Nomination for Willard House and Clock Museum

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 historic Willard House and Clock Museum and/or common Same 2. Location street & number 1l Willard Street city, town Grafton NA vicinity of congressional district 3d state Mass. 3. Classification Category Ownership _district - public X building(s) private - structure both - site Public Acquisition object NA in process being considered code 025 county Worcester Status X occupied unoccupied work in progress Accessible {yes: restrictec - yes: unrestricted no Present Use - agriculture commercial educational entertainment government industrial military 4. Owner of Property name Willard House and Clock Museum, Inc.

street& number Il Willard Street city, town Grafton NA vicinity of 5. Location of Legal Description state Mass. courthouse, registry of deeds, etc. street & number 2 Main Street Worcester Registry of Deeds city, town Worcester state Mass. 6. Representation in Existing Surveys Inventory of the Historic Assets title of the Commonwealth #50 has this property been determined elegible? date 1968 federal Xstate depository for survey records Massachusetts Historical Commission city, town Boston state Mass. For HCRS use only received APR 2 8 1982 date enteredJON/ 1982 N/Anot for publication code 027 * museum park private residence _ religious - scientific transportation other: county - yes. X no _local UTM NOT VERIFIED 7.

Description Willard House & ClockMuseum, 1l Willard St., Grafton NUT VERIHEL Condition _excellent - good fair deteriorated ruins unexposed Check one _unaltered X altered Check one X original site _ moved date NA Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance

Description of the property

The Willard House stands in a rural section of the village of North Grafton. This colonial period farnhouse faces south, overlooking 9 1/2 acres of open land on the west side of Willard Street. Today the Willard House presents a 2 1/2 story, saltbox form with an asymmetrical, 3 bay facade -- an appearance that reflects the physical growth of the building. As originally constructed in 1718, the Willard House consisted of only one room with a sleeping loft above. It is thought that the western side of the house and the second story were added ca. 1760, and that the leanto was added in a third construction phase of unknown date. A gabled, two story ell was added at the northwest corner in 1970, when the house was restored. Built on a fieldstone foundation, the house's post and beam frame is sheathed in clapboard and enclosed by a gable roof.

A large chimney is placed just behind the ridgepole and slightly off center. On the main block of the house, narrow 6/9 windows are set in projecting frames, those on the first floor having bold cornices. The doorways on the facade and east side have similar cornices. On the rear (north) elevation are a single 6/9 window and a small entrance vestibule. The northwest ell has smaller 6/6 windows in flush frames, with a modern bay window on its northern elevation. The interior of the Willard House retains its period design. Major features include a narrow center stairway with a closed stringcourse, feather-edge panelling, origina] mantelpieces, and exposed post and beam construction. In 1968 the Willard House was purchased for use as a museum.

Restoration work undertaken between 1969 and 1971 included replacing all of the clapboard siding, recovering the roof with wood shingles, and replacing the wide Federal-period windows on the east and south sides with the original window configuration. Also located on the property, adjacent to the house, are a clock shop and barn. The clock shop, a small one story, one room structure with a gable roof, was built in 1766. This utilitarian structure has post and beam construction, small paired windows, anc an offset, unornamented doorway. Inside are simply panelled and wainscoted walls; workbenches line the south and east sides. At some later time the house and clockshop were joined by a shed, which was last used for a horse. stall and storage. With the restoration, this structure was converted into a small gift shop.

In 1976, a 20' by 30' gallery was added to the north side of the gift shop. Although the Willard House's original barn was destroyed by fire many years ago, its foundation was still evident when the house was purchased for a museum. A new barn was raised on the site, re-using the frame of an 18th century tavern. The square, gabled structure has vertical wood siding, double doors on the south elevation, and small square windows.

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Significance Period - prehistoric 1400-1499 1500-1599 1600-1699 X1700-1799 X 1800-1899 1900- Areas of Significance - Check and justify below _ archeology-prehistoric . community planning - archeology-historic conservation - agriculture economics X architecture education _ art engineering . commerce exploration/settlement communications - industry X invention -landscape architecture law literature - military music - philosophy politics/government . religion science sculpture social/ humanitarian theater transportation other (specify) Specific dates 1718 Statement of Significance

Statement of significance

(in one paragraph) Builder/Architect Joseph Willard The Willard House is significant for its associations with four famous clockmakers of the 18th and early 19th centuries and as an example of evolving colonial period architecture in Grafton. The property retains integrity of design, setting, and location and meets criteria B and C of the National Register of Historic Places. The Willard House was built in 1718 by Major Joseph Willard -- a farmer, militiaman, and one of the earliest settlers in town. He was a descendant of Major Simon Willard, the founder of Concord, Mass. Somewhat later, Joseph's son and daughter-in-law, Benjamin and Sarah Willard, also occupied the house with their 10 children. Four of Benjamin and Sarah's children became famous as clockmakers; all four were born in the Willard House between 1743 and 1757.

Benjamin the third child and oldest son, was born in 1743 and died in 1803. The west side of the house was given to Benjamin in 1764, and the clockshop was built for him in 1766. Benjamin may have apprenticed to the Cheneys of East Hartford, Conn., and probably taught his younger brothers the clockmaking trade; he worked in Grafton, Lexington and Roxbury, Mass. Several musical clocks by Benjamin are known. Simon, the 8th child (1753-1848), worked in Grafton and Roxbury, making his first clock at the age of 17. The most prominent of the Willard clockmakers, Simon invented a clock-powered jack for roasting meats, patented the lighthouse clock, and produced tall clocks, Massachusetts shelf clocks and tower clocks. Of his 11 children by his second wife, three became associated with the clock business; many of his apprentices became notable in the craft.

Ephraim (1755-?) was the 9th child of Benjamin and Sarah Willard. Although he worked in Grafton, Medford, Roxbury, and Boston, few of his clocks are known today. Aaron, the 10th child (1757-1844), is second to Simon in historical significance. Aaron apprenticed to his brothers Benjamin and Simon, and worked in Grafton, Roxbury and Development of the Massachusetts shelf clock is credited to Aaron. Of his nine children, Aaron Jr. became a clockmaker credited with development of the lyre wall clock, and Henry became prominent as a cabinet maker, producing clock cases for his relatives as well as for other leading clockmakers. The best known of the Willards' achievements are the development of the banjo clock moi sate popartent, as ren 6o i caun tos iscth utoni hnd pri dece colectlons.

The Willard House and Clock Museum are significant as the home and early workshop of these famous clockmakers. The house presents a visible history of architectural growth and change to accomodate the family, and is the oldest residence extant in 9.

The rest of the file

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

Major Bibliographical References Distin, William H. and Bishop, Robert The American Clock. New York: E.P. Dutton & Co., 1976 See Continuation Sheet 10. Geographical Data UTM+ ACREAGE NOT VERIRIED Acreage of nominated property 9.51 Quadrangle name Grafton, Mass. Quadrangle scale 1:24000 UMT References A L9/ 121793,95 Zone Easting 14,6|7,915,4,0 Northing CLI D LLILLL Easting Northing LILLL LLLu LLILLL F H Verbal boundary description and justification See attached deed description. List all states and counties for properties overlapping state or county boundaries state NA code county code state code county code 11. Form Prepared By name/title Wendy Frontiero, Preservation Planner with Russell Bath, Willard House and Clock Museum Inc.

organization Massachusetts Historical Commission date March 1, 1982 street & number 294 Washington Street *telephone 617-727-8470 city or town Boston state Mass: 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 ay the Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service.

State Historic Preservation Officer signature Tum LWesloski title Executive Director, Massachusetts Historical Commission For HCRS use only hereby certify that this property is included in the National Register Xelou Entered National Register Low Keeper of the National Register date 4/21/82 date 5/1/82 Attest: Chief of Registration date GPO 938 835 NPS Form.10-900-a (7-81) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form OMB NO. 1024-0018 EXP. 12/31/84 For NPS use only received date entered Continuation sheet Item number 8 Page 2 Grafton. An unusual survivor, the clockshop is a good example of small scale crafts production in the 18th century.

The Willard House property may contain historic archaeological resources relating to the site's use for crafts production and as a residence and farm in the 18th and early 19th centuries. Expected classes of archaeological data include subsurface deposits of cultural material associated with clockmaking, domestic and agrarian activities. Archaeological investigation and analysis of cultural deposits on the site could provide a rare assemblage of artifacts relating to specialized crafts production, and thus contributes greatly to the existing documentary record concerning 18th century clockmaking in America. 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 9 OMB NO. 1024-0018 EXP.

12/31/84 For NPS use only received date entered Page 2 Willard, John Ware Simon Willard and His Clocks. New York: Dover Publications, Inc., 1968. (Originally published 1911). BCOF6939 PACE 20 In mituena mherent, the said GRAFTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC- has caused its corporate seal to be hereto affixed and these presents to be signed, acknowledged and delivered in its name and behalf by Benjamin S. Bean, its President and Donald Davison, Treasurer its day of March Signed and sealed in presence of hereto duly authorized, this _6th in the year one thousand nine hundred and eighty. GRAFTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC. zarne xean President by Treasureale P( Davesar Ohe Cnmmmnmealth of Massachusetta Worcester SS. March 6, Then personally appeared the above named Benjamin S. Bean and Donald P.

1980 Davison and acknowledged the foregoing instrument to be the free act and deed of the Grafton Society, Inc-before me ostoal iSichalt Notary Public- Richard H. Parker My commission expires Mureh Recorded MAR 121980 at 9h.-m.AM. CHAPTER 183 SEC. 6 AS AMENDED BY CHAPTER 497 OF 1969 Every deed presented for record shall contain or have endorsed upon it the full name, residence and post office address of the grantee and a recital of the amount of the full consideration thereof in dollars or the nature of the other consideration therefor, if not delivered for a specific monetary sum. The full consideration shall mean the total price for the conveyance without deduction for any liens or en- cumbrances assumed by the grantee or remaining thereon.

All such endorsements and recitals shall be recorded as part of the deed Failure to comply with this section shall not affect the validity of any deed No register of deeds shall accept a deed for recording unless it is in compliance with the requirements of this section. BCO:6939 FACE MASSACHUSETTS QUITCLAIM DEED BY CORPORATION (LONG FORM) 795 19 GRAFTON, MASS. Willard House & Clock Museum Verbal Boundary Description, #10 GRAFTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC. a corporation duly established under the laws of Massachusetts and having its usual place of business at iv ulay dethn idiler cdtlar.

Grafton, Worcester for consideration paid, and in full consideration of less than one hundred dollars County, Massachusetts grants to WILLARD HOUSE & CLOCK MUSEUM, INC., a corporation duly established under the laws of Massachusetts of Grafton, Worcester County, Massachusetts with quitrlaim rournants the land in with the buildings thereon situated on the westerly side of Willard Street in Grafton, Worcester County, Massachusetts and being shown on a plan entitled (Description and encumbrances, if any) "Land Owned by Roger W. and Imogene R. Robinson, Grafton, Mass.", dated December 26, 1974 by Frank H.

Andrews and recorded in Worcester District Registry of Deeds shown on said 2 and 3 shown on said plan containing respectively, 3.22 acres, 2.02 acres, and 2.12 acres with said Lots 1, 2 and 3 being granted and conveyed in trust for the following charitable purposes: To be owned, managed and controlled as a portion of, in conjunction with and for the benefit of the Willard House, so-called, being the land with the buildings thereon situated on the aforesaid parcel containing 2.15 acres shown on said plan as "Grafton Historical Society, Inc." and heretofore operated and maintained by the Grantor as a Clock Museum and Historical Site, and with the provision that the said Lots 1, 2 and 3 shall never be sold, transferred or conveyed except as part of the aforesaid premises known as the Willard House and upon the further trust and purpose that no building shall ever be constructed on said Lots 1, 2 and 3 so that they shall remain a green area or open space appurtenant to said premises of the Willard House forever; In the event that ownership and operation of the Willard House as a museum and historical site is vested in any other charitable legal the granted premises consisting of Lots 1, 2 and 3 shall be conveyed to such charitable legal entity upon the same trust hereby established and referred Said Lot l is the same premises conveyed to the Grantor by deed of Roger W.

Robindon, M.D. and Imogene D. Robinson dated December 30, 1974 and recorded in Worcester District Registry of Deeds Book 5681, Page 339 and said Lots 2 and 3 are the same premises conveyed to the Grantor by Roger W. Robinson, M.D. and Imogene D. Robinson by deed dated December 22, 1975 and recorded in Worcester District Registry of Deeds Book 5866, Page 51 and the within described premises contain- ing 2.15 acres shown on said plan as "Grafton Historical Society, are the same premises conveyed to the Grantor by deed of Glen M. Nichols and Lucy M. Nichols dated October 30, 1968 and recorded in Worcester District Registry of Deeds Book 4897, Page 520. One of the purposes of this grant is to vest ownership of the Willard House in the Grantees, so that it may be operated by the Grantee, pur- suant to the purposes for which the Grantee was formed.

Also conveying, but not subject to the above described trust, the pre- mises situated on the easterly side of Willard Street in said Grafton and being the same premises conveyed to the Grantor by deed of Ralph B. Burke, dated December 31, 1973 and recorded in Worcester District Re- gistry of Deeds Book 5429, Page 192 and re-recorded in said Registry in Book 5442, Page 241. Subject to the right of way shown in Worcester District Registry of Deeds Plan Book 393, Plan 49 as reserved and described in the afore- said deed of Ralph D. Burke to Grafton Historical Society, Inc.

(THE FOLLOWINGIS NOT A PART OF THE DEED, AND IS NOT TO BE RECORDED.) CHAPTER 183, SECTION 11, GENERAL LAWS A deed in substance following the form entitled "Quitclaim Deed" shall when duly executed have the force and effect of a deed in fee simple to the grantee, his heirs and assigns, to his and their own use, with covenants on the part of the grantor, for himself, his heirs, executors, administrators and successors, with the grantee, his heirs, successors and assigns, that at the time of the delivery of such deed the premises were free from all encumbrances made by bim, and that he will, and his heirs, executors and administrators shall, warrant and defend the same to the grantee and his heirs and assigns forever against the lawful claims and demands of all persons claiming by, through or under the grantor, but against none other.

8386 MASSACHUSETTS Btatute Horm nf Quitrlaim Dred (BY CORPORATION) 10.00 ORAFTON BOCTES 2NC. WILLARD HOUSE & CLOCK MUSEUM, INC. ...o'clock and. Received and entered with. Book... ..Page. Attest: -, 19........ -.-hl. .Deeds Register FROM THE OFFICE OF Russell F. Bath, Jr. 1525 Mechanics Bank worcester, MA Tower 01608 TEL: 753-5411 RETURN TO HOBBS & WARREN. INC. PUBLISHERS STANDARD LEGAL FORMS BOSTON MASS. Form 795 Dompara REVISED CHAPTER 497 - 1969 RECORDED YORCESTER DIST GISTn -iAR I JUk PAGE ATIEST Aithoor. 9 00 A..

6939 19 Register (Please print or type) toF:NPS NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION / RETURN SHEET Property: ard House and Clock Museum State, County: MA Worcester 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. 4128 82-1280 Fed. Reg. Date: FEB 1 1983 Date Due:_ 27182- 6/12/82 Entered AC tio The ACCEPT. 6/1/82 RETURN. National Register - REJECT_ photos_ maps -sample - request - appeal - NR decision Recom. /Criteria - Reviewer_ Discipline- Date. - see continuation sheet -Nomination returned for: - technical corrections cited below .substantive reasons discussed below 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification sogery pormeratde Aulle 1 4. Owner of Property Matur Aococalble voson Uoo 5. Location of Legal Description 6.

Representation in Existing Surveys hee the property been detormined oliolbte?re - ne 7. Description hock eno good fade Seseriorated ruine unespoeed Chock ene _ originel site .moved date al and ertginal (il lmerem) phuyeleal appoarano summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates boundary selection 8. Significanco 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 of nominated property UNTRe farbed bouadery doscrbacten 11. Form Prepared By 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The eveluated significance of tnle property wlthin the state le: Pate t Metarte 13.

Other Maps Photographs Other Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to - Signed Date. Phone: 202 272 - 3! Comments for any Item may be continued on an attached shoot GRAFTON, MASS. Willard House and Clock Museum South and east elevations Photograph by Marvin Richmond, 1981 Negative filed with WH&C Museum Photo 1 of 1 (] POSITIVE Willard House andClockshop Willard Street Grafton, Mass. 01519 March 10, 1982 Patricia L. Weslowski, Executive Director Massachusetts Historical Commission RECEIVED 294 Washington St. Boston, MA 02108 MAR :2 I02 Dear Ms. Wesnowski: MASS. HIST. COMM. The Trustees of the Willard House and Clock Museum, Inc. unanimously support the application for nomination of this Museum to the National Register of Historic Places. Benjamin, Simon, Ephraim and Aaron Willard were born in this house and made clocks here.

Their clocks are represented in the Capitol, White House, Smithsonian Institute and the State Department as well as the major museums throughout the United States. Their lives were significant in our past and added a great heritage to this country in the field of decorative arts. Sincerely yours, Rogertu Rubmior Roger W. Robinson President of Trustees Willard House & Clock Museum, Inc. RWR/r Unun of Grafton Massachunetta BOARD OF SELECTMEN March 10, 1982 RECEIVED MAR 1 2 1902 MASS. HIST. COMM. Patricia I. Weslowski, Executive Director State Historic Preservation Officer Massachusetts Historical Commission 294 Washington Street Boston, Massachusetts 02108 Dear Ms. Weslowski: The Willard House is an active museum incorporated under the name of Willard House and Clock Museum.

A great deal of effort has been made to restore the main house and associated out buildings to their original authenticity. Sections of the museum have been restored to the period of early 1700; while other parts have been restored up through the early 1800's. The museum has been furnished with authentic antique furnishings, but more importantly houses an exceptional collection of Willard Clocks, made by the four brothers who were born in this house, and typical clock-makers' tools (some of which were actually used by the Willards). The grounds surrounding the museum are primarily rural pastureland, having been used in recent years for grazing cattle.

The external appearance of the building, inasmuch as possible, was restored to its original appearance, even to the extent of relocating windows which had been otherwise placed and were detected when new clapboards were placed on the building. We feel that the overall characteristics of the house and its contents is worthy of consideration for the National Register of Historic Places. Yours truly, GRAFTON BOARD OF SELECTMEN Richard I. Carkeon Richard J. Carlson Chairman pjj cc: Mildred Bean, Chairman of Grafton Historic Commission 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 April 22, 1982 Ms. Carol Shull, Acting Keeper National Register of Historic Places National Park Service Department of the Interior Washington, D.C.

20243 Dear Ms. Shull: Enclosed you will find the following nomination forms: Boston - Adams Nervine Asylum (state) Boyalston - Keyes - Dakin House (local) Grafton - Willard House and Clock Museum (state) Hatfield - The O1d Mill Site Historical District (local) Holden - Rogers House (local) Needham - Tolman - Gay House (local) Newton - Slade - Hovey House (local) ewner obiects Sturbridge - Oliver Wight House (state) Upton - Knowlton Hat Factory (local) Weston - Isaac Hobbs House (local) RECEIVED -APR 28 1982 NATIONAL REG'STER All have been voted eligible by the State Review Board and have been signed by the State Historic Preservation Officer. Owners were notified of pending State Review Board consideration 30-75 days before the meeting and were afforded the opportunity to comment. Comments received to date are attached to the nomination forms.

Sincerely, Candace fenkins Candace Jenkij Registration Director Massachusetts Historical Commission CJ/amf