Nomination for Allen, Nathaniel Topliff, Homestead

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Friedberg, Betsy @ SEC Page 1 of 1 BFpP pfs From: Petrisko, Pete @ SEC Sent: Monday, June 13, 2011 11:39 AM To: Friedberg, Betsy @ SEC Subject: Allen House, Newton Change to nom. I then a note Address change from 25 Webster Street to 35 Webster Street. Nomination has it all as 25 Webster, but all other sources such as assessors records have it as 35 Webster. P to NPS NPS 78000457 cone 6/23/11 pt 6/13/2011 June 21,2011 OVIET DAMT Site LRENA The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Massachusetts Historical Commission RECEIVED 2280 JUN 2 2 2311 NAT. REGISTER OF MISTORIC PLACES NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Mr. J. Paul Loether Vational Register of Historic Places Department of the Interior National Park Service 1201 Eye Street, NW 8" floor Washington, DC 20005 Dear Mr.

Loether: Re: Technical correction for the Nathaniel Topliff Allen Homestead, Middlesex County, MA (NPS #78000457) We have recently been informed that the correct street address for the Allen Homestead, Newton, MA, listed individually on January 9, 1978, should be 35 Webster Street, instead of 25 Webster Street. This has been determined by a check of assessor's records from the City of Newton. Please let me know if you need additional information to correct your records.

Sincerely, Betry Fredbeg Betsy Friedberg National Register Director Massachusetts Historical Commission XC: Newton Historical Commission Brian Lever, City of Newton 220 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston, Massachusetts 02125 (617) 727-8470 - Fax: (617) 727-5128 www.sec.state.ma.us/mhc UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET REQUESTED ACTION: ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION PROPERTY Allen, Nathaniel Topliff, Homestead NAME: MULTIPLE NAME : STATE & COUNTY: MASSACHUSETTS, Middlesex DATE RECEIVED: DATE OF 16TH DAY: DATE OF WEEKLY LIST: 6/22/11 DATE OF PENDING LIST: DATE OF 45TH DAY: 8/07/11 REFERENCE NUMBER: 78000457 NOMINATOR: STATE REASONS FOR REVIEW: APPEAL: N DATA PROBLEM: N LANDSCAPE: N LESS THAN 50 YEARS: N OTHER: N PDIL: N PERIOD: N PROGRAM UNAPPROVED: REQUEST: N SAMPLE: N SLR DRAFT: N NATIONAL: N N COMMENT WAIVER: N ACCEPT RETURN REJECT DATE ABSTRACT/ SUMMARY COMMENTS: Additional Documentation Approved RECOM./CRITERII REVIEWER DISCIPLINE TELEPHONE DATE Vislay 6-4.

4 DOCUMENTATION see attached comments Y/N see attached SLR Y/N If a nomination is returned to the nominating authority, the nomination is no longer under consideration by the NPS. Form No. 10-300 (Rev.

10-74) PHO500780 ** UNITEDSTATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY-- NOMINATION FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY DATA SHEET RECEVED JUL 12 1977 JAN 9 197B DATE ENTERED SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES -- COMPLETE APPLICABLE SECTIONS 2 3 NAME HISTORIC Nathaniel Topliff Allen Homestead AND/OR COMMON Allen House LOCATION STREET & NUMBER 25 Webster Street CITY, TOWN Newton STATE Massachusetts - VICINITY OF CODE 025 NOT FOR PUBLICATION QERRESSIONAL DISTRICT Midalesex 690F CLASSIFICATION CATEGORY DISTRICT XBUILDING(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 X PRIVATE RESIDENCE -ENTERTAINMENT -RELIGIOUS GOVERNMENT -SCIENTIFIC -INDUSTRIAL - _TRANSPORTATION _MILITARY _OTHER: OWNER OF PROPERTY Estate of Ruby Keefer, Legatees: Trinity Church, Boston; NAMUnitarian Church, West Newton;Radcliffe College; Smith College.

STRWestOE, Patrick, Willard & Redding, Counsellors at Law 84 State Street CITY. TOWN STATE Boston Mass. 02109 VICINITY OF LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION COURTHOUSE. REGISTRY OF DEEDS, ETC. Middlesex County Registry of Deeds, Southern District STREET & NUMBER 208 Cambridge Street CITY. TOWN STATE Cambridge REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS Massachusetts, 02141 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 71DESCRIPTION CONDITION _EXCELLENT _GOOD FAIR _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 Nathaniel T. Allen Homestead and school occupies a large site on the corner of Webster and Cherry Street in a predominantly residential area of Newton. A U-shaped drive off Webster Street follows the east elevation of the house to the front of the school. The property is separated from Webster Street by a low stone wall. The structure has a plan of three largely discrete units: the house, dormitory, and schoo1. The residence was built between 1848 and 1852 for Dr. John H. Stephenson, most probably by a local builder, Milo Lucas. The dormitory to the rear of the house is a subsequent addition. It is believed that the attached school, because of its unusually joined, heavy timber frame, formerly functioned as a barn and may well pre-date the house. Ihe Greek Revival house 1s a 2½ story clapboarded structure, the core of which is covered by a ridge root with two tall chimneys.

A wide molded entablature runs continuously around the building. Wide cornerboards are headed by molded capitals. The four bay wide facade faces south toward Webster Street. It is dominated by a two story Ionic portico running the full length of the facade. Three steps lead to a balustraded open porch in the portico. Fenestration is triple hung floor to ceiling windows on the first story and 6/6 on the second story. The west elevation has a two bay deep, one story entrance portico, supported by four fluted Ionic columns and three flat colums at the corners. The wide entablature supports a porch with molded panel railings. French doors headed by five lights lead onto this porch from the southern end of the second story. To the left of these doors is a 6/6 window and a pentagonal bay containing three 4/4 windows. The triangular pediment in the gable above has two 6/6 windows.

The east elevation has two floor to ceiling windows and a northern end flat roof entrance portico supported by two Ionic columns. The second story has three 6/6 windows; the gable pediment contains two 6/6 windows. The interior plan of the house shows symmetry in the square front rooms and then extends northward through three laterally partitioned slots to adjoin the main school structure to the house, corner to corner. An unusual interior feature is the hand- drawn elevator from the first to second floor. It 1s presumed that 1t was installed when Allen's elderly mother lived with him during the 1880's. Ihe dormitory, which was bullt in the late l9th century, 1s a two story, tlat-rootec addition of utilitarian construction. It is structurally continguous with both the house and the school at their juncture. Its gable roof contains a tall chimey and a large dormer on the east elevation.

Access to and from both adjoining buildings is through a large panelled dining room with built-in wall length cabinetry and bookshelves. The three bay wide south facade of the school presents a large frontal gable with symmetrical attached pavilions. The entrance is on the western end and is enclosed in -a glass paned porch flanked by molded round pilasters and headed by a huge fanlight in the triangular pediment over the door. The five first story windows are shaded by a trellis. There are three second story windows, and the triangularly pedimented gable contains a molded ornament in the typanum. 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 JUL 12 1977 DATE ENTERED JAN 9 1978 CONTINUATION SHEET N.T.

Allen Home ITEM NUMBER 7 PAGE 1 The first story windows light a large classroom with timber ceiling beams and an inglenook fireplace. A double volume gymnasium area with an overlooking gallery occupies the major space in the school building. The remaining area to the north is reserved as a barn with its exit on the west elevation facing Cherry Street. The second floor is a bowling alley which runs the entire length beneath the eaves and above the classroom and gym. Much of the complex's original furnishings, libraries and educational aids remain in good condition.

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

SIGNIFICANCE PERIOD -PREHISTORIC -1400-1499 -1500-1599 -1600-1699 X 1700-1799 -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 XECONOMICS _LITERATURE :EDUCATION _MILITARY LENGINEERING -MUSIC _EXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT _PHILOSOPHY INDUSTRY POLITICS/GOVERNMENT _INVENTION -RELIGION SCIENCE .SCULPTURE ISOCIALHUMANITARIAN _THEATER -TRANSPORTATION _OTHER (SPECIFY) SPECIFIC DATES 1848-1852 BUILDER

Statement of significance

/ARCHITECT Probably Milo Lucas STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE The Nathaniel T. Allen Homestead is significant as the home and school of the pro- minent 19th century educator, Nathaniel Topliff Allen, and as a fine example of Greek Revival architecture. Allen introduced novel programs and teaching methods in- to his progressive West Newton English and Classical School which he founded in 1854. He established here one of the earliest kindergartens in the U.S. Physical education was a part of the school's curriculum, which was also an innovation. The school was integrated with students from all over the world and enrolled Black children even before the Civil War. The school was among the earliest to place emphasis on equal education for boys and girls in all arts and sciences.

The broad curriculum included such subjects as geology, chemistry, and political geography, as well as more standard classes in liberal arts. Persons involved in the controversial political and social scene were invited to the school to speak. Students lived in the homes of instructors or resided in the large Allen house. Such a "home schoo1" allowed for almost continual education. The students were encouraged to participate in all aspects of community life, and thus to develop their sense of responsibility and thoughtfulness. Nathaniel T. Allen attended Massachusetts' first normal school at Bridgewater where he showed great promise. In 1847 he was engaged by Horace Mann, first Secretary of the Massachusetts Board of Education, to assist in the development of a "model school" in West Newton where a new normal school had been opened.

The "model school" enrolled local children in an arangement with the town and provided an opportunity for the nor- mal school students to experiment with new educational techniques in their practice teaching. The West Newton Normal School became a showcase teacher training school, attracting observers and students from all over the nation. It was soon forced to expand and therefore relocate. The school moved to Framingham in 1853; it is now known as Framingham State College. That same year, Horace Mann became president of the new Antioch College in Ohio, but persuaded Allen to remain in West Newton and open a private school in the old normal school building, incorporating the most advanced ideas in education. The West Newton English and Classical School, better known as the Allen School, was opened in 1854 with 38 students.

Allen purchased the original normal school building on Washington Street, as well as the large house on Webster Street. The house was ho fange nousc on hester st large enough to serve both as a home for his family and for a group of his students. The school expanded quickly so that soon 160 students were enrolled, a number of them

The rest of the file

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

MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES Nathaniel Topliff Allen: Teacher, Reformer, Philanthropist, by Mary A. Greene, printed privately 1906, (editions in Jackson Homestead and The Newton Public Library, Newton) Memories of My Home, by Lucy Ellis Allen, printed privately 1926, (Jackson Homestead, Newton) The Allens in Education, by Lucy Ellis Allen, 1938, (Jackson Homestead, Newton 10 GEOGRAPHICAL DATA ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY less than 2 acres UTM REFERENCES AR9/BP6440 ZONE EASTING 16P9B60 NORTHING BL.JLL EASTING NORTHING uLLdLiLu VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION 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 & Joseph Orfant, National Register Editor Elsie M.

Husher, Chairman, Newton Historical Commission) ORGANIZATION DATE Massachusetts Historical Commission June 13, 1977 STREET & NUMBER TELEPHONE 294 Washington Street 617-727-8470 CITY OR TOWN STATE Boston Mass. 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 liaheh Rud Amason TITLE Executive Director, Mass. FOR NPS USE ONLY Historical Comm.

DATE 7/6/77 1 HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS PROPERTY IS INCLUDED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER DIRECTOR FFICE OFARCH ATTEST: KEEPER O FTHE NATIONAL REGISTER TSULNUNE DATE 1.1.78 TEWEMYROUA DATE 1-6-22 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 JUL 12 1971 DATE ENTERED JAN 9 1978 CONTINUATION SHEET T.A. Allen Home ITEM NUMBER 8 PAGE 1 day students from Newton. By the time the school closed almost 50 years later, there were more than 5,000 alumni representing every state in the U.s. as well as Central and South America, The Azores, West Indies, England, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Sweden and Japan.

Among the alumi were university professors, judges, doctors, statesmen, explorers, naturalists, engineers, inventors, artists and writers. Nathaniel T. Allen, his several brothers and many of their children and grandchildren have been and remain prominent in every sector of the field of education in the .s. 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 JUL 12 1977 DATE ENTERED JAN 9 1978 CONTI NUATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER CHERRY STREET PAGE Nathaniel T. Allen Homestead Newton, Massachusetts Sketch Map Scale: 1"=40' 1977 Newton Engineers' Map WEBSTER STREET NoRTH HoUSE DORMI- TORY SCHOOL WARREN AVENUE srperw Aller, Nathaniel Japliff, Vomesteake Midoke ser Mass.

Working Number 7.12.27.1/27 TECHNICAL Photos - Maps trcn jusryicanmi tsis knuted bos taeeor CONTROL pl 2.14.72 HISTORIAN Accept 12/51 delonser ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN . D Beeke 10/19/71 ARCHEOLOGIST OTHER HAER Inventory Review REVIEW UNIT CHIEF accept Lebouich 12/28/77 BRANCH CHIEF 1-6-78 KEEPER lon 1.9.78 Entered JAN 9 1978 INT:2106-74 National Register Write-up Federal Register Entry 3.7.28 Send-back Re-submit United States Department of the Interior National Park Service WASO No. 7 Middlesef County Nathaniel Topliff Allen Homestead West Newton, 1976 Massachusetts Beth Ansell JAN 9 33 White Pine Road 1978 Newton, Mass. 02164 Photo #1064. Looking northeast at south facade and west elevation. JUL 12 1977 PROPERTY OFTHE NATIONAL REGISTER? Middeesey County Nathaniel Topliff Allen Homestead West Newton, Massachusetts 1976 Beth Ansell JAN 9 1978 33 White Pine Road Newton, Mass.

02164 Photo #2 04 Looking toward west elevation JUL 12 1977 DROPERTY OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER'* W 1D0 2T 10 3707907 - Nathaniel Topliff Allen Homestead West Newton, Massachusetts 1976 Beth Ansell 33 White Pine Road JAN 9 1978 Newton, Mass. 02164 Photo #3 04 Looking toward south facade of school JUL 12 1977 Middlesex County PROPERTY OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER' Middlesef County Nathaniel Topliff Allen Homestead West Newton, Massachusetts 1976 Beth Ansell 33 White Pine Road JAN 9 1978 Newton, Mass. 02164 Photo#4 034 Looking toward east elevatior JUL 1 2 1977 PROPERTY OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER May 10, 1978 Mr. Charles J. Thonas Cosunity Development Coordinator City Hall 1000 Conmonwealth Avenue Newtou, Hassachusetts 02159 Dear Hx.

Thomas: midilleri/ Oa April 27, 1978, the Council received a deternination from the City of Newton that restoration of the Nathaniel Allen House, Newton, Massachusette,using Conmunity Development Block Grant funds, would not adversely affect that property that 1s included in the National Register of Historic Places. The Executive Director does not object to your determination. A copy of your determination of no adverse effect, along with supporting documentation and this concurrenee, should be included in any assessment or statement prepared for thie undertaking in compliance with the National Environsental 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. 470£, as amended, 90 Stat. 1320)- Tour continued cooperation is appreciated. Sincerely yours, Myra F.

Harrison Assistant Director Office of Review and Compliance CC: Chairman SHPO-MAss. FLO-HUD HCRS ORC:Conway: kbs 5-10 Flle:MA/Nathaniel Allen House/106/City/Rehabilitation NEN CLOSED 1/12/78 Mott/js 880 ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER STATE MASSACHUSELIS Date Entered JAN 9 1978 Name Location Rasty Pudding Club Union Trust Company Allen, Nathantel TopiifI, Homestead Allen, Abel, House Catbridge Hiddlesex County Springfield Hampden County Navton Middleaex County Weston Middleses County Also Notified Hon. Edward W. Brooke Hon. Edward M. Kennedy Bon. Thonas P. O'Ne111, JT. Ion. Edward P. Boland Bon. Robert F. Drinan Reglonal Director, North Atlantic Region State Historie Presarvation Officer Mrs. Elizabeth R.

Amadon Executive Director, Massachuaetts #istorical Comnission 294 Washington Street Boston, Massachusetts 02108 PH0500780 NATIONAL REGISTER DATA SHEET DNAME as it appears on federal register: 2OTHER NAMES: Allen, Nathaniel Topliff, Homestead Allen House SAN date of entry: ) county code: 1978 17 5 LOCATION street & number city / town vieinity of 25 Webster St. Newton state MA )NPS REGION: NA OWNER X)PRIVATE STATE -MUNICIPAL OCOUNTY MULTIPLE FEDERAL(agency name) 9 EXISTING SURVEYS CHABS HAER CNHL (10) FUNDED? OYES ONO UCONGRESS.

DISTRICT 4th 12)SOURCE of NOMINATION OMAL REGISTI ISTORIG BISTRIETT HISTORIC LANOM ACREAGE EAIES CONDITION Dexeellent -good Ofair -deteriorated Daltered Oruins Dunexposed Dunaltered Dreconstructed Dunexcavated Dexcavated ACCESS OYES-Restricted -YES -Unrestricted - No Access 2 AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE : -ENGINEERING -11 CARCHEOLOGY - prehistoric-2 -COMMERCE-6 -ENTERTAINMENT-26 -ARCHEOLOGY-historic-1 - COMMUNICATIONS-7 CEXPLORATION -12 D AGRICULTURE -3 - CONSERVATION - 8 - HEALTH-27 - ARCHITECTURE-4 - ECONOMICS- 9 C INDUSTRY-13 - ART-5 - EDUCATION-10 - INVENTION - 14 Doriginal site Omoved Ounknown - Unknown - LANDSCAPE ARCH.- 15 - LAW- 16 - LITERATURE- 17 C MILITARY - 18 - MUSIC- 19 - PHILOSOPHY - 20 1features: @LOSUBSTANTIALLY INTACT-1 2ONOT INTACT-O DUNKMOWN-4 20 NOT APPLICABLE -7 )ADAPTIVE USE CYES DNO SAVED?

DOYES - POLITICS / GOVT.- 21 -RECREATION -28 - RELIGION-22 DSETTLEMENT-29 - SCIENCE- 23 CURBAN PLANNING-31 - SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN-24 D OTHER (SPECIFY) - SOCIAL / CULTURAL- 30 - TRANSPORTATION -25 county Middlesex BADMINISTRATOR: ESTATE -FEDERAL if state who prepared form? DLOCAL -PRIVATE ORGANIZATION «OSUBSTANTIALLY INTACT-2 2OSUBSTANTIALLY INTACT -3 E0 NOT INTACT-O OONOT INTACT - O OUNKNOWN-5 SO UNKNOWN -6 EO NOT APPLICABLE-8 EO NOT APPLICABLE - 9 IS PROPERTY A HISTORIC DISTRICT?

Dyes Ono CLAIMS: explain 'first'D 'oldest' O 'only' D functions WHEN HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT: CURRENTLY: architectural style(s): dates of initial construction: major alterations: histeric events: ETHNIC GROUP ASSOCIATION architect: master builder: engineer: landscape arohitect / garden designer: 31 interior decorator: artist: artisan: @builder/contractor: NAMES give role & date PERSONAL: EVENTS: INSTITUTIONAL: 38NATIONAL REGISTER WRITE-UP reviewers initials. date. IF ADDITIONAL SPACE NEEDED, NUMBER& PUT ON REVERSE