Nomination for Winslow-Haskell Mansion

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 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY RECEIVEO AUG 1 6 1979 DATE ENTERED SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES -- COMPLETE APPLICABLE SECTIONS OCT.25-1979 1 3 4 NAME HISTORIC Winslow-Haskell Mansion AND/OR COMMON The Castle LOCATION STREET & NUMBER 53 Vista Avenue _NOT FOR PUBLICATION CITY.

TOWN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT Newton - VICINITY OF 4th STATE CODE COUNTY CODE Massachusetts 025 Middlesex 017 CLASSIFICATION CATEGORY _DISTRICT XBUILDING(S) STRUCTURE SITE _OBJECT OWNERSHIP _PUBLIC XPRIVATE _BOTH PUBLIC ACQUISITION _IN PROCESS -BEING CONSIDERED STATUS _OCCUPIED XUNOCCUPIED -WORK IN PROGRESS ACCESSIBLE X YES: RESTRICTED - YES: UNRESTRICTED -NO OWNER OF PROPERTY NAME Lasell Junior College STREET & NUMBER 1844 Commonwealth Avenue PRESENT USE AGRICULTURE -MUSEUM -COMMERCIAL _PARK XEDUCATIONAL -PRIVATE RESIDENCE -ENTERTAINMENT -RELIGIOUS -GOVERNMENT -SCIENTIFIC _INDUSTRIAL -TRANSPORTATION _MILITARY _OTHER: yuew suner -pee fettu 9/079 THE ELAINE CO., INC. NERTONVILCE, MA 02160 -CITY. TOWN Newton STATE Massachusetts - VICINITY OF LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION COURTHOUSE. REGISTRY OF DEEDS;ETC.

Midalesex County Registry of Deeds STREET & NUMBER 40 Thorndike Street CITY, TOWN Camoridge REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS STATE Massachusetts TITLE Inventory of the Historic Assets of the Commonwealth DATE 1978 -FEDERAL XSTATE _COUNTY LOCAL DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS Massachusetts Historical Commission CITY. TOWN Boston STATE Massachusetts 7-DESCRIPTION CONDITION EXCELLENT -GOOD XFAIR _DETERIORATED _RUINS CHECK ONE _UNALTERED *ALTERED 1882 CHECK ONE *ORIGINAL SITE -MOVED DATE_ _UNEXPOSED DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (IF KNOWN) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Description of the property

The Winslow-Haskell Mansion occupies a large wooded lot on Vista Hill in the Auburndale section of Newton. It is approached by a winding carriage drive. Designed in 1870, this 2½ story house provides an excellent example of High Victorian Gothic design. Its complex plan, wall massing and roof line all combine to create the picturesque effect associated with this style. It is constructed of A coarse buff colored brick with darker brick üsed for trim. The steep roof, characterizedby jerkin-headed gables,is sheathedwith polychromatic,patterned slate. Windows are pointed arches and of varying sizes. The house is basically narrow in plan with the main entrance located on the long, , south elevation. This elevation consísts of two jerkin headed end" pavillions and a central section interrupted by a tower with pyramidal roof, a bow window and several dormers with decorative verge boards.

The entrance, approached by a flight of five steps, is located in the tower and is protected by a steep roofed portico. Its double door is carved with trefoils. The tower contains a single window: and its roof is topped by a weathervane. The west pavillion has a three- sided bay at its tirst story and a single window in the second story. The east pavillion has two long narrow windows on the first floor, a single window with a balcony on the second floor and a small window in the gable. The most prominent feature of the east elevation is a three sided tower which was apparently added in 1882 although it continues the Gothic elements of the original design. Windows occupy two sides of the tower at the first floor level while a secondary entry, approach by a flight of five wooden steps, occupies the side to the right. Windows are located in al) second story ..

irr The' third story is, a, recessed porch with turned posts and a low balustrade pierced with trefoils. with flanking windows: leads into the house. A steep six sided roof completes the tower. The west elevation consists of a jerkin headed cross gable section at its north end and a main block whose roof extends down to a one story porch. Iwo large dormers provide light for the second story. A flat roofed one story porch extends across Aste da ae dosmers the north elevation. Jerkin-headed and gable roof dormers light the second story. Now vacant and boarded, the house is beginning to deteriorate and has lost some of its original features such as porch balusters, roof brackets and roofline cresting. Most interior paneling,doors and mantels remain intact.

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

SIGNIFICANCE PERIOD -PREHISTORIC -1400-1499 - 1500-1599 .-1600-1699 -1700-1799 X 1800-1899 _1900- AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE -- CHECK AND JUSTIFY BELOW ARCHEOLOGY-PREHISTORIC COMMUNITY PLANNING _LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE -ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC _CONSERVATION -LAW AGRICULTURE -ECONOMICS -LITERATURE XARCHITECTURE XEDUCATION -MILITARY ART -ENGINEERING _MUSIC _COMMERCE _EXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT _PHILOSOPHY XCOMMUNICATIONS LINDUSTRY -POLITICS/GOVERNMENT -INVENTION _RELIGION _SCIENCE -SCULPTURE _SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN _THEATER _TRANSPORTATION _OTHER (SPECIFY) 3.0. ::21 SPECIFIC DATES,: 1870, 1882 STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE BUILDER

Statement of significance

/ARCHITECT TheWinslow-Haskell Mansion possesses integrityof location, design, setting, tas ketla o ier dhit adics e a major Borcon papere the conpi ol nasuing of tho house atone, and workmanship and is significant for the quality of its architectural picturesque movement which was so important" in the development of Newton. Its High Victorian Gothic design is expressed in its polychromatic slate roof,pointed window openings, carved vergeboards, and trefoils and quatrafoils. Built in 1870 for Ezra D. Winslow, this house represents the apex of the development of Victorian domestic architecture in Auburndale which is one of Newton's earliest railroad villages.

The Boston and Albany Railroad passed through Newton in 1834 and by the early 1840's much of the former farm land had been bought by speculators and sold to Bostonians who were discovering the possibility of commuting from fine country homes to jobs in the city. By the time the Winslow-Haskel1 Mansion was built, much of Auburndale was already developed with many fine examples of Victorian styles. Only two years after its 'construction, the house was sold to Edwin Bradbury Haskel1, owner and editor of the Boston Herald, which under the name of the Boston Herald American, is still one of Boston's two major newspapers.

Haskel1 owned and edited the paper from 1865 to 1887 and remained a director of the Boston Herald Company until his death in 1907- During his lifetime he worked in almost every aspect of newspaper publishing beginning as an apprentice printer at 16 for the Portland (Me.) Advertiser. At 17, he became a compositor in New Orleans, and a year later for the Saturday Evening Gazette in Boston. At 20, he became a reporter for The Boston Herald in 1865, and continued as its editor for the next' 22 years.. -Iwo partners sold out their interest afew years later, the remaining then continuing together until 1887, when the paper was incorporated. As the editor of The Boston Herald, Haskel1 strongly supported universal suffrage, local self-government, honest currency, civil service reform and low tariff with free trade as an ultimate goal.

Under his leadership, the Herald became one of the most enterprising newspapers in the country, certainly the leading journal in New England, with a wide circulation and powertul influence.

The rest of the file

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

MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES Hurd, The History of Middlesex County, Vol. III, Philadelphia, 1890; p. 169-171. The Newton Circuit, "Obituaries", March 29, 1907. Sweetser, King's Handbook of Newton, Boston, 1889. Brimblecom, Newton, Garden City of the Commonwealth, 1902. 10 GEOGRAPHICAL DATA ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY 162,990 sq. tt. UTM REFERENCES AL1,91 L311,419,6,9 ZONE EASTING CLL VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION 14 +,618,917,6,0 NORTHING NORTHINC -L LLLULiiL Please refer to th e attached assesor's map. Page 26, section 43, block 36, lot 5. LIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNTY BOUNDARES STATE CODE COUNTY CODE STATE CODE COUNTY CODE 11 FORM PREPARED BY Elsie M. Husher, Chairman NAME / TITLE Candace Jenkins, National Register Coordinator with Newton Historical Commission.

ORGANIZATION Massachusetts Historical Commissión STREET & NUMBER 294 Washington Street CITY OR TOWN Boston July 1979 TELEPHONE (617) 727-8470 STATE Massachusetts 12 STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER CERTIFICATION THE EVALUATED SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS PROPERTY WITHIN THE STATE IS, STATE - LOCAL NATIONAL- 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 chundWestnki 8/9/79 TITLE Executive Director, Mass.

Historical Cormission FORNPS USE ONLY DATE I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS PROPERTYJS IYCLUDED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER ull CHEOLOGY.AND-HISTORIC PRESEAVATION OHRECTOR: ATTEST KEEPER OF Mu tu PTE10-25-17 DATE 1014224 NASONAL PEGISTER GPO 892.453 Form No. 10-300a (Hev. 10-74) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY RECEIVERUG 16 1979 DATE ENTERED OCT. 25 1979 CONTINUATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER 8 PAGE 2 Haskell invested heavily in several other well known newspapers in the mid-West: Minneapolis Journal, Minneapolis Tribune and the St. Joseph News. Locally, Haskell was the president of the Board of Trustees of the Newton Free Library for 17 years, president of the Newton Cemetery Corp. and president of the Newton Jersey Stock Club.

In addition, he was appointed Metropolitan Park Commissioner by Governor Greenhalge in 1895, and in this position sought the ways to beautify the banks of the Charles River. propere Vindlow-Haskall mansim (the Catl y state MA(midellesek Working Numbeg. /6. 79.1921 TECHNICAL Photos CONTROL Maps OK 5.16.79 siguficant for eta asoocations wich Elwer HISTORIAN laskel who was an emportant newogaper Accept editor. House is also siguficaxt architectmally. Lghtnen 0-17-7 ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN ARCHEOLOGIST OTHER HAER Inventory - Review REVIEW UNIT CHIEF AcLeT 10/1945 BRANCH CHIEF KEEPER National Register Write-up Federal Register Entry 12.4.79 Send-back Re-submit Entered QCT 25 1979 United States Department of the Interior - Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service Newton Winslow-Haskell Mansion Steve Rosenthal Vewton Historical Commiss1o!

niddlere/County, Massochusell Photo #1%/4 Southeast corner rndale, Newton, Ma. AUG 1 6 1979 poc OCT 25 1979 Newton Winslow-Haskell Mansion Steve Rosenthal 1979 Newton Historical Commission middlesef County, Mansachasetts Photo #2 9/4 East elevation le, Newton, Mess AUG 1 6 1979 DOE OCT 2 5 1979 Newton Winslow-Haskell Mansion Steve Rosenthal Vewton Historical Commiss1o Hidoleuf County, masachwatts Northwest corner uondale, Newton, Ma AUG 1 6 1979 N0E OCT 2 5 1979 (straight north view camnot be photo becanse of trear o steep deep of Newton Winslow-Haskell Mansion Steve Rosenthal 1oo porie), misdokmatte View from Vista Ave. dale, Newton, Mars AUG 1 6 1979 OCT 25 |979 NE, faecdes ef -showing site descup Jeo 8-16-79 OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT Winslow-Haskell Mansion 8-28-79 LASELL JUNIOR COLLEGE NEWTON. MASSACHUSETTS 02166 MA omddlesex Co. August 28, 1979 Mr. Charles A.

Herrington Acting Keeper of the Nat'1 Register United States Department of the Interior Heritage Conservation & Recreation Service Washington, D.C. 20240 Re: #663 Dear Mr. Herrington: Your letter of August 21, 1979 regarding "Winslow-Haskell Mansion" at Lasell Junior College has just come to my attention. In it, you state that this property has been nominated for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. There is no building on our campus by this des- cription, although we do have a Winslow Hall and a Haskell Hall. We would be most appreciative of a more specific description of the building(s) to which you refer. Sincerely, Arthur M/ Sfiffin AG/g 18 THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES DATE RERD SEP 4 1979 INDIVIDUAL RESPONSE (ATTACHED) INFORMATIVE MATERIAL SENT T.L PHONE CALL (ATTACHED) DATE N TAKEN INITIALS LASELL JUNIOR COLLEGE, NEWTON, MASS. 02166 DATE ..

To: United States Dept. of the Interior Heritage Conservation E Recreation Service From: Arthur M. Griffin, President Re: File #663 Sept.10, 1979 eTPI 1 1 912 Please be advised that the "Winslow-Haskell Mansion" (The Castle) referred to in your communication of Sept. 6th was sola by Lasell Junior College and titled transferred to The Elaine Co.,Inc. Newtonville, Massachusetts 02160 on April 23, 1979. cuyh THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES DALE CEND SEP | 7 1979 IND: : + FESPCHSE (ATTACHED) INFOi. IVE PSTE TAL SENT TELEFH.NL CLL ATTACHED) DATE ACTION TAKEN INITIALS ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER STATE MASSACHTISETTS Date Entered OCT 2 5 1979 Name Location Winslow-Haskell Mansion Newton Middlesex County Also Notified Honorable Paul G. Tsongas Honorable Edward M. Kennedy Honorable Robert F. Drinan State Historic Preservation Officer Mrs. Patricia L.

Weslowski Executive Director Massachusetts Iistorical Commission 294 Washington Street Boston, Massachusetts 02108 NR Byers/bjr 10/31/79 For further information, please call the National Register at (202)343-6401.