BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
- FORM A - AREA SURVEY MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, State House, Boston - - Form numbers in this area Area no. OC Old Cambridge I 3 1. Town Cambridge Name of area (if any) Berkeley Street National Register District 3. General date or period_ 1850-1900 2. Photo (3x3" or 3x5") Staple to left side of form Photo number 1098 -34 "1 -36 1099-0. 1104- 23A 5. Ma prc pon Ind 4. Is area uniform (explain): in style? no, mixed styles in condition? yes, good to excellent in type of ownership?yes, private in use? - yes, residential Cistoric orres- e north. DO NOT WRITE IN THIS SPACE USGS Quadrant MHC Photo no. NOV 1 4 1980 (over) 4.907 AcRES 6. Recorded by Bainbridge Bunting Organization Cambridge Historical Comm. Date 1965 UTM-VEXINGTON 193250004693710 M-5-73-075074 7. Historical data. Explain the historical/architectural importance of this area.
The area around Berkeley Street was part of a thirty-seven acre parcel acquired in 1843 by Professor Joseph Worcester. J1852 Worcester laid out part of Berkeley and Buckingham Streets and all of Craigie Street and began selling house lots. Despite its being developed by different owners, Berkeley Street has a splendid urban unity and contains the best concentration of Bracketed and Mansard houses in the city. Of the street's eighteen houses, twelve date from between 1852 and 1873., The few Queen Anne houses erected later in large side yards are in keeping with the mass and siting of the earlier works, so is the extremely well-designed stucco house (1905) at Number 16. Iwo houses, Numbers 12 and 15, have been altered, but retain much original trim. 1. Pryor-Brown House (1852; c.1900, c.1915), 1 Berkeley Street. This greatly remodelled Bracketed Italianate house was built by Dr.
Pryor, a Baptist pastor. subse- virgquent occupants included Albert Brown, secretary to Governor Andrew during the Civil war- 2. Richard Henry Dana House (1852), 4 Berkeley Street. A large and elaborate Bracketed Italianate structure which was the home of Richard Henry Dana, author of Iwo Years Before the Mast. MAtAia 3. 6 Berkeley Street (1853)- This excellent example of a suburban house of the 1850's was built by Moses and Jedediah Ricker for Miss Catherine Donnison. Its low-pitched gables and heavy modillion brackets are characteristie of the Bracketed Italianate style. 4. Wyeth-Al1en House (1854): 5 Berkeley Street. Ihe architect Calvin Ryder designed this fine example of a suburban Italianate house. The house was built by Jonas Wyeth III for the Misses Lyman who had a sehool for young ladies in it. By 1857 Wyeth and his family were living there.
is a classic example of a mid-nineteenth century, T-plan Italianate residence. 8. Bibliography and/or references such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records, early maps, etc. L0ti 3/73 INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Page 2 Commnity : Form No: Old Cambridge OC I.3 Property Name: Berkeley Street N.R.D. Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. 5. 6. 7. 19 Berkeley Street (1855). Notable features of this Bracketed Italianate house include its pedimented gable, arched windows, quoins and front porch with arched and corbelled architrave. It was built for Charles Folsom, a brother-in-law of Professor Worcester who laid out part of Berkeley Street. 21 Berkeley Street (1855). This Bracketed Italianate residence is distinguished by its gabled central pavilion.
It was built for Charles Vaughan, whose son arranged for a wooden boardwalk on Berkeley Street, at that time unpaved and muddy. Pryor-Howells House (1857), 3 Berkeley Street. Dr. Pryor also built this smaller more modest house and he and his wife lived there for some years. In 1872 William Dean Howells and his wife rented the house and liked it so much that they built one on the same plan on Concord Avenue. 8. WIlllam Newell House (1857), 20 Berkeley Street. Ihis early Mansard house was built for Dr. William Newell, pastor of the Unitarian Church in Harvard Square. Noteworthy features of the house are the elaborate paired brackets, corner quoins and low concave Mansard roof. 9. Henry Ware House (1860), 8 Berkeley Street. Builder Oliver Hastings constructed this Mansard house for Henry Ware. Ware was Secretary to Governors Andrew and Bullock, and Secretary to the Senate in Washington.
He helped found the first permanent symphony orchestra in Boston, the forerunner of the present Boston Symphony Orchestra. 10. Lyman Williston House (1863), 15 Berkeley Street. This much- altered house is Old Cambridge's only textbook example of an "Italian Villa." Erected for Lyman Williston, the asymmetrical plan and towered silhouette are typical of the villa form. one-story wing housed the Berkeley Street School which Mr. Williston directed. It was later detached and remodelled into a separate dwelling at Number 17. 11. 17 Berkeley Street (1863). This structure was originally an ell of the house next door at Number 15. It was detached in 1900 with alterations made at that time by Dwight & Chandler, and again in 1912 by the firm of Kilham & Hopkins. 12. John Fiske House (1878), 22 Berkeley Street. This Mansard house was designed by Griffith Thomas.
It was the home of historian John Fiske(1842-1901), an active promoter of Darwin's theory of evolution and librarian of Harvard College from 1872-1879. Staple to Inventory form at bottom INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Page 3 Commmity : Old Cambridge Form No: OC I.3. Property Name: Berkeley St. N.R.D Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. 13. 12 Berkeley Street (1882). This Queen Anne/Shingle Style house, although stuccoed over, retains much of its original trim. A fine triple window indicates the stair landing; the half timbered front porch dates c.1920. 14. John Allyn House (1886), 11 Berkeley Street. This unusually well-preserved Queen Anne/Shingle Style house was designed by architect William Ralph Emerson for John Allyn, who established the publishing firm of Allyn & Bacon. 15.
13 Berkteley Street (1898). The architectural firm of Dwight & Chandler designed this late Queen Anne/Shingle Style house. The Berkeley Street National Register District includes properties on both sides of Berkeley Street between Craigie Street and Phillips Place (see Cambridge Community Phe b nda Cesbride Cosennttinevele mouses and iuad maintaining12. spacing and style of the street's nineteenth century appearance. -END- Staple to Inventory form at bottom ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE of area. (Describe physical setting, general character, and architecturally significant structures). Berkeley Street, cut off from through traffic and insulated by brick buildings, enjoys a great sense of isolation from the urban environment. Berkeley Place, a cul-de-sac, is even quieter than Berkeley Street.
The spacious lots and high proportion of high style Mansard and Bracketed Italianate houses make this district one of the most distinguished in Cambridge. Berkeley Street contains many variants of the Bracketed Italianate style. Three examples of the mid-nineteenth century I-shaped plan, 4, 5 and 6 Berkeley Street establish the suburban mode of the street. story porches fill the angles of the I. Other Italianate features include low-pitched gables, heavy modillion brackets under the eaves and round headed windows. HISTORTSASTa FACÅNan, of area. (Explarh spmiehe toe ff8t, htbe anå how it affected conmmity; be specific). Continued The area around Berkeley Street was part of of a thirty-seven acre parcel acquired in 1843 by Professor Joseph Worcester from the Vassall- Craigie estate.
By 1852, Worcester had laid out part of Berkeley and Buckingham Streets and all oi Craigie Street and began selling lots for ex- pensive houses. Berkeley Place, which provided ingress to the back field of the Worcester home lot at 121 Brattle. Street, was laid out in 1890. Despite being developed by different owners, the district retains a splendid urban unity and contains the best concentration of Bracketted Italianate and Mansard houses in Cambridge. The few Queen Anne and Stucco Style houses erected later in large side yards and on Berkeley Place are in keeping with the mass and siting of the earlier works. Several houses in the district had prominent owners. The Richard Henry Dana House (1851) at 4 Berkeley Street, a large and elaborate Bracketted Italianate structure, was the home of Richard Henry Dana, author of Iwo Years Before the Mast.
a2 BerkeLey Streat Bs ore homMottjohn Fiske (142-19015, an aet vat promoter of Darwin's theory of evolution and librarian of Harvard College from 1872-1879. Finally, 8 Berkeley Street was the home of Henry Ware, Secretary to Governors Andrew and Bullock, and Secretary to the Senate in Washington. He also helped to found the first perma- nent symphony orchestra in Boston, the forerunner of the present Boston BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES Symphony Orchestra. Continued SEE ATTACHED BIBLIOGRAPHY 2M-6/80 INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Commmi ty : Cambridge Mass. Form No: I 3 Cambridge MRA Property Name: Berkeley St. 6 P1 Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. Architectural Significance con't. examples.
19 Berkeley Street features corner quoins, a pedimented gable with arched windows on its side elevations and a front porch with arched windows and corbelled architrave. Number 21 Berkeley Street's most distinguishing characteristic is its gabled central pavilion. A third Italianate form, the "Italian Villa", is also represented on Berkeley Street. Cambridge's only textbook example of this villa form stands at number 15 and features an asymmetrical plan and tower. Representing the Mansard style is 20 Berkeley Street. Except for its roof which has simple dorners, this early Mansard, with its corner quoins, heavy paired eaves brackets and center porch, re- sembles the gabled Italianate house at 19 Berkeley Street. Other Mansards include 22 Berkeley Street which features a flushboarded facade and number 8 designed by Oliver Hastings, a prominent Cambridge architect.
The Queen Anne/Shingle Style is represented by 11, 12 and 13 Berkeley Street.and 3 Berkeley Place. The best developed and well- preserved of these, 11 Berkeley Street was designed by architect William Ralph Emerson. Typical Shingle Style details include rounded corners which preserve the continuity of the shingled surface and a unified roof line. Representing the 20th Century are two Stucco Style houses at 16 Berkeley Street and 7 Berkeley Place by Hartley Dennett and A.W. Jackson respectively. The overhanging eaves with brackets, slate roof and varies fenestration help these buildings fit in well with their nineteenth century neighbors. Berkeley Street and Berkeley Place are significant under Criterion C as embodying the distinguishing characteristias of the Bracketed Italianate, Mansard and Shingle styles.
Staple to Inventory form at botton INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEEI MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston |Commumity Cambridge Mass. Cambridge MRA Form No: I 3 Property Name: Berkeley St. & P1 NRD Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued belaw. Criteria. For Evaluation The Berkeley Street and Berkeley Place National Register District is significant as a nineteenth and early twentieth century resi- dential neighborhood in a fine state of preservation. Most of the early houses on Berkeley Street are large well-maintained examples of the Italianate style. The houses on Berkeley Place were built after 1890, but are consistent in scale and materials with those on Berkeley Street.
Both streets retain their integrity of location, design, setting, material, feeling and workmanship, and fulfill Cri- terion C of the National Register of Historic Places. The district is also significant under Criterion B for its associations with people in the fields of literature and education. The Berkeley Street and Berkeley Place National Register District was found to be significant under the themes of residential architecture: nineteenth and early twentieth century, education, and literature, as proposed by Dr. Cynthia to the Review Committee for the Study of Architecture of Harvard Uni- versity and its Environs in Cambridge. Berkeley Street is a quiet residential street cut off from through traffic. Berkeley Place, being a cul-de-sac, is even more peaceful than Berkeley Street. Berkeley Street possesses great architectural unity and a large proportion of high style buildings.
The houses on Berkeley Place, though later in date, are similiar in their high degree of architectural quality. The boundaries of the Berkeley Street and Berkeley Place National Register District include all addresses on these streets except 10 and 11 Berkeley Place. The boundaries were drawn to include houses and lots maintaining the spacing and style of the streets' nineteenth century appearance. The district is insulated to the south by the brick complex of the Episcopal Theological School, and to the north by several apartment buildings along Concord Avenue. The only building that does not contribute to the district, at 24 Berkeley Street, is an un-distinguished house of vaguely Colonial Revival style. It is included so as to include the entire length of Berkely Street in the district.
Staple to Inventory form at bottom LNYENLUSL MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Cambridge Mass. I 3 Cambridee MRA Property Name: Berkeley St. & P1. Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. Bibliography/References Cambridge Historical Commission. Survey of Architectural History in Cambridge: VoLume I, East Cambridge (1965), out of print. Volume II, Mid Cambridge (1967), Camoridge, MA Volume III, Cambridgeport (1971), Cambridge, MA Volume IV, O1d Cambridge (1973), Cambridge, MA Volume V, Northwest Cambridge (1977), Cambridge, MA Cambridge Historical Society, Proceedings (1906-Present), Cambridge, MA. D.A.R., Winthrop Chapter, An Historical Guide to Cambridge (1907), Cambridge, MA. Gillman, A. (ed.), Cambridge of Eighteen Hundred and Ninety-Six (1896), Cambridge, MA.
Daige, L.R., History of Cambridge (1877), Boston, MA.; Sugplement (1930), Boston, MA. Rand, C., Cambridge, U.S.A. (1964), New York, NY. Rettig, R.B., Guide to Cambridge Architecture (1969), Cambridge, MA. Stillman, W.J. (ed.), Poetic Localities of Cambridge (1876), Cambridge, MA. Woods, R.A., and Kennedy, A.J. (Warner, ed.), Zone of Emergence (1962) , Cambridge, MA. zaitzevsky, C., with the advice of the Review Committee members, The Harvard University Study of Historic and Architectural Properties in the Environs of Cambridge, (April 1983-December 1984), Cambridge, MA. Staple to Inventory form at botton Berkeley Street and Berkeley Place National Register District , Cambridge, Mass., Cambridge MRA DISTRICE DATA SHEET 1.
218,12 218,10 218,13 218,17 218,15 218,26 218,27 218,30 216,24 170,33 216,23 217,5 216,38,39 217,4 217,3 216,26 217,2 216,21 217,29 217,1 IISTORIC NAMI: NA STREET ADDRESS --- 1 Berkeley Pl. NA 2 Berkeley P1. NA NA 3 Berkeley P1. 4 Berkeley P1. NA 5 Berkeley P1. NA 6 Berkeley Pl. NA 7 Berkeley P1. NA 8 Berkeley P1. Pryor/Brown House 1 Berkeley St.. NA 2% Berkeley St. 3 Berkeley St. Pryor/Howells House Richard H. Dana House Wyeth/Allen House 4 Berkeley St. 5-7R Berkeley St. NA 6 Berkeley St. Henry Ware House 8 Berkeley St. John Allyn House 1l Berkeley St. NA 12 Berkeley St. NA 13 Berkeley St. Lyman Williston House - 15 Berkeley St. NA 16 Berkeley St. IATE OF CONSTRUCTION 1892 1892 1892 1910 1900 1914, 1913 1931 1852 1894 1856 1851-1852 1852 1853 1859-60 1886 1881 1898 1863 .
1905 SIYLEC/NC QA/SS/CR C SS/CR C SS/CR C NG C QA/SS/NT C QA NT CR/NG BI CR BI - BI BI BI MS SS SS/QA SS BI MD C C C C C C C C C C C Berkeley Street and Berkeley Place National Register District con't DISTRICE DATA SUET Cambridge, Mass., Cambridge MRA 2. MAP # 216,30 216,15 218,11 216,33 218,8 216,32 218,34 HISTORIC NAMI NA NA William Newell House NA John Fiske House NA NA STRBET ADDRESS 17 Berkeley St. 19 Berkeley St. 20 Berkeley St. 21 Berkeley St. 22 Berkeley St. 23 Berkeley St. 24 Berkeley St. DATE OF CONSTRUCTION 1863 1854-1855 1856-1857 1854-1855 1877-1878 1854-1855 1936 SIYLE* C/NC* QA BI MS BI MS GR, BI NG C C C C C C NC * GR=Greek Revival; BI=Bracketed Italianate; MS=Mansard; QA=Queen Anne; SS=Shingle Style; CR= Colonial Revival; NG=Neo-Georqian; NT=Neo-Tudor; MD=Modern.
** C=Contributing; NC=Non-Contributing- NPS Form 10-900-a (7-81) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form Continuation sheet Item number VIONV.-- EXP. 12/31/84 For NPS use oniy received date entered Page 241 Multiple Resource Area Thematie Group Name State Cambridge Multiple Resource Area MA Nomination/Type of Review ~ 11. MGarfleld Street HIstorie District EEeFenIre Sovier Keeper Attest 1:12. Harvard Street Historic District Keeper NerIet Attest Resuty 13. Kirkland Place Historic District ericiazin horta fal Keeper Attest / :14. Maple Avenue Historic District Substantive Review Keeper Attest V ,15. City Hall Historic District Keeper Attest /.76. Ash Street Historic District sa Ter Keeper Attest Avon Hill Historic District Keeper Attest /18.
Berkeley Street Historic District Keeper Attest / 419. Cambridge Common Historic District Substantive Review Keeper Attest / 4'20. Gold Coast Historic District Keeper Attest Date/Signature Bumm 0n511/308 Hawen Wieliam H. Branam 413-82 AetiikAndun 5/19/86 Bittt: Sarge 5-142 Weelan 4.13.8, WiuanHt Bracham 41382 Poria pea Paiz ll630r3 ictuex 4 13.621 WilliamHBravham 4.3.82 Doun Ma Porefet 6 30 83 - Hawend Pet 6/10/82 Nawer) Substantive Review NATIONAL EGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION / BETURN SHEET eekeley STecet HisToRic DistRict Property: CAmbadie multiple Resounu ARea) State, County: MiH-Dudaleses Federal Agency:- States Department of the Interior National Park Service resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Working No.1/-14-80-2862 Fed. Reg. Date: Date Due: ./11/82 Action: - ACCEPT.
1/13/62 - RETURN photos 4 - REJECT - maps Substantive Review: - sample - request - appeal .NR decision Reviower's comments: fine collection o Gracketed + mansard houses in camernce. Recom. /CriferiaC Reviower Isanam Discipline Asch /fs Date 4.3.82 - see continuation sheet -Nomination returned for: -technical corrections cited below _substantive reasons discussed below 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification mocomt Ueo 4. Owner of Property . Location of Legal Description , Representation in Existing Surveys has tele property been determined efl 7. Description ruine Fale Chock em _moved ribe the present and erteinei (il lueewn) phyeleal appesrens summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates boundary selection - - 8.
Significanco Portor poelie datea Chack and faotlly baler ol ol slenillaanao fta ano summary paragraph completeness clarity applicable criteria justification of areas checked relating significance to the resource context relationship of integrity to significance justification of excepticn other 9. Major Bibliographical References 10. Geographical Data oraage of nominated property auadranglo nemo UNIT Poborences Vorbal boundary deseriatien and jestiteation 11. Form Prepared By 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The ovoluatad algeificance of this property atehin the otate is: - netional loca Blate Mtetorie Preeervetten Officer eigneture dete 13. Other Maps Photographs Other Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to.
Signed - Date- Phone: 202 272 - 3504 Comments for any item may be continued on an attached sheet 1098-34 NOV 1 4 1980 9050 Carbride MRA na Berkeles St. H.D. 1 Berkeley St. 1098-34 1099-0 NOV : 4 1980 cambridge MRA, Ma 074C Berkeley st. H.D. 12 Berkeley St. 1099-0 1098-36 8LTIA0N 5 C Canbrila MRA, ha Berkeley st. H.D. 5 Berkeley, St. 1098-36 1104-23A NOV 1 - cambringe MRA na Berkely St. H.D. 22 Berkeley St. 1104 -23A Berkeley St. & Berkeley P1. N.R.D. Canbrdse MRA 11 Berkeley St. 31-30A CONGORD BERKELE ST. JOHN'S AVE HASTINGS RD ST. JOHN'S sjiat RD ST. 3T. SERKELEY UPS PL AVE. PHILLIPS BERKELEY STREET 6 BERKELEY PLACE N.R. Cambridge, Mass: Cambridge MI Base: City of Cambridge Assessor's Plans January 1983 =Non-Contributing Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000275