Nomination for Badger, Rev. Stephen, 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 For HCRS use only received FEB 8 1980 date entered APR1 8000064> historic Rev. Stephen Badger House and/or common 2. Location Badger House street & number 87 Eliot St. city, town Natick not for publication 10th vicinity of state MassachusettScode 025 3. Classification Category Ownership district public -x building(s) xprivate - structure _ both site Public Acquisition object in process being considered congressional district Middlesex county 017 code Status.

X - occupied unoccupied work in progress Accessible - yes: restricted - yes: unrestricted x _ no Present Use agriculture commercial educational entertainment government industrial military museum park X private residence religious . scientific transportation other: 4. Owner of Property name Mrs. W.A. (Ruth C.) Peinze street & number 87 Eliot St. city, town South Natick vicinity of 5. Location of Legal Description state Massachusetts courthouse, registry of deeds, etc. Middlesex County Registry of Deeds street & number Massachusetts Ave. city, town Cambridge state Massachusetts 6. Representation in Existing Surveys Inventory of the Historic Assets title of the Commonwealth has this property been determined elegible? yes V no date 1967 federal x state county _ local depository for survey records Massachusetts Historical Commission city, town Boston state Mass. 7.

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

Description of the property

The Reverend Stephen Badger House is located on a one-and-one-quarter acre parcel at the northwest corner of Eliot Street (formerly the Sherborn Road) and Badger Avenue. The Badger House stands approximately 100' north of Eliot Street and 175' north of the Charles River. Prior to the late 1940's, the house was part of a 70-acre farm, most of which is currently owned by real estate developers and is covered with second-growth woods. The property's original barn remained until July 4, 1938 when it was burned. The Badger House is a two-and-one-half story main house with a one-story rear ell, both of which are of timber frame construction covered with clapboarding. The house's corners are trimmed with plain boards. The main house is nearly square in plan with two interior chimneys rising in symmetrical locations through the side slopes of the house's hip roof.

The house's facade (south elevation) is symmetrical consisting of a center entry flanked by two windows on each side at the first story and five windows across the second story. The entry contains a door of four raised panels set beneath a five-pane transom and between panelled pilasters. These pilasters support a partially broken entablature, a dentilled cornice and a pediment. This entry was added to the house in 1949 and is made up of antique materials, selected to approximate the entry shown in ca 1870 photograph of the house; the house's earlier (perhaps original) entry was removed around 1880 when a Victorian double door was added. All facade windows contain restored 12/12 sash set in projecting boxed frames; first-story windows have moulded caps, while the heads of second-story windows are set in the base of the cornice.

Centered on the facade's roof is a gabled dormer containing an 8/8 window. This dormer was restored in 1949, based on the ca 1870 photograph. Around 1880, the house's original dormer was replaced by a central gable, which was removed by the present owner. =. i- arri The house's east elevation is symmetrical, containing two windows at both the first and second stories. These windows are identical to facade windows at corresponding stories. The house's west elevation is identical to the east elevation,, except that it has an additional 1/1 window set slightly off-center at the first story. The house's rear ele- vation (north) is asymmetrically arranged, its western third being blocked by the rear ell. Moving east to west the first story of the north elevation contains a 12/8 window, a small six-pane light, a door with a shed-hood and a 12/12 window.

The two larger windows are set in frames like those of the first-story facade windows. At. the second story are the widely spaced windows, each of which is identical to the second-story windows of the facade. The rear ell is rectangular in plan and is enclosed by a pitched roof. The ell's east elevation contains a single window at its south end and a rectangular garage door at its north end. The north elevation contains a four-pane light near its west end. The west elevation contains a small shed addition and a single window. At its southwest corner, the rear ell projects slightly beyond the west elevation of the main house; on the small exposed portion of its south elevation, the ell has a single 1/1 window.

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Significance Period prehistoric 1400-1499 _1500-1599 1600-1699 XX 1700-1799 1800-1899 1900 Areas of SignificanceCheck and justify below archeology-prehistoric community planning x archeology-historic conservation agriculture economics architecture educatton art commerce 31414 engineering * exploration/settlement communications industry _ invention * _ landscape architecture__ religion law _ literature - military - music - philosophy - politics/government - science - sculpture X social/ humanitarian . theater transportation - other (specify) Specific dates 1753 Builder

Statement of significance

/Architect Builder Unknown Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) The Reverend Stephen Badger House possesses integrity of location, design, materials eighteenth-century domestic architecture. motic arehseoctuer. other docai té an exco)2ent 20cal o Altered around 1880 by the addition of a central facade gable, double doors, new chimney caps, a porch, 2/2 sash and other Victorian details, the house was restored to its pre-Victorian appearance in 1949. Detaiis for this restoration were based on a cs. 1870 photograph of the house, showing it in its earliest known form. The house's original owner, Stephen Badger, was the last of Natick's Indian mission- aries. Founded as a 6,000 acre grant at the request of Rev. John Eliot of Roxbury in 1650, Natick was intended to serve as a permanent settlement for Indians who had been converted to Christianity.

For nearly 75 years, town affairs were conducted by Indians aa and records kept in the Indian language. Supported by the "Society for the Propagation of the Faith Among the Indians," Eliot served as the community's minister until his death in 1690. Subsequently, Daniel Takawampait conducted the affairs of the town until his death in 1716; he was succeeded by Reverend Oliver Peabody in 1721. Peabody died in 1752 and was replaced by Stephen Badger in March of 1753, when he was allotted Lot #25 by the Indian Proprietors. At this time, the Harvard Yearbook comiserated with Badger's wife for "having married a poor parson and (for) having to live in an unfinished house and with only Indians for neighbors." During Peabody's ministry, white settlers had begun to purchase remaining lots in the community.

Gradually, white settlers took over town affairs and attempted to move the Meeting House from its original site at the junction of Union, Pleasant and Eliot Streets to the geographic center of the Natick grant. Throughout Badger's ministry, tension existed between the wishes of the town's white settlers and Badger's obligations both to the remaining Indians and the "Society for the propagation of the GospellAmong the Indians" in England. The Reverend Stephen Badger House property is of potential archaeological importance due to Badger's association with Natick's Christian Indian settlement. Should documen- tation exist which suggests that Christian Indians lived in the Badger household, then ethic and cultural differentiations might be seen in the material cultural remains of the European and aboriginal residents.

Briefly, at the beginning of the Revolutionary War, Badger was appointed to the town's Committee of Correspondence; however, after the Battle of Bunker Hill, Badger suffered the loss of income from his Charlestown property and from the "society for the Propagation of the Faith Among the Indians." Further, he was accused of being a Tory and denied support as the town's minister. After the Revolution, Badger failed to re- cover his previous position in the community and the town's Indian population declined, allowing the Meeting House (and town center) to be moved from its original location.

The rest of the file

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

Major Bibliographical References History of Natick, by Oliver Bacon Yearbook of Harvard College for 1750-51 Letters written by Rev. Stephen Badger, now owned by the Museum of the Natick Historical Society Also miscellaneous papers owned by the above museum. 10. Geographical Data Acreage of nominated property 14 Quadrangle name - Natick UMT References A[1,9/ L3/0,8/7,8,0 Zone Easting |4/6/812|1/310/ Northing LALLL UHM NOT VERIFIED ACREAGE NAT MEDIFIET Quadrangle scale 1:24000 Zone EL D F Lulu LLILLL Northing LILu Lu Verbal boundary description and justification Please refer to the attached map. The boundaries are delineated in red. List all states and counties for properties overlapping state or county boundaries state Massachusetts code county Middlesex code state code county code 11.

Form Prepared By name/title Ruth Peinze Natick Historical District Commission organization Brian Pfeiffer, Consultant with Massachusetts Historical Commission date November 1979 street & number 294 Washington St. telephone (617) 727-8470 city or town Boston 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 thecriteria and procedures set forth by the Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service.

State Historic Preservation Officer signature Paluch Westowski 1/22/80 title Executive Director, Massachusetts Historical Commission date For HCRS use only I hereby certify that this property is included in the National Register m Dangs date 1//80 Attest: trck Andus date 4/1/80 Chief of Registration GP O 938 835 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 FEB 1980 DATE ENTERED APR' CONTINUATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER 8. PAGE 2. After Badger's death in 1803, his second wife whom he had married in 1790 remained in the house until 1822.

The property was later sold with its 70-acre farm to oliver Bacon, a wood-pump manufacturer, who left the residue of his estate, in- cluding the house, to build a "fireproof" library building, now known as the Bacon Free Library, in South Natick. Property Badger, kev. Stepken Honse State ma. middlesey Working Number 2-8-8 0 434 TECHNICAL CONTROL Photos - Maps Builtin 1253 this house is significant for ouchitectine and Docial/humanitarias- HISTORIAN it was the homed the last andian missionan at Naptick (a toun established for Christras accept andrans).

the 2½ story five bay frame house lo an excellentekanple & isthcentun donestic architectuue: though the house was alterld in the 1880s and restored in the 1940's Patucksndues Aretains its baaic integrity o desigh, feeling, and asooriation, 1"½acres- 4/1/80 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 APR I Entered United States Department of the Interior - Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service Rev - Stephen 7 F1liot Street Badger House Natick, Mass. Middlesex Co. Stephen Evers Natick Historical Museum 1978 Photo #1 of 7 Facade facing north APR | 1980 FEB 8 1980 3ADGOR H005E -1978 CN6 ere ation Phob#fZ Rev. Stephen Badger Hou 87 Eliot St. Mild Natick, Mass. Stephen Evers Photo #2 of 7 Southeast view APR 1 1980 FEB Phop#3 Rev.

Stephen Badger House 87 Eliot St. Natick, Mass. Middleset Stephen Evers 1978 Photo #3 of 7 Southwest view APR | FEB 1980 8 1980 Phottt kev. Stephen Badger H 87 Eliot St. mid Natick, Mass. Stephen Evers 197 Photo #4 of 7 East view APR I 1980 FEB 8 198 Phoo#f5: REV. STEPHEN BADGRR HOUE-1978 Phot aedir: Srephen Elers View" Nath Eevaton Rev. Stephen Badger House 87 Eliot St. middles Natick, Mass. Stephen Evers 19 Photo #5 of 7 North facade FEB 8 1980 APR | 1980 Phopfe Rev. Stephen Badger H 87 Eliot St. Natick, Mass. Mia Stephen Evers Photo #6 of 7 West side APR 1 1980 FEB Rev. Stephen 87 Elliot Street Natick, Mass. Badger House middlesee co- Stephen Evers Natick Historical Museum 1978 Photo #7 of 7 North elevation facing south FEB APR 1 8 1980 1980 Reverend Stephen Badger House 87 Elliot Street Natick, Mass.

Assessor's Map ELIOT 553.39 STREET 172.65 63.92 91.0 190 25) 29300 4100 CHARLES RIVER 53.92 3522 11552 130.0 22 14300 46410 178.66 W7480 192.0 228.5 BADGER AVE. 204. 109.5 (20 19085 67.0 6122 /17100 127.6 HILL CARVER .96 OS6II 21034 3500 51.15 30 85.06 32.81 77.0 05.0 68. 95.0 15900 50 13900 15 10200 5045 12 11000 H10.0 83.0 62.0 10.0 13 6900 2300 4500 13115 150.0 24 RECEIVED FEB 8 1980 NATIONAL REGISTER 08 Hold 1980 APR1 KECEIAED 1381 OPTIONAL FORM NO. 10 JULY 1973 EDITION GSA FPMR (41 CFR) 101.11.6 UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT Memorandum yellon ssul 2-22-5 TO : Hope I. Moore, Associate Director for Cultural DATE: February 22, 1980 Programs FROM : Carol D.

Shull, Acting Keeper of the National Register SUBJECT: Pending National Register nominations in Weston, Sudbury, Concord, Natick, and Framingham, Massachusetts - For the towns listed above, two nominations are currently being reviewed by the National Register staff. They are the Reverend Stephen Badger House, 87 Eliot Street, Natick, and the First Baptist Church, 1013 Worcester Road, Framingham. Parkman Tavern, 20 Powder Mill Road, Concord, is the only property located in any of the above mentioned towns which was listed in the National Register from January 1, 1979, to the present. Those properties which were listed in the National Register prior to January 1, 1979, are underlined in the enclosed Federal Register publication. Since January 1, 1979, one property has been determined eligible for entry in the National Register.

That property is the Bacon Free Library and Museum, 58 Eliot Street, Natick. If we can be of further assistance to you, please let us know. bcc: Hope T. Moore, Assoc. Director for C. P. FHR: S Harris:mjd 343-6401 2/22/80 BASIC FILE RETAINED IN NR Buy U.S. Savings Bonds Regularly on the Payroll Savings Plan 5010-110 ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER STATE MASSACHUSETTS APR 1 Date Entered 1980 Name Location Badger, Rev. Stephen, House Natick Middlesex County Also Notified Honorable Paul Isongas Honorable Edward M. Kennedy Honorable Margaret M. Heckler NR State Historic Preservation Officer Mrs. Patrick L. Weslowski Executive Director, Massachusetts Historical Commission 294 Washington Street Boston, Massachusetts 02108 Byers/bjr 4/8/80 For further information, please call the National Register at (202)343-6401. 10/22 Reverand Stephen Badqer House Natick - Middlesex Co. Mass.

listed apiil1, 1780 - sent to Congress 4/10/80 Plese send a copu of notice of listing to Candace fenkins with the Mass. SHPo gfice. Thanks Patuch