Nomination for Beebe Estate

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 Beeke Estate For HCRS use only received MAR 6 1981 date entered MAY 20 1981 historic Foster-Bigelow House and/or common 2. Location Beebe Estate (preferred) street & number 235 Wgst Foster Stgeet _ not for publication city, town Melrose - vicinity of congressional district Seventh state Massachusetts 3.

Classification code 025 county :Middlesex code 017 Category district X building(s) structure .site object Ownership - public private both Public Acquisition in process being considered Status X occupied unoccupied - work in progress Accessible X yes: restricted - yes: unrestricted .no Present Use _ agriculture commercial X educational _ entertainment X government industrial - military museum park private residence - _ religious scientific transportation other: 4. Owner of Property name City of Melrose street & number Cambridge Street city, town Melrose - vicinity of 5. Location of Legal Description state Massachusetts courthouse, registry of deeds, etc. Middlesex County Registry of Deeds street & number Cambridge Street city, town Cambridge 6. Representation in Existing Surveys Inventory of the Historic Assets of Commonwealth title has this propery been determined elegible?

state Massachusetts - yes Xno date 1977 _federal Xstate - 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 Beebe House, an early Greek Revival period estate, stands on one and three- quarter acres of land situated at the head of a major intersection in downtown Melrose. The excellently conceived and commanding design of the building takes maximum advantage of its large, open site, being set well back from the property lines on all sides. The large, nearly cubical building is two stories high, sheathed in clapboards, with a high hip roof and tall thin end chimneys paired at either side. The unusual pattern of ornamentation witnesses the transitional nature of the building's period of construction. The house has a five bay facade with 6 over 6 windows -- taller on the first floor, smaller and close to the eaves on the second floor --and a center door- way- This entrance is emphasized by a sturdy portico with fluted Doric columns, high flat entablature, and pedimented roof.

The doorway itself has sidelights (now blocked in) and a glazed transom. Excepting this striking element, the visual focus of the Beebe House is not the facade, with its narrow flat corner boards, fascia, and window surrounds. The eye is drawn first to the portico and then upward to a superbly enriched roofline. A low openwork balustrade with an "X" pattern runs along the base of the roof. An acroteria motif in a scroll and anthemion pattern ornaments the corners and center panel of each side of the balustrade. The most dominant element, how- - ever, is the central cupola. The large cylinder shape sits on a polygonal base and consists of six fluted Ionic columns supporting an entablature which is delicately embellished with carved wreaths, dentils, anthemion antefix, and a central urn-capped finial. Within this frame is a low balustrade and six 2 over 2 windows.

Attached to the west side of the house is a small, one-story, hip-roofed addition; at the rear is a large 2-story wing with a hip roof. Behind the house is a large barn from the Colonial Revival period. This structure has a steeply pitched gambrel roof, cross-gambrel on the facade, hipped dormers, and a small polygonal lantern.

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 SignificanceCheck and justify below _ archeology-prehistoric community planning archeology-historic conservation agriculture economics X architecture education art engineering X commerce exploration/settlement communications X industry _ invention landscape architecture religion law science literature sculpture military social/ music humanitarian philosophy theater politics/government X transportation other (specify) Specific dates 1828 Builder

Statement of significance

/Architect Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) The Beebe Estate represents an early achievement in the Greek Revival style. It was built by an internationally prominent merchant as a summer house and was sub- sequently occupied by a number of influential area businessmen. The building thus meets criteria and C of the National Register of Historic Places. In the early nineteenth century Melrose (then North Malden) was a pleasant farming community about seven miles north of Boston. William Foster of Boston was im- pressed by the natural beauty of the area and in 1828 purchased a substantial acreage near the center of town. On this site he built the lovely home now known as the Beebe Estate. Foster (1772-1863) was born into a Boston merchant family. At an early age he was sent to Europe to act as his father's representative in Spain and France.

Foster served in Napoleon's army, participated in many events of the French Revolution, and at one time was president of a branch of the Jacobin Club, a political group which exerted profound influence on the progress of the French Revolution. Of major importance to the American textile industry was Foster's trip back to the United States in 1793, when he smuggled in three Merino sheep--the first ever introduced to this country. This important breed of sheep was valued for its fine wool, and Spain and France prohibited its export in an effort to retain their countries'economic advantage.

Foster returned permanently to Boston in 1807 with his wife and two children, building a winter home on Beacon Hill and later (1828) this summer home in Melrose Foster remained active as a commission merchant but also participated actively in local politics (as a political writer and a state senator) and frequently was called into court to translate writings from French, Spanish, and Italian. About 1842, after his wife's death, Foster sold the Melrose house to William Harlow, also a Boston businessman. Mr. Harlow was connected with the steam railroad business, and it was while he was living in this house (1845) that the Boston & Maine railroad tracks were laid through Melrose, a portion adjoining his land. In 1854 the property was sold to Liberty Bigelow (1815-1890), who had a very active life in the railway business.

Bigelow established the first stage express between Boston and New York, was the first superintendent of the Sullivan and the Rutland Railroad lines in Vermont, and was superintendent of the much larger Fitchburg Railroad (a post he accepted the same year in which he purchased this house). Bigelow left the Fitchburg Railroad in 1857 to establish his own rail- road express business in Boston. His company was later merged in Northern Express Ltd., which became known as one of the finest and most prosperous express com- panies on the continent, operating a U.S. to Canada : line.

The rest of the file

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

Major Bibliographical References New England Genealogical Society Report, October 1863. Melrose Free Press -- September 25, 1915. Goss, Elbridge H., History of Melrose (Melrose, 1902) ACREAGE NOT VERIFIED 10. Geographical Data UTM NOT VERIFIED Acreage of nominated property 76,000 Sq. Ft. (1 3/4 acre) Quadrangle name Boston North Quadrangle scale 1:24,000 UMT References A 1,2| 3/2,97,6,0 14,792|2,30 B Zone Easting Northing Zone Easting inguid Northing, DLLLILILILILI E LALL FLJLLILLL LILILLLI G HLI Verbal boundary description and justification See attached sketch map 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 Wendy Frontiero, Preservation Planner, with Orren L.

Walsh, Chairman, Melrose Historical Commission organization Massachusetts Historical Commission date December 17, 1980 street & number 294 Washington Street telephone 727-8470 (617) city or town Boston state Massachusetts 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 according to the criteria and procedures set forth by the Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service.

State Historic Preservation Officer signature Patum RWeslwski 4/22/81 Commission title Executive Director, Massachusetts Historical For HCRS use only Ihereby certify that this property is included in.the National Register Mn Keeper of the National Register Attest: ratrick Andurs fr Chief of Registration date 5/20/81 date 5/19/81 GPO 938 835 FHR-8-300 (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 receivedMAR 6 1981 date entered MAY 20 198l Continuation sheet Item number 8 Page 2 Bigelow also established the Chicago City Railway Co., a horse-drawn street railway system for the newly thriving city of Chicago, and first conceived the idea of running a system of railway coaches between the railroad stations and hotels in Chicago -- an idea which spread rapidly through the east coast.

Bigelow died in Melrose in 1890; his widow, Harriet, occupied the house until her death in 1898. Mrs. Bigelow was a strong supporter of a city hóspital, and it was in this house that the Melrose Hospital Association was organized in 1893. Mrs. Bigelow left her home to her daughter, Katherine, who was married to Decius Beebe, descendant of a wealthy family and a member of the leather house of Lucius Beebe and Sons of Boston. This firm had extensive interests and tanneries in New England and was well recognized throughout the trade. Decius was also active in local financial affairs as President of the Melrose National Bank, as trustee of the Melrose Savings Bank, and as a generous contributor to the Melrose Hospital. The Beebe family continued to occupy the estate until the last member died in 1963.

In that year, the property was taken by the City of Melrose through eminent domain and turned over to the School Department for use as an administration building, a use which continues today. In addition to its historical significance in commerce, transportation and industry the Beebe House also possesses considerable architectural significance. Retaining the traditional five bay center entry form of the Federal period, it is most notable for the sophistication of its roof detail which includes an elaborate cupola based on the Choragic Monument of Lysicrates. Research to date has not proven that this feature is original and it may date to a later period such as that of the Harlow occupancy in the 1840's. However, if this feature is original, it may represent its first use in the United States, and the house would assume a critical role in the his- tory of American Architecture.

The Beebe Estate, having originated in 1828 as a summer house in the then rural community of North Malden, should be considered to possess potential for the presence of archaeological remains. Domestic refuse, indicative of foodways and social status, may exist on the property in a broadly cast or concentrated form. Archaeological features representing changes in landscaping and land use are also quite likely to be present. Both kinds of archaeological remains can be useful in understanding the physical development and social context of this small landscape. 3-57° o8 N-29°29-8-2, HENAY W. A DOROTNY M.L. CLARK BOSTON ANO MAINE BARN COT ME RALLRONO N-37°19 298.39 40T 76,000- 'EeROSE HOUSA No.

285 WEST 1963 Beebe House MELROSE, MA 10 31.0- FOSTER EutMresse PLANMINO MAR 6 1981 8.8.0.00 STRSET MAY 20 1981 STREET Middlesex Registry of Deeds, Sa Dist -0f1863 Recorded, Book 10406page Allest: 33 RDISTER 20 Name of Property State, County Federal Agency United States Department of the Interior National Park Service Beebe estate mA middlesed Coenty MAY 7 1981 The above nomination is being returned to you because of problems in the areas checked below and/or on the back of this form. Please return this form when the nomination is resubmitted.

Technical Review _ Name _Location _Classification _Category _ Ownership _Status _Present Use _ Owner of Property _Location of Legal Description _ Representation in Existing Surveys _Description Condition _Original Site/Moved (w/date) _Significance Period Areas of Significance Specifie Dates _ Major Bibliographical References _Geographical Data Quad Name Quad Scale -Verbal Boundary Deseription and/or Site Plan or Tax Map _UTM _Form Prepared By Certification Level of Significance SHPO Signature _ Federal Signature _Photographs _Missing _ Not Adequate in Quality _Maps _ USGS Map _Site Plan/Sketch Map - Historie Distriet Map _ Comments: _Substantive Review Problems (see reverse) delores Byers Signec +//6/81 Substantive Review _Description Incomplete/Inaccurate: _Alterations: _ Dates: _ Boundary Selection/Justification: _Other: _Significance Too Weak or General: - Poorly Related to Resource: _ Confusing/Incomplete: _ Context: _Integrity: - Period of Significance Unclear: _ Exception(s) to Criteria not Justified: - -Other: _ Bibliography: _ Geographical Data Acreage: _ VBD: _ Certification: _Photographs: _Inadequate Coverage: - Poorly Labeled/Not Keyed to Map _ Other: _Maps _USGS Sketch Missing Location of Resource(s) Boundary Lines Discrepencies Other _ Comments Reviewer tel: (202) 343-6401 Chief, Branch of Registration Date DUE Substantive Review State, County he bstale dnr-3 Working Number 3/6/81/67 mutalesnyFed Nom or Request-Agency Federal Register Date 2.2.82 Nomination _ Determination of Eligiblity Bldgs) Within: -Site Multiple Resource Area On Nomination Form - Object - Thematic Group - Structure - Maps Photo5: District 2 - Nomination prepared by: V State Staff Local -Other Action: ACCEPT 5/20/81 RETURN -REJECT - Check if Appropriate: State Request ior Review - Keeper's Decision to Review -2nd Return I.

Evaluation of Resource (cont. on back if necessary) Btc Patuck Anduus - historian 5/19/8/ 6/21/81 II. Evaluation of Nomination Good Adequate / Poor Comments 1. Descriptive Statement Short Format Yes No - 2. Significance Statement Short Format / Yes _No 3. Concepts/Integrity 4. Concepts/Criteria 5. Concepts/Boundaries 6. Contextual Evaluation General Comments (cont. on back if necessary): Reviewer/Date latuck Andus/ 519181 National Park Service See Attached _ U.S.

Department of the Interior -Property beebe holate State MA, Middlesex TECHNICAL Photos _ 2 Maps Horking Number 3/6/81/67 DUE 3/31/81-4/20/81 CONTROL HISTORIAN ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN accept-see review sheet- Patuck Andrus 5/19/51 ARCHEOLOGIST OTHER HAER Inventory- Review REVIEW UNIT CHIEF BRANCH CHIEF KEEPER National Register Write-up Federal Register Entry Send-back Re-submit 5-7-81 Entered MAY 20 1981 United States Department of the Interior - Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service MELROSE, MA Beebe Estate poi 6 MALeR01891 MAR the south Photo by Orrin L. Walsh, 1979 Negative filed with photographer at 409 Lebanon st. ME9FESEX Eonnty MAY 20 1981 MELROSE Beebe Estate on.ty MCESEX south anyAi 6 1981 west elevations Photo by Orrin L. Walsh, 1979 Negative filed w/ photographer at 409 Lebanon St., Melrose MA 20 1981 CJ% CITY OF MELROSE MASSACHUSETTS OFFICE OF THE MAYOR JAMES E.

MILANO MAYOR RECAVED JAN 10 1981 C. HIOT. COMM. January 12, 1981 Patricia L. Weslowski State Historic Preservation Officer Commonwealth of Massachusetts Office of the Secretary of State Massachusetts Historical Commission 294 Washington Street Boston, Massachusetts 02108 Dear Mrs. Weslowski: Thank you for writing to me recently relative to the Beebe Estate which is under consideration by your Historical Commission for nomination on the National Register. As you know from information submitted to you by the Melrose Historical Commission that this prop- erty has a very long and distinguished part in the history of this City. The School Department, which has its Administra- tive Offices in this building, is very much supportive of the proposed recognition, and it goes without saying prcoenition.

nng that I am firmly committed also in having this Estate become listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Very truly yours, Lamea EMilano James E. Milano MAYOR JEM/mo's CC: Dr. George R. Quinn, Supt. of Schools 235 W. Foster Street Melrose, Ma.. Mr. Orren Lynde Walsh Melrose Historical Commission 409 Lebanon St. Melrose, Ma. MAR 6 1981 .. 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 February 24, 1981 Ms. Carol Shull, Acting Chief Registration Branch National Park Service 440 G Street, NW Washington D.C. 20243 Dear Ms.

Shull: Enclosed you will find the following nomination forms: Melrose: Weymouth: Beebe Estate (State) Jefferson School (Local) Both have been voted eligible by the State Review Board and have been signed by the State Historic Preservation Officer. Both are owned by public agencies which consent to their nomination. Sincerely, Candace fenkins Candace Jenkins Registration Director CJ/1k UnI RECEIVED 6 1981 NATIONAL REGISTER ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER MASSACHUSETTS STATE MAY 2 0 1981 Date Entered Name Location Beebe Estate Melrose Middlesex County Also Notified Honorable Paul E. Tsongas Honorable Edward M. Kennedy Honorable Edward J. Markey Northeast Region, HCRS NR State Historic Preservation Officer Mrs. Patrieia L.

Wesloweki Executive Director Massachusetts Historical Connission 294 Washington Street Boston, Massachusetts 02108 Eady/bjr/5/26/81 For further information, please call the National Register at (202)343-6401.