BlockThe 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 left side of form Photo number SB IV #9 t. Map. Draw sketch of building location in relation to nearest cross streets and other buildings. Indicate north. ASHLEY STONE RETA WALL NO. MAIN ST. (over) In Area no. F0276no. X+25+22 1. Town Fall River, Mass. Address 3159 No. Main St. Name Ashley House Present use single family Present owner Slade Realty Corp. 3. Description: 2 story w/flanking gable roof Date Source C. 1790-1800 v/a, Herald News Style Federal Architect Exterior wall fabric asbestos s shingle Outbuildings (describe) Other features 5 bays wide; ground floor windows have splayed lintels; 2nd floor window frames extend to eaves; doorway has reeded pilasters, broken pediment & semi-circular fanlight Altered Date Moved Date 5. Lot size: 22,012 sq.
ft. One acre or less - Over one acre Approximate frontage Approximate distance of building from street 6. Recorded by W. Mendonca/P. Giza Organization FROHP Date Nov. 17, 1980 7. Original owner (if known). Ashley Original use residence Subsequent uses (if any) and dates 8. Themes (check as many as applicable) Aboriginal Agricultural Architectural The Arts Commerce Communication Community development X Conservation Education Exploration/ settlement Industry Military Political Recreation Religion Science/ X invention Social/ humanitarian Transportation The Ashley House (c. 1790-1800) is an outstanding local example of the Federal style with an exceptionally fine pedimented doorway and glazed fanlight as well as prominent splayed wooden lintels over the first floor windows.
The house is one of six in the Steep Brook area considered to be the best representatives of the pre-industrial period of Fall River's history. These houses along North Main Street give testimony both to Steep Brook's early prominence over the southern area of the town and to the original agricultural character of the city. Their rural setting and linear relationship to one another stand in sharp contrast to the development that overtook the city with the construction of the first textile mill in 1813. According to local tradition, this house has been owned and occupied by five generations of Ashleys and was often called "Aunt Polly's House." The original part may have been built east of the present site and then moved and added to.
The present 5-bay arrangement is typical of the farmhouses erected throughout the 18th century , updated with a doorway and splayed lintels fashionable during the Federal period. The use of two side chimneys rather than the single center chimney is also a late 18th and early 19th century feature which indicates an interior center hall plan. Also of interest are the stone steps and terraced hillside with retaining walls, all of granite. distinctive example of the Federal style and important surviving vestige from the early settlement era, the Ashley House meets criteria and C of the National Register, individually. 10. Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records, early maps, etc.) Atlas 1895: shown belonging to A. Ashley 1883: shown belonging to Job. B. Ashley 1871: area not shown 1850: shown belonging to Wm.
Ashley Directory 1853: William Ashley - trader- house Steep Brook Fall River Herald News article - by Constance Winslow - June 1, 1955 NPS Form 10-900-a (3-82) United States Department of the Interior NationalPark Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form OMB No. 1024-0018 Exp. 10-31-84 For NPS use only received 15/63 date entered Continuation sheet Item number Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group Page 4 of cù dnr-11 Name fal River Multipie kesource Area State Massachusetts Bristol County Nomination/Type of Review 1. Algonquin Printing Co. Date/Signature Substantive Eeview Keeper 2/1/89 trucihaBnnd 2. American Printing Co. and Metacomet Mill Entered in the National Register 3. Anthony, David M., House Entered in tee National Regiater Attest TReeper Attest tKeeper DelomBzen 2110/63 selis Oken Bsu 4.
Ashley House Entered in the Nationel Register Attest Skeeper spa/rs Aelua Bzen 5. Ashworth Brothers Mill BabsfantIva Rovten DOE/OWNER OBJECTION 6. Barnard Mills 7. Belmont Club/John Young HouseEntered in the National Register 8. Blossom, Barnabus, House Attest Keeper Dooe 1/4/2 twee la Doreyd Attest Entered in the Nat1onal Register fRéeper 2/16/83 AebmByen Attest treeper Au/83 KelmByen Attest Entered In the National Register Keeper 2/iu/r3 delouBger 9. Boguslavsky Triple-Deckers Attest Entered In the National Register 1Keeper fel1sdelmuaßyee 10. Borden, A.
J., Building Entered in the National Register Attest /Reeper fu183 deleByen Attest AL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES of of sie interies States Deper 1 Park Service EYALUATION / RETURN SHEET Ashley House (Fall River MRA) Bristol County MASSACHUSETTS resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: Working No. 115/83-15 Fed. Reg. Date: -7.84 Date Due: 2/3183- 2/19/83 Action: ACCEPT 2/16/83 Interedin the - RETURN National Regtaten - REJECT. Federal Agency: - - sample - request _ appeal - NR decision Reviower's comments: Recom. /Criteria - Reviewer Discipline Date continuation sheet technical correctionscited below _substantive reasons discussed below -Nomination returned for: 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification eery Preeend Uee 4. Owner of Property 5. Location of Legal Description 6.
Representation in Existing Surveys wproperty teon deermined dige - 7. Description Chach em unaltered ered ad ertalnel (il kaew) poyetee summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates boundary selection Chees em -oredco - mored 8. Significance erted Aroas of SignificanceCheck and justiiy balow Specific datos Builder: Architeet Statement of Significence (in ene peragraph) summary paragraph ompleteness clarity applicable criteria justification of areas checked relating significance to the resource context relation ship of integrity to significance justification of excepticn other 9. Major Bibliographical References 10. Geographical Data Acreage of nomineted property - Quedrangle neme UMT References Verbal boundary de scription and justhication 11. Form Prepared By 12.
State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evaluated significance of this property within the state is: - national .. state State Historic Preservation Officer signature date title 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 3159 NAME: LOCATION: PHOTO CREDIT: NEGATIVE FILED AT: IDENTIFICATION: Photo # of 2 Ashley House 3159 North Main Street Fall River, Mass- Pamela Shields (1981) Fall River Office of Historic Preservation One Government Center Fall River, Mass. 02722 (PSNR-12-6) Ashley House looking east 159 NO. MAIN ST. 3159 No. Main St. Ashley Huse SBIV #8 Fall Rivo MRA, Mre Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000279