Nomination for McGill, John H., House

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

FHR-8-300 (11-78) United States Department of the Interior Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form See instructions in How to Complete National Register Forms Type all entries - complete applicable sections 1. Name historic / John H. MCGi11House For HCRS use only received FEB 8 1980 date entered APR 9 no 90000640 same and/or common 2. Location 56 Vernon Street street & number not for publication Medford city, town 7th vicinity of Massachusetts state 3. Classification Category Ownership district - public * building(s) x private structure both site Public Acquisition object - in process being considered 025 code county congressional district Meddlesex 017 code Status - occupied .unoccupied work in progress Accessible yes: restricted x - yes: unrestricted _ no Present Use .

agriculture commercial educational entertainment - government industrial military .museum park X private residence religious scientific transportation _ other: 4. Owner of Property name Michael and Josephine Nackel street & number 56 Vernon Street city, town Medford vicinity of 5. Location of Legal Description state Mass. 02155 courthouse, registry of deeds, etc. Middlesex County Registry of Deeds street & number 208 Cambridge Street city, town Cambridge state Mass. 6. Representation in Existing Surveys Inventory of the Historic Assets title of the Commonwealth #24 has this property been determined elegible? yes Xno date 1974 _ federal - state county local depository for survey records Massachusetts Historical Commission city, town Boston state Massachusetts 7.

Description Condition x excellent - good fair deteriorated ruins unexposed Check one X _ unaltered - altered Check one x original site -moved date Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance

Description of the property

The John McGillHouse stands at the northwest corner of Vernon and Mystic Streets, facing Hastings Heights Park. The house is a two-and-one-half storey Colonial Revival style structure of balloon-frame construction. The house is rectangular in plan and rests on a foundation of square granite rubble. The building's exterior is covered with painted wooden shingles and enclosed by a pitched roof covered with asphalt shingles. Chimneys are placed asymmetrically, one rising through the roof's ridge near the house's east end, another through the slope of the roof on the interior of the west wall and a third through rear slope of the roof near the center uf the house. The facade (south elevation) is symmetrically arranged and is divided into three sections by four Ionic pilasters which rise to acanthus-consoles at the cornice.

At the facade's center is an open porch, framed by Tuscan columns which support an entablature with modillioned cornice. At the rear of the porch is the main entry which consists of a panelled oak door with an oval light. Flanking the front door are two windows, the upper halves of which contain leaded glass. Set above the entry,-at the second is a tri-partite window each section of which is double diamond and lancet lights over Ss doaile dlanoni and tancet 1sghca ovet a single pane. Beneath the center of these three windows is a wooden panel. Flanking the facade's center bay are two identical two-storey bow windows. At the first storey each bow window contains three l/1 windows with curved glass. These windows are separated by pilasters which support an entablature and cornice.

Second storey windows of each bay are identical to those at the first storey, except that their entablatures are surmounted by the decorated cornice at the eaves. The facade's roof contains three dormers. The center dormer has a single window set in an earred frame and surmounted by a broken scroll pediment and applied swag ornament. The outer two dormers each contain paired windows in earred surrounds, pedimented gables, and ball finials: All sash in the dormers is made up of a single lower pane and upper section with ten small panes forming a geometric pattern. The house's east end elevation is symmetrically arranged, except at its first storey. At its first storey is an open porch set on a high granite base and bowed on its east side. The porch has a railing of vase-turned balusters set into Tuscan columns which support an entablature, and nearly flat roof.

Set at the first storey are a group of four elongated 1/1 windows (south) and three 1/1 windows (north). At the second storey two 1/1 windows with moulded surrounds flank a smaller window with a moulded cap and geometrically vsch a souend dag an goosa ci o, which are three windows like those of the facade dormers. In the peak of the gable is an oculus with a quoined surround. The house's west elevation is asymmetrically arranged. At the first storey, there is a porch and kitchen entry near its northwest corner. South of this porch are a double casement window and two double-hung windows, all in moulded surrounds. storey are four windows of varying sizes, all in moulded frames with caps. From north two south second storey windows consist of one large double-hung window, one small fixed light with diamond panes, and two double-hung windows of identical size.

The gable is framed into a pediment by a decorated cornice, above which is a Palladian window framed by pilasters, an entablature and modillioned cornice. Except for the lower panes, the sash of this window consists of small lights framed into geometric patterns. The rear (north) elevation rests on a high granite basement and is asymmetrically arranged, possessing a variety of window types. The elevation's most distinctive features are its decorated cornice and a rectangular-plan oriel with leaded casements set near the house's northeast corner.

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Significance Medford - John McGill House Period prehistoric 1400-1499 1500-1599 1600-1699 1700-1799 1800-1899 1900 Areas of Significance - Check and justify below archeology-prehistoric X community planning archeology-historic agriculture X architecture art commerce communications economics + education engineering exploration/settlement industry landscape architecture law literature military music philosophy politics/government invention Builder/Architect Robert coit of Boston _ religion - science . sculpture - social/ humanitarian theater _transportation .other (specity) Specific dates 1902 Statement of Significance

Statement of significance

(in one paragraph) The John McGill House possesses integrity of location, design, setting, materials and workmanship and associations with Medford's late nineteenth century develop- nent as a Boston suburb. It is particularly significant for its high architectural quality and is one of the finest representatives of its period in Medford. Designed tod teh batoasdt. posiand by Robert coit of Boston, its symmetrical plan is enhanced by such elements as Ionic pilasters, Palladian windows and a broken scroll pediment. Built for John H. McGill, a grindstone manufacturerin South Boston, the McGill House occupies a prominent corner lot opposite Hastings Heights Park in an area which was laid out for development as early as 1855, but which was built-up primarily around the turn of the century when much of West Medford became a middle and upper-middle class suburb of Boston.

Locally, McGill was believed to have been a millionaire, a rumor which may have been encouraged by the large scale and ornate exterior of the McGill House. Interior fittings of the house include carved limestone fireplace surrounds, wooden panelling and other high-quality features which serve to substan- tiate McGill's wealth. At present, virtually all of the house's features remain as they appeared in the original plans, which are in the possession of the current owner. The architect of the McGill House, Robert Coit, maintained an office in Boston from 1893 to the late 1930's, although he lived in Winchester, a town near Medford. Coit's known work consists of large-scale suburban houses, six of which were illustrated in the American Architect and Building News and in The American Architect.

Most of coit's known work is located in winchester and Brookline, with the McGill House being his only identified design in Medford.

The rest of the file

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

Major Bibliographical References Middlesex County Registry of Deeds, Cambridge, MA Avery Index to Architectural Periodicals 10. Geographical Data Acreage of nominated property 13,976 sq. ft. Quadrangle name _ Lexington UMT References A19124925 Zone Easting 14619 Northing 1880 CL1 UTM NOT VERIFIED ACPEAGE NOT VERIFJERJe scale 1:24000 D F LIILL Easting Northing J LaL LILu Verbal boundary description and justification Please refer to the attached assessor's map. The boundaries are deliniated in red. 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 Brian Pfeiffer, Consultant, with Patricia J.

Lawrence, Medford Historical Commission organization Massachusetts Historical Commission date November, 1970 street & number 294 Washington Street, telephone (617) 727-8470 Boston city or town Massachusetts state 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 accordingto the criteria and procedures set forth by the Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service. State Historic Preservation Officer signature Palmia L Westowske 1/23/80 title Executive Director, Mass.

Historical Commission For HCRS use only I hereby certify that this property is included in the National Register date Keeper of the National Register Attest: atrict Andrus Chiet of Registration date 1/9/80 date 4/4/80 GPO 938 835 John McGil1 m House 56 Vernon Street Medford, Mass. 6453 Assessor s Map #J-5, lot 56 FEB 8 1980 WOBURN YEMAX 5,748 00 50 58 L o0c 00 "AT? 6,860 P4.13 5,505 6,5/6 42 VERNON 58,000 HASTINGS LAUREL -/ .500 122 3,00 : 5,000 5000 BARNHAD 4400. 5,991 61 7352 13,9 7C HEIGHTS. ST. Te1a MYSTIC Woods EDG R,300 54PT8 <7132 6725 MYSTIC ST. 6510 EXT'N 78 57360 (CAA, 6224 033+ PT5zE V0taS 24 508! rosor 3816 6,600 E,PT.375 ATCH 8468 7287 300 11400 ~ 5875 -ERFEY 5185 8114 JOHM MOGILL HOUSE 56 WERNOM STREET (IROM MEDFORD ASSESSORS MAPS J-5) $-5 15 cu Property mctill, fakn, t. State ma- middlean TECHNICAL, Working Number 2-8-80 441 Photos.

Maps This house is eligible for architectiue - Built in 1902, this 2 % story CONTROL HISTORIAN atuice Andus 4/4/80 ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN ARCHEOLOGIST OTHER HAER Inventory- Review REVIEW UNIT CHIEF BRANCH CHIEF KEEPER National Register Write-up Federal Register Entry 2.3.81 Send-back Re-submit Entered United States Department of the Interior - Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service Johnt Mc Gill House Med ford Midlosex Mf by: Patriaa Lawrne - Sopt 75 ny t: Midlor bstorical Commission focade (soath side) a eust piazza John H. McGill House 56 Vernon Street Medford, Mass. Patricia Lawrence Medford Historical Commi Medford, Mass. Photo #1 of 1 facade (south side) & ea FEB Photo #2 yP - Plare plotos MeGil, John At. Havre. MA ro nom. 49.80 56 Vernon Street Medford, MA. 02155 February 29, 1980 1 Carol D.

Shull Middlesera Acting Keeper of the National Register Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service Dept. of the Interior, Pension Building co. 440 G Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20243 (Att: NOM) Dear Miss Schull: We are very pleased to hear that our home has been nominated for listing in the National Register of Historic Places and hope that this nomination will be acted on favorably. We are deeply committed to the cause of preservation and are distressed when we see so many beautiful, old homes with architecturallyunique features on these historic structures altered and many times demolished. We do have the original plans for our late Colonial Revival house and would like you to know that this or ponad Plaes nome 1s unaltered irom the plans. The house was designed by Robert Coit of Boston for J. H. McGill.

We are enclosing six different snapshots for your convenience in evaluating the many unique architec- tural qualities of this Colonial Revival House. sinasavelclaekes fosephine Michael and Josephine Nackel enc. 6 snapshots Michael and Josephine Nackel 56 Vernon Street Medford, MA. 02155 RE: MeGill, John H. House) vasunde Esdoltsi Crone Loreol snij Ta7A eASOS :dte) :Iimoa ised asi omon zuo dant ison ou beeselg trov 11801 io getelsel Ionoioin ant ni snidetl yot bedentmor ILtw notdenimon aind tent agon bne esosti oiroteli .Idsgovel ho betos ad noltsvrezeng fo bauco ont ct bortlimoo Vicodb grgew bId :Iutituned yasm 0z ona ow nadw bogesrteib sts bre saont no asmutse?

suptmu Lsautoetinors dt tw aSmON .boralfomeb eenid ynen bas beretin aemudouata cigodain tsinolou edsl tuo tol anelg Ienigtto ent overson el aint dent wort od woy oill bluow bos sagor tavivoR esw 9auonadh -chsig edt moit beredtanu et 9 LLDo. . Tol noteod lo tioo trodol yd bonsiapa woy dol atohegsne tnosemitb xta noizotore -9T5 8 -ostinors oupirtu YnSn odt gnitoulavs.ot sonetrevnoo - eewoli Lsvivo Istnolod aint to seltilaup Ismt eIorsonta Lodosi smidosaot brs Iesnol ls 3|11 8 STVELINE atora - DI9 HOSH entigeaat bas foarotm +osnta aarsa Tongoy de 15I036oN savon -ndol Ich0o 0861 7 Michael & Josephine Nacke1 56 Vernon Street Medford, MA. 02155 RE: McGill, John H. House middlesekco. APR 9 1980 170479 013 POLAROID@ Michael & Josephine Nackel 56 Vernon Street Medford, MA 02155 RE: McGill, John H.

House Middlesex co- APR 9 1980 17047901343 POLAROID@ Michael & Josephine Nackel 56 Vernon Street Medford, MA. 02155 RE : McGill, John H. House Middlesec co APR 9 1704790 POLAROID Michael & Josephine Nackel 56 Vernon Street Medford, Ma. 02155 RE: McGill, John H. House Mc Lill, John H., House Mideleax co APR 9 1980 170479013 POLAROID Michael & Josephine Nackel 56 Vernon Street Medford, MA 02155 RE : McGill, John H. House Middlesee Co. APR 9 1980 17047901343 POLAROID@ Michael & Josephine Nackel 56 Vernon Street Medford, MA. 02155 RE: McGill, John H. House Mo gill, Jokn H.j House Midblesex co. APR 9 1980 70479 3 POLAROID@ U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOI IERITAGE CONSERVATION AND RECREATION SERVICI DATE 4/4/80 TIME OF CALL TELEPHONE REPORT AM PM T. CALL CO TO: FROM (Name) 2. ADDRESS (Tel. No. if needed) Candy Jenkins 3. SUBJECT, PROJECT NO., ETC. Mass. SHPO John H.

Mc Gill -DETAILS OF DISCUSSION In response to my call of 413/80 she checked on the identity I the outbrilding that shows up on the map behind the house. It is a small 201h century garage. NAME OF/PERSON PLACING/RECEIVING CALL atrich A nduus FHR-8-227 June 1978 TITLE , OFFICE ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER STATE MASSACHUSETTS Date Entered AFR 9.1980 Name Echo Bridge Swetland-Pease House Rice, Capt. Peter, House First Baptist Church Oakes, Edward, House MeG111, John H., House Dillaway School Berger Factory Location Iown of Needham, City of Newton Norfolk and Middlesex County East Longmeadow vicinity Hampden County Marlborough Middlesex County Framingham Milddlesex County Medford Middlesex County Medford Middlesex County Boston Suffolk County Boston Suffolk County Also Notified Honorable Paul Tsongas Honorable Edward M. Kennedy Honorable John J. Moakley Honorabie Robert F.

Drinan Honorable Edward P. Boland Honorable Joseph D. Early Honorable Edward J. Markey NR State Historle Preservation Off1cer Mrs. Patricia L. Weslowsk1 Executive Director, Massachusetts Historical Conmission 294 Washington Street Boston, Massachusetts 02108 Byers/bjr 4/17/80 For further information, please call the National Register at (202)343-6401.