Nomination for Briggs, George I., House

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

FHR-8-300 (11-78) United tates 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 JUL 2 8 1081 date entered SEP | 0 |98 historic George I. Briggs House and/or common 2. Location Briggs-McDermott House street & number Sandwich Road _ not for publication city, town Bourne vicinity of congressional district 12th state Massachusetts 3.

Classification Category Ownership _district % public % building(s) private _structure both _ site Public Acquisition obiect in process being considered code 025 county Barnstable code 001 Status - occupied Y unoccupied - work in progress Accessible X yes: restricted yes: unrestricted _ no Present Use - agriculture _ commercial educational _ entertainment - government industrial - military .museum - park -private residence religious - scientific .transportation _ other: 4. Owner of Property name Towne of Bourne street & number Perry Avenue city, town Buzzards Bay 02532 -vicinity of 5. Location of Legal Description state Massachusetts courthouse, registry of deeds, etc. - Town of Bourne street & number Main Street Barnstable city, town 6. Representation in Existing Surveys Inventory of the Historic Assests title of the Commonwealth #10 has this property been determined elegible?

state Massachusetts - yes _no date February 2, 1974 federal X state _ county .local depository for survey records Massachusetts Historical Commission city, 1 | Boston Massachusetts 7. Description George I. Briggs House Condition excellent - good X fair .deteriorated ruins unexposed Check one _ unaltered X altered Check one X original site _ moved date Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance

Description of the property

The Briggs-McDermott House is located on the south side of Sandwich Road which runs parallel to the Cape Cod Canal. Its 1/2 acre parcel includes one wood frame outbuilding as well as the granite foundations of two others in addition to the house itself. The house is a 2-1/2 story wood frame building which rests on a granite foundation and is enclosed by a pitched roof. Its facade, which faces gable end to the street, is enframed by paneled pilasters detailed with fret work in the mode popularized by Asher Benjamin. The entry is treated in similar manner with its frame appearing to come directly from Plate XXVIII of "The Practical House Carpenter." (1830) The facade is organized in a somewhat atypical manner with the entry being flanked by two windows on the east and only one on the west. On the second story the number of openings is reduced to three and in the attic to two.

Other elevations are asymmetrically arranged but all remaining sash is 2/2 double-hung. Window enframement consists of a narrow architrave and thinly molded lintel. It is believed that the house was constructed c. 1800 as a 1-1/2 story cottage and that its present configuration is the result of an extensive rebuilding c. 1830 which included raising of the roof and construction of an ell on the east side. Other alterations to the property include construction of a rear ell c. 1880 and demolition of two outbuildings during the twentieth century. 8.

S'gnif cance Period prehistoric 1400-1499 1500-1599 1600-1699 * 1700-1799 -1800-1899 1900 Areas of SignificanceCheck and justify below _archeology-prehistoric _ community planning archeology-historic _ conservation agriculture economics architecture education X _art engineering commerce exploration/settlement communications industry invention - landscape architecture X law literature military music philosophy politics/government religion science sculpture social/ humanitarian theater transportation other(specify) Specific dates ca. 1800, ca. 1830 Statement of

Statement of significance

(in one paragraph) Builder/Architect Moses Keene II (ca. 1830) The Briggs-McDermott House possesses integrity of location, design, setting, materials and workmanship as well as historical associations with one of the town's leading families. Additionally, it is a good vernacular representation of the Greek Revival style and exhibits several important features such as its cornerpilasters and entry frame. It is believed that the house was óriginally constructed c. 1800 by Josephus Keene (1779-1813) as a 1-1/2 story Cape style cottage and remodeled c. 1830 by his son, Moses II (1804-1880) to its present Greek Revival form. Moses was a carpenter and is known to have possessed Asher Benjamin's "Practical House Carpenter" whose plates appear to have been the source of the house's stylish decorative details. The book presently remains within the house.

The most important occupant of the house was George I. Briggs (1843-1909) who was Mose's son-in-law. Briggs was instrumental in the incorporation of Bourne as a town after its separation from Cape Cod's first town of Sandwich in 1884. Briggs went on to become the town's first chairman of the first school committee; served as selectman from 1893 to 1905 and was chairman at his retirement from that office. He was also a fire ward and deer reeve and was chairman of the library trustees at the time of his death. Briggs also served with the Navy, as did most Cape Cod men, during the Civil War. Before the construction of the Cape Cod Canal (1914) divided the town geographically in half, the area of this property was considered the center of town with school, post office and church nearby. There is an eleient of artistic and cultural significance to the Brigg's House as well.

The marine artist, George Sidney Raleigh (1830-1925), spent the latter part of his life in Bourne. Gloucester born, Raleigh spent many years of his early life sailing the oceans of the world. As an artist, he was particularly enthralled with the busy activities of the nineteenth century New England sea coast. As a result, he spent many years painting whaling scenes in New Bedford, especially very large panoramas and eventually established a studio in Bourne. One of his summer neighbors, in this Cape Cod coastal resort community, was President Grover Cleveland for whom Raleigh did a portrait. Admiral George Dewey also sat for a portrait by the famous artist. And, the official seal for the newly created town of Bourne came from his brush as did illustrations for many government publications. Today, several Raleigh works are commanding prices as high as $65,000 a piece. 9.

Ma'or B bliograph ca References Four Years A - Whaling - Charles S. Raleigh, Illustrator, Barre, MA: Barre Publishers, 1972. Keene Geneology from Betsey D. Keene, author of: A History of Bourne. Bourne Town Reports, 1884-1909. Barnstable County Registry of Deeds & Probate. Records of the Bourne Historical Society, Inc. 10.

The rest of the file

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

Geographical Data NETAUL Acreage of nominated propertyAppx. 1/2 UIM NOT VERIFIED Quadrangle name Pocasset, MA Quadrangle scale 1:25 000 UMT References A 119 Zone L3/61711610 Easting CL LuLu ELL 416/212/11410 Northing 1ILL Easting LILL Northing DLiJ LuLu FLI LLILLL LULLL LLLiL Verbal boundary description and justification See Attached Assessor's Map. List all states and counties for properties overlapping state or county boundaries state code county code state code county 11. Form Prepared By Candace Jenkins, Registration Director name/title Jack Clarke/Preservation Planner code organization Massachusetts Historical Commission date May, 1981 street & number 294 Washington Street telephone (617-727-8470) 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. Siate Historic Preservation Oficer signature Jaluuu LWeslonki 7/14/81 Executive Director, Massachusetts Historical Commission date For HCRS use oniy I hereby certify that this property is included in the National Register Betl asovena Keeper o1 fra Mational Registar.

Attest: atuick Andrus pr Chiet of Registration date 9/10/81 date 9/9/8/ GP O 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 Continuation sheet Item number 8 For HCRS use only received JUL 28 1981 date entered SEP |0 1981 Page 2 Raleigh, it appears, had a peculiar affinity for painting and stenciling house walls and ceilings. The walls of his own home were covered with decorative scenes which included paintings of Indians, children and portraits. The ceilings that fell prey to his brush included his living room which was covered with gold arabesques featuring in each corner cherubs, griffins and eagles with shields of stars and stripes. Mrs. Raleigh banned him from the kitchen, the only room barren of his artistic touch.

He therefore continued his ceiling work in his neighbor!s house - the home of George I. Briggs. The ceiling mural Raleigh stenciled in the Briggs' music room is presently the only "Raleigh Ceiling" extant in the town. George I. Briggs House Bourne Assessors' map, p. 24.3, parcel 27 from town hall. Scale: 1" = 100'. 5/31/73 by Aero Service. 24.1 TOWN BOURNE 5.60 Ac 6 05 Ac P OF BOURNE GRAMMAR SCHOOL -RL S 97i S951 PERRY XXXI 229.15 13496 1.20Ac 5850 26098 1.85 Ac. LUCY ALLEN ET TIES AVE 210 S 13.4,05 26565. TA .. 20150 375. 90 $ 1.00 Ac. 1.24 Ac. P T3NWTS -& JENNIE 70 0328 201 33 HABIB 5,1967) TOWN OF BOURNE MEMORIAL PARK 198 S KEENE 1.56 Ac. BOURNE METHODIST CHURCH 8 PARSONAßE 560 274.90 SANDWICH JENNIE D. HABID 204.43 433 220.57 45.57 300 120 5 40 Ac. 5.05 Ac.

P 92.06 WARREN PLAN MARCH 29, 190: M TURNER ET UX 128 05 80.28 90 03 124.66 TROWBRIDGE RO BTS 112.68 135 55 14397 S98! 2065 213.78 93 03 COTUIT OB 135.93 18 012 86g" 2518 RAYMOND PE THICK 3:, 196.3) 128 31 7.00 Ac 7. 77 Ac. P TOWN ÖF BOURNE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL RD 21) JUL 28 1981 NATIONAL REGISTER LET THTT0% 10 198l SEP DUE aflu 5p6/81. BubstantIre HevTew 9/11/81 dnr-3 Name Jerge f Haue State, County Barhstabe Fed Nom or Request-Agency Working Number 28.81.267 Federal Register Date_ 2.2.82 Nomination Determination of Eligiblity On Nomination Form. Bldg(s) Site Object - Within: Multiple Resource Area - Thematic Group Structure - Maps Photos District - Nomination prepared by: V State Staff Local - Other Actíon: ACCEPT 910/81 RETURN -REJECT - Check if Appropriate: - State Request for Review - Keeper's Decision to Review 2nd Return - I. Evaluation of Resource (cont.

on back if necessary) simificant fo ciiterionc - Patuck Ardius, Historizu 9/9/81 poitly oignifzant under citerio B, but te documentetia in micmpate. Groovenor, Heitorian 9/10/81 II. Evaluation of Nomination Good Adequate Poor Comments 1. Descriptive Statement Short Format 2Yes 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): ar y mt gort nmsl juskifed. te t ntihio § the men Yhere pieded, to the house is nst cleas Reviewer/Date National Park Service 9/9/81 See Attached_ U.S. Department of the Interior George I. Briggs House Bourne Barnstable County Massachusetts Photo Credit: Jack Clarke Negative Located: Cape Cod Planning and E.D.

Commission Identification: North elevation Date: April 1981 JUL 28 1981 SEP | 0 1981 Brizas House 4181 Jack clanke CAPE COD PLANNING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION Ist DISTRICT COURT HOUSE BARNSIABLE, MASS. 02630 ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER MASSACHUSETTS STATE Date Entered 10 1981 Name Location Briggs, George I., House Bourne Barnstable County Also Notified Honorable Paul E. Isongas Honorable Edward M. Kennedy Honorable Gerzy E. Studds Mid-Atlantic Region, NPS NR State Ilistoric Preservation Officer Mes. Patricia L. Weslowski Executive Director Massachusetts Historical Conmission 294 Washington Street Boston, Massachusetts 02108 Eady/bjr/9/16/81 For further information, please call the National Register at (202) 343 6401 272-3504