioned in every history of Brookline, this famous tavern stood on the eastern corner of Pearl and Washington Streets on the site of the currently unoccupied Brookline Theatre. Built as a dwelling house by James Goddard in 1717, it was enlarged by John Ellis and con- verted into a tavern in 1740. After John Ellis, the proprietors were William Whitney, Eleazer Baker, Eliphalet Spurr, William Laughton, Franklin Gerry in 1820, in 1826 Louis Boutell, and in 1827 William Jen- erson. As new facilities for travel came into use and the old stage coaches became obsolete, the need for & tavern in Brookline Village gradually diminished and the old Tavern was torn down in 1833. A tab- let was placed on the site in 1949 by The Brookline Historical Society (for wording see list of tablets).
The original building was a modest two-story hipped roof house, but when it was turned into a tavern & number of old houses were moved to adjoin the original building until it occupied a street front of several hundred feet. A bench extending along the street front under offered a convenient resting place for neighbors to swap yarns and watch such events as the arrival of the New York and Ux- bridge stages. There were large trees at each end of the main buil- ding and an old pump in front. The famous Punch Bowl sign hung from a high red post at the left, and on it was pictured an overflowing punch bowl with ladle under a lemon tree, with lemons lying on the ground below.
Inside the tavern was a ball room, a large dining room There was heavy traffic through "Punch Bowl Village" in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries and many a traveller recorded in his diary the Tavern as one at which he tarried. Groups of British of- ficers used to ride out from Boston and hold high revel. The "teaming" from the country districts in the western part of the state followed the turnpike which passed the Tavern's door and various stage coaches made their final halt there before entering Boston. It was the custom of the Town's Selectmen to indulge themselves once a year at the Punch Bowl's banquet board. The Tavern was also popular for dances and balls and for local meetings of groups such as the volunteer fire companies.
Much history passed by the old Tavern during its nearly one hundred years of existence and habitues, who witnessed such events as the passing through "Punch Bowl Village" of Lord Percy with one thousand British troops on April 19, 1775, on their way to Lexington, would long remember what they had seen. YTHER OLD SROOKLINE TAVERNS. 5. DANA TAVERN Located at the junction of Harvard and Washington Streets, at Harvard Square, this building of which no picture remains, was a large Gam- brel-roofed structure with out-buildings and covered much of the land between those streets for a considerable distance back from Harvard Square. This tavern was not as famous as the Punch Bowl, as it had no ball room and catered mostly to out of town produce dealers. The orly hay sclaes in town at that time were in front of the 'building.
Jorathan Dana (1736-1812) was the proprietor until his death in 1812 and his family continued it until 1816 when it was destroyed by fire. In 1825 the land was bought by the Baptists who later built their church near the site. 6. RICHARDS TAVERN On the northeast corner of what is now Heath Street and Hammond Street, this tavern was built in about 1770 by Elhanan Winchester' with the aid of the "New Lights," as the followers of the 17th century revi- valist George Whitfield were called. It was a large house with four chimneys, one at each corner, and the main door opened on the old "Sherbourn Road" along which the post riders and stage coaches. passed on their six days' journey to New York. The "New Light" meetings were held in a large room on the first floor in the days of Rev. Elhanan Winchester,Jr., who was a famous Baptist preacher, born in this house.
The house was sold in 1786 to Ebenezer White and later bought by Ebenezer Richards, who turned it into a tavern. After the Worcester Turnpike was built in 1806-1807, and passed just to the rear of the house, a toll gate was thrown across the turnpike and the Tavern became very popular. In the 1830's, when it became apparent that the railroad between Boston and Worcester would take much of the traffic off the tumpike, the building was discontinued as a hotel. The house had several private owners until it was torn down in 1928, at which time, the owner, Mr. Fegan, found an ancient pulpit stored away in the cellar. TREETS 1. OLD STREETS OF BROOKLINE (From talk by Daniei G.
Lacy at Meeting of The Brookline Histori- cal Society on March19,1950) "The earliest map of the Town of Brookline...was drawn in 1728" and "shows only four roads in an area of approximately 4568 acres of land, viz: Newtowne Road (Road to Watertowne Mill - known to us to- day as Washington Street), Road to Cambridge (known in the present day as Harvard Street), Sherburn Road (now Walnut Street, a small portion, of Boyiston Street, and a longer portion of Heath Street), and a dead end road, unnamed, leading from the Sherburn Road toward the south. Of these, the Sherburn Road is generally considered to be the oldest." (See separate account of Sherbourn Road - before 1658 and Cambridge Road-1662; the old maps give 1657 as the date of the Road to Watertown). "An old indian trail, 'Eliot's Path to Waban', was laid out in 1671.
This trail ran between the old Sherburn Road and Waban,,and that por- tion which ran from the old Sherburn Road to Boylston Street was once called Pound Land and is now Reservoir Lane." "The Road to the Marshes" rand along the lines of our Sewall Avenue of today and what is now Aspinwall Avenue was originally known as "Perry's Lane." This land led toward the marshes, is thought to have met "The Road to the Marshes" (1674) and was built to reach the As- -pinwall and Perry houses. In 1677, "The Road from Roxbury to Newtowne" was laid out and is known today as Newton Street. In early Town records this road is called the "country road that leadeth from Roxbury to Newtowne through Brookline along by Lt.
Gardner's house." In 1679, a lane along the lines of our present Warren Strees was iaid out and known as "Woodward's Lane." This land either followed "an old Indian trail or else the path followed by Mr. Goddard's cows." Clyde Street was laid out in 1715, and according to the records in the Town Clerk's office is the first officially laid out street of the town. No name was, however, applied to it until the Town Meeting of 1844. In the south part of the town also was located a lane laid out before 1745 and designated as the "Upper Road to Dedham" - it is now South Street. "New Lane," our present Cypress Street, was laid out in 1720 "to en- able the northend inhabitants to go to the Meeting House." School Street, once "Schoolhouse Lane," joined "New Lane'..to make a highway to the center of town.
These two roads also connected the three main thoroughfares of the Town: the Road to Cambridge, the Road to Watertown and the Worcester Turnpike. Chestnut Hill Avenue was staked out in 1796 and designated the "Coun- try Road to Little Cambridge" and later known as "Brighton Street." To the right of Richard's Tavern, which was located at the northeast corner of what is now Heath and Hammond Streets, there extended an old highway which existed long before 1700 and ran towards Watertown. This road was called "Cross Street" in old Brookline records and has been known as Hammond Street since 1855. A survey by E. F. Woodward in 1844, on order of Town Authorities, gives us the first definite locations and names of Brookline streets and lists the fifteen streets supported as public streets by the Town.
On this map there were several small roads running off the Cambridge Road: Washington Place, now Davis Avenue; Harrison Place, now Kent Street; Linden Place, formerly a large cherry and apple orchard; An- dem Place, not opened until ten years later. In 1844, there was not a lane in Longwood known as a public highway. 2. CAMBRIDGE ROAD In 1640, according to the Boston records, two citizens were appoin- ted to lay out the highway at Muddy River towards Cambridge. This is the first record of the laying out of any street or highway within the area which afterwards became the town of Brookline. It was known as the "Road to Cambridge" or the "Road to the Colleges in Cambridge." An early record states that the road, which represents in.general the modern Harvard Street, was to be "blazoned" ing a vivid description of the woodland that covered the town.
The only other route from Boston to the Colleges was by ferry to Charles- town and, thence, over Charlestown Neck to Cambridge. Until 1793, when the West Boston Bridge was constructed, there was no comfortable Ioad except the one over Boston Neck through Roxbury and over the Muddy River Bridge through Brookline. Paul Dudley, son of Governor Joseph Dudley and Chief Justice of the Province of Massachusetts, caused to be set most of the milestones which skirt some of the roads of Boston. One of these stones still stands on the lawn of the Har- vard Church on Harvard Street and reads "Boston - 5 miles - 1729 - P.D." The Cambridge Road was the route taken from Boston by Willian Dawes on horseback on the night of April 18, 1775, on his way to help Paul Revere, whome he is supposed to have met on the Lexington Road.
The first intimation of danger, however, to reach the people of Srookline was when they learned that Lord Percy with one thousand or tore men was marching through the town on this same route on the morning of April 19th, on his way to reinforce the British at Lexington. At what 1s now Harvard Square, he stopped to inquire the way to Cam- bridge and the bridge which spanned the Charles near Harvard Square, Cambridge. Over this old road marched Isaac Gardner and other Brookline men who responded to the Lexington alarm and back over this same road the friends and neighbors of Isaac Gardner brought his body - the first Brookline man to give his life in the Revolution. Later, after the Battles of Lexington and Bunker Hill, troops from New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and all parts of Massachusetts marched over and back the Road to Cambridge through Brookline.
Early in the Revolution, there was a fort at Sewall's Point about where the Cottage Farm railroad I station stands. It mounted six guns and two companies were stationed there on June 16, 1775. It was erected under the direction of General Rufus Putnam and was intended to share with the soldiers of Fort Washington on the Cambridge side of the river the task of exclusing British ships from the upper rea- ches of the Charles. This fort was often called the Brookline Fort, and Washington is said to have made a visit of inspection to it when he was in command in Cambridge. In 1789, when Washington visited Boston, after reviewing militia in Cambridge, he proceeded through Brookline and was received at the en- trance of the town by the Selectmen and a group of citizens.
RBOURN ROAD so spelled Sherbourne, Sherborne, Sherburne, and Sherburn) March, 1634, a cart bridge was ordered constructed over Muddy Ri- , to be paid for by Boston, Roxbury, Dorchester, Watertown, and bridge. There is no record as to when the bridge was built but is apparent that the Sherbourn Road followed an Indian trail, ting through Roxbury and crossing the cart bridge at Muddy River. is road became the main artery to New York and the West. Until 93, there was no comfortable road from Boston to Cambridge except rough Brookline. The only other route was by ferry to Charlestown.
ter crossing Muddy River, the Sherbourne Road followed what is now Inut Street to what was then the geographical center of the town ere the first church and first school were located at the top of e Walnut Street hill, then sharply to the right down what is now rren Street to what is now Boylston Street, then up Boylston to at is now Heath Street and along that street to the town boundary. out 1640, a Committee of the Town of Boston was instructed to lay I: a highway from Muddy River to Cambridge, and this is the first ficial layout of any highway in the Muddy River settlement. This. s sometimes called the "Road to the Colleges in Cambridge" and anched off to the right from the Sherbourn Road along what is now shington Street for a very short distance and then along what is : Harvard Street.
This was the route taken by William Dawes on :1l 19, 1775, when he rode through Brookline to help Paul Revere. rever, the first intimation of danger which Brookline had was when as came that Lord Percy with a detachment of one thousand men was out to pass through the town on his way to reinforce the British Lexington and had taken the same route which Dawes took the night cre- Another early road which branches off from the Sherbourne Road, or really from the Cambridge Road, was called the Watertown Road and followed what is now Washington Street to the edge of the town. Off the Sherbourne Road, a short way up Heath Street was an old In- dian trail laid out in 1671 along what is now Reservoir (formerly Pound) Lane. This trail led eventually to Watertown where dwelt a band of Indians who had been converted to Christianity by the Apos- tle John Eliot.
Perhaps the old Sherbourne Road should be marked in some way. 4. WORCESTER TURNPIKE Incorporated in 1806, this road was laid out to follow a .straight westerly course, disregarding hills, from the brick school house in Roxbury to a point near the Worcester Court House. The first meeting of the incorporators was held in Boston in 1806, the stock consisting of six hundred shares of the par value of $250.00, a small amount of money for the construction of forty miles of road. Despite its four toll gates and its great benefit to the traveling public, the Turn- pike was not a financial success, and by 1933 was in such poor condi- tion that the incorporators wished to relinquish their franchise in Brookline and leava the upkeep to the town. This was agreed upon only after the Turnpike Corporation had agreed to pay $500.00 to be used in making the necessary repairs.
There were many complaints about the steep grade of Walley's, later Bradley's Hill, just west of Cypress Street, and about the high hill just beyond Chestnug H1l1 Ave- nue. Between 1833 and 1870, many minor improvements were made in the nature of widening and changes of grade. Early in the twentieth cen- tury, the "Worcester trolleys" took the place of the slow moving horse traffic and provided rapid transportation over the old stage coach route. In the 1930's the electric car was replaced by buses. Today, the Turnpike is maintained as a State highway. According to Daniel G. Lacy, for many years Brookline's Superinten- dent of Streets, in his article on "Old Streets of Brookline" in the 1950 Historical Society Proceedings, "the construction of the Worces- ter Turnpike seems not to have too important effect upon the develop- ment of Brookline." Mr.
Lacy also states that the word "turnpike" is an old English word meaning a gate made of rods or pikes shaped in picket form and hung on hinges to bar the road until the traffic hai paid the required toll. Toll roads became known as turapikes in com- mon usage. TABLETS AND PLAQUES 1. ANNIVERSARY (200th) OF THE INCORPORATION OF BROOKLINE AS A TOWN A bronze tablet erected by the town in 1905 and located in the triangle on Walnut Street, corner of Warren Street. On November 13 1705 BY ORDER OF THE GENERAL COURT THE POWERS AND PRIVILEGES OF A TOWNSHIP WERE GIVEN TO THE INHABITANTS OF THE LAND COMMONLY KNOWN BY THE NAME OF MUDDY RIVER THE TOWN TO BE CALLED BROOKLINE THE FOLLOWING WERE THE PETITIONERS SAMUEL SEWALL, JR. JOHN DEVOTION THOMAS GARDNER JOSEPH GARDNER BENJAMIN WHITE THOMAS STEDMAN, JR. THOMAS STEDMAN JOHN ACKERS JOHN WINCHESTER JOSHUA STEDMAN SAMUEL ASPINWALL THOMAS GARDNER, JR.
ELEAZER ASPINWALL RALPH SHEPARD WILLIAM SHARP ABRAM CHAMBERLEN EDWARD DEVOTION PETER BOYLSTONE JOSIAH WINCHESTER, JR. JOHN ACKERS, JR. JOHN ELLIS WILLIAM ACKERS JOHN WINCHESTER, JR. BENJAMIN WHITE, JR. THOMAS WOODWARD CALEB GARDNER JOSEPH WHITE JOHN SEAVER JOSIAH WINCHESTER J. WINCHESTER ON APRIL 19, 1775 THE SOLDIERS OF BROOKLINE MARCHED FROM THIS SPOT TO THE BATTLE OF LEXINGTON THIS TABLET IS ERECTED BY THE TOWN OF BROOKLINE NOVEMBER 13, 1905 THE BI-CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY OF THE INCORPORATION OF THE TOWN 2. BOYLSTON State tablet to Dr. Boylston on sidewalk near 617 Boylston Street, opposite the reservoir, erected by the State in 1930. ZABDIEL BOYLSTON HOUSE BUILT IN 1736 BY ZABDIEL BOYLSTON THE FIRST PHYSICIAN IN AMERICA TO INOCULATE FOR SMALL POX. IN 1721 HE INOCULATED HIS OWN SON AND TWO SLAVES DESPITE THE POPULAR PREJUDICE. THE RESULT WAS DECISIVE AND THE COURAGE OF DR.
BOYLSTON SAVED UNTOLD LIFE AND SUFFERING. MASSACHUSETTS BAY COLONY TERCENTENARY COMMISSION 3. CIVIL WAR Bronze Equestrian Civil War Statue on the triangle to the west of the main Public Library at the corner of Wasnington and School Streets. This statue, which portrays a mounted bugler sounding a call to arms was sculptured by Edward Clark Potter and was gi- ven to the Town by the citizens in 1915. TO THE MEN OF BROOKLINE WHO HEARD THE CALL OF DUTY AND OFFERED THEIR LIVES IN DEFENSE OF THE UNION 1861-1865 4. CIVIL WAR VETERANS Inside the old Town Hall (and now in storage) were marble plaques bearing the names of Brookline's Civil War Veterans. 5. DEVOTION HOUSE On grounds of the Edward Devotion House, 347 Harvard Street, near -39TE Devotion School. State tablet to Edward Devotion, located on post close to sidewalk. Erected by the State in 1930.
1630-1930 HOUSE OF EDWARD DEVOTION BUILT BY HIM IN 1680 AND OCCUPIED UNTIL 1685 HE SERVED FOR MUDDY RIVER (WHICH BECAME THE TOWNOF BROOKLINE IN 1705) AS PERAMBULATOR, CONSTABLE, FENCE VIEWER, HOME OWNED IN SUCCESSION JOHN AND EDWARD UNTIL 1744. MASSACHUSETTS BAY COLONY TERCENTENARY COMMISSION 6. DEVOTION SCHOOI On the Devotion School building nearest the corner of Beals and and Harvard Streets there is a plaque reading: THIS SCHOOL BUILT UPON THE DEVOTION FARM IS NAMED IN HONOR OF EDWARD DEVOTION AN UPRIGHT AND USEFUL CITIZEN WHO LEFT TO BROOKLINE IN 1774 ITS FIRST LEGACY "TOWARDS BUILDING OR MAINTAINING A SCHOOL" THIS TABLET IS THE GIFT OF - THE CLASS OF 1906 7. GODDARD Goddard tablet located on a boulder adjoining the sidewalk on the grounds of 235 Goddard Avenue.
THIS TABLET MARKS THE GODDARD FARM 1735 - HANNAH SEAVER GODDARD - 1821 LOYAL PATRIOT WIFE OF 1736 - JOHN GODDARD - 1816 MEMBER OF COMMITTEE OF SAFETY MASTER GENERAL AMERICAN REVOLUTION ERECTED BY HANNAH GODDARD CHAPTER D. A. R. BROOKLIN 1929 8. KENNEDY - DIRECTION SIGN Sign on corner of Beals and Harvard Streets: BIRTHPLACE OF JOHN F. KENNEDY 35th PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA MAY 29, 1917 NOVEMBER 22, 1963 83 BEALS STREET 9. KENNEDY - NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK Attached to the front porch railing to the right of the steps at 83 Beals Street a plaque reads: JOHN F. KENNEDY HAS BEEN DESIGNATED A REGISTERED NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE HISTORIC SITES ACT OF AUGUST 21, HIS SITE POSSESSES EXCEPTIONAL VALUE IN COMMEMORATING AND ILLUSTRATING THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE 1964 20. 21.
side of Reservoir Road (formerly Pound Lane) behind St. Lawrence's Church. SITE OF THE TOWN POUND BUILT OF WOOD 1675 REBUILT OF STONE about 1746 USED UNTIL 1838 ERECTED BY THE BROOKLINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY 1958 WAR MEMORIAL War Memorial on Washington Street in front of the old Town Hall. DEDICATED TO THE MEN AND WOMEN OF BROOKLINE WHO SERVED THEIR COUNTRY IN THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN TIME OF WAR AND IN LOVING MEMORY OF THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES NOVEMBER 11, 1958 WORLD WAR I & II On the walls of the main corridor of the old Town Hall were painted the names of all Brookline men who served in World War I - the walls have been photographed by the Police Department and will be used if and when a memorial room is established for such momentos. Also in storage are the rolls of Brookline service men who served in World War II. 10.
KENNEDY - TOWN PLAQUE On the grass in front of the wooden hoase at 83 Beals Street there is & granite stone with a plaque reading: BIRTHPLACE OF JOHN F. KENNEDY 35th PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES BORN MAY 29, 1917, ON THIS SITE 83 BEALS ST., BROOKLINE, MASS. THIS COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE ERECTEDBY TOWN OF BROOKLINE, MASS. ON SEPTEMBER 12, 1961. 11. MEETING HOUSE Bronze tablet on grounds of parsonage of First Parish Church, on North side of Walnut Street opposite entrance to Codman Road. SITE OF THE FIRST MEETING HOUSE IN BROOKLINE BUILDING ERECTED 1714-1717 CHURCH GATHERED 1717 AS CHURCH OF CHRIST JAMES ALLEN, MINISTER BUILDING REPLACED BY SECOND MEETING HOUSE ACROSS THE STREET 1806 Tablet erected Soctety 1900l1ne HistorLcal 12. PIERCE HALL Pierce Hall bronze tablet on old stone building, 387 Walnut Street. Erected by the Parish in 1930. 13.
PIERCE HALL FIRST TOWN HALL OF BROOKLINE BUILT IN 1825 USED AS FIRST HIGH SCHOOL 1843-1856 BOUGHT BY THE FIRST PARISH IN 1890 NAMED FOR REVEREND JOHN PIERCE, D. D. MINISTER OF THIS PARISH 1797-1851 PUNCH BOWL TAVERN A bronze tablet on North side of Washington Street, Brookline Village, on the wall of the now closed Brookline Theatre, just West of the main entrance. Erected by the Brookline Historical Society in 1949. ON THIS SITE STOOD THE PUNCH BOWL TAVERN AS A DWELLING BY JAMES GODDARD IN 1717. IT WAS ENLARGED BY JOHN ELLIS IN 1740 AND WAS FOR NEARLY A CENTURY A FAMOUS TAVERN FREQUENTED BY TRAVELLERS. BETWEEN BOSTON AND THE WEST. 14. PUTTEPHAM SCHOOL Tablet marking Putterham Schoo1 297 Newton Street. Erected by the town in 1926. 15.
PUTTERHAM SCHOOL BUILT 1768 ENLARGED 1839 REVOLUTIONARY PATRIOT TABLET Located in the Brookline Public Library on Washington Street, just inside the South entrance. :500.00 IN MEMORY OF REVOLUTIONARY PATRIOTS OF BROOKLINE THIS TABLET IS PRESENTED TO THE TOWN BY THE HANNAH GODDARD CHAPTER, D. A. R. NOVEMBER 13, 1901 (Then follows the names of 216 patriots.) 16. SCHOOL HOUSE - BRICK Bronze tablet on the triangle at Walnut Street, corner of Warren Street. THE HEATH ELM THIS TREE WAS PLANTED IN 1825 BY EBENEZER HEATH TO MARK THE SITE OF THE OLD BRICK SCHOOL HOUSE IN THE SCHOOL HOUSE BUILT ON THIS SPOT TAKEN DOWN IN 1792 AND IN THE BRICK SCHOOL HOUSE BUILT IN 1793 TAKEN DOWN IN 1825 HE HAD BEEN AS A CHILD, A PUPIL; AS A MAN, A VOTER; AND AS A CITIZEN HAD JOINED IN THE GATHERING TO MOURN THE DEATH OF WASHINGTON. THIS TABLET IS GIVEN BY HIS DESCENDANTS STILL RESIDENT IN BROOKLINE APRIL 1909 17.
SCOTT Inside and opposite the front door of the central building of the Devotion School a memorial reads: IN MEMORY OF A GRADUATE OF THIS SCHOOL ALBERT EDWARD SCOTT PRIVATE CO H 101st INF BORN DECEMBER 12, 1901 KILLED IN ACTION TRUGNY WOODS FRANCE JULY 23rd, 1918 THE YOUNGEST AMERICAN SOLDIER TO GIVE HIS LIFE IN THE WORLD WAR 18. SCOTTY PLAQUE On February 24, 1965, during the razing of the Town Hall, tris plaque was removed from the outside of the building and stored in the base- ment of the new Town Hall to be later placed in a suitable area when the new Hall is landscaped. The bronze Scotty Plaque was placed in Town Hall on June 15, 1921 and was a tribute to the youthful World War I hero by the newsboys of Greater Boston who financed it. Albert E.
Scott of 218 Freeman St., Brookline, was 15 years old and barely a graduate of the Edward Devotion School when he enlisted at a recruiting rally on Boston Common in July, 1917. An expert marksman and the best shot in his company, Scotty was 16 whe: he was killed at Chateau Thierry in France after mowing down 30 Germars in an attempt to guard a cross road. Buried at Seringes et Nesles in Aisne, France, his body was brought back to this country, and buried ir St. Joseph Cemetery, West Roxbury, on April 9, 1922. In October of the same year a bronze tablet memorializing his exploit and valor was donated by the Roosevelt Newsboys' Association, dedicate: with impressive ceremonies and placed in the Town Hall. NEWSBOYS MEMORIAL TO ALBERT EDWARD SCOTT COMPANY H 101st UNITED STATES INFANTRY A. E. F. KILLED IN ACTION AT EPIEDS, FRANCE, JULY 25, 1918 19.
TOWN POUND Bronze tablet on site of old Town Pound, on stone gatepost on North APPENDIX C Brookline Churches of Greater Architectural and Historical Significance Than St. Mark's 1. First Parish Church (Unitarian): an historic congrega- tion, located in the first center of Brookline amid lovely eighteenth-century and early nineteenth-century homes, incorporating historic Pierce Hall (1825), the present stone structure being older than and architecturally superior to St. Mark's (see attached article about Pierce Hall). 2. Christ Church (Sears Chape1): a much older (1860) and better executed example of Romanesque Revival (see attached papers about Christ Church). 3. United Parish (Harvard Church): (1873-1875, largely reconstructed 1932) a fine example of Ruskinian Gothic, designed by Edward G. Potter. St.
Paul's Episcopal Church: (1851-58, recently fire- damaged) designed by Richard Upjohn (see attached article). 5. Church of Our Savior: (1868) a lovely stone church, older and architecturally more significant than st. Mark's (see photograph). 6. St. Aidan's Church: the Kennedy family church, where John and Robert Kennedy were altar boys. 7. Temple Ohabei Shalom. NOTE: All of the foregoing were cited by the Staff of the Massachusetts Historical Commission as being more significant than St. Mark's. All Saints Church is another beautiful monumental church in Brook- line. Famous churches such as Trinity Church (H. H. Richardson) and Old South Church are within a mile or two of Brookline. First Parish Church BROOKLINE PUBLIC LIBRARY .:..)..'x. OUR FIRST TOWN HALL Walnut Street Until 1825 when the Walnut Street hill was' still the centre of the.
town's 1opulation, Brookline held its town meetings either in the meetinghouse which was owned and maintained by the Town, or in the brick schoolhouse which stood on the triangular plot of ground where Warren Street crosses Walnut, and where in 1905 the tablet was placed to commemorate the town's two hundredth anniversary. The little stone building familiar to us all was erected in 1825, and was first used loth for town hall and district school. In 1843 when the High School was organ- ized it occupied the room hitherto used by the district school. Then in 1845 the Town Hall moved into its second home on Washington Street on the site of the gresent building, and left the High School to occupy both stories of the little stone huilding.
In 1856 the High School moved to a new home of its own, and the old buildling was empty until 1857 when the South Primary School was opened in it, and continued in this building until 1868. In 1869 the building was sold by the Town and was ased for a private school until about 1887. In 1890 it was bought by the Firt Parish, named "Pierce Hall" in honor of Dr. Pierce, and has since been w-ed for social purposes in connection with the work of the Parish. SUGGESTIONS FOR READING, MAY, 1930 XXETETXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (a part of the Church) First Parish Church (continued) 2. 3. Gardner Serpollet. The Museum is open daily, except Mondays, from 1 to 5 P.M. Admission: Adults, 50 cents; Children, 25 cents. NEWTON STREET, 297 THE PUTTERHAM SCHOOL, CIRCA 1768 A small yellow frame one-story wooden building with shed and privy ceased to be used as a school in 1922.
The windows are boarded up and the building is empty except for a pot-bellied stove.in the now- bare schoolroom. The house was enlarged in 1839 and in 1847 the final additions were made which gave the school the appearance it has today. This was the fourth school built by the Town and there is a possibility that it may be moved and furnished to make it a museum, as an example of a two-hundred year old schoolhouse. WALNUT STREET, 382 PIERCE HALL, 1824 This building, except for its stone exterior, has been practically rebuilt, having been lengthened, had its ceiling removed and the old - roof timbers encased. Early in the 19th Centruy there came a demand for a Town. Hall and in 1824 it was voted to build a combination schoolhouse and Town House. The district school was on the first floor with the town offices above. On Jamary 1, 1825, Brookline's first Town Hall was dedicated.
School was kept until 1843, when the High School was established. In 1845, a new Town Hall was erected on Washington Street. Until 1869, the building was used as a primary school, and, the town having then sold the building, it became a private school owned by Edward Atkinson. In 1890, The First Parish Church next door bought the building and named it Pierce Hall after its distinguished minister, Rev. John Pierce. Pierce Hall is now a part of the First Parish Church and physically at- tached to the Church. Church of Our Savior Carlton Street built 1868 St. Paul's Church St. Paul Street built 1852 Christ Church (Sears Chapel) Colchester Street built 1860 St. Paul's Ghurch Marking Centennial With Three-Day Celebration Beginning Saturday Nathaniel Sage and Mrs. Seth Anniversary Service, Meeting And Reception To Briggs, and "white elephants," Follow Annual Parish Fair With Tableaux Mrs.
Richard Hale, Mrs. James Bishop Nash And Dr. Lichtenherger To Speak-Two Memorials M. Gallison, Mrs. Edward Alford, Mrs. Joseph Pratt, the Misses Being Dedicated-Remembrance Book Prepared Nancy and Mary Hale and Miss An epochal event in the an-1 Being combined with the cen- nals of the town, parishioners of: tennial is the annual parish fair St. Paul's Episcopal Church will and this is to be held Saturday mark the one-hundredth anni- afternoon and evening from versary of its incorporation with|twelve-thirty to seven-thirty a tripple-feature celebration be-' o'clock. Featuring this will be ginning next Saturday afternoon presentation at three-thirty and and continuing through Monday : five-thirty o'clock of a centen- evening.
Inial tableaux portraying the Highlighting the observance hundred years of the church will be a centennial service Sun- under the direction of Mrs day morning at eleven o'clock. Lawrence, Mrs. Cutts, Mrs in charge of the Rev. Dr. Fred-- Jean Wales and the Rev. F. S eric C. Lawrence, rector. The. Caswwell in which the partici- Rev. Dr. Arthur C. Lichten- pants will wear ancient dresses berger, a former rector, and now'and suits found among the be- professor of pastoral care at the longings of the late Miss Ellen General Theological Seminary, Chase. Also scheduled is a is to pruach the anniversary hobby show in charge of Mr. sermon and there will be special| and Mrs. Robert S. Sturgis, Miss music by the church choir. Also Joanne scheduled is dedication of a Clark, Hale, Miss Dorothy Hugh Mitchell and Dr. window on which is depicted the ! William Dalrymple and a fish figure of St.
aul given as aipond operated by Miss Dorothy memorial to Miss Annadelle Unkles and Miss Beatrice Cross./ Smith, for many years a teacher Luncheon, tea and dinner are to at the evotion School, by her be served by a committee headed sister, MIs. Edith Smith of Rich- by Mrs. BayardSalisbury and ford, Vermont, and two brass comprising Mrs. Edward Brooks alter vases provided by Mr. and and Mrs. Carle Tucker. Other Mrs. William Hingston in mem- features arranged include read- ory of the former's mother. ing of hand writing. by Miss Mrs. Joseph Hingston. Marion Kay and sharpening of An anniversary meeting will, scissors and knives by "Axel, be held Monday evening at eight, the Swede." o'clock an address A table styled "One Hunderd Bishop Norman B.
Nash of the Years and All That" containing Diocese of Massachusetts as a, articles made, bought and sold feature.It will be preceded by during the past century and in -a dinner in the rectory for charge - of Mrs.. Peanington Bishop Nash, former rectors and | Gardiner and Mrs. Lovell Little relatives of rectors, wardens and! will be another feature of the vestrymen and the chairmen of | fair. Also offered will be: breads, committees arranging the cen-cakes, pies and candy, with Mrs. tennial program. A reception in Leroy Moore, Mrs. Arthur Phil- the Parish House will follow the, lips and Mrs. Ernest Paulson. in meeting with, Dr. and Mrs.'charge for the Centennial Club; Lawrence, wardens and vestry- hand-made articles, with Mrs. men and Mrs. George Cutts, Carl Tischendorf in charge for chairman of the committee, Ie-: the Wednesday Guild; toys, ceiving guests.
On exhibition baby articles and jewelry, with during the evening will be a Miss Maud Oxenham, the Misses gallery of portraits and a book Efie and Frieda Beverly and of Remembrance listing all Mrs. Chauncy in charge for memorials, funds, windows, tab- the . Tuesday Evening Guild; Jets and other furnishings given | baskets, Mrs. Henry I. Bowditch The n.ev. Dr. Frederic C. Lawrence Julia Shepiey. Mrs. W. M. Parker Mitchell is fair chairman with Elliott Reynolds as treas-: urer and Samuel Montgomery as general assistant. The church had its inception on March 8, 1848, when William! Aspinwall, his uncle, Augustus Aspinwall, and Harrison Fay: met in the Boston law office of the first named to discuss formation of an Episcopal par- ish in Brookline. The history of the church notes that "Mr.! Aspinwall would give land and Mr. Fay $2,000.
William Aspin- wall would raise subscriptions and each would inguire what/ / persons might be disposed to organize an Episcopal congre- gation and build a church.' Their efforts brought together a remarkable group of men, and by June, 1849, so mâny had be- come interested that it was pro- posed to hold services in the Town Hall. A piano was hired and the Rev. Thomas M. Clark (later Bishop of Rhode Island) offeiated during July, the Rev., George H. Clark through August and the Rev. William Horton in September." the church and the names of'and Miss Josephine Wilder; the donors prepared in conjunc-: books, Mrs. G. Loring Briggs, tion with the centennial which Miss Lucy Baconand Miss Elsie will be kept in a glass case inj Briggs; fowers and plants, Mrs *he church. (Continued on Page Fite) October 27, 1949 ,rne ( St.
Paul's Church Marking Its Centennial With Three Events (Continued from Page Two) The parish was legally in- of the churchwas laid July 29, corporated October 31, 1849. William Aspinwall was 1851, and the building was com- elected clerk, treasurer and collector, pleted and pald for by December 17, 1852. It was consecrated by Augustus Aspinwall and Harri- Bishop Manton Eastburn of the son Fay were elected wardens, Massachusetts Diocese on Dec-: Benjamin Howard, Eliakim ember 23, 1852. The rectory was Little, James Potter, John Clarke built in 1886. The church has and William Aspinwall were had nine rectors, and Dr. Law- elected vestrymen, the Rev. rence, son of the late Bishop William Horton was chosen rec- William Lawrence of Massachu- tor and St. Paul's Church in setts, was installed in October Brookline was adopted as the eight years ago. corpotate name.
The incorpor- An interesting resume of the ators were Augustus Aspinwall, iearly days of the churchis pro- Harrison Fay, Benjamin How- vided byrecollections written by erd, Eliakim Little, James Pat- the late Ellen Chase. "I have a ten, John Clarke, Harrison Bird perfect recollection of having Frederick P. Ladd, James S heard that a lady, during Civil Amory, John Shepherd and WIl- War days, used to step outside liam Aspinwall. The cornerstone by thesmall west door during the Praver for the President of the United States, and then re- turn again," she recorded. Scene of Anniversary Service heoes Interior of St. Paul's Episcopal Chunch which will begin a three-day obsery- ence of the 100th anniversary of the founding: of the barish next Saturday. A fair, centennial service and anniversary reception and meeting Will be features of the celebration. "Mr.
Hoar, principal of thei High School, and his family, were among the friends. The Littells and the Ferrises were close neighbors. The Williamses lived across the street from the church. Mr. James S. Amory and the Hon. Robert C. Winthrop i (who stood out to our childish : memories through wearing a cloak) both lived in the upper/ part of the town. So, too, did .the Codmans with their long pewful of sons and one daughter. : "When we came to sit on the north side of the church, father, being junior warden, took up the collection on our side. As treas- 'urer, he brought the greenbacks home in his, white, handkerchief, and we little girls used to help sort the paper tens and quarters, or lay in groups neat piles of ceats showing a foying dove. As we grew older, father followed the reading of the Second Lesson in Greek, and I in German and Sally in French.
"We lived so near, only a few minutes walk, we went to churcht: all day: Sunday School at (father superintendent), Morn-, ing Prayer at 10, all the chants the Psalms for the day. both Lessons, the opening sentences, sometimes the Litany, orall the Commandments. It was infinitely better than the shortened serv- iees-met with sometimes now- adays. As children, andbye and ibye as teachers, we gathered on Easter and practised marching in, strung in double file. Andyou always think, when looking back, of daffodils in the air and slush under foot. The beautiful flowers ¡were all sent by parishioners from the upper part of the town and arranged with great.taste by Madeline Williams and others. At Christmas the whole church was. fragrant with Evergreen scent." SEPTEMBER 6 The Church Thai David Sears Built Always Ready for Worship, Yet No. Congregation By Edward H.
Cotton Why turn to Fiction when truth is so much stranger? A opened twice to admit any but the sexton and casual visitor, few minutes ride from the heart of Boston, in an aristo- and then to admit the undertaker, the casket, and those at- cratic and wealthy community, on a commanding site, where ter lant on the ministry of death. Small wonder that persons traffic of all sorts is continually passing and repassing, there of vivid imaginations keep away from the church at night, is a building that might have come out of one of the romances or that queer tales of weird proceedings have drifted out of ci Dickens, Balzac, or Poe.
It is a church; and so numer- Those bodies that entered the church for ous and unusual are the facts that gather about it, it is doubt- the burial rites did not pass out again, but were carried down ful if there is another edifice of its kind in America which a broad flight of stairs to the basement and with solemn cerc- provides more material for the writer of fact--fact that reads mony deposited in stronglysealed cement vaults previously like romance. Some day, a gifted imaginative writer will prepared for them. construct a story on the truths that gather around this church. Underneath the auditorium on the west side are five large When that happens, the only return we ask is that credit be tombs, built at great expense and prepared with careful engi- given for the suggestion. neering device. Four of these tombs are occupied.
The fifth, The church stands on a green shaded knoll at the junction recently completed, awaits the ashes of those still living. of Chapel and Colchester Streets in Brookline. At the base light from without comes into that funcral vault, for the of the knoll, on the east, is the Longwood station of the basement, of cement and stone throughout, and extending the Boston and Albany Railroad. Running parallel with the rail- entire length and breadth of the church, was constructed en- Toad is picturesque Muddy River, that, separates the precinct tirely without windows. It is gruesome and dismal, until the of Brookline from that of Boston.
From the crest of the sexton lights the gas jet; and then the grim, silent tombs re- knoll on a clear day one may look away over the tops of flect the flickering rays, and one may read the numbers I, II, groves of green shade-trees to Boston, the harbor, and the III, IV, V, and the family names carved in large letters just broad Atlantic. Those who know, declare there is no more beneath the peak. Fifty bodies repose in their final sleep desirable or sightly location in the township, a township back of those heavy slate doors, and there are receiving widely known for its stately residences surrounded with rows shelves for nearly as many more. Should descendants still of shade-trees and expansive, well-kept lawns. remain, instructions will be given the workmen to erect a The church is a noble, spacious structure, constructed of row of similarly constructed sepulchres on the east side.
beautiful Roxbury pudding-stone, with sandstone trimmings. The basement is as immaculately kept as the finest cemetery, Great polished oak doors admit one to a capacious, cool vesti- with the floor clean-swept, the two furnaces in regular order, bule, which in turn leads to the auditorium. A square tower wood and coal arranged in symmetrical piles. But there are of commanding proportions rises more than one hundred feet queer echoes down there, a cold, cave-like air, unnatural above the church green, and is one of the most conspicuous feelings. It is good to climb the long stairway and feel the landmarks thereabouts. In places, spreading green ivy has warmth of bright, wholesome day, step out on the green grass climbed to the eaves, giving the building the appearance of and see the blessed sunshine sparkling among the leaves. an ancient English church.
The building is, in fact, modeled May it be long, long, before we are consigned to so dark and foot for foot, stone for stone, after the parish church of old sepulchral a chamber! Colchester, England. Well-ordered grass plots surround the Passing around the outside of the church to the east, one church. Venerable trees add repose and dignity to the land- sees a small flag, such a one as comrades of the Grand Army plant on the last resting place of a fellow-soldier. We ap- Within, there is an auditorium equipped with electric lights, proach nearer. What is this? Part of a tomb, rising two and with seats on the floor and in the galleries for 1,000 wor- feet above the ground, and projecting an equal distance away shipers. An expensive pipe organ and a grand piano stand from the church directly above the burial vaults.
ready for the musicians; a Bible for the preacher reposes on proach still closer, thrust aside the clinging ivy, and see let- the pulpit; and a comfortable little minister's room awaits tering. The inscription is brief enough: an occupant. Appropriate Bible texts, beautifully illumined, adorn the walls of the chancel. A remarkable raised cross, painted by a famous French artist, rests on the arch above Stained-glass windows of finished design and soft, blending colors give the interior a worshipful atmo- sphere. The floor is carpeted. The handsome oak pews are richly cushioned. The visitor looks in vain for a sign of dast or disorder. The bell is in the tower, with an electric mechanism ready to send the resonant tones echoing through the town at a moment's notice.
Of course, so majestic a church, so well-provided an audi- torinm, so generally prosperous an appearance, indicate a large, wealthy, and interested congregation. Ah! It is here that fact takes on the glamor of romance, and provides the anthor of that future story with his material. torium has not been occupied by a congregation for five years; and what is more strange, will never again be occupied by a congregation. Those noble oak doorshave only been 1787-1871 That is all. Yet in those two words and two dates is in- cluded the strange story of that strange church. David Sears was one of the earlier inhabitants of Brookline. His ances- tors had originally been numbered among the Pilgrims and Puritans, he himself being a direct descendant of Governor Winthrop of Massachusetts, on his mother's side.
He was graduated from Harvard in the class of 18o7, and at the age of thirty, through the death of his father, entered into pos- session of one of the richest estates in the country. Being a publie-spirited citizen and of philanthropic turn of mind, he gave generously to religious, literary, scientific, and social purposes. He made a liberal donation to St. Paul's, Boston. The Sears tower of the observatory of Cambridge was built at his expense. And a spacious block of houses, erected not far from the church with funds from his estate. provided homes for many women overtaken by poverty. In the course SEPTEMBER 6, 1923 of hi, hie he served as State Senator, overscer of Harvard, memler of the clectoral college that clecter! P'resident Gran: ; and he was a veteran of the Civil War. him spohe of him as a courteous and dignified gentleman of the old scioo!.
In the latter part of his life he observed sadly that, while there were a multitude oi churches and a multitude of sects, the real spirit of Christianity was not displayed - rather a spirit of bitter contention. Then it was that the idea came to him to crect a church which should be a gathering-place for all men without reference to creed and dogma, so he selected the most commanding site on his great estate, em- ployed a skilled architect, and built a church which was to be a temple for the worship of God, and not a place for the display of learning, reciting of creeds, and wrangling over doctrines. The project was nobly conceived and generously Mr. Sears, however, was unwise in his selec- tion of a first minister, and the idea did not receive the im- petus he expected.
He wrote a prayer-book and liturgy for use in the church service, basing them on ideas he had re- ceived from William Ellery Channing, under whose inspired and tolerant preaching he had iong sat, adding the plan of the Episcopal service, the faith of his ancestors The church was built in 186o and in 1862 was dedicated as "Christ's Church - The First Gospel Church in the Spirit of Charity." Among the ministers who have been connected with the church have been: Rer. James 1I. Hubbard, 1862; Rev. C. C. Tiffany, 1863; Rev. S. B. Cruit, 864 and 1865: and Rev. Henry A. Miles. Rev. Caleb Bradlee took charge in April, 1893, after the church had been without a regular pastor for about fifteen years. He resigned, April, 1897. The only service held there since have been those of the Second Unitarian Society of Brookline, Rev. Thomas Van Ness.
This society occupied the church for a few years and then took possession of its present edifice. The only public service the church now pertorms is through its bell, which is rung on the occusion of a fire. Occasionally a funeral cortège or a wedding party may pass down the broad aisle, but otherwise it remains a mausoleum for the dead David Sears, his ancestors and descendants. it may not again be used as a place of worship, according to a recently enacted State statute. Meanwhile the sexton visits the church regularly on Saturdays, throws open the doors front and back, and admits air and sunshine, sweeps and dusts, and winds the clock. Late in the aiternoon he closes the door, turns the key, and the massive stone structure re- mains for another week solemn and mysterious, tenanted only by the ashes of the dead.
As the mausoleum of the eccentric David Sears, the church has long been famous, and is visited annually by the curious from distant States, who descend into the catacombs, read the inscriptions on the tombs, and ofserve that the old gentleman must have been queer to make provision in his will that the church was to be maintained forever as a place of worship for all varieties of beliei, and at the same time serve as a monument above a family grave. Now comes the real object of this article. David Sears has long been accused of being a selfish old gentleman, queer and opinionated, with impractical ideas which he was deter- mined to impose on a reluctant community: And that is cer- tainly the opinion the casual visitor carries away. are the facts of the case, revealed when one scarches the old records and finds the testimonies of those who were contem- poraneous with him? This is what Hon.
Robert C. Winthrop, president of the Massachusetts Historical Society, said, speaking February 9, 1871, on the occasion of the death of Mr. Sears, who had been an honored member of that organization, "He will long be remembered by all who knew him as one of those cour- teous and dignified gentlemen of the old school, of whon: s iew are now left to remind us of the manner and bearing ?: At the same meeting, Samuel A. Lothrop. D..', gave s culogy: "I had a very sincere and affectionate respect for Mr Sears; and as his image comes before me this morning, it :s that of a man endowed with many noble and generons qpali- ties, many Christian virtues largely cultivated: of great clicer- fulness of temper, courtesy of manner, and kindness of hear: His sincere purpose was to found a church that shoald je conimon ground where clergymen oi different denominatiors could preach Christian charity.
He proposed to break down denominational barriers. Long shall 1 remember his booi and catholic benevolence, his ceremonious courtesy." Mr. Sears's last minister, the minister who buried and seemed best to have appreciated his ideals, was Henry A Miles, D.D. In a sermon preached in the churc!, short: after NIr. Sears's death, he said: "Speaking in the name o: my predecessors, as well as my own, I think I may say tha: to all of us his design seemed something eminentiy Chris- tian, magnanimous, foreseeing, and oi itseli inspiring. ably by all our sermons to set forth the leading interest oi this church we have done but little compared to what the founder has done by his one 'sermon in stone.
He wanted to be buried with his father and mother, children and grandchil- dren, where there should be no wrangling of sects - in a church dedicated to peace and love; a church that might on every Sunday repeat over his unconscious dust the venerable and holy words he lored so well." In this same sermon Dr. Miles explained that on one occa- sion he had suggested that MIr. Sears change the terms oi the bequest. He had replied that he would leave all to the trus- tees, as he himself wis too old now to aiter anything. Dr. Miles declares that any technical or narrow interpretation wouid be entireiy alic.l to his spirit. "He had nothing more at heart than to increase the use of his benefaction.
Hundreds of years hence some may be curious to know all about the man who had those large, grand thoughts in ad- vance of his age, that man who gave a noble portion of his wealth to realize an idea." As ii the storied church were not enough, on land adjoin- ing, but a few rods distant, and part oi the originai Sears property, is a vast excavation, begun last March and aban- doned one month later. A group of New Tork business men intended to erect in that beautiful and central location one of the finest and most expensive opartment hotels in America. The hotel was to be known as "The Chatiam." It was : cost nearly $500,000, le ten stories in height, and have Sog apartments ranging from one to six rooms each. Suddenly the shovels stopped digging. The workmer: packed up their tools and leit.
Almost overnight the grand project collapsed - jus: why, no one seems able to expiain Men shake their heads and say that the funds were exhausted It was charged that one of the leading promoters, a womr, forged a check with the name of Charles Schwab. ugly excavation remains where once the faires: plot o: ground for miles around smiled on the passerby - a plot oi groves. grassy hills, and dales. Is it possible that the projeer so distasteful to landholders in the neighborhond, men whose fathers had known and loved David Sears and been iored br him, also displeased the spirit of the generous-souled old gentleman reposing so near? Was it disturbed beeause so ambitious a scheme should mature within a stone's throw of its burial-place? But this is idle speculation, hardly desert- ing serious consideration in any but a work of romance.
Che deserted excavation, howerer, remains; the noble okd church remains, for all to see, visible, and vouching ior the facts THIS DAY IS HISTORY June 16th 1968 was a historic day for Christ Church Unity as hund- reds of worshipers entered the beautiful Sears Family Chapel. It was a very sacred and symbolic moment as Rev.Tom and Rev. Louise opened the massive Bible which had lain closed upon the lectern for so many years. One felt a deep sense of history as Mr Richard Sears read the Old Testament Scripture and Mr John Sears followed with a read- ing from the New Testament. Rev. Iom's lesson "The Light Still Shines" was followed by a heartfelt rendering of "Bless this House" by organist, H. Chishko and soloist Wayne Mc Ewing.... -.and UNITY BECAME A PART OF HISTORY. Thank you Father.
BOSTON HERALD TRAVELER, JUNE 15, 1968 It took more than 100 years, but the dream of David Sears is coming true. For the first time in a cen- tury the beautiful - but empty - Sears Chapel on Colchester stree, Brookline, will be opened Sunday for public worship. And it will be open every Sunday thereafter in final ful- fillment of the wish of David Sears who, "far ahead of his time," sought to build a church where all faiths could worship fogether. The chapel, khown officially as Christ's Church Longwood, is a noble, gracious structure built of Roxbury puddingstone. It has seats for 1,000, carpeted floors, stained glass windows, an organ. Everything you'd ex- pect in- a well-organized, prospeting church. Everything except a congregation.
The last regular pastor left in the 1860s and exceot for one brief interlude in the late 19th century, the church hasbeen mostly a massive headstone for members of theSears family buried in vaults below. For a while, the only public service of the church was the ringing of its bells on the oc- casion of a fire. Then even that stopped. But the caretaker regularly cleaned and aired the church, dusted the pulpit and pews and wound the clock. Aside from that, the oniy time the massive front doors swung open was for a family funeral or wedding. David Sears' dream seemed dead, though the man who buried him, the Rev. Henry A. Miles, spoke prophetically of Sears' vision. "Hundreds of years hence," Rev.
Miles said after Sears died in 1871, "some may be curious to know all about the man who had those large, grand thoughts in advance of his age, that man who gave a noble portion of his wealth to realize an idea." It wad David Sears, a direct descendant of Gov. Winthrop, inheritor of one of the richest estates in the country, fea of a church be a gathering niano for all'men without ref- Christ Ohch Unity: CHRIST CHURCH, LONGWOOD Colchester and Chapel Streets, Brookline. Mass. i erence to creed and dogma -..a femple for the worship of God and not a. place for the display of learning, reciting of creed and wrangling over doc- trines." It was Richard D. Sears of Exeter street and Prides Cross- ing, the current patriarch of the Sears family, who found the time finally right to accomplish the dream.
Sears, now in his 70s, at- tended the Christ Church Unity's interdenominational services in New England Life Hall where the 600 to 700 member congregation of Rev. Thomas D. Newman has been meeting. Rev. Newnan was invited to take over the family chapel, beginning this Sunday at 11 a.m. and to conduct services there each week. CHRONICLE-CITIZEN, June 20, 1968 At a press conference on Friday, Rev. Newman an- nounced that the interdenom- inational services of the Christ Churr Un" world now be held bc 3c and Brookline Heemnhasi..1 that thesfervices wouldnot be restricted to any one religious sectbutwould embody all faiths. To prove his point, he motioned toward the Gothic rose window, which he ex- plained, bore traces three, of the major "Jehovah," religions. the Hebrew word for God, was written in the middle of the window, as was "numen lumen," symbol of Catholicism.
Around the cen- ter were written Protestant denominational writings. The church has other archi- tectural features which con- tribute to its impressive ap- pearance. A vaulted oak roof rises high above the oak pews and gallery. Circular, stained glass windows line both sides of the ceiling. The exterior of the chape! is constructed of Roxbury pud- dingstone with sandstone trimmings. A 100-foot square tower dominates the church green. In some places, spreading green ivy has climbed to the eaves, giving the building the appearance of an ancient English church. In fact, Rev. Newman revealed that the building is an exact replica of a parish church in Colchester, England. Rev. Newman voiced the hope that, on some future Sunday, he and the reverend of the English church might exchange pul- pits. The guiding church was David Sears (1787- 1871), one of the earlier in- habitants of Brookline.
At the age of 30, the Harvard grad- uate inherited from his father one of the richest estates in the country. The most com- mandingsite of that estate was to become the location of the Sears Chapel. In the latter part of his - life, Sears, who had become a noted philanthropist, observed that while there were a mul- titude of churches and a multitude of sects, there was no evidence of the real spirit of Christianity -- only a spirit of bitter contention. He de- cided to build a church that would be a gathering place for all people, irregardless of their religion. The church was built in 1860 and in 1862 was dedicated as "Christ's Church -- The First Gospel Church in the Spirit of Charity." A series of rev- erends ministered thechurch until the resignation of Rev. Caleb Bradlee in 1897.
Since that time, the only services that have been held there have been those of the Second Uni- tarian Society of Brookline. Occasionally, a funeral cor- tege or a wedding party have passed down the broad aisle, but otherwise it has remained a mausoleum for DavidSears, his ancesters and descend- ants. All that was changed on Sundav. Christ Church Unity 175 COMMONWEALTH AVENUE BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02116 JULY 1968 BULLETIN 536-6612 We would like to express our thanks to Mr. Richard Sears, Mr. John Sears and the Trustees of Christ's Church Longwood for permission to go ahead with a beautification program for the lovely old Chapel. We would also like to thank the Trustees for the major works which the Trust has undertaken at its own expense. To date the following works have been undertaken by the Trust: Major structural repairs. Complete new fencing around the church property.
When it became clear that Christ Church Unity might have the rich opportunity of worshiping at Christ's Church Longwood, your Board of Directors faced a major dilemma. It was recognised that many members of our "Faith Bank" program for the Build- ing Fund were eager that the Fund should be used only for the purchase of our own building- Indeed, in earlier years, withdrawals from Building Funds to meet rent- al expenses had not met with general approval. It was with these thoughts in mind that our Ministers undertook personally to fin- ance the works which were required at Longwood. To date, the following works have been undertaken: "Exit" signs and emergency lights... Removal of old carpet & floor staining Carpet purchase and laying Lights in Robing Room and Toilet Elect.
outlet for vacuum cleaner Cold water supply to toilet Housekeeper's Sink Hot Water Heater Iron gate to robing room Commercial-type vacuum cleaner Total cost to date.... $1221 $ 698 $2144 $ 110 75 $ $ 660 330 200 $ 65 $ 291 $5794 Rev. Tom and Rev. Louise have indicated their desire to open our Chapel Fund with a gift of $1000. This leaves us with a debt of only $4794. Can we, members of the Board and Congregation, match the dedication of our ministers? Will you help? We want first to pay off the debt and then to proceed (after the approval of the Trustees) to: 1. Paint the walls of the North and South aisles. 2. Bring in an Electric Power supply. 3. Electrify and overhaul the beautiful pipe organ. Let us take this opportunity of expressing to God in simple practical terms our Thanks for His miracle of Divine Provision.... The Perfect Church, in the Perfect Place at the Perfect Time.
Thank You For Your Help! ioard of Directors Christ Church Initv (attach photo here) 2. Town FORM B - STRUCTURE SURVEY MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, State House, Boston Street address Name 1. Is this structure historically significant to: Town : Commonwealth Nation Original use ?!., ! Present use : -+ Structure has historical connection with the following themes (See also reverse side): Present owner Agriculture Architecture:/ Art/sculpture Education Government Literature Music --- Commerce/industry Science/invention Travel/communication Open to public !.: Date 1R0 Style Military affairs Religion/philosophy Source of date Indians Development of towi/city 3. CONDITION: Excellent) Good Fair Deteriorated Moved Altered Added -- Architect ---- - - 4.
DESCRIPTION FOUNDATION/BASEMENT: High Regulan Low Material: WALL COVER: Wood Brick Stone) Other ROOF: Ridge) Gambrel Flat Hip Mansard Tower) Cupola Dormer windows Balustrade Grillwork CHIMNEYS:/ 112 3 4 Center End End interior Cluster STORIES: 1y2 3 4 ATTACHMENTS: Wings Ell' Shed Dependency PORCHES: 1 2 3 4 Portico _ Balcony Recessed: FACADE: Gable end: Front/Side Ornament: Entrance: Side Front: Center/Side Details: Windows: Spacing: Regulag/Irregular Identical/Varied Corners: Plain Pilasters, /Quoins Cornerboards OUTBUILDINGS 5.
Indicate location of structure in relation to nearest cross streets and other buildings -69 25 ...r (Seass Chapel Amianeiec Elaborate Irregular Colchi-: Footage of structure from street Property has feet frontage on street Recorder C.E For NOV 1967 68 7477 Photo VT-28 Date NOTE: Recorder should obtain written permission from Commission or sponsoring organization before using this form. SEE REVT "E FORM MHC.B 10 -4.67.94487. RELATION OF SURROUNDING TO STRUCTURE Neighboring Structures Style: Colonial Federal Greek Revival Gothic Revival Italian Villa Loinbard Rom.
Venetian Gothic Mansard Richardsonian Type Buildings: Conditions: Excellent Good Fair Deteriorated Use: Residential) Commercial Religious Proximity: Landscape Features: Agriculture Open Wooded Garden: Formal/Informal Predominent Features Landscape Architect GIVE A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF HISTORIC IMPORTANCE OF SITE (Refer and elaborate on theme circled on front of form) Only etuch of thir domtad Romemesque Stylc +eseitTelert chuich au! dâte extaui i Baoolline (eveu tho histosie, leter to i asacopyi of et, eailiel pasist ehusch in Colchestu Englaud) Unte ehuch of om savion was built in 1867 It servedt as the neurhbahoor chuch to the Seass + haworence estales (Longuact + Cottage Fasun respectiveiy) altho the Lawrence Jauily+ neiahbos, as Epncoparaus, attendert 3t.
Paul; Chmch, Brookline (lepjohu) The litugy upon hihich sesvice was based came from Book of Comnicu Prayenol teet apescpas chch rpe sidhe au eeueyal eahe lockaapt Frow the doctrinc. gos" Leavny teological questions (on which the sect devide ) tu each vidividua stress reliqions trearton. 0 BIBLIOGRAPHY AND/OR REFERENCE Union of Chrches, pub. 1864 - aslices ol Incosporation aut 2aata)s No , e Rethea ly 16, 290p.41 RESTRICTIONS Original Owner: Deed Information: Book Number Page Registry of Deeds FORM B - BUILDING MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, State House, Boston - 2. Photo (3x3" or 3x5") Staple to left side of form Photo number 4. Map. Draw sketch of building location in relation to nearest cross streets and other buildings. Indicate north. aures Strect In Area no. ..: Form no. 1.
Town Brokline Address_ 60 Colchaster ft Name Present use Present owner Chrut Church Lanybood 3. Description: Date 860 Souree (scca si.i) Style Pamaesa Architect Exterior wall fabric 1occ Outbuildings (describe) Other features Conchester Strect 60 DO NOT WRITE IN THIS SPACE USGS Quadrant MHC Photo no. (over) 1-0-75 DAGT ACC Altered Date Moved Date 5. Lot size: One acre or less Approximate frontage Over one acre!/ 40>+ Approximate distance of building from street 3= 6. Recorded by Organization Beookline Hiatoxical Comumriarion Date uinc. MRECENVED JUL 6 1976 MACC LICT MAAAR. -- 7. Original owner (if known)_ Original use Subsequent uses (if any) and dates_ 8.
Themes (check as many as applicable) Aboriginal Agricultural Architectural The Arts Commerce Communication Community development Conservation Education Exploration/ settlement Industry Military Political Recreation Religion Science/ invention Social/ humanitarian Transportation 9. Historical significance (include explanation of themes checked above) (S0 ...mm) 10. Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records, early maps,etc.) APPENDIX D High Lightsof St. Mark's Histury 1863 Gilbert (afterward Bishop), Boston, held Sunday evening services in the old Town Hall Russell Street Church, n the spring a vinslow ash paistoch chuchs Echuds prepnized in Brakinby ith he Resrend the trustees The Reverend Mark Trafton was appointed Pastor. The Church had thirty- six members and eighty-six in the Sunday School.
1876 Owing to financial complications, the entire property was lost by the society. 1877 - 1879 The society held Sunday services in the Town Hall. 1879 Und eV abh ReeverenSt Wil was Mushaled, alod theanh arel buitrnin of Cpress the Chapel built, in its chapel home. 1882 Reverend Joshua Gill was appointed Pastor. 1883 Reverend William G. Leonard came as Pastor. 1885 Reverend Joshua Gill 1887 Rev. J. H. Twombly. 1891 Dr. William Nast Brodbeck was appointed Pastor and the movement for the new church began, as a result of his great revival meetings. 1892 April 9, The corner-stone of the new church was laid. 1894 The Reverend William I. Haven was appointed Pastor. April 5, After holding services in the Town Hall for five years, the Sunday Schoolrooms of the new church on the corner of Park and Vernon Streets were occupied for all church services. These rooms were dedicated on that day.
October 14, 15, 18. The present church was dedicated. Manbers, Jf thi Rorhwili, Alonzo G. Belia, Lei P. Lyon, hiriam 1. HavA. Flanders, J. Eli Rothwell, Alonzo G. Brewer, Chairman of the Committee until his death, July 6, 1894. V. W. Potter, President; E. E. Doran, Secretary Alden Speare, rustees of the Chresuier: A. G. Brewer, C. C. Corbin, R. A. Flanders C. A. Jacobs. 1899 Dr. A. B. Kendig was appointed Pastor. 1900 Dr. Dillon Bronson became Pastor. 1901 Raised the $30,000.00 mortgage and installed the organ. November 3 the new organ was used for the first time. 1903 St. Mark's entertained New England Annual Conference. 1904 Dr. George S. Butters served one year as Pastor while the Bronsons went on a world tour. 1905 Dr. Dillon Bronson continued his pastorate, making six years in all. 1907 Dr. Lucius H. Bugbee became Pastor, until called to Malden Center Church. 1911 Dr. Willis P.
Odell began a six-year pastorate. Figh Lights of St. Mark's Historg The Reverend Frederick W. Coleman came as Pastor. During the first World War Union Services were held with Harvard Church to save coal. The lot on Vernon Street was purchased. Dr. J. Ralph Magee became Pastor. Pew rents were abandoned and all seats became free. 1919 1921 St. Mark's put the Centenary Movement "over the top." r. Magee was called to Seattle First Churci and Dr. Elmer A. Leslie pointed Pastor t serve until his work began in Boston University School of Theology in September. The entire masonry of the church was re-pointed. On September 17 the Reverend William R. Leslie began his pastorate. Silver Anniversary of the Dedication was celebrated, William I. Haven as the Guest Preacher. 1922 June 12, gave a Church Wedding Bertha for our Church Secretary, Miss Ham (1916-1922), who married to the Reverend Thomas W.
Bowmar. St. Mark's entertained New England Annual Conference. Tenth Anniversary of the Pastorate was celebrated. 1933 Second re-pointing of the entire masonry of the church. 1938 October, first issue of THE MARKSMAN, our parish paper. 1939 10 the name of our church was changed to St. Mark's Methodist Church (dropping the word "Episcopal") as a result of the Unification con- summated at Kansas City Uniting Conference. Installation of the organ chimes in Memory of Mr. Charles Newton Peabody by Mrs. Charles Newton Peabody and Family. eptember, the Woman's Society of. Christian Service was duly organizec Ars. Daniel L. Marsh as the first President 1941 September 17, Celebration of the twentieth anniversary of the present pastorate. 1943 Ars. George E. Marble (Mrs. Arthur C. Morey) became the secon resident of the Women's Society of Christian Servic The Victory Chapel was dedicated.
1944 The Crusade for Christ, financial goal was exceeded by our church. 1944 Conemuntis reguied forstre preannion in the church, together with 1945 January. Mrs. Oren M. Moulton was installed as President of the W. S. C. S. Installation of sound amplification for the choir by Professor Cleveland. sound film projection. Launching of church rehabilitation and improvementin connection withthe Golden Anniversary. Dr. Wesley T. Lee headed up this Committee and Mr. A. Frank Bonney was Chairman of the Trustees Committee in charge of the work. 1946 September 17, Dr. and Mrs. William R. Leslie complete twenty-five years of service in St. Mark's. 1946 October - The Golden Anniversary of che Dedication of St. Mark's. NetEna 10.12-16 KOGLKC.TYLEK AUGUST R.MEYER RCHARDHLOVEL LORING P. JORDAN,JR NILLIAM B. TYLER DAVID G COLT WALTER G. VAN DORN GLOKGEVANADAS PETSRWKLBORN HENRY H. THAYER BRIAN s.
MEYER JOSEPH L. SERAFINI RACKEMANN, SAWYER & BREWSTER COUNSELLORS AT LAW 28TH FLOOR 28 STATE STREET BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02109 AREA CODE 617 523-3550 HENRY HIXON OF COUNSEL WILLIAM PAYSON STEPHEN CARR ANDERSON LAWRENCE E. KAPLAN MICAATT. O'CONNELL STUART FREELAND ROBERI WINER RAYMOND J. BRASSARD MARTINRHEALY BARBARA KIND PERRY November 23, 1976 Mr. William J. Murtagh Keeper of the National Register National Park Service U.s. Department of the Interior washington, D.C. 20240 RE: St. Mark's United Methodist Church of Brookline Dear Mr. Murtagh: Thank you for your recent letter informing me that you will review my comments concerning the significance of St. Mark's Church. With your letter, I note that you returned to me the documentation showing the lack of significance of St. Mark's. Does this mean that the documentation is not to be considered? Very truly yours, Gebut Mtntah Albert M.
Fortier, Jr. AMF : apb THE-NATIONAL ReGiSicn OF TeToniu rL u0 DATE RECDNOV 2 - 19/0 IND:V DU L .S NS. AHAGAED) . RO T/EM IC IAL SENT IL..n. CLL Anlhun.D) DATE /C NIANN INITIALS WASO-166 (August 1971) U. S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONALPARK SERVICE DATE TELEPHONE REPORT 1. CALL & TO: L FROM (Name) ME. ALBIRT FORTRR, Je 3. SUBJECT. PROJECT NO., ETC. 12/3/76 TIME OF CALL AM PM ADDRESS (Tel. No. if needed) 61) 533-3550 RESPONSS TO LETTER - ST MARKS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF PROOKLINE DETAILS OF DISCUSSION MeR. FORTiER WILL FORWARD THAT INFO PROMATLY! NAME OF PERSON PLACING/RECEIVING CALL K. BURNS TITLE OFFICE GPO 897-848 WASO-145 (REV. 2-74) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE CONGRESSIONAL TELEPHONE REQUEST OFFICE Sen Brookz (Mass.) CALLER Ms. Kekg Mantha RECEVLatE ColE OPPICE DATE 12/7/76 TELEPHONE 223-7240 REFERRED TO NATURE OF REQUEST St.
Marks Unitzd methodist Church of Brookline, Mass. Norfolkco -TIME DATE 12/1/26 ACTION TAKEN Pleass call her when action is taken, GP0 873.122 To Be Retained In Office Receiving Call THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH EDWARD G. CARROLL, SR., RESIDENT BISHOP BOSTON AREA 581 BOYLSTON STREET BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02116 (617) 536-7764 December 8,1976 Mr. William J.Murtagh Keeper of the National Register National Park Service United States Department of the Interior washington, DC, 20204 RE: St.Mark's United Methodist Church of Brookline Nomination for National Register of Historic Places Dear Mr. Murtagh: I write in opposition to the nomination of St.Mark's United Methodist Church of Brookline to the National Register. St.Mark's Church has been engaged for several years in an attempt to use its material resources to better purpose in God's work.
I fear that the attempt to put the Church on the National Register would seriously undermine this effort. The trustees of the local church have been working with a developer and organizations for handicapped persons to con- struct housing for the handicapped and people of low and moderate income on the site presently occupied by the church building. This plan would put the land to a more socially productive use. It would also free money now invested in non-productive real estate for the work of the Church. On behalf of the United Methodists in Massachusetts, I urge you not to recommend St.Mark's as a national historic site. Sincerely yours, Edwwerd I. barsoll Edward G. Carroll, Sr.
EGC/sds MAINE CONFERENCE- NEW HAMPSHIRE CONFERENCE - SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND CONFERENCE Eccyage THE NATIUNAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACLS DATE REC'D DEC 14 1976 INDIVIDUAL RESPONSE (ATTACHED) INF RM-TIVE MATERIAL SENT TLLLrHONE CALL (ATTACHED) DATE ACIION TAKEN INITIALS ROGER B.TYLER AUGUST R. MEYER RICHARDALLOVZLL LORING P. JORDAN, JR. WILLIAM B. TYLER DAVID G. COLT WALTER G. VAN DORN GIORGIVANAGTASI PETER W.KILBORN HENRY BRIAN S.METYRR MEYER JOSEPH L. SERAFINI ALBERT M. FORTIER, JR. DOROTHFA C CADIFE STEPHEN CARR ANDERSON LAWRENCE AICHAEL KAPLAN OCONNELL STUART T. FREELAND ROBERT WINER RAYMOND J. BRASSARD MARTIN R.HEALY BARBARA KIND PERRY RACKEMANN, SAWYER & BREWSTER COUNSELLORS AT LAW 28TH FLOOR 28 STATE STREET BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02109 AREA CODE 617 523-3550 HENRY HIXON MEYER 1920-1971 OF COUNSEL December 13, 1976 Mr. William J.
Murtagh Keeper of the National Register National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Washington, D.C. 20204 RE: St. Mark's United Methodist Church of Brookline H34-880 Dear Mr. Murtagh: Confirming my conversation last week with your assis- tant, I am returning to you the detailed memoranda which we previously filed in support of our objections to placing St. Mark's on the National Register. I also enclose a copy of the letter from the Massachusetts Council of Organizations of the Handicapped. This material was inadvertently returned to us by your office. Very truly yours, Celbatth Albert M. Fortier, Jr. AMF : apb Enclosure THE NATIONAL UF MAUTUNIC ,LACLS DATE REC'D DEC 16 1976 INDVDI L S- MS.
ATIR HED) INr.L.J F2 T.L.i IL CLL AMIACnLJ) DATE ACTION IAKCN INITIALS EY RAD 5 Va2tPC ASET CODE e1 2S3-3220 vreeyc.l 2ELLe 3e CT7EB 21KEEL MBEHI o- VITVM 2VMAEB 8 BEEM2LEB HENBN MINOH HEAED ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER STATE MASSACHUSEITS Date Entered DEC 1 7 1976 Name Se. Mazk's Methodist Church Location Brookline Norfolk County Also Notified Hon. Edward M. Kennedy Hon. Edwazd W. Brooke Hon. Robert Y.Drinan Regional Director, North Atlantie 880 Region Mott 1/6/78 State Historie Preservation Offieez Mrs. Elinabeth R. Amadon Executive Director, Massachusette Historical Counission 294 Washington Street Boston, Massachusetts 02108 CC: HCRS Advisory Council On Historic Preservation Norfak co. Mass 1522 K Street NW. Washington D.C. 20005 JAN 2 3 1979 Mr.
Marvin Siflinger Area Manager Department of Housing and Urban Development Bulfinch Building 15 New Chardon Street Boston, Massachusetts 02114 Dear Mr. Siflinger: On December 26, 1978, the Council received a determination from the Department of Housing and Urban Development that the conversion of St. Marks Methodist Church, Brookline, Massachusetts, into 43 dwelling units would not adversely affect that Nationat Register property. The Executive Director does not object to your determination and commends the project architect for his imaginative design.
A copy of your determination of no adverse effect, along with supporting documentation and this concurrence, should be included in any assessment or statement prepared for this undertaking in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act and should be kept in your records as evidence of your compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. Sec. 470f, as amended, 90 Stat. 1320). Your continued cooperation is appreciated. Sincerely, Jordan E. Tannenbaum Chief, Eastern Office of Review and Compliance NATIONAL REGISTER DATA SHEET 1NAME as it appea Ts on tederal register: 2 )OTHER NAMES: Acounty code: St. Mark's Methodist Church 021 SLOCATION street & number city / town 90 Park St. Brookline OWNEV APRIVATE LOSTATE LOMUNICIPAL OCOUNTY OMULTIPLE COFEDERAL(agency name) 9 EXISTING SURVEYS CHABS CHAER CONHL 10 FUNDED? DYES 11)CONGRESS.
DISTRICT REGISTER HISTORIG BISTRICT/ ONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK? vieinity of state MA Y county Norfolk 3 date of entry: 12-17-76 GNPS REGION North Atlantic 8ADMINISTRATOR: 12) SOURCE Of NOMINATION L'STATE LFEDERAL_ if state who prepared form?
ACREAGE L TES BYESMAME 1CONDITION Dexcellent Agood Dfair - deteriorated Oruins Ounexposed Ounexcavated I8ACCESS ØYES-Restricted DYES-Unrestricted {I) AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE : CARCHEOLOGY - prehistoric -2 -COMMERCE-6 -ARCHEOLOGY-historic-1 - COMMUNICATIONS-7 AGRICULTURE -3 - CONSERVATION - 8 J@ARCHITECTURE-4 - ECONOMICS-9 - ART-5 - EDUCATION-10 Daltered Xunaltered -reconstructed Oexcavated - No Access CENGINEERING -11 DENTERTAINMENT-26 -EXPLORATION -12 CHEALTH-27 C INDUSTRY- 13 - INVENTION -14 - Unknown -LANDSCAPE ARCH.- 15 - LAW - 16 - LITERATURE - 17 -O MILITARY - 18 [ MUSIC - 19 - PHILOSOPHY - 20 *functions WHEN HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT: CHURCH CURRENTLY: CHURCH, DAYCARE CENTER 26 architectural style(S): CHAROSOHIN POMAHESQUE lahdscape architeot / garden designer: 3 interior decorator: 1.09 OLOCAL -PRIVATE ORGANIZATION Moriginal site 17 features: Omoved Ounknown SUBSTANTIALLY INTACT-1 LSSUBSTANTIALLY INTACT -2 2 OSUBSTANTIALLY INTACT -3 OONOT INTACT-O 90 NOT INTACT-O WCUNKNOWN-4 OUNKNOWN-5 QONOT INTACT - O 5O UNKNOWN-6 20 NOT APPLICABLE -7 EO NOT APPLICABLE-8 ZONOT APPLICABLE -9 19 ADAPTIVE USE DYES ZNO SAVED?
DYES IS PROPERTY A HISTORIC DISTRICT? B,yes -POLITICS / GOVT.- 21 -RECREATION-28 @OCLAIMS: explain "first'D CRELIGION-22 - SETTLEMENT-29 - SCIENCE- 23 DURBAN PLANMING-31 'oldest' O - SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN -24 DOTHER (SPECIFY) - SOCIAL / CULTURAL - 30 - TRANSPORTATION -25 'only' D @dates of initial construction: major alterations: 1892-1896 ETHNIC GROUP ASSOCIATION historic events: @architect: George A. Clough @artist: @master builder: Bartisan: Mbuilder/contractor: 3NAMES give role & date George A. Clough (b. 1843, Bluehill, ME), architect, Boston-based, whose commissions included the 1881-82 "colonial' restoration of the O1d State House in Boston and the Suffolk Co. Courthouse (1888-89). EVENTS : INSTITUTIONAL: *NATIONAL REGISTER WRITE-UP COURZÃO STONE RUBDLE, SANOBIONE TRIM; Z SPAIEA, CROMA SHAVED, CROSE-GABLED POOF, FRONT.
CORMER COMPOUND POUND-ARCHED ENTRANCE PORTAL IN BADE OF SQUAME TRUNCATED TOWER, ROUND-ARLITRD IENTRANCH POLTAL AI TRAN- SEPT, SURMOUNTINE ROSE WINDON, MASSIVE GABLK END LOSE WINDON, ROUND COMNAY TOURELLES, BOWED ARtE tAA BNTE ROUND-ARUTED CLERKSTORY WINDOWS; CARVED PANELEO OAK PEREDOS. Gocd expte o5, RomanesquggRevinohhotytet One of few remaining 19th C. structures in area highly developed in the astdus _date_1/10h78 IF ADDITIONAL SPACE NEEDED, NUMBER & PUT ON REVERSE
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