Nomination for Fuller, Amos, House

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

NPS Form 10-900 (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 See instructions in How to Complete National Register Forms Type all entries - complete applicable sections 1. Name For NPS use only received MAR 2 date entered 1983 historic / Amos, Fuller, House and/or common Amos Fülter House 2. Location street & number 220 Nehoiden Street N/A not for publication city, town Needham N/A vicinity of state Massachusetts 3.

Classification Category Ownership district public X building(s) X private structure both site Public Acquisition object N/Ain process being considered code 025 county Norfolk code 021 Status X occupied unoccupied work in progress Accessible X yes: restricted yes: unrestricted no Present Use - agriculture commercial educational entertainment government industrial military - museum -park X private residence religious scientific transportation other: 4. Owner of Property name James M. McCracken Trust, James M. McCracken, Jr. Trustee street & number 220 Nehoiden Street city, town Needham N/A vicinity of 5. Location of Legal Description state MA 02192 courthouse, registry of deeds, etc. Norfolk County Registry of Deeds street & number High Street city, town Dedham state 6.

Representation in Existing Surveys Inventory of Historic Assets title of the Commonwealth #70 has this property been determined eligible? MA 02026 yes X no date 1977 federal X state county _local depository for survey records Massachusetts Historical Commission city, town Boston state MA 7. Description Amos Fuller House, Needham, MA Condition excellent - good fair deteriorated ruins unexposed Check one unaltered X altered Check one X original site _moved date N/A Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance

Description of the property

Thé mid-18th century character of the Amos Fuller House is greatly enhanced by its setting which includes a 19th century barn and outbuilding surrounded by 26 acres of woods and open fields. This nomination comprises only a portion of that land. However the total acreage as a green enclave encircled by and protected from Needham's suburban development enhances the character of the house. The house sits back approximately 100 feet on the es the eharnerer of the houso. the east side of Nehoiden Street; the barn is located a similar distance to the south, and the shed to the east. In its present sprawling configuration, the dwelling presents an organic and evolutionary architectural character as the result of alterations and additions through time. Never- theless, the original compact leanto structure of 1754 remains apparent.

block roof and integral additions; asphalt shingles the large rear ell. The original leanto portion stands 2½-stories tall on a mortared fieldstone foundation. Distinctive features. of the. symmetrical 5-bay facade include: a simple enclosed gabled entry porch; narrow cornice and corner boards; original 9/6 windows on the second story and later, wider 6/6 windows on the first story, all with projecting surrounds. The north and south gable ends also retain original 9/6 windows; the rear and ell elevations, later 6/6. Although the interior was extensively rebuilt in the 19th century, principally as a resült of demolition of the central chimney c.1897, the original 5-room plan of the main portion is still apparent, and much original woodwork remains. Initial restoration work began in the 1830's when the property, then much deteriorated, was sold by the Fuller family.

Äll ola portion of the large rear ell most likely'dates from this period. The remains of a chimney foundation with fireplace and beehive oven are visible in the ell basement! Dur ing the 1920's and subsequently a series of additional changes occurred including addition of the sunporch (south side), shed dormer (rear), exterior chimney. (north- side) with concurrent renovations of north parlor, and rear ell exterior chimney. The barn which stands to the south was built about 1830 to replace an earlier barn which was hit by lightning and destroyed by fire. The present barn (approx. 36'x 60') is the oldest extant barn in town and is constructed with massive hand-hewn timbers held together with wooden-pegged mortice and tenon joints. It is shingled and stained dark brown. Another small building stands to the rear of the house.

It was built during the 1850's by Artemas Newell to serve as his law office. Interior partitions have been removed (c.1920) to create a single space.

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Significance Amos Fuller House, 220 Nehoïden Street, Needham, MA Period - prehistoric 1400-1499 1500-1599 1600-1699 X 1700-1799 X 1800-1899 _1900 Areas of Significance - Check and justify below archeology-prehistoric community planning K archeology-historic conservation agriculture economics x architecture _ education art engineering commerce - exploration/settlement communications industry _ invention landscape architecture law literature military music philosophy politics/government - religion science sculpture social/ humanitarian theater transportation other (specify) Specific dates 1754 Builder

Statement of significance

/Architect Unknown Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) The Amos Fuller House retains integrity of location, design, materials, workmanship, setting, feeling and'association. Historical significance is derived from its association with important local figures of the 18th and 19th century; architectural significance from its standing as the best preserved example of its type and period in Needham. The property thus meets criteria A, B, C of the National Register of Historic Places. This house was built "on the road to the meetinghouse" in 1754 by Lt. Amos Fuller, a son of Thomas Fuller, Jr., one of the earliest settlers in the town and a descendant of settlers of the parent town, Dedham. The house occupies the site of an earlier house built by his father, Thomas Fuller, and material from the earlier house may have been used in the present structüre. Lt.

Amos Fuller lived in the house until his death in 1810: He served the town as selectman (1737-1769) and representative to the General Court (1756-1766). In 1830 the house was sold by Reuben Fuller, the son of Amos, to the Reverend Willlam Ritchie, the fourth minister of the parish; it was occupied by him until his death in 1842 and by his widow until 1852. The house had deteriorated during the occupancy of Reuben Fuller, and was extensively rebuilt and restored by the Reverend William Ritchie. The barn which adjoins the house is. of historical interest in its oun right because of Mr. James M.' McCracken in the 1930's tends to confirm this date, although the barn is not specifically mentioned in town records until 1860. of forty acres, and the Newell family ownership is memorialized in Newell Avenue, which runs from the site of the present house to Great Plain Avenue.

Some time after 1897, a later and eccentric Newell, Augustus, tore down part of the old central chimney of the house for the value of the old bricks; he was stopped only by the threatened collapse of the house, which was supported in part by the chimney. This same Augustus Newell also manufactured concrete blocks on the property and is the earliest known to do so in the area. In 1922 the property was bought by Mr. James M. McCracken, Sr., who re-named it Hearth- stone Farm and did notable work in restoring and preserving the historic structures- on it. Since 1928 the town has shared the property with the McCracken Family. In that year Mr. McCracken gave the Needham troop of Girl Scouts an annual license to a piece of the property which fronts on Rosemary Lake (not included in nomination). The area is called Camp Malcolm in memory of the McCracken's first son.

The rest of the file

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

Major Bibliographical References History of Needham, George K. Clarke, n.d. Old Houses in Deedham, Frederic Jones, n.a. Article in Needham Times, July 8, 1954. Paper delivered by James M. McCracken to Needham Historical Society, Octöber 10, 1933 Sketches of Needham (The Kimball Lectures), 1842, Fites of Needham Historical Society 10. Geographical Data Acreage of nominated property 139,570 Square Feet Quadrangle name Newton, MA Quadrangle scale 1:25000 UT M References L013115159 Zone Easting 14 1618 8,316,69 Northing B1,9 LL 311511,49 Easting LiLi 146183500 Northing Hild E HLULALALAIL Verbal boundary description and justification The nomination is confined to the land surrounding the The nomination includes the land in theuseedinte stemftcane heou been substantiated ttor N.E. 516.88' by land of McCracken; S.E. 236.05' by other land of McCracken; ths. wemsia.0g, acres N.W.

360.73 by Nehoiden St. to point of beginning; Total 139,570 square feet. 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 name/title Virginia A. Fitch, Preservation Planner with Needham Historical Commission organization Massachusetts Historical Commission date street & number 294 Washington Street : December, 1982 M telephone 617 727-8470 city or town Boston state MA 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 tlee criteria and procedures set forth ay the National Park Service. State Historic Preservation Officer signature atumWeslonk title State Historic Preservation Officer.

MHC For NPS use only I hereby certify that this property is included in the National Register Dye Entered in the Natlonal Register Keeper of the National Register date 2/24/83 date 3/31/83 Attest: Chief of Registration date IATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES Intted Statee Dopartmant of the laterten Iational Park Service Fuller, Amos, House Norfolk County MASSACHUSETTS EYALUATION / RETURN SHEET resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Roview: Reviower's comments: Working No. MAR 2 1983 Fed. Reg. Date: 2-7-84 Date Due: 3/31/83 - 4/16/83 Action: YACCEPT 3/3/83 Entered in the National Register RETURN. REJECT- Federal Agency:_ _ sample - request _ appeal - NR decision -Nomination returned for: Recom. / Criteria - Reviewer_ Discipline- Date. - 800 continuation sheet -technical corrections cited below _substantive reasons discussed below 1.

Name 2. Location 3. Classification n000 od Uee 4. Owner of Property 5. Location of Legal Description 6. Représentation in Existing Surveys Mos Whe property toon trermined eligite? - - 7. Description . eetertors ruine check ene - uneitered sitered Check ene -mra eo - - moved accddos the prosent and ertotnal (1l teawal ptuyalael apposrano summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates boundary selection 8. Significanco erto 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 aainated proserty angle rame UBIT Raderenes Varbal to 11. Form Prepared By 12.

State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The ovalust ance of ehle prosparty eutorin eñe erato la: -eate .loca: uta Mletentc Preservatten Ofcer elgnature 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 Amos Fuller House 220 Nehoiden Street Needham, MA Norfolk County West Elevation Photo Credit; Kenneth Watson Negative filed at: 142 Hillerest Rd. Needham Photo #1 of 2. +5 NosioHaN oue NEEDHAM HISTORICAL COMMISSION Town Hall Needham, MA 02192 Amos Fuller House 220 Nehoiden Street Needham, MA Norfolk County South Elevation Photo Credit: Kenneth Watson Negative filed at: 142 Hillcrest Road Needham, MA Photo #2 of 2.

NEEDHAM : COMMISSION T: Needham, MA 02192 MS591 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 February 24, 1983 Ms. Carol Shull, Chief 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 - Harvard Avenue Fire Station (Local) Dedham - Ames School (Local) Needham - Amos Fuller House (Local) Newbury - Hale-Boynton House (Local) Northbridge - Rockdale Common Housing District (Local) Springfield - Upper Worthington Historic District (Local) Winchester - Town Hall (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 comment. Comments received to date are attached to the nomina- tion forms. Sincerely, Candace Jenkins Candace Jenkins Registration Director CJ/1k RECOVED ARDCNAL ROGNTLR