BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
- FORM B - BUILDING rel no 90000592 MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, State House, Boston - - - - In Area no. Form no. 119-A 1. Town Address Worcester 312 Plantation Street Name_ Richard Barker Octagonal House Present use residential 2. Photo (3x3" or 3x5") Staple to left side of form Photo number Expos.6A Ho11_20 '- 4. Map. Draw sketch of building location in relation to nearest cross streets and other buildings. Indicate north. Present owner Carlo and Josephine Brescia 3.
Description: Date Source Style ca.1855-1865 directories and exterior architecture Octagonal Mode Architect unknown Exterior wall fabric stucco over stone chips Outbuildings (describe) none Other features possible gravel-wall construction, recessed wall panels, paired brackets Altered cupola removed entry porch added Date ca.1925 Moved no Date Assessors' Book 17, p.7 19/271460/46832.20 UTM: 5. Lot size: Lot "C" 9,772 sq.It. One acre or less .Over one acre Approximate frontage Approximate distance of building from street 301 6. Recorded by B.R. Pfeiffer Organization Date Worc. Heritage Pres. Soc January 1978 (over) 30M-5-77 Richard Barker (first known) 7. Original owner (if known) residence Original use Subsequent uses (if any) and dates same 8.
Themes (check as many as applicable) Aboriginal Agricultural Architectural The Arts Commerce Communication Community development Conservation Education Exploration/ settlement Industry Military Political Recreation -Religion Science/ invention Social/ humanitariar Transportation 9. Historical significance (include explanation of themes checked above) One of two octagonal houses extant in Worcester,, the Barker House is a rare example of its type, constructed of stone chips and faced with stucco, incised to resemble masonry. The building's eight outside walls have pilaster-like raised sections at the heads of which are - a0 2onb t. paired brackets. prior to the 1920s, the house also nad an octagonai cupola. building existed as a fad, mostly during the 1850s and early 1860s.
Its popularity arose from books by Orson Squire Fowler, especially Fowler's A Home for All, or the Gravel Wall and Octagon Mode of Building, New, Cheap, Convenient Superior and Adapted to Rich and Poor which went through eight printings between I848 and 1857. Although Fowler recommended the construction of houses using stone and mortar ("the gravel wall"), most octagonal houses were built of wood; examples of gravel wall construction such as the Barker House are very rare. The house's first known owner and occupant was Richard Barker, a carpenter, who first lived at 312 Plantation Street in 1866. Although it is possible that the house was built for Barker in 1065 or 1866, the fad had largely passed by this date, making it likely that Barker enat Barkex purchased from a previous owner.
The uniqueness of the Barker House and the fanciful associations of its style make it an important building to preserve. 10. Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records, early maps,etc.) City atlases and directories. - Property Warceoter Miltple Resaue Ava (Pastial Laventary) State MA (Warcester Working Number8. 30.79.2060 TECHNICAL CONTROL Photos 383. :+13 Maps 2,63 i alcom Ao te gereal ocraton rat entie cel CM AN Caul/Acapt properties ares apposition is higtte ana ached shets. coun wph Bmiés uommento 102-4-3, NC-CBD-", "7-E, and 130-CBD-50 and 44. Integnts and /or bondaries need to tmms.
DUBIE mdanes wad to be adlesed RCHEOLOCIST 14- camred ulad coot - Periad 5 descussed with senficanee and cotegorizatin :See attachee be WINH 3 EXCENTIONS AU PROPERTIES APPEAN TO ME TO MEET AK CRITERIA AND ME FORMS ARE ADEQUATE RED BOTH TECHNILALLY AND TO RETERMINE SICNIFICANCE, ALMOLH SAE OF THE FORME DID NOT CONTAN STRONK SIATEMENTS IF SIGNIFICANCE THÉ KESOURCE CATEGONIES WERE TRDROUSALY DISCUSSED IN THE BODY OF THE NOMINAION; OTHER ACLEDT 2/2388 THEREFBRE SIGNIFICANCE MAS ESTABLISHED. HBDS WERE NOT NECESSARY BELNSE OF MYE SCHE MAPSAND CLEANLY DELINEATES BOUNDANCS. HLRENDE WAS ALITSING DIU SANCE PROPENTTES BUT EIIS MOW INCLUDEN AFTER THE 2/11/CORRELRORS. HAER THE ONLY BROPERTIES TKAT I DO NOT RECOMMENA LASTING HRE - 116-CBD-13- DESPOYCO BY FIRE Mo- 16CBD-! Inventory - Review 130-CBO-44- PDES.
NOT RETAIN INNTELRITY FOR INDI VIDUKLBELGIBILITY v10r-L-3 / DENISSA PAL ST CONVINLER ABOUT BOUNDANES REVIEW UNIT CHIEF BUT BELLEVE THEY BOUCD BE DK. W BASED Recommanl ON ADDLTTONAL DOCUMENTATON SUBMUTTED - I DEPER JUDGEMENT. Lstna all proopanties pexcept these 3. Return 116-CBD-11 to Stute motetes geble); as to dusauss futlr +5tu te.
DUBIE 1 BRANCH CHIEF 3/3/81 fetum 102-L-3 to State fer coredtem; HOLD 130-CBD -44 for info from stute DOBLE Staff conferenu 3/5/80 -agued to actioi as zustel belrr: fic sot with exeypt oth-s frituoy fo stite f 16-CSD-11 (officcal notfirati of deno fom stfas BD-») 21 130-060 44 (LcL, Fie30 Reoi National Register Write-up Send-back Entered Federal Register Entry 2.3.8 Re-submit KEEPER soldha 3/5/80 MAR 5 1980 United States Department of the Interior - Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service Kasueg rq KeDuagAg JAN 1978 JAN 19 119- D AUG 1979 312 Plantation S1 Barkor, Ruhard, Octagen Hause Worast MRA MG West elevation Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000304