Nomination for Bryant-Cushing House

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Form No. 10-300 (Rev.

10-74) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE DATA SHEET FOR NPS USE ONLY RECEIVED NOV 7 1975 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM MAR 2 6 1976 DATE ENTERED SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES -- COMPLETE APPLICABLE SECTIONS NAME HISTORIC * AND/OR COMMON Bryant-Cushing House same 2 LOCATION STREET & NUMBER 768 Main Street NOT FOR PUBLICATION CITY,TOWN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT Norwell 12th - VICINITY OF STATE Massachusetts CODE COUNTY 025 Plymouth CLASSIFICATION CODE 023 CATEGORY DISTRICT _BUILDING(S) STRUCTURE _SITE _OBJECT OWNERSHIP XPUBLIC PRIVATE _BOTH PUBLIC ACQUISITION IN PROCESS BEING CONSIDERED STATUS X _OCCUPIED -UNOCCUPIED -WORK IN PROGRESS ACCESSIBLE XYES: RESTRICTED - YES: UNRESTRICTED _NO PRESENT USE AGRICULTURE -MUSEUM -COMMERCIAL _PARK _EDUCATIONAL XPRIVATE RESIDENCE -ENTERTAINMENT _RELIGIOUS GOVERNMENT -SCIENTIFIC INDUSTRIAL -TRANSPORTATION MILITARY _OTHER: OWNER OF PROPERTY NAME Richard D.

and Margaret H. McVullan STREET & NUMBER 768 Main Street CITY, TOWN Norwell VICINITY OF LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION STATE Massachusetts 02061 COURTHOUSE. REGISTRY OF DEEDS, ETC. Registry of Deeds STREET & NUMBER Russell Street CITY, TOWN STATE PLymouth Massachusetts REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS TITLE Inventory of the Historic Assets of the Commonwealth DATE 1973 _FEDERAL XSTATE _COUNTY _LOCAL DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS CITY. TOWN Massachusetts Historical Commission Boston STATE Massachusetts 02108 7-DESCRIPTION CONDITION XEXCELLENT _GOOD FAIR _DETERIORATED _RUINS -UNEXPOSED CHECK ONE XUNALTERED ALTERED CHECK ONE KORIGINAL SITE _MOVED DATE DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (IF KNOWN) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Description of the property

The Bryant-Cushing House is situated facing north on a large expanse of lawn, which extends 200 feet in front of and behind the house. The front of the house is partially shielded from Route 123 by a large yew bush, and the lawn is surrounded by woods. The property extends 2,000 feet behind the house to the North River. The house, a two story, center chimney, full colonial, was built in 1698, and has hardly been altered since that time. The north facade, five bays wide, has nine 12/12 windows with plain surrounds. The elaborate center doorway is topped by a triangular pediment and flanked by pilasters. Over the door and beneath the pediment is a transom with five bull's eye lights. The facade, as well as the other elevations, are shingled, with many hand split shakes still extant.

The large central chimney vents six fireplaces, and is decorated with pilasters, string courses, and a stepped cornice. A smaller chimney is located on the south side of the house. There are two shingled ells to the south west at the rear of the house which have been modernized on the interior. The interior of the house has been remarkably preserved throughout the years. The floor plan remains the same, with two rooms in the front and a kitchen and borning room in the rear and four rooms corresponding to these on the second floor. The staircase rises steeply in a double return, and retains its original Jacobean banisters. The wide planked floors are original, and all of the fireplaces still have their original mantels. A rectangular clear leaded glass window from a monastery in Canterbury, England was installed in the south wall of the old kitchen in the 1920's by Prof. Arthur E.

Dewing; all the other window positions are original. The only major alterations to the house occurred in 1937-38, when the present owners put in plumbing, heat, and electricity. At the same time they restored some of the plaster work and made a few structural repairs. The house is built on a remarkably large scale for its time. The rooms are spacious and have unusually high eight foot ceilings. The house contains an abundance of paneling and simple moulding, mostly based on medieval designs and patterns. The house was obviously built by a wealthy person, and stands today as a virtually unaltered example of excellent late 17th century archi- tecture in New England. Form No. 10-300a (Kev.

10-74) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY RECEIVED NOV7 1975 DATE ENTERED MAR 2 6 1976 CONTINUATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER 8 PAGE 1 Professor Arthur Dewing, a teacher at Harvard Business School. Professor Dewing, when he retired from teaching in 1937, wanted to give the house to the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities, but the present owners of the house, the McMullans, persuaded him to sell it to them. Before the McMullans moved in they undertook the only major alterations the house has faced. Electricity, heating and plumbing were installed, some plaster was restored, a few floorboards were replaced, and the interiors of the two ells to the rear of the house were insulated and had new floors and walls installed.

The house is now in excellent condition, and because of its original size and scale, and with the addition of modern conveniences, it is an extra- ordinarily comfortable building, which still exudes a strong sense of the early Colonial era.

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

SIGNIFICANCE PERIOD _PREHISTORIC -1400-1499 -1500-1599 X1600-1699 -1700-1799 _1800-1899 -1900- -ARCHEOLOGY-PREHISTORIC -ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC -AGRICULTURE ZARCHITECTURE ART -COMMERCE _COMMUNICATIONS AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE -- CHECK AND JUSTIFY BELOW _COMMUNITY PLANNING -LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE -CONSERVATION -LAW -ECONOMICS -LITERATURE _EDUCATION -MILITARY -ENGINEERING -MUSIC -EXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT _PHILOSOPHY -INDUSTRY -POLITICS/GOVERNMENT -INVENTION _RELIGION -SCIENCE -SCULPTURE -SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN _THEATER -TRANSPORTATION -OTHER (SPECIFY) SPECIFIC DATES 1698 STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE BUILDER

Statement of significance

/ARCHITECT Thomas Bryant The Bryant-Cushing House is significant as one of the best examples of late seventeenth century architecture left in New England, and has been essentially unaltered since it was constructed in 1698. The house was built by Thomas Bryant, on land that his father John Bryant had acquired in 1643. Thomas was one of the group of prosperous artisans associated with the well-known North River ship building community, and owned a sawmill in addition to plying his trade as a house carpenter. At the time Thomas built the house he was only 23, and single. The size and scale of the house are surprising considering the fact that Thomas was a bachelor, but the records clearly indicate that he did build the house, and lived there alone until he married in 1707. His wife, Mary Ewell, was the daughter of another artisan associated with the ship building community.

After his marriage, Thomas served as a magistrate, and was a member of the General Court. It is important to note that the Bryant-Cushing House bears a significant resemblance to the Winslow House (1699) in nearby Marshfield. The Winslow House was built for the politically important Winslow family and was occupied by them for many generations. Both houses are built on a large scale not usually associated with early colonial buildings; they both contain identical mouldings and paneling; and they both have the same floor plan and large central pilastered chimney. It appears that the same tools were used to make the mouldings in both houses. The fact that there are so many other similar features gives rise to the possibility that the Winslow House was built by Thomas Bryant a year after he built his own house. The house remained in the Bryant family until 1769, when it was bought by H.

Cushing. Cushing was a wealthy shipbuilder, but fortunately, made no alterations to the house. Three generations of his family lived there, until the house was bought in the 1880's by Dr. Cushing, from a distant branch of the original Cushing family. Dr. Cushing's daughter still lives in Norwell, and has been a valuable source of information about the house. The next owner of the house was Mrs. Bacon, who bought the property c. 1918. She acquired the house to help her nephew in his real estate business, but according to the present owners of the house, she went into the building only once, looked around and declared the building was evil, and never set foot on the premises again. The house was vacant for about 18 months, before it was acquired by 9

The rest of the file

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

MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES Brigg's History of Shipbuilding on the North River Deane's History of Scituate Vital Records of Scituate in Boston Atheneum 10 GEOGRAPHICAL DATA ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY 2 acres UTM REFERENCES AL19 B15 23,6,0 EASTING 14,616818,3,01 NORTHING Lilu VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION BL, ZONE EASTIN NORTHING LLJLiLu 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 Christine Boulding, Assistant Survey Director, and Richard D. McMullan ORGANIZATION DATE Massachusetts Historical Commission October 29 STREET & NUMBER TELEPHONE 1975 294.

Washington Street 617-727-8470 CITY OR TOWN STATE Boston Massachusetts 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 labieh hud Amaden TITLE Mass. State Historic Preservation Officer DATE Och.29,1975 FOR NPS USE ONLY 1 HEREBY CERTIFY AT THIS PROP IS INCLUDED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER A-tAmgiREe3Of ATTEST OFICEO ARCHEPLOGY LAERSORG REBEINARON DATE 26/76 DATE 3-21-76 ACREPEROF THENATONA REGISTR GPO 892.453 Form No. 10-300a (Hev.

10-74) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTOR Y -- NOMINATION FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY RECEIVDV7 1975 DATE ENTERED MAR 2 6 1976 CONTINUATION SHEET Norwell, Bryant-Cushing House Sketch Map - not to scale ITEM NUMBER PAGE 2 N Nain Street -Bryant-Cushing House North River Present Property Boundaries Area Being Nominated to National Register Property brsnt - Cucher State TECHNICAL Photos. Maps working Number // 1. 75, 2003 ARCHITECTURAL Plymouth CONTROL OK 11.2.75 HISTORIAN Accept E. Amitt 12-2295 HISTORIAN ) 12/17/75 ARCHEOLOGIST OTHER HAER nice! Inventory Review REVIEW UNIT CHIEF coke 1/29176 BRANCH CHIEF National Register Write-up Federal Register Entry 5-4-76 Send-back Re-submit United States Department of the Interior National Park Service WASO No.

7 Entered 3-11-76 KEEPER Accept Kettig fm Martagy 3-21-76 _MAR 261976 INT:2106 - 74 Form No. 10-301a (Pev. 10-7+) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY RECEIVED NOV 7 1975 MAR 2 6 1976 DATE ENTERED SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES ENCLOSE WITH PHOTOGRAPH 1 NAME HISTORIC Bryant-Cushing House AND/OR COMMON same 2 LOCATION CITY. TOWN VICINITY OF Norwell PHOTO REFERENCE PHOTO CREDIT Norwell High School NEGATIVE FILED AT same IDENTIFICATION DESCRIBE VIEW, DIRECTION, ETC. IF DISTRICT, GIVE BUILDING NAME & STREET north facade COUNTY Plymouth STATE MA DATE OF PHOTO 1974 PHOTO NO 1 afl (Msl) > h. R.D.#As.# McM,Ils Norwell, Mass.

anteCushing House Paul Guzzi Pecretary of the Commonwvealth 31 October 1975 The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Office of the Secretary Massachusells Histonical Commission 294 Washington Street Boston, Massachusstts 02108 727-8470 1'9I RECEIVED Mr. Charles Herrington, Chief Registration NOV 7 1975 g National Register of Historic Places National Park Service NATIONAL U.S. Department of the Interior REGISTER Washington, D.C. 20240 Dear Charles: Enclosed please find three National Register nominations for the following properties: 1. Brockton, Brockton City Hall 2. Lee, Iee Lower Main Street Historic District 3. Norwell, Bryant-Cushing House These properties have been voted eligible for submission by the Massachusetts Historical Commission (the State Review Board) and have been signed by the State Historic Preservation Officer, Elizabeth Reed Amadon. Sincerely yours, Pat Patricia L.

Weslowski Survey Director Massachusetts Historical Commission PIW/mw enclosures ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER Date Entered STATE MASSACHUSETTS MAR 2 6 1976 Name Location Dwight-Henderson House Bow Street Historic Diatrict Lee Lover Main Street listoric District Haydeuville Bistoric District Brockton City Ball Bryant-Cushing House Great Berrington Berkahire County Smerville Middlesex County Lee Berkshire County Haydeuville, Town of 1711l1amsburg Hampshire County Brockton Plymouth County Noxwell Plynouth County Also Notified Hon. Edward M. Kennedy Hon. Edward W. Brooke Hon. Silvio o. Conte Hon. Thonas P. 0 Nle111. Jr. Hon. Janes A. Burke Regional Director, North Atlantic Region LPR MOTT:djb 4/5/76 State Iistoric Preservation Officer Mrs. Elizabeth l.

Amadon Executive Director, Massachusetts Historical Conmission 294 Washinzton Street Boston, Massachusetts 02103 INT: 2950-75 NATIONAL REGISTER DATA SHEET ears on federal register 2 OTHER NAMES: 4 county code: Bryant-Cushing House 3-26-76 5 LOCATION street & number y / town vicinity of county 023 6NPS REGION: 768 Marin St. Norwel1 Lymouth North Atlantic V OWNEG/ PRIVATE OSTATE CMUNICIPAL -COUNTY OMULTIFLE COFEDERAL(agency name) 8ADMINISTRATOR: 9 EXISTING SURVEYS CHABS HAER [JNHL (10)FUNDED? [YES (11) CONGRESS. DISTRICT 12 12SOURCE of NOMINATION STATE -FEDERAL NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC BISTRICTT MONAL HISTORIC LANOMARK? L ACREAGE D YES 2 if state who prepared form?

MAME OLOCAL -PRIVATE ORGANIZATION 1 CONDITION - deteriorated Saltered Xoriginal site 17) features: Xexeellent Oruins Xunaftered Omoved SUBSTANTIALLY INTACT-1 OSUBSTANTIALLY INTACT -2 2OSUBSTANTIALLY INTACT -3 OONOT INTACT-O 90 NOT INTACT-O Ogood Dunexposed OONOT INTACT - O -reconstructed Ounknown OUNKNOWN-4 OUNKNOWN -5 Dfair Ounexcavated Dexcavated 20 NOT APPLICABLE -7 EO NOT APPLICABLE-8 - 6 WONOT APPLICABLE - 9 BACCESS XYES-Restricted [YES-Unrestricted - No Access -Unknown 19 ADAPTIVE USE DYES ANO 20 SAVED? DYES IS PROPERTY A HISTORIC DISTRICT?

Dyes 21 AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE : DENGINEERING-11 CLANDSCAPE ARCH.- 15 -POLITICS / GOVT.^ 21 CRECREATION -28 KOCLAIMS: explain CARCHEOLOGY - prehistoric-2 -COMMERCE-6 "first'O -ENTERTAINMENT-26 - LAW-16 -RELIGION-22 C SETTLEMENT-29 -ARCHEOLOGY-historic-1 - COMMUNICATIONS-7 CEXPLORATION -12 - LITERATURE-17 - SCIENCE- 23 -URBAN PLANNING-31 'oldest' O AGRICULTURE-3 - CONSERVATION - 8 C HEALTH-27 - MILITARY-18 - SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN-24 DOTHER (SPECIFY) E ARCHITECTURE-4 - ECONOMICS-9 - INDUSTRY- 13 - MUSIC - 19 - SOCIAL / CULTURAL - 30 -ART-5 - EDUCATION-10 - INVENTION - 14 - PHILOSOPHY - 20 -O TRANSPORTATION -25 'only' D 3functions @dates of initial construction 1698 ETHNIC GROUP WHEN HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT: HOUSE ASSOCIATION major alterations: CURRENTLY: HOUSE historic events: architectural style(s): architeet: @master builder: engineer: Rew England Colonial -#hanae Beyant ® landscape architeot / garden designer: interior decorator: @artist: @artisan: Thos.

@bullder/contractor: Bryant-house corpenter ®NAMES PERSONAL: fhonas Bryant, architect/builder, magistrate, member of MA General Court; may also have built the Winslow House (c. 1699) in nearby Marshfield. EVENTS: INSTITUTIONAL: NATIONAL REGISTER WRITE-U1 Frame, shingling; 2/2 stories, .L-shaped, gabled roof, center and witerior chimnegs, frout ceuter entrauce uith trausom aud pedimented architrave, simple window arctitiaves ; 1715 C. miterior fittings; alterations. New- England Coloniae. member of the MA General Court. Excellent example of late17th C. New England architecture; Built for Thomas Bryant, prosperous house carpenter, magistrate sp. initials dat IF ADDITIONAL SPACE NEEDED, NUMBER & PUT ON REVERSE