Nomination for Devotion, Edward, House

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Form No. 10-300 (Rev.

10-74) PH0504131 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FOR NPS USE ONLY NATIONAL PARK SERVICE RECEIVED SEP 1 9 1977 DATA SHEET NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM DATE ENTERED FEB 14 1978 SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES -- COMPLETE APPLICABLE SECTIONS 1 NAME HISTORIC Edward Devotion House AND/OR COMMON same LOCATION STREET & NUMBER 347 Harvard Street CITY, TOWN Brookline STATE Massachusetts -VICINITY OF Boston CODE 025 NOT FOR PUBLICATION CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 4th COUNTY Norfolk CODE 021 3 CLASSIFICATION CATEGORY _DISTRICT *BUILDING(S) -STRUCTURE _SITE _OBJECT OWNERSHIP X PUBLIC _PRIVATE -BOTH PUBLIC ACQUISITION IN PROCESS -BEING CONSIDERED STATUS XOCCUPIED _UNOCCUPIED -WORK IN PROGRESS ACCESSIBLE -YES: RESTRICTED * YES: UNRESTRICTED PRESENT USE -AGRICULTURE X_MUSEUM _COMMERCIAL _PARK X EDUCATIONAL X PRIVATE RESIDENCE -ENTERTAINMENT _RELIGIOUS _GOVERNMENT - SCIENTIFIC LLINDUSTRIAL: _TRANSPORTATION -MILITARY- -OTHER: OWNER OF PROPERTY NAME Town of Brookline STREET & NUMBER Town Hall, 333 Washington Street CITYTOWN STATE Massachusetts 02146 Brookline - VICINITY OF 5 LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION COURTHOUSE.

REGISTRY OF DEEDS,ETC. Norfolk County Registry of Deeds STREET & NUMBER 650 High Street CITY, TOWN STATE Massachusetts 02026 Dedham 6 REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS TITLE Inventory of the Historic Assets of the Commonwealth DATE 1977 _FEDERAL *STATE _COUNTY -LOCAL DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS CITY, TOWN Massachusetts Historical Commission Boston STATE Massachusetts 02108 7 DESCRIPTION CONDITION _EXCELLENT XGOOD -FAIR DETERIORATED _RUINS _UNEXPOSED CHECK ONE _UNALTERED X ALTERED CHECK ONE X_ORIGINAL SITE -MOVED DATE DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (IF KNOWN) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Description of the property

The Edward Devotion House is located at 347 Harvard Street in Brookline. The house is surrounded by a low picket fence and tall maple trees. The lot is en- circled by the driveway for the Edward Devotion School, which surrounds the house on three sides. The school land was purchased by the Town in 1891 for the purpose of erecting a school with funds left by Edward Devotion in his will. The house site lies just west of Coolidge Corner, a commercial center in Brookline. The area west of the house is residential. In 1685 the Devotion property consisted of 102 acres on both sides of Harvard Street (which had been laid out in 1662 as the Road to the Collages, [sic] which the soatton "To go... by the Goodman Devotions"). Edward Devotion built a house and barn on the property, but these were torn down by the time Edward Devotion, Jr. sold the lot to his adopted son, Solomon Hill, in 1740.

The present house was erected by Solomon Hill some time after this date. It now stands approximately 100 feet back from Harvard street. The building is the finest example of mid-18th century Colonial architecture remaining in Brookline today- It is a small house with a gambrel roof extended at the first pitch to form a lean-to at the rear. The 2½ story house has a central chimney, and is sheathed in clapboards painted yellow. The corner boards, door and window architraves, and eaves are painted white. Fenestration is varied and of contrasting scale. All windows have a plain sill and a molded, slightly projecting cornice. The asymmetrical south facade is three bays wide, with the entrance placed at the western end. The wooden door is flanked by a molded pilaster on either side and headed by a molded cornice supporting a triangular pediment. The two first story windows are 12/12.

The second story windows are 12/8 with their lintels directly beneath the eaves. The east elevation has a 12/12 window on the first and the second story of the northern end, with a small six light casement above and slightly south. The southern end of the elevation has a 12/12 on the first story, a 12/8 directly above on the second story, and a smaller 12/8 overhead in the attic. The west elevation has a 12/12 window on both the first and the second story, and an 8/8 above and slightly south in the attic. The northern end of the elevation has a 2½ story Beverly jog. The south facade of this jog has a door headed by four lights and a molded cornice. A 12/12 window stands directly overhead on the second story with a-12/8 window above that. The west elevation of the jog has a single 12/12 on the first and the second story at the northern end.

Most of the original interior detail remains, including H and HL hinges, a brass lift latch, the board and batten front door, four and six panel inter ior doors, and a molded wooden handrail supported by turned balusters and a square topped newel post. 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 SEP 1 9 1977 DATE ENTERED FEB 14 1978 CONTI NUATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER PAGE Edward Devotion House 7 The original fireplace wall is panelled with crosseted corners above. The more recent fireplace wall in the "new" kitchen at the rear of the house is also panelled, and has a molded architrave and mantel framing the fireplace. Summer beams and girts are encased. Some of the fireplaces have been covered over, but most of the original woodwork is intact.

when the school was constructed in 1891, extensive repair work was executed on the house under the direction of William G. Preston, architect. Paint and plaster were applied and the house was plumbed and wired. The structure was raised four feet on its original foundation and a new sill constructed. Most of the clapboards were replaced but the original nails were reused. Wherever possible the original sash was repaired, and the old glass reset. The t@ of the chimney was relaid, and the roof reshingled. In 1908 Kilham and Hopkins made minor alterations, such as latch and window repair and new floors in some of the rooms. The original house was one room deep with a hall, parlor, and present kitchen on the first story, and a bath and bedroom on the second. In approximately 1775-1800 rooms were added at the rear of the house, and the gambrel roof extended.

The Beverly jog was added at this time. It consisted of a kitchen with a room below, and two and ½ rooms above.

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- ARCHEOLUGY-PREHISTORIC ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC AGRICULTURE XARCHITECTURE XART COMMERCE COMMUNICATIONS AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE -- CHECK AND JUSTIFY BELOW _COMMUNITY PLANNING -LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE _CONSERVATION LLAW _ECONOMICS _LITERATURE X EDUCATION - MILITARY _ENGINEERING -MUSIC -EXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT _PHILOSOPHY LINDUSTRY POLITICS/GOVERNMENT _INVENTION _RELIGION _SCIENCE _SCULPTURE _SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN _THEATER -TRANSPORTATION _OTHER (SPECIFY) SPECIFIC DATES c. 1745 STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE BUILDER

Statement of significance

/ARCHITECT Solomon Hill The Edward Devotion House is significant as an excellent example of mid-18th century architecture, one of the few representative examples extant in Brookline. It is also significant for its long term association with the Devotions, a locally prominent Huguenot family, influential in the Town's educational, governmental, and religious affairs during the 17th and 18th centuries. Edward Devotion, Sr. was born in 1621. He bought the land at Muddy River (Brook- line) and was living there by 1645. He was a French Huguenot immigrant from La Rochelle, France where the Devaution family are believed to be his ancestors. Devotion was a member of the church and a freeman. He married in 1649 and raised a family of ten.

John Devotion, born in 1659, served as had his father and his own son, Edward Jr., in such capacities as constable, tithingman, and perambulator of the town boundaries. John and his son Edward signed the petition for Brookline's separation from Boston. Edward Devotion, Jr. bequested numerous gifts to the church and town, with his residual estate being designated for the building and maintenance of a school near the center of town. The intent of his will was disregarded for many years, only to be fulfilled in 1891 with the first buildings of the Edward Devotion School, which today stands on the original Devotion property. Heirlooms presented by descendants of the Devotion family are on display at the house, which now serves as a museum open to the public two days a week. Famous portraits of the Devotions and of other families are exhibited.

The Edward Devotion School was attended by John F. Kennedy. The reenactment of William Dawes' ride of 1775 takes place annually on April 19th. Dawes rode from Roxbury stopping at the Devotion House to warn the inhabitants of the arrival of the British. The curators of the museum currently live in the house.

The rest of the file

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

MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES Publication No. 14, Brookline Historical Publications Society. Brookline Town Report, 1906. Curtis, John Gould, History of the Town of Brookline, Houghton Mifflin, Boston, 1933. Little, Nina Fletcher, Some Old Brookline Houses, Brookline Historical Society, 1949. Proceedings of the Brookline Historical Society, January, 1902. Woods, Harriet F., Historical Sketches of Brookline, Robert S. Davis Co., Boston, 1874. 10 GEOGRAPHICAL DATA ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY Approx. 1/3 acre UTM REFERENCES ALZ,21 1312,419,8,0 ZONE EASTING CLL VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION 14,618,919,7,01 NORTHING LiILu BLu ZONE EASTING NORTHING 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 ORGANIZATION Helen C.

McIntosh, Curator of the Devotion House DATE Massachusetts Historical Commission August 8, 1977 STREET & NUMBER TELEPHONE 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/ 02108 As the designated State Historic Preservation Officer for the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Public Law 89-665), 1 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 liabich Rud Amadon TITLE Executive Director, Mass. Historical Commission DATE 9/6/77 FOR NPS USE ONLY I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS PROPERTY IS INCLUDED IN THE NATIONALREGISTER DIRECTOR Rolnt B.

Rettig HICTORIC BRESERVATION -Olg THs DATE 2/14.78 ATTEST: OeEOrARCHEY awaa KEEPEI kunge PHOTSTMÉ DATE 2.9:28 GPO 892-453 Property Devation, Edwad, Htouse State MA Working Number9.19.27.1467 TECHNICAL Photos _ Maps Skotch Ever quer aopepararl enteneu eaily far calenual restuation arrh. No Ve. Norfolk CONTROL pl OK 9.31.29 HISTORIAN house vy assoriatia. thefy 1-3-78 acrept ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN ALLEPT Britt 11/4/77 ARCHEOLOGIST OTHER HAER Inventory - Review REVIEW UNIT CHIEF eboviel 2/7/78 BRANCH CHIEF Huriny 2 -9-78 KEEPER Rettig fo Murtagh 2/14/8 Entered FEB 14 1978 INT:2106-74 National Register Write-up Federal Register Entry - 4.4.28 Send-back Re-submit United States Department of the Interior National Park Service WASO No. 7 Edward Devotion House Brookline, Massachusetts, Noufolk Countly March, 1977 Robert H.

Phinney 20 Newton Street, Brookline 02146 #1074 South facade and east elevation. (facade of Edward Devotion School in rear) FEB 14 1978 SEP 1 9 1977 photo by Robert F. Phinney 20Newton St. Brookline, Mars. 02146 PROPERTY OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER Edward Devotion House Brookline, Massachusetts March, 1977 Norfolk bounl Robert H. Phinney 20 Newton Street, Brookline 02146 #244 west elevation and south facade. FEB 14 1978 SEP 1 9 1977 phooto by Rabert 3. Plieacy 20 Neunton Slt. Brookline, Mare. 02146 PROPERTY OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER Edward Devotion House Brookline, Massachusetts, Noyfolke County March, 1977 Robert H. Phinney 20 Newton Street, Brookline 02146 #364 East elevation and south facade. FEB 14 1978 SEP 1 9 1977 photo by Robert I.Shinney 20 Newton St. Brookline, Mass.

02146 PROPERTY OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER Edward Devotion House BavokLine, Maoncousetts, Norlk County March, 1977 Robert H. Phinney 20 Newton Street, Brookline 02146 #474 Interior view of "new" kitchen poelto rear of house) fireplace. FEB 14 1978 SEP 1 9 1977 photo by Robezt 7. Phinney 20 Newton St. Brookline, Mass. 02146 PROPERTY OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER 09g $0-} maee RECEIVED SEP 191977> NATIONAL REGISTER DOE FEB 14 1978 ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER STATE MASSACHUSETTS Date Entered FEB 14 1978 Name Location Waters, Asa, Mansion Devotion, Edward, House Millbury Worcester County Brookline Norfolk County Also Notified Hon. Edward W. Brooke Hon. Edward M. Kennedy Hon. Joseph D. Early Hon. Robert F. Drinan Regional Director, North Atlant1c Region 880 Mott/js 2/24/78 State Historic Preservation Officer Mrs. Elizabeth R.

Amadon Executive Director, Massachusetts Historical Conmission 294 Washington Street Boston, Massachusetts 02108 PH0504131 NATIONAL REGISTER DATA DNAME as it appears on federal register: 2 OTHER NAMES: Devotion, Edward, House 5 LOCATION street & number city / town vicinity of 347 Harvard St. Brookline state MA TOWNER COPRIVATECSTATEG@MUNICIPAL COCOUNTY CMULTIPLE COFEDERAL(agency name) 9) EXISTING SURVEYS CHABS CHAER CNHL FUNDED? OYES -NO (II)CONGRESS.

DISTRICT 4th 12)SOURCE of NOMINATION coun Norfolk 8ADMIr XXSTATE TTONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT, UAL HISTORIC LANDMARK1 ACREAEE 1CONDITION Dexeellent Ogood Ofair - deteriorated Druins Dunexposed Dunexcavated Oaltered Doriginal site Ounaltered Omoved Dreconstructed Ounknown Dexcavated - No Access BACCESS OYES-Restricted DYES -Unrestricted 21 AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE : CENGINEERING-11 -ARCHEOLOGY - prehistoric-2 -COMMERCE-6 -ENTERTAINMENT-26 -ARCHEOLOGY-historic-1 - COMMUNICATIONS-7 CEXPLORATION -12 - AGRICULTURE -3 - CONSERVATION - 8 - HEALTH-27 - ARCHITECTURE-4 - ECONOMICS- 9 - INDUSTRY-13 -ART-5 - EDUCATION-10 - INVENTION - 14 1features: « OSUBSTANTIALLY INTACT-1 ©ONOT INTACT-O BOUNKNOWN-4 ED NOT APPLICABLE -7 - Unknown (19 ADAPTIVE USE OYES OONO) SAVED?

DYES - LANDSCAPE ARCH.- 15 - POLITICS/GOVT." 21 - LAW-16 -RELIGION-22 - LITERATURE-17 - SCIENCE- 23 - MILITARY- 18 - SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN-24 -RECREATION -28 CSETTLEMENT-29 -URBAN PLANNING-31 - OTHER (SPECIFY) - MUSIC-19 - SOCIAL / CULTURAL- 30 - PHILOSOPHY-20 - TRANSPORTATION - 25 *OSUBSTANTIAL 9O NOT INTACT GDUNKNOWN- JONOT APPLIC IS PROP 22CLI 'firs 'olde 'onl; 23 functions WHEN HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT: CURRENTLY: architectural style(s): dates of initial construction: major alterations: historic events: @architeet: master builder: -landscape architect / garden designer: " interlor decorator: artist: Partisan: NAMES give role & date PERSONAL: EVENTS: INSTITUTIONAL: 3NATIONAL REGISTER WRITE-UP reviewers initials. date. IF ADDITIONAL SPACE NEEDED. NUMBER & PUT ON REVERSE