Nomination for Jenison, Robert, House

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Form No.

10-300 (ROx 1074 PH0664464 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE FOR NPS USE ONLY DATA SHEET NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM RECEIVEO MAR 8 1978 DATE ENTERED SEP 6 1978 SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES -- COMPLETE APPLICABLE SECTIONS 1 NAME HISTORIC Robert Jenison) House AND/OR COMMON Same 2 LOCATION Nofhatiile oft I90 STREET & NUMBER Frost Street CITY, TOWN Natick we STATE VICINITY OF CODE 025 _NOT FOR PUBLICATION CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 10th COUNTY Middlesex 3 Massachusetts CLASSIFICATION CODE 017 CATEGORY _DISTRICT BUILDING(S) STRUCTURE _SITE _OBJECT OWNERSHIP PUBLIC XPRIVATE _BOTH PUBLIC ACQUISITION _IN PROCESS _BEING CONSIDERED STATUS XOCCUPIED _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 Jenison House Trust NAME Mildred Gardinor Prunaret and Henri Prunaret, Trustees STREET & NUMBER Frost Street CITY.

TOWN Natick STATI Massachusetts 0176( -VICINITY OF LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION COURTHOUSE. REGISTRY OF DEEDS,ETC. Middlesex County Registry of Deeds STREET & NUMBER 208 Cambridge Street CITY. TOWN Cambridge STATE Massachusetts 02141 REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS TITLE Inventory of the Historic Assets of the Commonwealth DATE 1977 _FEDERAL XSTATE _COUNTY _LOCAL DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS CITY, TOWN Massachusetts Historical Commission Boston STATE Massachusetts 02108 71 DESCRIPTION CONDITION XEXCELLENT GOOD _FAIR DETERIORATED LRUINS 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 Robert Jenison House is located on the corner of Frost and Winter Streets in Natick. Situated due west of Nonesuch Pond, the house rests on a small knoll facing south. A line of tall fir trees and a picket fence border the house on the west. The five acres of property are primarily open rolling meadows maintained as open land. The surrounding area is sparsely developed and borders on Weston. The house was constructed c. 1738 by Robert Jenison. Some restoration work has been undertaken, but the building retains its original frame, chimney, gunstock and bevelled summer beams, and most interior woodworking. The four bay wide, two bay deep, ridge roof structure has a large off-center chimney. The two and one half story house is sheathed in clapboards with plain cornerboards and a simply molded entablature. Fenestration is 6/6 with slightly projecting architraves and sills.

The asymmetrical south facade is dominated by an off-center entrance. The doorway is in keeping with the simplicity of the entire structure but is adorned by a bull's eye light transom and fluted pilasters which support a dentiled cornice. The en- trance is headed by a narrow 9/9 window on the second story. The east elevation has a southern end entrance shielded by a segmentally arched hood supported by large brackets. There is a small 6/6 window in the gable overhead. The west elevation has two windows on each story and a small 6/6 in the gable. The asymmetrical rear (north) elevation has an off center hooded doorway. Windows are standard 6/6, the smaller 6/6 identical to those in the gable ends and one double 4/4. The first floor interior retains feather edge panelling. The second floor has eighteen inch floorboards and some fine early panelling and woodwork.

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

SIGNIFICANCE PERIOD _PREHISTORIC -1400-1499 _1500-1599 1600-1699 X1700-1799 -1800-1899 -1900- ARCHEOLOGY-PREHISTORIC ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC AGRICULTURE X ARCHITECTURE ART _COMMERCE _COMMUNICATIONS AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE -- CHECK AND JUSTIFY BELOW _COMMUNITY PLANNING -LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE -CONSERVATION -LAW _ECONOMICS &LITERATURE _EDUCATION -MILITARY LENGINEERING -MUSIC _EXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT -PHILOSOPHY LINDUSTRY X POLITICS/GOVERNMENT -INVENTION _RELIGION -SCIENCE -SCULPTURE _SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN _THEATER -TRANSPORTATION _OTHER (SPECIFY) SPECIFIC DATES c. 1738 STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE BUILDER

Statement of significance

/ARCHITECT Robert Jenison The Robert Jenison House is significant for its early architecture, park-like site location and for the Jenison family association in Natick and the outlying areas- Peter Jenison and his father Robert were prominent figures in the civic and political life of the Watertown-Sudbury-Natick area during the late 1600's. Peter's son, Robert, built the house c.1738 on a 200 acre tract of land pur- chased from the Natick Indians in a controversial transaction during the last quarter of the 17th century. Robert Jenison was the leading housewright in the area at the time he built his own home. A half dozen of his buildings are still standing in the vicinity. They are invariably the center chimney type similar to his own house with interior arrangement and dimensioning often identical.

Jenison was an imposing figure in town affairs and served for many years as a selectman and captain of the militia company. Jenison was also active in the controversy that raged for a number of years over moving the meeting house from South Natick to Natick Center. Robert's son, Lot, and his grandson, Robert, followed his professional as house- wrights. His granddaughter, Sybilla, married Issac Fiske who became a prominent Methodist minister and the present Fiske Church on Walnut Street in Natick is named in his honor. Robert's grandson Issac Jenison graduated from Wesleyan College and was one of the founders of the Methodist Church in America. The contributions of this family to the Natick-Wayland-Sudbury area can leave little doubt that they and their descendants have played an important part in leaving a tradition in craftsmanship and religion that lives to this day.

The rest of the file

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

MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES Natick Historical Society, The Robert Jenison House, South Natick, Mass., 1951- 10 GEOGRAPHICAL DATA ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY approx.

52 acres UTM REFERENCES AL19/ L3/017/51310 EASTING 14.6/8.8/0,210/ NORTHING VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION BL, ZONE EASTING LILLL NORTHING LILL 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 Henri Prunaret, Natick Historical Commission ORGANIZATION Massachusetts Historical Commission STREET & NUMBER 294 Washington Street CITY OR TOWN DA January 27, 1978 TELEPHONE 617-727-8470 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).

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 Servi STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER SIGNATURE but lel Amadon TITLE Executive Director, Mass. Historidal Commission DATE 2/13/78 FOR NPS USE ONLY 1 HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS PROPERTY JS INCLUDED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER DIRECTOR ATTEST: KEEP CEOEAACHCOLOAY ANO PISTNIC DAECVAVATION DATE KEBPIIR OLHUHEN AMMKONR RIeRASgOR DATE 95.78 GPO 892.453 Form No. 10-300a (Kev.

10-74) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTOR Y -- NOMINATION FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY RECEIVED MAR 8 DATE ENTERED SEP 2978 1978 CONTINUATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER PAGE NORTH GARAGE DOG FROST STREET ROBERT JEENISON HOUSE 5.07 ACRES WINTER STREET GARDINOR - PRUNARET FOUNDATION Robert Jenison House 19.3 ALRES Natick, Massachusetts Sketch Map CNOT INCLUDED IN Scale: 1"= 100' NOMINATION> Source: Natick Assesors Map Property feneson, State nas. Robert, Hause Working Number 3. 8. 28.2641 TECHNICAL Photos Maps The house is obcioush al sigm Middlesey CONTROL pl 3.8.28 HISTORIAN communite histribls sgn un a the a der phow muca Remain f-om the osiginao 5.15.78 ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN acrept Bravram 4.25.78 ARCHEOLOGIST OTHER HAER is thee soseme.

Inventory Review REVIEW UNIT CHIEF Occept hebowich 8/31/78 BRANCH CHIEF KEEPER SEP 6 1978 IN T.S OR 74 National Register Write-up Federal Register Entry 10-3-18 Send-back Re-submit Entered United States Department of the Interior Nationa1 Park Service WASO No.

7 1738 middlesEx (OUNTT Robert Jenison House Natick, Massachusetts 1977 Jameson Enterprise Morse Institute, Natick #1 95 South facade MAR SEP 6 1978 1978 Dct 1977 PRU IFIONAL REGISTI Robert Jeni middlesison House Courty Natick, Massachusetts 1977 Jameson Enterprise Morse Institute, Natick #2 North Trear) elevation sepo t hoto ly daw " MAR 8 1978 PROPERTY OF THE NATIONAL middesex Robert enson Housy Natick, Massachusetts 19T7 Jameson Enterprise Morse Institute, Natick #3 East elevation SEP 6 1978 MAR 8 1978 1927 PROPERIY OF TON 1738 Robertgent sol Hóuke Natick, Massachusetts 1977 Jameson Enterprise Morse Institute, Natick #4 5 South facade and east elevation MAR 8 1978 SEP 6 1978 21 1977 PROPERTY OF THE NA Robert CoHouse Natick, Massachusetts 1977 Jameson Enterprise Morse Institute, Natick #5 5 West elevation MAR 8 1978 SEP 6 1978 Ock 197) FauraiaY. OF.

THE HATUIAL KO ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER STATE MASSACHUSETTS Date Entered SEP 6 1978 Name Jenison, Robert, House Location Natick vicinity Middlesex County Also Notified Honorable Edward W. Brooke Honorable Edward M. Kennedy Ionorable Margaret M. Hecklez State Historie Preservation Officer Mrs. Patricia I. Weslowski Executive Director Massachusetts Historical Commission 294 Washington Street Boston, Massachusetts 02108 NR Byers/bjr 9/7/78 PH0664464 NATIONAL REGISTER DATA SHEET DAIA DNAME as it appears on federal register: 2OTHER NAMES: late of entry: SEP 6 Jenison, Robert, House 1978 4) county code: 17 5LOCATION street & number city I town over vieinity of Natick state MA 6)NPS TON NA 7 OWNER [ XPRIVATE OOSTATE OMUNICIPAL 9) EXISTING SURVEYS CHABS CHAER OCOUNTY COMULTIPLE ONHL|(10) FUNDED? DYES SWITHIN HATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT!

LUYES NAME ECONDITION Dexcellent Dgood Dfair -FEDERAL (agency name) ONO (II)CONGRESS. DISTRICT 10th WITHIM MATIBMAL HISTORIC LANOMARK? CO MES. NAME Doriginal site Omoved Cunknown ISOURCE of NOMINATION 15 ACREAGE O deteriorated Oaltered Oruins Ounaltered Ounexposed Dreconstructed Ounexcavated Dexcavated 8ACCESS OYES-Restricted OYES - Unrestricted - No Access AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE : CARCHEOLOGY - prehistoric-2l -COMMERCE- 6 - ARCHEOLOGY- historic-1 - COMMUNICATIONS-7 - AGRICULTURE-3 C CONSERVATION - 81 - ARCHITECTURE-4 - ECONOMICS- 9 -ART-5 - EDUCATION-10 CENGINEERING-11 CENTERTAINMENT-26 CEXPLORATION -12 C HEALTH- 27 - INDUSTRY- 13 CINVENTION -14 17) features: - Unknown - LANDSCAPE ARCH.- 15 - LAW- 16 - LITERATURE -17 - MILITARY - 18 [ MUSIC - 19| - PHILOSOPHY - 20] CSUBSTANTIALLY INTACT-1 2 ONOT INTACT-O DUNKNOWN-4 ZO NOT APPLICABLE -7 19 ADAPTIVE USE OYES ONO] SAVED?

DYES -POLITICS/ GOVT. 21 -RECREATION -28 C RELIGION- 22 - SETTLEMENT-29 - SCIENCE- 23 CURBAN PLANNING-31 C SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN-24 C OTHER (SPECIFY) - SOCIAL / CULTURAL- 30| - TRANSPORTATION -25 county Middlesex 8ADMINISTRATOR: X STATE -FEDERAL SHPO -LOCA staff red form? PRIVATE ORGANIZATION @OSUBSTANTIALLY INTACT-2 2 O SUBSTANTIALLY INTACT - 3 EO NOT INTACT-O QONOT INTACT - O SOUNKNOWN-5 >CUNKNOWN -6 SO NOT APPLICABLE-8 ZONOT APPLICABLE - 8 IS PROPERTY A HISTORIC DISTRICT?

OyesOno 2CLAIMS: explain "first'O 'oldest' O 'only' D 3)functions WHEN HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT: CURRENTLY: 2B) architectural style(s) @dates of initial construction: major alterations : historic events: ETHNIC GROUP ASSOCIATION Darchiteet: 2master builder: engineer: -landscape architect / garden designer: ") interior decorator: artist: Sartisan: @builder/contractor: NAMES give role & date PERSONAL: EVENTS: INSTITUTIONAL: NATIONAL REGISTER WRITE-UP eviewers initials IAM IF ADDITJONAL SPACE NEEDED, NUMBER & PUT ON REVERSE BORNE 5. N of Natick off I-90 on Frost St.