Nomination for Wyeth, John, House

The nomination, in full

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

FORM B - BUILDING - MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, State House, Boston - - - - - 2. Photo (3x3" or 3x5") Staple to leit side of form Photo number |100-26 - - 4. Map. Draw sketch of building location in relation to nearest cross streets and .sthar huildinoc Tndinate north (!a i) 30 D THE GORDON SUAPLY Cambridge -AUBURN EE0444 ABERDEEN DepddadüpiO BE LARCHWOOD ET DR WLAY MEADOW POND 23l 30M-5-77 ASSESSOR #252-131 In Area no. NW CAMB. 1. Town Cambridge Address 56 Aberdeen Avenue Name_ John Wyeth House Present use residential Form no. NWC IIC5 Present owner_Felicity S. Lahti 3. Description: Date 1841 Source deed records Style Greek Revival Architect unknown Exterior wall fabric wood Outbuildings (describet- Other features heavy Greek Revival moulding around pediment, original fluted columns with capitals. Altered No Date -- Moved Yes Date 1922-23 5.

Lot size: One acre or less XX Over one acre Approximate frontage 100 feet Approximate distance of building from street 20 feet 6. Recorded byArthur Krim OrganizationCambridge Historical Comm. Date 1972 UTM-LEXINOTON 19132320014693600 NOVI A 1980 7. Original owner (it known) John Wyeth Original use residential Subsequent uses (if any) and dates_ same 8. Themes (check as many as applicable) Aboriginal Agricultural Architectural The Arts Commerce Communication Community development XX Conservation Education Exploration/ settlement Industry Military Political Recreation Religion Science/ invention Social/ humanitarian Transportation 9. Historical significance (include explanation of themes checked above) The John Wyeth house is important as the earliest documented example of domestic Greek Revival architecture in Northwest Cambridge.

Built in 1841 for John Wyeth, it was originally located at 60g Mount Auburn Street opposite the Mount Auburn Cemetery Gate. John Wyeth (1805-1871) was engaged in the West India and other foreign trade. Considered a large and commodious house at the time it was built, its handsome proportions convey the solidity and clarity of the Greek Revival style. Its foremost feature is the colonnaded portico whose fluted columns and correctly detailed Ionic capitals had been mass-produced. The end gables are treated as Classical pediments. Only the addition of artificial siding mars the building which otherwise is wholly intact. The house was moved around the corner anto Aberdeen Avenue in 1922-23, forced out by development pressures on Mt. Auburn Street. Without this move, the house would have been demolished and this structure, unique in Northwest Cambridge, lost.

Thus, despite the move, the architectural and historical associations make it invaluable. 10. Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records, early maps, etc.) - NPS Form 10 (7-81) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form Continuation sheet Item number For NPS use only received date entered Page ( 1 41) Multiple Resource Area Thematie Group Name State Cambridge Multiple Resource Area MA Nomination/Type of Review 161. Mead, Alpheus, House Bilelentive Beviey Keeper Date/Signature William H.Braiwam 4.138; Attest 162. Snow, Daniel, House DOE/OWNER OBJECTION Suõefantive Fevies v Keeper Attest William H.Braviam 4.13.82 Determined elezeble 163. Wyeth, John, House / Keeper WeliamH.Brackam 4.13.52 Thiiter witve Kory Attest 16%.

HomER-hovell Housé Keeper tu Duthi 12/22/83 Attest 165. Substaative Revien Reversible Collar Company Building Keeper buardianChajul 9-27-85 Attest Keeper IS Dyis 166. Ash Street Historic District (Boundary Increase) Subsbentive 167. Berkeley Street Historic District (Boundary Increase) 6Keeper Aean Gyas 5.14-86 Nationel Register 168. Bertram Hall at Radcliffe College Entered National Regiater 169. Bennink-Douglas Cottages Entered Attest fakeeper AeluByu 58-16 Attest fKeeper AemBgen54576 170. Brabrook, E. H., House Entered National the Registen Attest fukeeper Attest delore Bye51986 Substantive Review NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION / RETURN SHEET Property:.

Wfeth, John'Resource ARea) House (cambrudge multaple State, County:_MA- Middlesek Federal Agency: resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: Reviewer's comments: United States Department of the Interior National Park Service Working No. - 11-14-80-2862 Fed. Reg. Date: Date Due:- 4-11-82 Action: ACCEPT - RETURN - REJECT_ photos / maps - - sample - request _appeal KNR decision Eauliest example-incula -No cambridge Recom. / Criteria - Reviewer - Discipline 4,5.82 Date - see continuation sheet -Nomination returned for: - technical corrections cited below _substantive reasons discussed below 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification Calogory Oumorship Public Acqutsition 4. Owner of Property Btatus Accossible Prasent Use 5. Location of Legal Description 6.

Representation in Existing Surveys hae thie property boen determined oligible? - 100 - nc 7. Description Conditien excellent good fair .deteriorated ruins unexposed Chock one _ unaltered altered Check one original site moved date ortbe the procent and ertginel (it known) phrysical apposranco summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates boundary selection 8. Significance Perted Aroes of pecle dates nent el significance (in ene peregraph) ok and juetify belen Sullder/ Arehitee summary paragraph completeness clarity applicable criteria justification of areas Checked relating significance to the resource context relationship of integrity to significance justification of exception other 9. Major Bibliographical References 10. Geographical Data Acreage of nominated property Quedrangle name _ UNT Reterences Varbel berndery descriptien and juettfication 11.

Form Prepared By 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evaluated significance of this property within the state is: - national - state local Pate Historic Preeervation Officer eigneture 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 1100-26 086L FAON Cambridge MIAMa Wyeth, John, ltouse 07G C 56 Aberdeen Ave. 1100-26 Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000275