Nomination for Colburn, Sarah Foster, House

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Form No. 10-300 REV.

(9/77) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE FOR NPS USE ONLY NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM RECEIVED MAY 13 1980 JUN 1 6 1980 3 4 DATE ENTERED 000y2 SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES -- COMPLETE APPLICABLE SECTIONS NAME HISTORIC SARAH FOSTER COLBURN HOUSE AND/OR COMMON same LOCATION STREET & NUMBER 7 Dana Street CITY, TOWN Cambridge STATE Massachusetts CLASSIFICATION _ VICINITY OF CODE 025 - NOT FOR PUBLICATION CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT Eighth Midalesex CODE 017 CATEGORY -DISTRICT x-BUILDING(S) _STRUCTURE _SITE _OBJECT OWNERSHIP -PUBLIC XPRIVATE _BOTH PUBLIC ACQUISITION -IN PROCESS -BEING CONSIDERED STATUS XOCCUPIED -UNOCCUPIED _WORK IN PROGRESS ACCESSIBLE - YES: RESTRICTED -YES: UNRESTRICTED XNO PRESENT USE AGRICULTURE -MUSEUM _COMMERCIAL -PARK _EDUCATIONAL XPRIVATE RESIDENCE -ENTERTAINMENT - RELIGIOUS -GOVERNMENT -SCIENTIFIC _INDUSTRIAL -TRANSPORTATION -MILITARY -OTHER: OWNER OF PROPERTY NAME Maurice H.

Kramer STREET & NUMBER 72 Glendale Road CITY. TOWN STATE Massachusetts Quincy VICINITY OF LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION COURTHOUSE, REGISTRY OF DEEDS,ETC. STREET & NUMBER Middlesex County Registry of Deeds Cambridge and Third Streets CITY, TOWN Cambridge STATE Massachusetts REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS TITLE Cambridge Historical Commission, Survey of Architectural History in Cambridge Report 2: Mid Cambridge. Cambridge: MIT Press DATE 1967, pp. 55, 56, 58, 112. 1967 FEDERAL STATE _COUNTY XLOCAL DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS CITY.TOWN Cambridge Historical Commission Cambridge STATEMassachusetts 7 DESCRIPTION CONDITION _EXCELLENT XGOOD -FAIR DETERIORATED _RUINS _UNEXPOSED CHECK ONE XUNALTERED ALTERED CHECK ONE XORIGINAL SITE _MOVED DATE DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (IF KNOWN) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Description of the property

Built in 1841, the Sarah Foster Colburn House is an unusual 2½ story frameresidence combining both Greek Revival and Gothic features. The steeply gabled facade most clearly demonstrates the skillful blending of the two styles. Here five unevenly spaced fluted columns with stylized Doric capitals support a narrow unadorned frieze and a deeply projecting gable pierced by wide pointed arch openings. A narrow lancet window filling the gable peak adds to the Gothic quality of the upper facade. This unusual configuration of deeply overhanging gable, Gothic lancets, and Greek Revival columns is related to a rare house type found in the Connecticut River Valley, but is unique in Cambridge.

Contrasting to the basic simplicity of the house are the dec- orative acorn pattern bargeboards along the widely projecting eaves of the front gable and the unusually elaborate cast iron railings which fill the space above the columns with a lacy floral pattern. The bargeboard trim is repeated on a narrow gable on the northern facade. The main entrance is recessed behind narrowly spaced columns and is balanced by a bay window on the southern facade. To the rear is a simple two- story clapboarded ell with a separate entrance which was rebuilt after a 1934 fire. Except for its conversion to four apartments in 1927, the house remains remarkable intact.

FHR-8-300A (11/78) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR HERITAGE CONSERVATION AND RECREATION SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM FOR HCRS USE ONLY RECEIVED MAY 1 3 1980 DATE ENTERED CONTI NUATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER 6 PAGE Title: Historic American Buildings Survey Date: 1964 (Federal) Depository for survey records: Library of Congress City: Washington 8

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

SIGNIFICANCE PERIOD PREHISTORIC -1400-1499 -1500-1599 -1600-1699 L1700-1799 X800-1899 -1900- AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE -- CHECK AND JUSTIFY BELOW ARCHEOLUGY-PREHISTORIC COMMUNITY PLANNING -LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC -CONSERVATION -LAW AGRICULTURE -ECONOMICS -LITERATURE XARCHITECTURE _EDUCATION - MILITARY ART LENGINEERING -MUSIC _COMMERCE _EXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT _PHILOSOPHY. -COMMUNICATIONS LINDUSTRY -POLITICS/GOVERNMENT INVENTION -RELIGION -SCIENCE _SCULPTURE -SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN -THEATER _TRANSPORTATION _OTHER (SPECIFY) SPECIFIC DATES 1841 STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE BUILDER

Statement of significance

/ÄRETEEKX Nathaniel A. Virgin The Sarah Foster Colburn House possess integrity of location, design, setting, materials and workmanship and is significant both for its style and location. A unique Cambridge example of a rare Connecticut River Valley style combining Gothic and Greek Revival elements, 7 Dana Street is part of the mid-nineteenth century suburban development of Dana Hill. The neighborhood was planned by a local specula- tor, Isaac Livermore, after Judge Francis Dana's mansion on the hill was destroyed by fire in 1839 and the land sold. Built in 1841 by housewright Nathaniel A. Virgin, 7 Dana was purchased by Livermore's niece, Sarah Foster Colburn, in 1842. was born in New Hampshire in 1814 and served an apprenticeship in the Connec- ticut River Valley in the 1830's before coming to Cambridge.

His familiarity with Connecticut River Valley architecture no doubt explains the unusualsytle of 7 Dana Street. Virgin's only other known work in Cambridge was an 1838 house combining Italianate and Greek Revival details, which has been demolished.

The rest of the file

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

MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES Cambridge Historical Commission. Survey of Architectural History in Cambridge, Report 2: Mid Cambirdge. Cambridge: M.I.T. Press, 1967 Paige, Lucius. Company, 1877. History of Cambridge, Massachusetts. Boston: H.O. Houghton and UIM NOT VERIFIED 10 GEOGRAPHICAL DATA ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY _ 0.21 ACREAGE NOT VERIFIED QUADRANGLE NAME Boston South QUADRANGLE SCALE 1:24000 UTM REFERENCES A[1,9] 3/2,6|1,8,0 ZONE 14,6/9,2\7,9,0/ BL, EASTING NORTHING ZONE C EASTNG LILILLL NORTHING AhLu ELI/ LLULILIL GL,1 LLILu FLU HLIJ VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION LlJulili LLLul The house is located on block 116, lot 6 on the west side of Dana Street between Massachusetts Avenue and Harvard Street, Cambridge. Please refer to attached map.

LIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNTY BOUNDARIES STATE CODE COUNTY CODE STATE CODE COUNTY CODE FORM PREPARED BY NAME/ TITLE Susan Maycock, Cambridge Historical Commission for Candace Jenkins, National Register Coordinator: ORGANIZATION Massachsuetts Historical Commission STREET & NUMBER 294 Washington Street CITY OR TOWN Boston, DATE February 1980 TELEPHONE 727-8470 STATE Massachsuetts 2 STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER CERTIFICATION THE EVALUATED SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS PROPERTY WITHIN THE 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 National Park Service STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER SIGNATURE Valunh Weslowstki 4/24/80 DATE Executive Director, Massachusetts Historical Commission FOR NPS USE ONLY I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS PROPERTY IS INCLUDED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER ATTEST: KEEPER OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER Patrick CHIEF-OF-REGISTRATION DATE 6/16/70 DATE 6/12/80 GPO 921-803 Property Calbur, Sasah Fostir, Hause State Ma-middlesy Working Number 5-13-80 1324 TECHNICAL CONTROL Photos - 1 Maps This bldgi is eligible for architectuve as a unique Cambridge example ga HISTORIAN lare regional architectural style.

sull in 1841 this 21a stoy frame residence accept combines elements o the Greek Revrual and Gothic Reirial styles - this rare house type Patrick Anduus developed in the connecticul River Valley. Decorative elements include bargeloards, kmet 6/12/80 windous, ogue aiches and doriecoluems. ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN ARCHEOLOGIST OTHER HAER Inventory Review REVIEW UNIT CHIEF BRANCH CHIEF KEEPER National Register Write-up Federal Register Entry 2. 3.81 Send-back Re-submit Entered 161980 United States Department of the Interior - Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service Sarah Foster, Colburn, House 1 Dana Street; Cambridge, MA Middlese ca Charles M. Sullivan 1977; Cambridge Historical Commission View lo0king west of front (east) and side (north) elevations JUN I 6 1980 MAY 1 3 1980 CAMBRIDGE MISTORICAL CI ByCHARLES No. 1032 /26A.

HARVARD HuiTeN GARAGE 18: 35er OFF EONCaLE ELLERY MASSACHUSETTS DANA oF 22 CENTRE STRUCTURE ENCE BLDG. MAY 1 3 1980 AMERICAI ENGINEER/NS REST Sarah Foster Colburn House 7 Dana Street TAXI PAAK Cambridge, MA NORTH Scale 1" = 100' JUN 1 6 1980 ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER STATE Date Entered MASSACHUSETTS JUN 1 6 1980 Name Colburn, Sarah Foster, House Charles Playhouse A11 Saint's Church Stearns, R. H., Building Grafton Inn Location Cambridge Middlesex County Boston Suffolk County Boston Suffolk County Boston Suffolk County Grafton Worcester County Also Notified Honorable Edward M. Kennedy Honorable Paul Isongas Honorable Thomas P. 0'Ne111, Jr. Honorable Brian J. Donnally Honorable John J. Moakley Honorable Joseph D. Early State Historic Preservation Officer Mrs. Patricia L.

Weslowski Executive Director, Massachusetts Historical Commission 294 Washington Street Boston, Massachusetts 02108 NR Byers/mjd 6/27/80 For further information, please call the National Register at (202)343-6401. FORM B - BUILDING MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, State House, Boston - - - In Area no. MID CAMB. Form no. MC II B 9 - 1. Town_Cambridge Address_7 Dana Street Name Sara Foster Colburn House Present use residential 2. Photo (3x3" or 3x5") Staple to left side of form Photo number 1096 - 5A - DANA AssESSoR #116-6 (over) Present owner Peter Kinder: 3. Description: Date 1841 Source deed records Style Gothic Revival Architect Nathaniel Virgin, housewrigh- Exterior wall fabric clapboard Outbuildings (describe)- Other features unusual combination of Gothic and Greek Revival features in single building. Altered_addition of ellDate 1939 Moved No Date 5.

Lot size: One acre or less XX Over one acre Approximate frontage 60' Approximate distance of building from street 20' 6. Recorded by_ Bainbridge Bunting / HABS Organization_Cambridge Historical Comm. Date -1964 HABS - 1968 National Register OM-5-77 7. Original owner (if known) Nathaniel A. Virgin Original use residential Subsequent uses (if any) and datesresidential 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 Sara Foster Colburn House is the most important example of Gothic Revival residential architecture in Cambridge, and the only intact example of its type.

It combinesGreek Revival and Gothic Revival elements in a full-height Gothic arcade that cuts into the gable and is bordered by an elaborate ironwork balcony in a form found elsewhere only in the Connecticut River Valley. Features include classical columns as part of lower porches, pointed arches on upper porch, long windows to fioor with crossette design, and barge board with . scalloped and acorn design for front gable and dormers. This house has been recorded by the Historic American Buildings Survey. 10.

Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records, early maps, etc.) MOV 1 4 1980 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 For NPS use only received date entered Page 7 41) Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group Name State Cambridge Multiple Resource Area MA Nomination/Type of Review s62.XValentine Soap Workers Cottages (101 Pearl St.) Keeper 62. Opposition House Substantive Review Substantlve Reyiew Attest Keeper Attest 63. Frost, Walter, House Lubsbar Keeper =64. OBJECTION TIve Revie tune abjectirn Attest fal Keeper Attest 65. Francis, Ebenezer House DOE/OWNER OBJECTION Keeper Attest HobatantIva Savlew ob. hovern, OEP WIER OBJECTION filkeeper sine alpeten Attest 6T.

Y Atwood, Ephiram, House Keeper Attest 68.ABuildings at 104-106 Hancock St. Keeper Attest 1.-69. Colburn, Sara Foster, House Bubsfantive HevIew Keeper Attest sbantiva Xevrei Brooks, Luther deyWNER OBJECTION Keeper aunu aizehn Attest Date/Signature 420/3 Wilian H.Bracham 413.82 Weuam H.Brocnam 4.13-82 latuick Andeus 9/12186 Both f Sause 9/1y Harerd Patuide Anduro 9/2/86 BethY.Sauze ?/12/8 Pomer la Agdbhers fone- lio boglo/513 Witiam H.Brocham 4.13.82 Patricks Anduus 9/16a Bethp. Sovaje 1/12/8 SdN: 194 RevIew NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION / RETURN SHEET Sara FosTeR ColbuRn House Property: ICAmbRidge Nuettiple Resounce ARea) State, County: MA- Mdalesux Federal Agency: resubmission nominationby person or local government owner objection appeal United States Department of the Interior National Park Service 82004968 Working No. 11-14-80-2862 Fed. Reg.

Date:- Date Due: Action: 4)0) RETURN_ - REJECT- photosL maps_ Substantive Review: sample - request _ appeal - NR decision Reviewer's comments: siqnuticant for cuteria - mast importat example o Gothic kevrial resedential architectue in cambidge - arle inbaet excmple gf it tupe Recom. / Criteria, accept - C Roviower Fatuck Anduus Discipline- Historian Date. 3/18/82 , see continuation sheet WAB -Nomination returned for: - technical corrections cited below _substantive reasons discussed below 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification gery merebia Peblle Aegsieltien 4. Owner of Property prosom Uas 5. Location of.Legal Description Representation in Existing Surveys et property boon detarmined algie? - _o 7. Description . excellen falr Seteriorated ruins

Obook one _ unaitered altered , thee precent and eriginel (il lnewm) summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates boundary selection Check ene - _ original site _moved dete 8. Significance Pordod paotlly baker ne paragra 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 - of nominated property - Forbel beuadery deeertation end fmtlte 11. Form Prepared By 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The- - of thie property with in the etate ie: loca ate Materte Preservatten Officer eig 13. Other Maps Photographs Other Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to. Signed.

Date- Phone: 202 272-3504 Comments ior any Item may be continued on an attached sheet VS - 9601 909 c WOV 1 4 1980 Canbridye MRA, Ma Colburn, sara Fostor, Hecse 7 Dana St. 1096-5A Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000275