BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
FORM B - BUILDING MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION 294 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02108 -- PHOTO (3x3" oI 3x5", black & white) Staple to left side of form Photo number SKETCH MAP Draw map showing property's Iocation in relation to nearest cross streets and other buildings oI geographical features. Indicate north. 9/ -.Cemf) railer Park - 192 *STREET TTREMONT - - ) Blis's* 0154 PHSIN. UTM: 19/312260/4641150 Recorded. by_ V H Adams OrganizationRehoboth Historical Commission Date May 1981 1ca. -11: Area Foru no. 192 TOWTI REHOBOTH Address 384 Tremont Street Historic Name Brown House Use: Original residence residence Present_ Ownership: ] Private individual Private organization Public Original owneI prob.
Charles Wheaton DESCRIPTION: ca 1700 - 1725 Date Source architectural detail and tradition - see attached Style vernacular with Italianate detail Architect unknown ExterioI wall fabricclapboard none Outbuildings: Major alterations (with dates)_ completely remodelled - 1870's Moved no Date Approx. acreage one Setting 100' from road: rural context ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE (describe important architectural features and evaluate in terms of other buildings within conmunity) The structural history of the Brown House is intriguing. Its present exterior appearance as a late 19th century vernacular structure with Italianate details is deceiving. The owners possess a manuscript written in 1906 by H. E. Brown, a former Brown student (on file at MHC) which gives a brief hisotry of the house.
It states that the house was originally built in 1706 as a lean-to structure facing west and rebuilt or "improved" in the 1870s as a Victorian house with the original post and beam substructure. The chimney base location is still apparent in the cellar. The first story is strictly late 19th century, except for some settling, not usually found in ca.1900 buildings. (Continued) HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE (explain the role owners played in local or state history and how the building relates to the development of the community) The traditional history of ownerships, as recounted by the same author, follows. The house was originally built by Charles Wheaton in 1706, who kept a tavern here patronized by travelers on "The O1d Coach Road." The property was sold to Philip Short, and by him to Horace Bliss shortly thereafter. It then passed to Mrs. Bercherd who sold it to Mr. and Mrs.
Robert Brown in 1874. Mr. Brown was a jeweler at Robinson & Co. in Attleboro. His fourth son, Isaac R. Brown, constructed all the farm buildings standing by 1906 on "this immense farm" except the barn (see photo) which had sttod for at least thirty-two years previously. The Brown House is one of two early 18th century structures (see Form #170) which stand as testimony to primary settlement in northern Rehoboth prior to 1750 when the major focus of settlement was southern Rehoboth. Through its reputed tavern function, it possesses associations with one of the first transportation routes in town along Tremont Its architectural transformation in the late 19th century reflects the presence of a street car line aong Tremont Street, which brought the beginnings of suburbanization in the area, fostering new life styles and ideals.
In its present form, the Brown House illustrates the evolution of architecture within an historically cohesive 200- year context and meets criterion C of the National Register of Historic Places individually. BIBLIOGRAPHY and/oI REFERENCES Brown, H. E., Manuscript history, 1906. 20M-2/80 INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Commnity: Rehoboth Form No: 192 Property Name: The Brown House Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE (Continued) However, clues to an earlier identity are found on the second story. Retention of corner posts, chamfered summer beam with plain stop, and Georgian period door surround and a panelled chimney breast (fireplace gone) provide strong, if limited, evidence to validate, in a general way, the 1906 theme.
Other possible sources of information, e.g., the roof construction, are currently unexposed. The west ell was probably added when the house was renovated. At the turn of the 20th century a barn and sheds were located northeast of the house (see photo copy attached). Staple to Inventory form at bottom 384 Temont C,HiDo NPS Form 10-900-a (3-82) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form Continuation sheet Item number OMB No. 1024-0018 Exp. 10-31-84 For NPS use only received date entered Page 2 LY Multiple Resource Area Thematie Group Name State Rehoboth Multiple Resource Area Massachusetts Nomination/Type of Review 11. Brown House 12. Briggs Tavern 13. Carpenter Bridge Substantive Review Entered in the National Register Lntered in the National Begister 14.
Carpenter, Christopher, House (60 Carpenter St.)ntered in the National Regieter Entered in the 15. Carpenter House (89 Carpenter St.) National Begieter 16. Carpenter, Col. Thomas, IIT ea ir tio House Hational Begieter 17. Cushing, Caleb, Farm combéned CALEB, 18.(Cushing/House and FARM 19. Drown, Nathaniel, House Intered fu Fib 1a"inte? Peeleter Liuci= Hational Boeierei 20.
Elm Cottage/Blanding Farm taCtane] Feeieter Keeper Attest fokeeper Attest foKeeper Attest fKeeper Attest fokseeper Attest foKeeper Attest Keeper Attest feeper Attest fokeeper Attest furkeeper Attest Date/Signature Aonar lm- Aryd 46 53 HelonaByen 616183 AeluusByen c/c/83 delunaBgen 6/c/83 selousges 6/6/63 delousByes o/c183 XelunsByur 616/83 delausByes 1/6/83 elmaBgan 6/6/83 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES United States Dopart laterier Mational Park Service Brown House (Rehoboth MRA) Bristol.County MASSACHUSETTS Substantive HevIew EYALUATION / RETURN SHEET resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Roview: 1 sample _ request Roviowor's comments: Working N° Fed. Reg. Date: Date Due: Action: 4/25/83 84 26/83 ACCEPT_GL6 RETURN REJECT. Foderal Agency:. - appeal - NR decision Rocom. / Criteria Reviewer. Discipline Date_ AfC LACCEPT A.H.
6.6-83 continuation sheet - technical corrections cited below -substantive reasons discussad bolow -Nomination returned for: 1. Kame 2. Location 3. Classification pory nmarn Mbtte Aoqplattion 4. Owner of Property Pr000 Uee 5. Location of Legal Description 6. Representation in Existing Surveys hee thie proparty teen deterained oligibte? 7. Description Joor foir etertor ruing bock eno __ unertered _ sered Do tho prosont cad ertgtnal (il lsoral ptrgeieal summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates boundary seiection Check ene - originel stte __ moved dato - 8.
Significance Perted Aroes et signiftcanos Chock and fustity belew Spocifie dates sratoment el signitleenoo (in eno perograat) Bullder Arehitect 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 Aoreage of nominated property. Quedrangle neme UNT Reterences Verbal boundary doscription and justification 11. Form Prepared By 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evaluated significance of this property within the state is: _ netional _ state - local State Historic Precervation Officer signature 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 #207 384 TRENONT STREET K rOW House Rehbath MLLA 1000 45 42 100 F 66-42 PVO CE .9.002 BICKERY 67 CAL SHOIH! 65 55 L0L10 54 50 310 0° 28 204 20 400 384 Tremont Street Brown House (form 192) Town of Rehoboth Property Map scale 1"=200' 1978 - ( 63 ohs 40 RRE 830 VE 632 -12 55 3202 30 387 1973 Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000292