Nomination for Sanborn 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. San born touse For HCRS use only SEP 17 1831 received date ergEC 1 4 1981 historic Aigrement and/or common 2. Location Sanborn House (preferred) street & number 15 high Street _ not for publication city, town Winchester vicinity of congressional district seven state Massachusetts code 025 3.

Classification Category Ownership district X public X building(s) private structure both site Public Acquisition object in process being considered county Middlesex code 017 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 Town of Winchester street & number Town Hali, Mt. Vernon Street Winchester city, town vicinity of 5. Location of Legal Description state Massachusetts courthouse, registry of deeds, etc. Middlesex County Registry of Deeds street & number 40 Thorndike Street 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 X no date 1977 and 1979 federal X state - county - - local depository for survey records Massachusetts Historical Commission city, town Boston state Massachusetts 7. Description Condition xexcellent - 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 Sanborn House, designed in 1907 in a Mannerist interpretation of the Beaux Arts style, occupies a hillside site overlooking the town center. An original carriage house stands behind the main house to the northwest. The main house consists of a two story central block with a raised attic story and shallowly projecting frontispiece. A one story verandah projects from the south side while a one and one half story service wing is attached to the north. It is stuccoed, with heavily scaled detail executed in white painted wood. The ornament of the central block consists of two string courses beneath the second story windows, a dentiled entablature and a balustrade; that of the attic includes a plain entablature and a solid parapet; the porch has a plain entablature and a balustrade; the service wing has a dentiled frieze running through the second story windows and a solid parapet.

The Mannerist influence can be seen in the antifixae-like elements which decorate the entablature, the use of keystones over rectangular openings and the misplaced frieze of the service wing. The five bay facade is symmetrically organized around the frontispiece which is supported by two composite columns and two capped columns. It includes a center entry with a tall round arched stained glass window above which is framed by a molded architrave. This is flanked by narrow paired windows at the first story and double windows with panels beneath them at the second story. The south outer bay has double windows at both stories while the north bay has paired windows at the first story and a double window at the second. Secondary entries are located on the south elevation and in the service wing.

The carriage house consists of a two story rectangular block with flanking one story wings, like the main house it is stuccoed and trimmed with white painted wood. The symmetrical facade is organized aroundatwo story arched opening which contains an overhead door with two 1/1 windows flanked by quarter round windows above. A single 1/1 window is located to right of the center arch at the first story while the left side is blank. Fenestration at the second story consists of a pair of windows on the right and three narrow windows on the left. Entries are located at each end of the building in wide pilasters which enframe the composition. Horizontal emphasis is provided by a frieze separating the stories and a wide entablature at the roof line. Each wing contains three windows.

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Significance Period - prehistoric 1400-1499 1500-1599 1600-1699 1700-1799 1800-1899 x 1900- Areas of Significance - Check and justify below - archeology-prehistoric _ community planning archeology-historic conservation agriculture economics architecture education art engineering X commerce exploration/settlement communications industry invention landscape architecture law literature military musIc philosophy politics/government - religion _science - sculpture social/ humanitarian theater transportation other (specify) Specific dates 1906-07 Builder

Statement of significance

/Architect unknown Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) The Sanborn House (Aigremont) possesses integrity of location, design, setting, materials and workmanship and is significant both for its associations with the Sanborn family and for the quality of its architectural design. It was built between 1906-07 for Oren Cheney Sanborn, the son of James S. Sanborn, a founder of the Chase and Sanborn Co. in Boston. Although its architect is presently unknown, it stands as a locally unique intrepretation of the Beaux-Arts style and as one of the few houses in the Boston area to exhibit mannerist characteristics. The house meets criteria B & C of the National Register of Historic Places. Oren Sanborn, born in Maine in 1865, came to Winchester in 1901 at a time when the town was developing rapidly for the residence of Boston businessmen.

Prospering as a member of his father's tea and coffee importing firm, Sanborn became one of the four wealthiest men in Winchester. He acquired two parcels of land to make up the nine-acre hillside tract with its magnificent view over Winchester Center to the Middlesex Fells. Although the architect is not known, Sanborn's house, which reportedly cost $250,000 to construct, is by far the most impressive in the area. In 1921 Sanborn was forced to sell the property. He had fallen upon hard times, and was living in Providence at the time. The new owner was a Bostonian, J. Edward Downes, founder of Downes Lumber Company, which was located in Boston. The condition of the house grounds at the time of the sale required major repair work, and the Downes family of seven moved in around 1924.

From 1925 until 1947, the house became a lively residence once again, housing another family prominent in Winchester society. Few changes appeared to the property except for the addition of a mother-in-law house constructed elsewhere on the 1and. (This house was later moved to a nearby street.). The main house and carriage house appear to have been relatively unaltered physically, and cared for properly by a staff of In 1947 the house and land was sold to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston and occupied by approximately twenty nuns. as Marycliff Academy. The nuns staffed a school built behind the house, known This plain cinder block school building, a non-contributing structure, was built in 1947, and functioned as a day school until 1970.

The rest of the file

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

Major Bibliographical References 1. Chapman, H.S., History of Winchester, Massachusetts, Winchester: Town of Winchester, 2. 3. History of Winchester, Massachusetts, vol. II., Winchester: Town of Winchester Star (newspaper) Janua 15, '4923921 une 10. Geographical Data Acreage of nominated property9-1/4 acres Quadrangle name Lexington UMT References NOT UamrO BEN ACREAGE U VLllQuadrangle scale 1: 25,000 A 1,9 Zone CLL 32,26,4,0 Easting 14701 3,0,0 Northing B GLL Zone Easting DLILLILLL FLL LUILL HLULLILL 1LL Northing LILLL LLILIL LLIL Verbal boundary description and justification See Attached Map. The modern Howard F. Ambrose School is not considered a contributing structure 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 Susan E.

Keats, Town Archivist code organization Massachusetts Historical Commission date April, 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 ocal 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 bythe Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service. State Historic Preservation Orlicer signature Patricia R.

Neslovski title Executive Director, Massachusetts Historical Commission date 9/1/81 For HCRS use only I hereby certity that this property is included in the National Register Wwlam H. Brackam date 12.14.81 Keeper of the National Register Attest: Chief of Registration Heat pecellasd date 12-14-87 GPO 938 835 DEC 14 1981 REC dnr-la Name of Property_ United States Department of the Interior National Park Service fanborn House OCT 291981 MASS. HIST. COMM. ..State, County Federal Agency 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 _ Owner of Property _ Location of Legal Description _Representation in Existing Surveys VDescription Condition _Status _Present Use Original Site/Moved (w/date) * VSignifieance vPeriod Major Bibliographical References Areas of Significance Specifie Dates Geographical Data Acreage Quad Name Quad Scale _ Verbal Boundary Description and/or Site Plan or Tax Map Form Prepared By V Certification Level of Significance _SHPO Signature _UTM - Federal Signature Photographs Missing Maps - USGS Map Comments: _Not Adequate in Quality -Site Plan/Sketch Map _ Historic District Map Substantive Review Problems (see reverse) signed Jelri Byer 10/2/81 NOV 1 9 1981 Braro epas (iztingi o eu re , te etiontl neg ite nael e liatung information i ade yodegpone Substantive Review complete the evaluation!

dnr-lb Description Incompiete/Inaccurate: Please date anddescule any changes to the orgina desian, indluding _Alterations: changes in materials fwindows, in patteen o fenestration, dor and lighting farched entramce, -Dates: the front portico (erpecally the posibte capfing f columns), and any additions _ Boundary Selection/Justification: (aue tho rewants wing, andtop floor vriqinal)? _Other: / Significance - Too Weak or General: llease effand the discussion of the mannerist influences and establish its _ Poorly Related to Resource: sigifjcance in relationhip te othes braland regional examples f Beaux _Confusing/ticomplete: bits auckitectne iofthearchitet can be identified, explin how the momeistfeatues, _ Contexti uiluding details, proportins, and facade rymetry are chasactersti ohis etile.

ds thee a _Integrity: prcédent borally or segimally for this departue feon the Beaufauts tradition andfr the _Period of Significance Unclear: incrporation ofdingle - paned casement window, cappedcolumns, and _Exception(s) to Criteria not Justified: lerertoy like light of fiont entunce imåbuilding of this - Other: Reuod 2- Bibliography: Geographical Data _ Acreage: VBD: - Certification: <Photognadequate Coverage: Please frovide photos df the intusin and its relatios to the houss. Lo therea _Poorly Labeled/Not Keyed to e Photo of the house?

_ Other: Maps - USGS _ Sketch Missing Location of Resource(s) Boundary Lines Diserepancies Other Comments hinda MaCelhnid /Patick Anduus Reviewer tel: (202) 343-6401 Betl Grovenn ~ Chief, Branch of Registration 120/81 Date Substantive Review DUE 10/11/81 - - 11/1/8/ dnr-3 Name State, County Working Number Nomination _ Determination of Eligiblity On Nomination Form born Hhous MA meddlsed Nom or Request-Agency 9.17 81.341 Federal Register Date 1Bidg(s) Site - Object - Structure - District Within: Multiple Resource Area - Thematic Group Photos Mato42 Nomination prepared by: State Staff Local Other Action: ACCEPT VRETURN 20/22/81 REJECT Check if Appropriate: State Request for Review - Keeper's Decision to Review 2nd Return I. Evaluation of Resource (cont.

on back if necessary) Thisnomination has proltems, both technical and dubstantive, that necersitate reliun See return sheet Patrick Anduus -Historian Retuun 10 /22/81 II. Evaluation of Nomination 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): Good Adequate Poor need mace info. need more mfo need morenfo - Comments quueitiono large intuusien Reviewer/Date Vatuil Ardurs 1022/81 National Park Service See Attached U.S.

Department of the Interior Subatantive Review DUE 1/4/82 dnr-3 Name Sanborr Aouse State, Middes Working Number 11.81.34 Nomination _ Determination of Eligiblity _ On Nomination Fcrmn Maps = 3,9 dikal8) Paoios Nomination prepared by: State Staff Locai Othe" Fed Nom or Request-A sene Federal Register Date T.83 Bldg(s) Site Object Within: Multple Resource Area . Tnematic Group Structure District Actio ACCEPT 1/11/81 RETURN REJECTL Check if Apprepriate: State Recuest for Review Kecoerls Decision to Review ind Return I. Evaluation of Resource (cont, on back if neceksary) Elgible BtG Acceps ImneClellard 12-14-81 2nd. control Rej #g100056 I. Evalustion c. Nomination Good Adequate 1Pcoc I. Descriptive Statement ShortFormat_Hes_ No 2. Signiticance Statement Short Permat _Nes _No -3. Concepts/Integrity 1.

Concepts/Criteria Comments mqua I prred jues linto That wene Phoos adequa Lever daroped quationo ssed by gelap reeter aud justqued celdities e enstuchanaud iainiered chanacker, 3. Concepts/Boundaries -6. Contextual Evaluation pa2 Ceneral Comments (cont. on backill necesaryiimeto amstuchony seuod (0.1910)3 and regen, Reviewer/Date Anclue /2-14$ Netionsl Park Service See Attached_ D.S. Depertment of the interior mtttt Aigremont Winchester Middlesex County Massachusetts Photo Credit: Susan E. Keats Negative located: Winchester Archival Center Identification: Sanborn House, looking iertti- Date: November 1980 SEP 17 DEC 141981 Sanborn House 1 Aigremont Winchester Midalesex County Massachusetts Photo Credit: Susan E.

Keats Negative located : Winchester Archival Center Identification: Carriage house, looking northwest SEP 17 1001 DEC 14 1981 Sanborn House 2 Aigremont Winchester Middlesex County Massachusetts Photo Credit: Susan E. Keats Negative located: Winchester Archival Center nIdentification: Sanborn House, looking south- cast. Date: November 1980 SEP 17 1931 DEC 14 1981 Sanborn House 3 Sanborn House 15 High Street Winchester, Mass. Supplementary Photographic documentation Candace Jenkins Massachusetts Historical Commission November 1981 1. Casement sash, main house, west elevation (facade) 2. Casement sash, main house, east elevation (rear) 3. Stair window, main house, west elevation (facade) 4. Stair window from interior, main house, west elevation (facade) 5. View from rear of house facing east showing terraced landscaping 6. Joseph Remick House, 84 Cambridge Street, Winchester 7.

Same 8, Marycliff Academy, facing east NOV 1 9 1981 DEC 14 1981 TOWN OF WINCHESTER WINCHESTER 01890 OWNO, EDWARD F. O'CONNELL CHAIRMAN ALAN G. MACDONALD MICHAEL D. SARACO JOHN J WILLIAMS WADE M. WELCH BOARD OF SELECTMEN TOWN HALL 729-1100 RECEVED MASS. HIST. COMM. August 19, 1981 82-115 Miss Patricia L. Weslowski State Historic Preservation Officer Massachusetts Historical Commission 294 washington Street Boston, Massachusetts 02108 Dear Miss Weslowski: a regularly scheduled public meeting on August 17, 1981, the Board of Selectmen took a position on the pending application to have the Sanborn House nominated to the National Register of Historic Places. By a split vote of 4 to 1 the Selectmen indicated their support of this application.

While no member of the Board of Selectmen plans to attend the State Review Board meeting scheduled for September 9, 1981, I am sure that you will apprise the Review Board members of the official position we have taken. Thank you for your cooperation. Faithfully yours, Edward J.O Connell Edward F. O'Connell EFO' C: clps TATT RECEIVED SEP 17 1981 NATIONAL REGISTER DEC 14 1981 WING TOWN OF WINCHESTER MIDDLESEX COUNTY. MASSACHUSETTS PLANNING BOARD TOWN HALL August 20, 1981 RECEIVED AUG & : 1981 MASS. HIST. COMM. Massachusetts Historical Commission 294 Washington Street Boston, MA 02108 Re: Sanborn House 15 High Street winchester, MA Mesdames and Gentlemen: The Winchester Planning Board supports the Selectmen's recommendation for the nomination of Sanborn House to the National Register of Historic Places. Sincerely, Alepander 8. Fay Alexander J.

Fay Secretary AJF : MC CC: Board of Selectmen Winchester Historical Commission RECEIVED SEP 17 NATIONAL REGISTER 1127 DEC 14 1981 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR HERITAGE CONSERVATION AND RECREATION SERVICE DATE 10-21-81 TIME OF CALL TELEPHONE REPORT AM PM 1. CALL TO: XFROM (Namo) Pat Weslouski 2. ADDRESS (Tel. No. If needed) 3. SUBJECT, PROJECT NO., ETC. Sanbor Aruse, Winclesti, Mas. 4. DETAILS OF DISCUSSION Noniration sukemitled in Sept. Us an unusual ssnicture. atruk as aspen por listoie is unusanl butdas been clanged distruans cood at it. she. afraid this wnel peit ste appleaut in thes, went back so te gctry ran, qustimo, NAME OF PERSON PLACING/RECEIVING CALL shull FHR-8-227 June 1978 TITLE OFFICE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR HERITAGE CONSERVATION AND RECREATION SERVICE TELEPHONE REPORT DATE 10.-22-81 TIME OF CALL AM PM 1. CALL FROM (Name) 2. ADDRESS (Tel. No.

if needed) Pat Weslowwsti Sanbrn loruse romeraton. DETAILS OF DISCUSSION Asked that it be reluna . NAME OF PLACING/RECEIVING CALL TITLE , OFFICE FHR-8-22 June 1978 MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS Office of the Secretary of State 294 Washington Street Boston, Massachusetts 02108 617-727-8470 November 9, 1981 MICHAEL JOSEPH CONNOLLY Secretary of State AUELL ERITIO RECEIVED NOV 1 9 1981 NATIONAL REGISTER Carol Shull National Register of Historic Places National Park Service Department of the Interior 440 G Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20243 Attn: Patrick Andrus Dear Ms. Shull: I have carefully reviewed your comments on the National Register nomination for the Sanborn House in Winchester, Massachusetts and will try to pro- vide you with some of the background information which went into our de- cision making and its preparation.

While this information played an impor- tant role in our assessment of the property's integrity and significance and remains an important part of the file, we did not feel that it was necessary or appropriate to include in the nomination form. One area with which you have expressed concern is the extent of alterations to the house. This subject was not discussed in the detail you seek because no evidence was found to indicate major alterations had occurred. Neither a documentary study by a professional archivist nor a structural investi- gation by a competent historic architect pointed in such a direction. Presumably you concern arises from the statement that major repairs occurred when the Downes family assumed ownership in 1924. This information was derived from an on site interview with Thomas Downes (son of J.

Edward and Mary E.) who stated that a "general restoration" took place and that the exterior was "picked up." His recollection that this was in the nature of maintenance work is supported by tax valuation records of the period which do not show any increase. Unfortunately, no more concrete evidence such as plans or historic photographs have been found. Physical investigation also supports the position that the house appears sub- stantially as it did at the time of its construction in 1907. First, the plan makes it unlikely that either the third story or service wing were added. DEC 14 1981 Page 2 Carol Shull November 9, 1981 The wing contains kitchen and laundry facilities as weil as servants quarters which were obviously necessary to the functioning of the house; the third floor contains secondary bedrooms.

Further, details such as doors and architraves, built in storage facilities and bathroom fixtures are con- sistent throughout. Just as the form of the house appears to be original, so do individual features such as windows and doors. Sash is consistently deployed through- out the house: single pane casements in the main block and 2/2 double hung in the ancillary wing and third story. Not only do these unbroken glass sur- faces complement the tautness and clarity of the Beaux-Arts composition (as multi-pane casements complement the complexity of contemporary medieval re- vivals) but they also appear in similar houses of the period such as the Joseph Remick House at 84 Cambridge Street (slides enclosed). The entry has e Tieitered to the erten has been altered to the extent that the door itself is new (c.

1972-original glazed two-leaf door stored in carriage house) and the two outer column capitals are capped as noted in the nomination form. The elongated arch over the door contains original, period stained glass and its shape is typical of windows which light stair landings for that period, although its placement over the door rather than to one side is somewhat unusual. Another area of concern appears to be with the stylistic derivations of the house. While your questions about the Beaux-Arts style and mannerist in- fluences are certainly valid in terms of art historical inquiry, I believe that they are somewhat beyond the scope of an individual National Register nomination. In Section 7, we noted specific features which we felt could be identified with a Mannerist interpretation and in Section 8, we noted that this treatment was unusual for a residence in the area.

These observations were based on both the bulding specific surveys conducted on a community level and on the regional reconnaissance level survey conducted by our inter- disciplinary state survey team. Neither of these considered the specific issue of mannerism in enough detail to allow us to be more specific, especially since an architect has not been identified. The final area concerns inclusion of the 1947 Marycliff Academy. Although non-contributing, this structure stands on the original 9 1/4 acre parcel and is part of the present parcel owned by the town. Enclosed you will find a slide of the building; if you feel that it should be deleted from the nom- ination, we will be happy to comply.

Sincerely, Candace lenkins Candace Jenkins Registration Director Massachusetts Historical Commission CJpb Enclosure(s) DEC 14 1981 ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER STATE MASSACHUSETTS Date Entered DEC 141981 Name Location Sanborn House Winchester Middlesex County Also Notified Honorable Paul E. Isongas Honorable Edward M. Kennedy Honorable Edward J. Markey State Historie Preservation Officer Mrs. Patricia L. Weslowski Executive Director, Massachusetts Historical Connission 294 Washington Street Boston, Massachusetts 02108 North Atlantic Region, NPS NR EADY/mc 1/4/82 For further information, please call the National Register at (202)343-6401. 272-3504