Nomination for Stetson House

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Form No. 10-300 REV.

(9/77) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE FOR NPS USE ONLY NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM RECEIVED JUL 6 1979 SEP T 1979 DATE ENTERED SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES -- COMPLETE APPLICABLE SECTIONS 1 NAME HISTORIC Stetson House AND/OR COMMON same 2 LOCATION STREET & NUMBER 3 4 5 Hanover Street -NOT FOR PUBLICATION CITY, TOWN Hanover CONGIESSIONAL DISTRICT - VICINITY OF STATE CODE COUNTY Massachusetts 025 Plymouth CLASSIFICATION CODE 023 CATEGORY DISTRICT X BUILDING(S) _STRUCTURE SITE -OBJECT OWNERSHIP PUBLIC XPRIVATE _BOTH PUBLIC ACQUISITION XIN PROCESS _BEING CONSIDERED STATUS XOCCUPIED _UNOCCUPIED -WORK IN PROGRESS ACCESSIBLE X YES: RESTRICTED - YES: UNRESTRICTED _NO PRESENT USE AGRICULTURE XMUSEUM COMMERCIAL PARK _EDUCATIONAL XPRIVATE RESIDENCE _ENTERTAINMENT _RELIGIOUS GOVERNMENT SCIENTIFIC _INDUSTRIAL _TRANSPORTATION MILITARY _OTHER: OWNER OF PROPERTY NAME Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities STREET & NUMBER 141 Cambridge Street CITY.

TOWN Boston - VICINITY OF LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION STATE Massachusetts 02114 COURTHOUSE. REGISTRY OF DEEDS,ETC. STREET & NUMBER Plymouth Registry Russell Street CITOWN Plymouth REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS STATE Massachusetts TITLE Inventory of the Historic Assets of the Commonwealth DATE 1979 DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS CITY. TOWN -FEDERAL XSTATECOUNTYLOCAL Massachusetts Historical Commission Boston STATE Massachusetts 7 DESCRIPTION CONDITION _EXCELLENT XGOOD FAIR _DETERIORATED _RUINS CHECK ONE _UNALTERED XALTERED CHECK ONE XORIGINAL SITE _MOVED DATE. _UNEXPOSED DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (IF KNOWN) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Description of the property

The Stetson House is a two and one-half story frame structure with a later ell, facing north, on a roughly two-acre site in Hanover Center. Although the present dwelling house dates primarily from c. 1760, it incorporates portions of an earlier (c. 1700) house. Structural evidence suggests that the barn also may date from c. 1700. The street facade of the Stetson House displays granite Ioundation tacing, wood water table, and symmetrical placement of five bays with a center entrance. Ihe sash are 12/12 on the first story and 12/8 on the second. BZTE The elaborate entrance frontispiece with fluted Doric pilasters, rusticated paneling, quoins, and dentilated cornice probably dates from c. 1790, as does teeloey motef undar te as pamo od an they teentmicee tury shestora, pninted mid-nineteenth-century ell extends from the southwest portion of the house.

The earliest interior area is the southeast room where there is a fireplace core with exposed beams. The summer beam there is champtered with lambs' tongue stops. In the northwest parlor the decorative wood trim has late eighteenth-century mouldings and a "rustification" motif which is unusual but corresponds to the same detailing on the entrance frontispiece. The cupboard door beside the fire- place has raised field paneling. Above this parlor, the northwest chamber is similar. In both of these rooms the trim represents an interesting provincial interpretation of transitional Georgian-Federal woodwork. Trim work having a more typical vernacular Federal design exists in the mortheast parlor. The northeast and southeast chambers underwent "restoration" sometime between 1916 and 1928. The owner, Dr. Lloyd Vernon Briggs, left no records to justify his choices.

These two chambers have exposed traming. Ihe wall surtace in the northeast chamber is simply the interior side of the exterior wall sheathing. Bead-and-bevel panels cover the walls in the southeast chamber, and the room has diamond-pane leaded glass casement windows. Briggs also replaced the main stair- case. Some elements which Briggs removed, including raised paneling from the northeast chamber, are stored in the barn.

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

SIGNIFICANCE PERIOD _PREHISTORIC -1400-1499 -1500-1599 _1600-1699 X1700-1799 X1800-1899 X1900- ARCHEOLOGY-PREHISTORIC ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC AGRICULTURE XARCHITECTURE ART _COMMERCE -COMMUNICATIONS AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE -- CHECK AND JUSTIFY BELOW COMMUNITY PLANNING -LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE -CONSERVATION _LAW _ECONOMICS - LITERATURE _EDUCATION XMILITARY LENGINEERING _MUSIC EXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT _PHILOSOPHY LINDUSTRY _POLITICS/GOVERNMENT -INVENTION ntel -RELIGION SCIENCE -SCULPTURE XSOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN -THEATER -TRANSPORTATION _OTHER (SPECIFY) BUILDER/ARCHITECT Capt. Benjamin Stetson (?) SPECIFIC DATES c. 1700, 1760 STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

Statement of significance

The Stetson House, built c. 1700, retains integrity of location, design, materials and workmanship and is one of the earliest extant buildings in Hanover Center. It is also associated with one of Hanover's oldest families and remained in their ownership for nearly iwo hundred years. During its earlier years it played a key role in the life of the community serving as a tavern and a meetinghouse. It stands on a two-acre plot which is part of a far more extensive parcel of land originally acquired in 1634 for the Plymouth Colony by the first Stetson in the area, Robert Stetson. The area was then known as Scituate, and Stetson obtained a section encompassing parts of Scituate and present-day Hingham and Abington from the Namasakeesett Indians.

In 1634 the Plymouth Colony Court granted Stetson a "considerable tract of land" which included shore along the Nhe towm or, sand part of Herring Brook. By 1642 the area was incorporated as Stetson erected a saw mill on Herring Brook in 1656, probably the first in that part of the colony. "Cornet" Robert Stetson, so named because he was a Cornet of the first light horse corps in the Colony, was said to have considerable wealth. He served as a Deputy to the Colony Court, a Colony Cormissioner, and a member of the Council of War. One on his sons, Captain Benjamin Stetson, was very likely the builder of the house. As early as 1690, Captain Stetson was engaged in shipbuilding on the North River. He left the property, with an unspecified acerage, to his son Samuel in 1715.

Samuel, known in the records as "Drummer" Stetson, evidently continued the family tradition of nickname by CER military association. Records for 1716 describe the house of "Drummer" Stetson as a tavern and "famous place of resort." After Hanover separated from Scituate in 1727, public use of the Stetson House continued. "Being nearest the centre of the town and most convenient for public accommodation," it was the meetinghouse for the new town. The house did not pass out of the Stetson family intil 1891. In 1916, Dr. L. Vernon Briggs, on of the first psychiatrists in Massachusetts, purchased the house and executed a conjectural restoration of certain areas of the house.

Although he did not base his work strictly on documentary or physical research, he did attempt to represent various styles from various periods in the history of the house, from the late seventeenth century to the mid-nineteenth century. Descended from early Hanover settlers, Dr. Briggs designated the house as a memorial to his parents. Use of certain rooms was granted to the Hanover Historical Society. In 1928 he willed the house to the Scoiety for the Preservation of New England Antiquities.

The rest of the file

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

MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES Barry, John S. A Historical Sketch of the Town of Hanover, Massachusetts with Family Genealogies. (Boston: Samuel G. Drake, 1853) . Barry, John S. Records of the Stetson Family. Deane, Samuel. A History of Scituate from its First Settlement to 1831. (Boston Loring, 1831). Record of Births,Marriages, and Deaths...of the Town of Hanover, Massachusetts, 1727- 10 GEOGRAPHICAL DATA (RockTand, Mass: (no publisher) 1898). ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY _ 2 acres QUADRANGLE NAME UTM REFERENCES Hanover A119] 314,75 40J 466AL100 ZONE EASTING NORTHING QUADRANGLE SCALE1:24000 ZONE DLL EASTNG L1.LuL NORTHING LLud LILILIL FULLILULILILIL EL, LiLIL GLU LILLL LLiL VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION Beginning at a stone bound at the northeasterly corner of land of the Town of Hanover, and running thence.

(continued) 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 Sara B. Chase, Architectural Researcher & Candace Jenkins, National Register Coordinator Massachusetts Historical Commission STREET & NUMBER 294 Washington Street CITY OR TOWN Boston MAY 1979 TELEPHONE (617) 727-8470 STATE Massachusetts 02108 2 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 Palu AWatowski 6/25/79 TITLE Executive Director, Massachusetts Historical Commission DATE FOR NPS USE ONLY IHEREBY CERRFY THAT THIS PROPERTY IS INCLUDED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER shall DATE FKEEPER OF THE HATIONAL REGISTER ATTEST Quluc DATE 9-7-79 9/5/13 GPO 921-803 FHR-8-300A (11/78) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR HERITAGE CONSERVATION AND RECREATION SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM FOR HCRS USE ONLY RECEIVED JUL 6979 DATE ENTERED CONTINUATION SHEET STETSON HOUSE ITEM NUMBER 10 PAGE 2 VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION (continued) EASTERLY by said Hanover Street about 211 feet to land now or formerly of the E.H. Clapp Rubber Company;thence turning and running SOUTH 12 23" WEST by land of said E.H. Clapp Rubber Company, 321 feet to a stake; thence turning and running SOUTH 82 22" EAST by said E.

H. Clapp Rubber Company land, 114 feet to a stake; thence turning and running SOUTH 13 51 WEST by land now or formerly of the heirs of Juletta S. Stetson, 264 feet to a stake thence turning and running NORTH 82 22" WEST by land now or formerly of Edward A. Bowker, 307 feet to a stake; thence turning and running NORTH 4 30" EAST by land now or formerly of said Bowker, 262.84 feet to a stone bound at the southeasterly corner of the Town House Lot, so-called, of the Town of Hanover; thence turning and running NORTH 37 10" EAST by land of said Town of Hanover, 122 feet to a stone bound; then running NORTH 5 10" EAST by said land of the Town of Hanover, 215.9 feet to the point of beginning; or however otherwise bounded, measured or described, and be any or all of said measurements more or less. Property Stetoon House state mass. (Plimautkorking Number g. 6. 39.

16 26 TECHNICAL Photos CONTROL Maps OK 29.79 One of the oldest eftant buildings in Hanover Co., the Stetso HISTORIAN touse wes served as a town tavern and mectingnouse ; wa. oumnea mearly 200 yrs. bu a fammly prominent in local 'military! Qcept. Oulub commerce. Atterations (egekterior shingleng) by Dr. vernon Briggs, 9/5/99 me of Mas ist psychiatrists, reflect an early ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN aoth c restoratio and preserration philosophy. ARCHEOLOGIST OTHER HAER Inventory Review REVIEW UNIT CHIEF accpt Omleg 215129 BRANCH CHIEF KEEPER National Register Write-up Federal Register Entry 10-2-75 Send-back _ Re-submit - Entered SEP 7 1979 United States Department of the Interior -Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service PHOTOGRAPH BY J. DAVID BOHL BOSTON, MASS. Neg. no.

28523-A THIS PHOTOGRAPH IS FURNISHED FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY WRITTEN PERMISSION MUST BE OBTAINED FOR ANY OTHER USE The Socicty fer the Preservation of New England Antiquities 141 Cambridge Street Boston, Mass. 02114 SEP 7 1979 Stetson House Hanover, Massachusetts J. David Bohl Boston, Massachusetts Photo # 28523-A (1) EXTERIOR, NORTHEAST CORNER 1978 JUL 6 1079 D ou PHOTOGRAPH BY J. DAVID BOHL BOSTON MAASE Neg. no. 28524-A THIS PHOTOGRAPH IS FURNISHED FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY WRITTEN PERMISSION MUST BE OBTAINED FOR ANY OTHER USE The Sociaty for the Preservation ef New England Antiquities 141 Cambridge Street Boston, Mass. 02114 SEP 7 1979 Ply Stetson House Hanover, Massachusetts J. David Bohl Boston, Massachusetts Photo #28524-A(2) EXTERIOR, NORTH AND WEST FA 1978 JUL 6 1979 EEEEE PHOIOGRAPH BY J. DAVID BOHL BOSTON, MASS: Neg. no.

28525-A THIS PHOTOGRAPH IS FURNISHED FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY WRITTEN PERMISSION MUST BE OBTAINED FOR ANY OTHER USE The Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities 141 Cambridge Street Boston, Mass. 02114 SEP 7 1979 Stetson House Hanover, Massachusetts J. David Bohl Boston, Massachusetts Photo # 28525-A (3) EXTERIOR, STREET FACADE 1978 Lymonth sunt JUL 6 1979 PHOTOGRAPH BY J. DAVID BOHL BOSTON, MASS. Neg. no.- 28531-A THIS PHOTOGRAPH IS FURNISHED FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY WRITTEN PERMISSION MUST BE OBTAINED FOR ANY OTHER USE The Seciety fer the Preservation of New England Antiquities 141 Cambridge Street Boston, Mass. 02114 SEP 7 1979 Stetson House Hanover, Massachusetts J. David Bohl Boston, Massachusetts Photo # 28531-A (4) EAST PARLOR, FIRST FLOOR 1978 JUL 6 Neg. no.

EDR-/ THIS PHOTOGRAPH IS FURNISHED FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY WRITTEN PERMISSION MUST BE OBTAINED FOR ANY OTHER USE The Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities 141 Cambridge Street Boston, Mass. 02114 SEP 7 1979 Stetson House Hanover, Massachusetts J. David Boh1 Boston, Massachusetts Photo #ERD-1 (5) KITCHEN 1978 Pl JUL 6 1979 PHOTOGRAPH BY J. DAVID BOHL BOSTON, MASS Neg. no._ 28539-A THIS PHOTOGRAPH IS FURNISHED FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY WRITTEN PERMISSION MUST BE OBTAINED FOR ANY OTHER USE Tha Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities 141 Cambridge Street Boston, Mass. 02114 SEP 7 1979 Ply Stetson House Hanover, Massachusetts J. David Bohl Boston, Massachusetts Photo #28539-A (6) WEST PARLOR, FIRST FLOOR 1978 JUL 6 1979 PHOTOGRAPH BY J. DAVID BOHL BOSTON, MASS. 198 Neg. no.

28542-A THIS PHOTOGRAPH IS FURNISHED FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY WRITTEN PERMISSION MUST BE OBTAINED FOR ANY OTHER USE The Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities 141 Cambridge Street Boston, Mass. 02114 SEP 7 1979 Stetson House Dlymouth Hanover, Nssachusetts Couaty J. David Bohl Boston, Massachusetts Photo # 28542-A (7) UPSTAIRS HALL 1978 JUL 6 1979 PHOTOGRAPH BY J. DAVID BOHL BOSTON, MASS Neg. no. 29567-A THIS PHOTOGRAPH IS FURNISHED FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY WRITTEN PERMISSION MUST BE OBTAINED FOR ANY OTHER USE The Society for the Presereation of New Eeglerd AndppTns 141 Cambridge Street Boston, Mass. 02114 SEP 7 1979 Stetson House Hanover, Massachusetts J.

David Bohl Boston, Massachusetts Photo #28567-A 8) BARN 1978 JUL 6 1979 MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS Office of the Secretary of State 294 Washington Street Boston, Massachusetts 02108 617-727-8470 MICHAEL JOSEPH CONNOLLY Secretary of State June 25, 1979 RECEIVED 8. Mr. Ronald Greenberg, Acting Chief Registration Branch OAHP, Heritage, Conservation & Recreation Service 440 G Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20243 Dear Mr. Greenberg: Enclosed you will find the following nomination forms: - BOSTON - Arthur J. Lynn (Schooner) - HANOVER - Stetson House JUL 6 1979 NATIONAL REGISTER - LAWRENCE - Downtown Lawrence Historic District - LYNN - Lynn Armory - LYNN - St. Stephen's Church -, SOUTHBRIDGE - Center Village Historic District All have been voted eligible by the State Review Board and have been signed by the State Historic Preservation Officer.

Sincerely, Christine Beneh Christine Boulding Survey Director CB/leaf Encl: -2 ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER MASSACHUSETTS STATE Date Entered SEP 7 1979 Name Stetson House Centre Village Historic District St. Stephen's Memorial Church Lynn Armory Location Hanover Plymouth County Southbridge Worcester County Lynn Essex County Lynn Essex County Also Notified Honorable Paul G. Tsongas Honorable Edward M. Kennedy Honorable Gerry E. Studds Honorable Edward P. Boland Honorable Nicholas Mavroules State Historic Preservation officer Mrs. Patricia L. Weslowski Executive Director Massachusetts Historical Commission 294 Washington Street Boston, Massachusetts 02108 NR Byers/bjr 9/12/79 For further information, please call the National Register at (202)343-6401.