Nomination for Simond, Col. Benjamin, House

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

NPS Form 10-900 (7-81) OMB NO.1024-0018 EXP. 10/31/84 United States Department of the Interior National Park 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 Colonel Benjamin, Simoni) House (preferrees and/or common River Bend Farm 2. Location For NPS use only received AUG - | 1983 date entered street & number 643 Simonds Road, (Route 7) N/A- not for publication city, town Williamstown N/A vicinity of songrescionatdiotrics state Massachusetts 3.

Classification Category Ownership district - public X building(s) X private structure both site Public Acquisition object N/A in process being considered code 025 county Berkshire code 003 Status X occupied - unoccupied -work in progress Accessible - yes: restricted - yes: unrestricted _ no Present Use -agriculture commercial educational entertainment government industrial military - museum * rengoureadonce - scientific -transportation _ other: 4. Owner of Property name Mr. and Mrs. David J. Loomis street & number 643 Simonds Road (Route 7) city, town Williamstown N/A vicinity of 5. Location of Legal Description state Massachusetts 01267 courthouse, registry of deeds, etc. Northern Berkshire Registry of Deeds street & number 65 Park Street city, town Adams 6. Representation in Existing Surveys Historic Assets of the title Commonwealth, #215 has this property been determined eligible?

date 1977 federalX state state Massachusetts 01220 -yes X _ no - county local depository for survey records Massachusetts Historical Commission city, town Boston state Massachusetts 7. Description Colonel Benjamin Simond House, Williamstown, Massachusetts Condition Xexcellent - good fair - deteriorated - ruins unexposed Check one _ unaltered X altered Check one - original site .moved date N/A Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance

Description of the property

The Colonel Benjamin Simond House is a substantial, yet simple, Georgian period farmhouse located 1½ miles north of Williamstown Center. The property contains slightly over 1½ acres of land and consists of the 18th century dwelling, and a late 19th century barn and milk house. Adjacent to the farm's southern boundary is the Boston and Maine Railroad, which dates from 1859, and the Hoosic River. The 2½ story, five bay, central chimney, clapboard structure is of timber frame construction with a single story shed attached to the rear. It stands on a foundation of dry laid limestone, marble and fieldstone. Although the dwelling essentially retains its original 18th century form, alterations can be seen in the main entry and in the use of slate as a roof covering. Eoveriag.

Be been snn ena mat cale The principal, five-bay facade, which faces east, contains windows of 6/6 sash set in molded Irames. This elevation, spare in ornamentation, is highlighted by a center entry which was enhanced early in the 19th century with flanking Tuscan pilasters. Both the north and south elevations are identical in design and contain simple gable returns. Each is two bays deep with 6/6 windows placed symmetrically on the first and second floors. In addition, there is a single 4/4 window located at the attic level. Attached to the noithern portion of the rear facade is a simple two-bay, one-story gable roofed elì measuring approximately 20' by 40'. A simple recessed porch entry is located on the southern side of this extension. The interior of the Colonel Simond House retains a considerable degree of original detailing.

This is seen primarily in the front rooms which contain early built-in cupboards, wainscoting and chair rails. In addition, the original raised panelling on the hearth wall and crown molding continue to exist in the north parlor. Ihe kitchen also exhibits early features a erobits eaia as seen in the original fireplace with its beehive oven and the wide vertical plank boards which form the walls of the room. ones dating from ALehoare the centest butlt to repace one oreginal ones do remain. These structures - a barn and milk house - are simple, clapboard, timber frame buildings and are located in the southwest portion of the property.

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Significance Colonel Benjamin Simond House, Williamstown, Mass. Period prehistoric 1400-1499 1500-1599 1600-1699 X 1700-1799 1800-1899 1900 Areas of Significance - Check and justify below archeology-prehistoric - community planning X archeology-historic conservation agriculture economics X architecture education art engineering commerce X exploration/settlement communications industry invention -landscape architecture _ law _ literature X military _ music - philosophy politics/government _ religion science - sculpture social/ humanitarian theater _ transportation other (specify) Specific dates 1770 Builder

Statement of significance

/Architect Unknown Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) The Colonel Benjamin Simond House is significant as a fine example of rural New England Georgian architecture and as a symbol of the early development of Williamstown. It is one of three intact mid l8th century farmhouses still standing in town and is additionally important for its association with the original owner, who played a pivotal role in the community's early settlement and participated as a commanding officer in the Revolution at the Battle of Bennington and White Plains. Retaining integrity of design, materials, workmanship, location and setting, the property meets criteria A, B, and C oI the National Register of Historic Born on February 13, 1726 in Ware, Massachusetts, Benjamin Simond enlisted as a sentry in the French and Indian War at Fort Shirley, and was transferred to Fort Massachusetts at East Hoosic.

On August 26, 1746, 28 other soldiers, was taken captive and sent to Quebec. the spring of 1748, he returned to West Hoosic, now Williamstown, and In 1752 he constructed a house and tavern on the property, but by 1769 moved to the north side of the Hoosic River where he built the farmhouse and tavern now known as River Bend Farm. One of the community's most prominent early citizens, Benjamin Simono was instrumental in developing the young town of Williamstown in the years preceding the Revolution and assisted in its incorporation in the develupion the Among his contributions to the community are the building of the block house in 1754, planning the town's first church in 1766, and helping to lay out a new burial ground adjacent to the church in 1766.

After the Revolution, he continued to be active in local attairs, and in 1790 he oversaw the construction of West College, the first building of Williams College. In addition to his wide range of civic activities, Colonel Simonds also served in the Revolution and acted as the commander of the Second Berk- shire County Regiment, which was formed in May, 1776. In this position, he led his troops in the Battle of Bennington in 1777 and later fought in the battles at White Plains and Stone Arabia, New York. Archaeological Potential The land surrounding the Colonel Benjamin Simond House should be con- sidered to contain discrete and scattered cultural material deposits (Continued) 9.

The rest of the file

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

Major Bibliographical References Brooks, Robert R. R. Williamstown, the First 200 Years. 1953, Williamstown, Massachusetts. Brown, William B. Williamstown History. (Continued) 10. Geographical Data Acreage of nominated property 1.64 Quadrangle name Williamstown, Mass. -Vt. UMT References A 118 16 416900 1417/312|11510 Zone Easting Northing CL HLL EL Quadrangle scale 1:25,000 GLl Easting Northing LLLLILIL FLI LLILL LILILLL GLULLILHLILILL HLULILd LL LL Verbal boundary description and justification See attached Assessor Map, Plat #114, Sheet 127 and Plan of property, Kenneth G. and Edith H. Ware, Book 240G, Page 88, Northern Berkshire Registry of Deeds. List all states and counties for properties overlapping state or county boundaries state code county code N/A state code county code 11. Form Prepared By Kathryn Kubie, Preservation Planner, With James N.

Parrish, name/title Berkshire County Regional Planning Commission organizationMassachusetts Historical Commission date April, 1983 street & number 294 Washington Street telephone (617) 727-8470 city or town Boston - state Massachusetts 02108 12.

State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evaluated significance of this property within the state is: national _ state X 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 bythe Natlonal Park Service, State Historic Preservation Officer signature atuLWeslondki State Historic Preservation Officer title Massachusetts Historical Commission date 7/20/83 For NPS use only I hereby certify that this property is included in the National Register Entered in tha Ulores (Keeper of tho Matonal Rogteua National Register date 9/1/83 Attest: date Chief of Registration MPS Formm 10-900-e. (3-82) OMB No.1024-0018 Exp.

10-31-84 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form FaeNPS ueatanly recalved date entered Colonel Benjamin Simond House, Continuation sheet Williamstown, Mass. Item number 8 and 9 Page 1 Item Number 8: Significance (Continued) as well as the subsurface remains of past structures and land use features dating from the late 18th through mid 20th centuries. An archaeological testing strategy designed to locate and sample this component and the analysis and interepretation of those results may contribute important information for our understanding of past activities associated with the house and past rural lifeways in general. In addition, the area possesses significant potential the presence of prehistoric remains.

Known historically as Hoosac Meadow, the vicinity of the house along the river has traditionally been said to contain prehistoric cultural materials. Despite disturbances produced by construction of the Fitchburg Railroad, artifacts were found as late as 1887. The site's location on the Hoosac River, probably a major transportation corridor for aboriginal populations, tends to support the accuracy of these historic assertions. Item Number 9: Major Bibliographical References (Continued) Danforth, Judge Keyes. Boyhood Reminiscences. 1895, Gazlay Bros., N.Y. Child, Hamilton. Gazetteer of Berkshire County, Mass. 1885, Journal Office, N.Y. Moore, H. Parker. A Life of Gen. John Stark of N.H. 1949, H.P.M. Publisher, N.Y. Niles, Grace G. The Hoosac Valley. 1912, G. Putnam's Sons, N.Y. Perry, W. L. LL.D. Origins in Williamstown. 1894, Charles Scribner, N.Y. Perry, Bliss.

Colonel Benjamin Simond 1726-1807. 1944, privately printed. "Inventory Analysis." Williamstown, January 1977, Massachusetts Historical Commission. ok WASOU 9:47 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAALUATTONPRETURNHECRLACESE Simond, Col. Benjamin, House Berkshire County MASSA CHUSETTS resubmission nomination by person or local government - owner objection - appeal Substantive Review: -sample Reviewer's comments: -request Working No._AUG | 1983 Fed. Reg. Date:3- 2-7-84 Date Due: Tintered 1Action: LACCEPT 9/1/83 583 Mat1o081 RegteterRETURN _REJECT Federal Agency: -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 Category Ownership Public Acquisition 4. Owner of Property 5.

Location of Legal Description 6. Representation in Existing Surveys Has this property been determined eligible? 7. Description J yes L no Condition -excellent -good -fair - deteriorated -ruins Lunexposed Check one -unaltered -altered Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance summary paragraph completeness clarity J alterations/integrity - dates - boundary selection Status Accessible Present Use Check one -original site -moved date 8. Significance Period Areas of Significance-Check and justify below Specific dates Builder/Architect Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) - summary paragraph - completeness Eclarity J applicable criteria Jjustification of areas checked J relating significance to the resource context J relationship of integrity to significance -justification of exception -other 9. Major Bibliographical References 10.

Geographical Data Acreage of nominated property Quadrangle name UTM References Verbal boundary description and justification 11. Form Prepared By 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evaluated significance of this property within the state is: national _state _local State Historic Preservation Officer signature title 13. Other date -Maps L Photographs -Other Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to Signed. - Date Phone: Comments for any item may be continued on an attached sheet Col. Benjamin Simond House, 1770 (River Bend Farm) Simonds Road, Rte. 7, Williamstown, MA. James N. Parrish, 6/14/82 (#101-13) View north of south gable, Col. Benjamin Simond House, Funeral or Tap Room door just behind the right Lilac bush Phato lof 2 Col. Benjamin Simond (River Bend Farm) er, Bend Fasimond. House, 1770 Simond's Road, Rte. 7, Williamstown, MA.

Faerd Mor C, 3imonty Novse, nort gable and rear ell. Photo 2of2 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 July 20, 1983 Ms. Carol Shull, Chief National Register of Historic Places National Park Service Department of the Interior 18th and C Streets, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20240 Dear Ms. Shull: Enclosed you will find the following nomination forms: Boston - Charles Street African Methodist Episcopal Church (local) Boston - Harrison Loring House (local) Chicopee - Valentine School (local) Gardner - Heywood-Wakefield Complex (local) Greenfield - Garden Theater Block (local) Monterey - Rock Ridge (local) Pittsfield - Allen Hotel (local) Williamstown - Col.

Benjamin Simond House (local) 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 conment. Comments received to date are attached to the nomination forms. Sincerely, Candace lenkins Candace Jenkins Registration Director Massachusetts Historical Commission tued AUG - | 1983 CJ/hi Enclosure