Nomination for Fiske House

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Form No. 10-300 (Rev. 10-74) PH0500763 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE FOR NPS USE ONLY NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM RECEIVED DATA SHEET JUL 12 1977 DATE ENTERED DEC 9 1977 SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES -- COMPLETE APPLICABLE SECTIONS NAME HISTORIC Fiske House - AND/OR COMMON AABS Same 2 LOCATION STREET & NUMBER 1 Billerica Road CITY.

TOWN Chelmsford Co STATE - VICINITY OF CODE 3 Massachusetts CLASSIFICATION 01824 NOT FOR PUBLICATION CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 5th COUNTY Middlesex CODE 017 CATEGORY DISTRICT XBUILDING(S) STRUCTURE _SITE _OBJECT OWNERSHIP PUBLIC _PRIVATE _BOTH PUBLIC ACQUISITION _IN PROCESS LBEING CONSIDERED -251-4 STATUS _OCCUPIED _UNOCCUPIED _WORK IN PROGRESS ACCESSIBLE XYES: RESTRICTED Fo_ YES: UNRESTRICTED : - _NO PRESENT USE AGRICULTURE -_MUSEUM COMMERCIAL PARK _EDUCATIONAL X PRIVATE RESIDENCE ENTERTAINMENT _RELIGIOUS _GOVERNMENT SCIENTIFIC CLINDUSTRIAL P -TRANSPORTATION -MILITARY OTHER: 4 OWNER OF PROPERTY NAME Mr. Edward Redstone -STREET & NUMBER c/o The First Bank and Trust Co., 44 Central Square CITY. TOWN Chelmsford - VICINITY OF LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION STATE Massachusetts, 01824 COURTHOUSE. REGISTRY OF DEEDS, ETC.

Middlesex County Registry of Deeds (North District) STREET & NUMBER Gorham Street CITY, TOWN Lowel1 REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS TITLE Historic American Buildings Survey Inventory of the Historic Assets of the Commonwealth STATE Massachusetts, 01852 DATE 1973 _FEDERAL XSTATE COUNTYLOCAL DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS CITY, TOWN Massachusetts Historical Commission Boston STATE Massachusetts, 02108 DESCRIPTION A0 CONDITION -EXCELLENT X GOOD MFAIR _DETERIORATED _RUINS _UNEXPOSED CHECK ONE XUNALTERED -ALTERED CHECK ONE XORIGINAL SITE _MOVED DATE. DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (IF KNOWN) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Description of the property

The Fiske House built in 1798, occupies a prominent location in the center of Chelmsford, on the corner of Billerica Road and Chelmsford Street. The house faces west toward Central Square. The 1 3/4 acres of house lot is well land- scaped. To the south of the house, the grounds are terraced down. A delicate low wooden fence built in 1839 separates the house from the road on the north and west sides. The area surrounding the house is mixed residential and commercial buildings of the town center. The Fiske House is a square plan, brick ended, 2 k story ridge roof house with gables to the side. There is a continuous dentilated cornice and plain wide cornerboards. There are four end chimneys. Fenestration is 6/6 with projecting cornices and sills, framed by shutters. The facade is five bays wide with a center entry.

The bays are defined by graceful, tapering pilasters with plain blocks above the molded capitals. The eight panel center entry door is framed by side lights and shutters and topped by a fanlight and molded round arch with key, a highly unusual entrance treatment in New England. The side elevations are three bays deep and are relieved by a projecting brick belt bisecting the first and second stories. There are two windows on the attic story gable pediment which is separated from the second story by an overhanging entablature. On the south elevation is a center entry capped by a projecting flat cornice. On the north elevation, a center entry is crowned by a fanlight with key and headed by a wide dentilated cornice. Extending from the center of the rear (east) elevation is a one story ridge roofed ell with a slight extension at the second story level. The roof is slate.

Original clapboarding on the facade and gable pediments has been covered with vinyl siding. The interior retains old wallpaper, handsome dados, and hand-carved "ball and tassle" molding in the livingroom. There are nine fireplaces, one in each room plus one (which was originally used for cooking) in the basement. Large beams are exposed throughout the house. A beehive oven in the kitchen was removed by an earlier Fiske. outbuildings consist of a barn with cupola, aone story well house with chimney, and two sheds. A portion of the barn has been converted to a garage. The property has recently been purchased by the First Bank and Trust Co. of Chelmsford, which is located directly southwest of the Fiske House on Chelmsford Street.

Changes that are to occur include the removal of the 1839 fence, a stone wall to the east of the house, and an existing stane balance wall which supports a southern slope terrace garden. The bank will be paving three entrance/exits to their parking lot to the southeast of the Fiske House. These drives are: 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 DATE ENTERED JUL 12 1977 DEC 9 1977 CONTINUATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER PAGE Fiske House 7 1 one from Chelmsford Street between the bank and the Fiske property, and two from Billerica Road between the Fiske House and barn. The house and outbuildings are and sensitive planning and design work will preserve the integrity of the Fiske House and property- 8

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

SIGNIFICANCE PERIOD -PREHISTORIC -1400-1499 1500-1599 .1600-1699 _1700-1799 X1800-1899 1900- ARCHEOLOGY-PREHISTORIC ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC AGRICULTURE X ARCHITECTURE ART X 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 1798 BUILDER

Statement of significance

/ARCHITECT STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE The Fiske House is significant as one of the first Federal style houses in Northern Midalesex county, for its prominent position in the center of Chelmsford, and for its 137 years of association with the Fiske family of Chelmsford. The house also has an interesting ownership history. The Fiske House occupies the site of an earlier house owned and occupied by Major John Minot. In 1784 Major Minot deeded to William Bridge ½ acre of land and buildings located south of the present house. The well of the Bridge House may still be seen on the terrace just south of the Fiske House. In 1784 Simeon Spaulding, Jr., merchant bought the Minot land and in 1798 built the new house. Because of its high cost, he was forced to mortgage it in 1807 and sell it in 1812. He repurchased it in 1818, however, and kept it until 1830, when he sold it to his brother.

He is said to have loved the house and was anxious to keep it in the family to be handed down to posterity. There were then frequent changes in ownership. In 1835 Thomas Moore bought the house and ran it as the Lafayettee House. The bar has been replaced in the bar-room (s.W. room) by the present owners. In 1839 Mr. & Mrs. John Minot Fiske visited Chelmsford intending to buy his great-grand- father's old house. Mrs. Fiske admired the Tavern where they were staying, the Lafayette House, and Mr. Fiske bought it instead. The rail fence in frant of the house was built it this time. The house remained in the Fiske family from that time until 1977.

The rest of the file

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

MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES waters, History of Chelmsford, 1917. Chelmsford Vital Records to 1850, Essex Institute, 1914. 1831 Map and 1875 Beers Atlas. William Northrop & Frances Andrews: Notes. Conversations with Nancy M. Fiske. 10 GEOGRAPHICAL DATA ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY Approx. 1 3/4 acres UTM REFERENCES A[1,91 ZONE 1310,710,5,0 EASTING 14,712,814,8,0 NORTHING C VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION 033 LIl,LLL NORTHING LLLuJ LLLLL 80 39 nola elon AtynTer SPAM 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 Blaine Mallory and Joseph Orfant, National Register Editor (Edward S.

Redstone, President, First Bank and Trust Co., Chelmsford) ORGANIZATION Massachusetts Historical Commission May 4, 1977 STREET & NUMBER TELEPHONE 294 washington Street 617-727-8470 CITY OR TOWN STATE Boston - 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)./ hereby nominate this property for inclusion in the National Register and certify that it has been evaluated according to the a eoue e ent y e oeluth Rud Amcedon STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER SIGNATURE TITLE Executive Director, Mass.

Historical Commission DATE 5/31/37 FOR NPS USE ONLY I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS PROPERTYOS INCLUDED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER DIRCCTOR ATTEST hakabera DATE KUEFER OE THE DATE NAUTONA XECISTAR 12-7.77 GPO 892-453 Property Frske 2 Vause State mass. Working Number7. 12.27.1/25 TECHNICAL Photos - Maps 2 I do not coneur with remoral of 1839 fence for hae mdene th pleng to meeue th, nkg hyg tag tlh on this! middlesex CONTROL pl 1.14.72 HISTORIAN ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN accept Brasham 11:30.72 ARCHEOLOGIST OTHER HAER Inventory Review Maso will try to do somellug about Seuce, REVIEW UNIT CHIEF lboveh 12/5/71 BRANCH CHIEF Hurigt 12.73 KEEPER 12/9/77 DEC 9 1977 National Register Write-up Federal Register Entry 2.2.25 Send-back Re-submit Entered INT:2106- 74 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service WASO No.

7 Middlesex CoUNTY Fiske House Chelmsford, Mass. 1977 C.H. Palmer Photo Media Four, Chelmsford, Mass. #1 35 West facade and south elevation. DEC 9 JUL 12 1977 1977 PROPERTY OF THE NATONAL REGISTER Middles DEC 9 Fiske House Che_msiord, Mass . 1977 C.H. Palmer Photo Media Four, Chelmsford, Ma #2035 North elevation and addition to eas elevation. JUL 12 1977 PROPERTY OF THE NATIONA Fiske House Chelmsford, Mass. - Middlese DEC 9 1977 C.H. Palmer Photo Media Four, Chelmsford, M #3005 Looking southwest toward house, bar and shed. JUL 12 1977 PROPERTY ZDF THE NATONAL REGI Middlesex DEC 9 Fiske House fh9lmsford, Mass. C.H. Palmer Photo Media Four, Chelmsford, #4 035 North and west elevations of s JUL 12 1977 PROPERTY OF THE NATIONAL RE Middlesex Fiske House Chelmsford, Mass. 1977 UEC 9 C.H.

Palmer Photo Media Four, Chelmsford, I #5 85 North and west elevations of b JUL 12 1977 mIUPERTY OF THE NATIONAL ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER STATE MASSACHUSETTS Date Entered DEC 9 1977 Name Tieke House Location Chelmsford Center Miâdlesex County Also Notified Hon. Edward W. Brooke Hon. Bdward M. Kennedy Hon. Paul Tsongas Regional Director, North Atlantic Region 880 Mott/js 12/16/77 State Ilistorie Preservation Officer Mrs. Elizabeth R.

Amadon Executive Director, Massschusetts #iatorical Conmission 294 Washington Street Boston, Massachusetts 02108 Uhe Cnmmonfnealth of Alassachusetts SNSE PETIN Serretary of State MICHAEL JOSEPH CONNOLLY 294 Washinglon Aree SEVE LILAYAY Massachusells Hislorical Commission Boslor, Massachusells 02108 SECRETARY OF STATE (617) 727-8470 January 26, 1979 Charles Herrington Chief National Register Branch Office of Archèology and Historic Preservation Washington, D.C. 20240 Re: Fiske House Chelmsford, Massachusetts Dear Mr. Herrington: On December 30, 1978 the Fiske House, which was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on December 9, 1977, was damaged by fire. The fire, which started in the attic, destroyed the slate roof on the west elevation and damaged one third of the east roof, primarily along the ridge. All the structural members are intact though charred.

The second story windows on the facade were lost and of course there has been some water damage. As the local building inspector has declared the building structurally sound and it retains its major features, we do not feel that it should be removed from the Register. Also, the building is in a local historic district, so any restoration plans will be reviewed by the Historic District Commission. We will keep you informed as to the status. Sincerely, chuitie Soulding Christine Boulding Survey Director Massachusetts Historical Commission CB/CJ/ts DATE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTONIC PLACES IAN 291979 INDIVIDUAL RESU INFORMATIVE M TELEPHONE C *TKEN puog aueojC PH0500763 NATIONAL REGISTER DATA SHEET ONAME as it appears on federal register: OTHER NAMES: 3)date of entry: ) county code: Fiske House DEC 9 1977 17 SLOCATION street & number city / town vicinity of 1 Billerica Rd.

Chelmsford Center state MA ONPS REGION: NA OWNER [*RIVATE COSTATE OMUNICIPAL CCOUNTY CMULTIPLE FEDERAL(agency name) 9 EXISTING SURVEYS XHABS CHAER ONHL (10) FUNDED? OYES ONO CONGRESS.

DISTRICT 5th )SOURCE of NOMINATION WITHIN NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT1 NATIBMAL HISTORIE LANOMA) AGREAGE DUYESMAM ®CONDITION Dexcellent Dgood Ofair - deteriorated Daltered Oruins Dunexposed Ounaltered Dreconstructed Ounexcavated Dexcavated BACCESS OYES-RestrictedDYES-Unrestricted - No Access ¿) AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE : DENGINEERING-11 CARCHEOLOGY - prehistoric-2 - COMMERCE-6 -ENTERTAINMENT-26 CARCHEOLOGY - historic-1 - COMMUNICATIONS-7 CEXPLORATION-12| D AGRICULTURE-3 - CONSERVATION - 8 - HEALTH - 27 - ARCHITECTURE-4 - ECONOMICS-9| C INDUSTRY-13 - ART- 5 - EDUCATION-10 C INVENTION -14 Doriginal site Omoved Ounknown 17)features: - Unknown - LANDSCAPE ARCH.- 15 - LAW - 16 - LITERATURE - 17 - MILITARY - 18 - MUSIC - 19 - PHILOSOPHY - 201 *CSUBSTANTIALLY INTACT-1 QONOT INTACT-O =ONOT APPLICABLE-7 (19) ADAPTIVE USE OYES ONO] SAVED?

OYES CPOLITICS/ GOVT." 21 -RECREATION -28 C RELIGION-22 C SETTLEMENT-29 - SCIENCE - 23 CURBAN PLANNING-31 - SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN-24 DOTHER (SPECIFY) - SOCIAL / CULTURAL - 30 - TRANSPORTATION - 25 county Middlesex 8ADMINISTRATOR: X STATE -FEDERAL if state who prepared form? OLOCAL OPRIVATE ORGANIZATION *OSUBSTANTIALLY INTACT -2 2OSUBSTANTIALLY INTACT - 3 EO NOT INTACT-O 2ONOT INTACT - O WOUNKNOWN-5 5OUNKNOWN-6 O NOT APPLICABLE-8 JONOT APPLICABLE - 9 HIS PROPERTY A HISTORIC DISTRICT?

OyesOno @CLAIMS: explain 'first'D 'oldest' O 'only' D 23) functions WHEN HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT: CURRENTLY: B architectural style(s): (@) dates of initial construction: major alterations: historic events: ETHNIC GROUP ASSOCIATION @architeet: amaster builder: @engineer: -landscape architect / garden designer: " interior decorator: artist: 3artisan: bullder/contractor: ®NAMES give role & date PERSONAL: EVENTS: INSTITUTIONAL: NATIONAL REGISTER WRITE-UP H17035-1937 reviewers initials. date. H IF ADDITIONAL SPACE NEEDED, NUMBER & PUT ON REVERSE FNSA