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 Secretarv. Stata Hauca Rnotan 1095-34 4. Map. Draw sketch of building location in relation to nearest cross streets and .other buildings. Indicate north. N IRVING CAMBRIDGE FINDGE| TECHNICAL 30M-5-77 AssEssoR #142-125 142-124 In Area no. MID CAMB. Form no. MC II B -17 n Cambridge ress 1715-17 Cambridge Street same sent use residential 1715: Henry J. Friedman sent owner 1717: Stephen and Celia Somervell ription: 1845 surce _ deed records Greek Revival Architect Zenas Crowell & John Picker- ing, builders Exterior wall fabric_wood Outbuildings (describe) --. Other features two-storied, gabled- roofed house with full-width Doric porch. Altered No Moved No 5. Lot size: Date- Date= One acre or less Over one acre 8ó' Approximate frontage Approximate distance of building from street 12' 6. Recorded by_E.
MacDougall OrganizationCambridge Historical Comm. Date 1966 UTM- BOSTON BORTH 19/326060/4693460 7. Original owner (if known) Royal Richandson Original use_ residential Subsequent uses (if any) and dates same 8. Themes (check as many as applicable) Aboriginal Conservation Agricultural Education Architectural XX Exploration/ The Arts settlement Commerce Industry Communication Military Community development XX Political Recreation Religion Science/ invention Social/ humanitarian Transportation 9. Historical significance (include explanation of themes checked above) One of two fine Greek Revival houses in this block of Cambridge Street, 1715-17 was built in 1845 as a rental property on contract for real estate speculator Royal Richardson. Standing beside each other with flanks to the street, the two almost identical houses have full-width Doric porches.
The building contracts for both houses survive, each referring to existing houses that were to be copied both for appearance and for quality of materials. They both are nominated for their importance to the architectural history of Cambridge. 10. Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records, early maps, etc.) O9H1A0N NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION / RETURN SHEET suelelengs al 1115-1717 CAnbRedge 5Treet Property: (Cambridge Multiple Resounee Area) State, County: MA- medales Federal Agency: resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: Reviewer's comments: Aretitectural signpieance is sot sefiier. Do contertuae inp (outsike d its block) is porovrded. United States Department of the Interior National Park Service Working No. 1/-14-80-2862 Fed. Reg.
Date:- Date Due: 4/11/82 Action: ACCEPT_ LRETURN_ - REJECT - 4/13/82 photos L maps -sample - request - appeal NR decision Recom. /Criteria fetum Reviewer _ Braiham Discipline- asch ts Date- 4.2.82 - see continuation sheet -technical corrections cited below -substantive reasons discussed below -Nomination returned for: 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification etegery 4. Owner of Property roson Uao 5. Location of Legal Description 6. Representation in Existing Surveys fs whie preperty teen eetermined eligibie? 7. Description acelle - detertorate _ ruine -unexposad hoci ene - _ unaitered ered seeribe the preeent and ariginal (if newn) pirgaloal summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates boundary selection Check ene _ moved 8.
Significance Parter end hottly bale eeffle dete I et au alfeeneo fin eno pane summaryparagraph 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 UNFT Poferencs Vertel Beundery 11. Form Prepared By 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification Thee - of thle property wlthin the seate is: Bate Mletorte Preservatten Offtcer eignetun 13. Other Maps Photographs Other Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to. Signed Bravham Date- 4.13.8} Phone: 202 272-3504 Comments for any Item may be continued on an attached sheet - 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 1095-34 - 4. Map. Draw sketch of building location in relation to nearest cross streets and other buildings. Indicate north. ASHTON IRVING IERSITY ..9.... CAMBRIDGE TLJ RINPGE| TECHNICAL S Assessor 30M-5-77 # 142-125 142-124 In Area no. MID CAMB. Form no. MC II B 17 1. Town Cambridge Address_1715-17 Cambridge Street Name_ same Present use residential 1715: Henry J. Friedman Present owner 1717: Stephen and Celia Somervel: 3. Description: Date 1845 Source_ deed records Style Greek Revival Architect Zenas Crowell & John Picker ing, builder Exterior wall fabric wood Outbuildings (describe) =- Other features_ two-storied, gabled- roofed house with full-width Doric porch. Altered No Moved No Date - Date ----- 5. Lot size: One acre or less XX Approximate frontage Over one acre 8ó' Approximate distance of building from street 1a 6.
Recorded by_ E. MacDougall OrganizationCambridge Historical Comm. Date 1966 UTM- BOSTON BORTH 19/326060/4693400 7. Original owner (if known) Royal Richardson Original use_ residential Subsequent uses (if any) and dates same 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) One of two fine Greek Revival houses in this block of Cambridge Street, 1715-17 was built in 1845 as a rental property on contract for real estate speculator Royal Richardson. Standing beside each other with flanks to the street, the two almost identical houses have full-width Doric porches.
The building contracts for both houses survive, each referring to existing houses that were to be copied both for appearance and for quality of materials. They both are nominated for their importance to the architectural history of Cambridge.. 10. Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records, early maps, etc.) O9LH1N0N INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Commmity : Mid Cambridge Form No: MC II.B.17 Property Name: 1715-1717 Cambridge Street Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. Number 1715-1717 Cambridge Street is the second of a pair of essentially identical Greek Revival double houses proposed for National Register status.
Along with the adjacent house at 1707-1709 Cambridge Street, this house is part of an original group of four similar structures built in a row along Cambridge Street by Royal Richardson, a local speculator, between 1840 and 1845. Iwo of the buildings have been demolished. These houses represent the high point of the vernacular Greek Revival style in Cambridge. Each of the four houses that originally lined Cambridge Street on this block presented its gable flank to the street, with a full Doric portico and four pedimented dormers above. still seen in the two remaining houses, is striking. The Royal Richardson houses are particularly notable in that the original contracts survive, revealing a great deal about building practices of the time. In each contract, rererence is made to a specific existing structure to de copled ior appearance and quality of materials.
This practice indicates a lack of working drawings and accounts for the use of pattern book ornament. Costs of the houses ranged between $2,500 and $4,000 depending on the degree of interior finish specified. Use of mixed stylistic detail is verified by the specification for "Gothic sash" in the contract, and Dy the appearance of panelled Gothic doors on the two-surviving houses. The houses at 1707-1709 and 1715-1717 Cambridge Street are significant under Criteria C as important examples of the Greek Revival style in Cambridge.
Staple to Inventory form at bottom NPS Form 10-900-a (7-81) United States Department of the interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places InventoryNomination Form Continuation sheet Item number For NPS use only received date entered Page 8 4/7 Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group Name State Cambridge Multiple Resource Area MA Nomination/Type of Review 71. Melvin, Isaac, House Füierisra Devlon Date/Signature Leian H. Bracham 4.13.82 Keeper Attest 72." Saunders, William, House YIow Keeper Attest tonuhanyd 6-3087 73. Fay, Isaac, House Keeper tores herlny a b.3053 Attest 74.. Buildings at 102-104 Inman St. Keeper Subatantive RevIew Arne flaray2630.87 Attest 75. Buildings at 106-108 Inman St Keeper Attest Werian H. Bracham 4.13.82 *76. Buildings at 110-112 Inman St. Keeper WlliamH.Brockam 4.13.82 Attest 71. Buildings at 1707-1709 Cambridge St.
Keeper BrabAnl 6.30.03 Attest 78. Buildings at 1715-1717 Cambridge St. Keeper. AouLDnyl 6-30-87 19. Deane-Wtl1t ams House Attest Subatantive HevIewKeeper Attest Wielam H.Bracham 41382 -30. Vinal, Albert, House *T5: V Keeper. Attest Amla Bonyl6 253 ATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES atted States Degartmont ef the laterter rtlonal Park Servics Subatantira Koriow Building at 1715--1717 Cambridge St. (Cambridge MRA) Middlesex County MA resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Roview: sampie Reviewer's comments: EVALUATION / RETURN SHEET Working No. 1.14.80-2862 Fed. Reg. Date:- 2-7-84 Date Due: 7/4/83 Action: ACCEPT. 6/30/83 - RETURN. REJECT_ Federal Agency: _ request appeal NR decision SIGNIFILANCE CLARIFIÉD, CINTOXT. PROVIDED Recom. / Criteria C/BCCERI Reviewer.
DOUGA Discipline A./t Date 1-30-83 continuation sheet corrections cited below -substantive reasons diseussed below -Nomination returned for: 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification Pemerslig Pttte Aomutattien 4. Owner of Property Presont Uoo 5. Location of Legal Description 6. Representation in Existing Surveys hos the prosery tean treres 7. Description Choe torto Pheck en Moved summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates Houndoeu Betion 8. Significance le deted n od stomleanoo (la ano parsomas 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 nominsted property - Quedrangle neme UNT Reterence Verbel de 11. Form Prepared By 12.
State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evetusted significance of this property within the state is: state mte Mistoric Preservation Officer signature 13. Other Maps Photographs Other Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to - Signed - Date - Phone: 202 272 -3504 Comments for anyitemmay be continued on an attached sheet 1095-34 NOV 1 4 1980 4C Bulding at 1715-17 Cambridge St. Caubridge MRA, Ma 1095-34 Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000275