BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
FORM B - BUILDING MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Affiao af tlan Cnnuntoms Ctato Innca Doston. In Area no. O1d Camb. Cambridge eSS 17 Brown Street Aaron Hill House ent use residential Form no. IIB1 1099-36 4. Map. Draw sketch of building location in relation to nearest cross streets and other buildings. Indicate north. BRATTLE ent owner Natalie Saville Hewitt Dwight Andrews ription: C. 1754 urce_Deed records Late Georgian/Federal Architect unknown Exterior wall fabric wood Outbuildings (describe) garages Other featuresoriginally built as a two-story structure, now three stories, gambrel roof. Altered Altered -Yes Date c. 1867 Moved Yes Date c. 1867 5. Lot size: One acre or less XX Over one acre Approximate frontage_ 53 feet Approximate distance of building from street 8 feet 6. Recorded by Bainbridge Bunting Organization Cambridge Historical Comm.
Date 1964 UTM- LEXINSTON 191324680/4693520 ASSEsSo 220-60 4 1980 7. Original owner (it known)_ Aaron Hill 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 XX Conservation Education Exploration/ settlement Industry Military Political Recreation Religion Science/ invention Social/ humanitarian Transportation 9. Historical significance (include explanation of themes checked above) The Aaron Hill house was constructed in the mid-eighteenth century at what is now the site of 99 Brattle Streeet. Built originally as a two story house, a third story was added when the house was moved to its present location c. 1867. The original roof was probably quite steeply pitched and was later lowered by converting it into a gambrel.
Other features include a number of interesting nine-over-six, and eight-over-twelve windows on the rear (south) elevation, and a bowing of the window lintels on the second story. Hill was the First Church Deacon and a prominent salesman. As with most early Cambridge buildings extant, the Hill house has survived due to a move. When the Episcopal Theological School began developing at 99 Brattle Street, the house was moved to a nearby side street. Despite this, the building still merits recognitior for its architectural 1mportalice. 10.
Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records, early maps, etc.) 2 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES United States Department of the Interior National Park Service EVALUATION / RETURN SHEET AARoN Hill House Property:- (CAmbridse Multinle Resoune Hrea) State, County:_ nudalezed Federal Agency: resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Working No.//-14-80-2862 Fad. Reg. Date:- Date Due: Action: 4/12/82 ACCEPT- RETURN_7 - REJECT- photos L maps - Substantive Review: - sample -request- appeal NR decision Reviewer's comments: Atronger stalement o architect usae signijicance is needed. Is it significant soely as a suveior? Please discuss architectural conteyt. Recom. /Criteria Retuun retun Reviower Bsarnam Discipline aseh /tu Date 4.
6-82 _ see continuation sheet returned for: _ technical corrections cited below -substantive reasons discussed below -Nomination 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification Dumarabir heblic hoquotattion 4. Owner of Property Matus Lecosalbte prosont Uao 5. Location of Legal Description - 6. Representation in Existing Surveys ho thie property boon dotermined eligibte? - 100 - 7. Description excettent good tair deteriorated _ruins unexposed Ohock ano .unattered : altered Chack one _ original site mored date - sortbo the prosant and ariginal (Il knowm) phiyateal appaaranco summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates boundary selection 8.
Significance Porter pees of Si summary paragraph completeness clarity applicable criteria justification of areas checked relating significance to the resource context relationship of integrity to significance justification of excepticn other 9. Major Bibliographical References 10. Geographical Data Aoreage of nominated property - Guadrangle nam UNT Peterence Perbel beundery deecriptien and jetificetien 11. Form Prepared By 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The eveluated eignificance of this property within the etete ie: national sote Hletortc Preservatten Officer signature 13. Other Maps Photographs Other Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to.
Signed bravram - Date 4.18.82 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 com - - In Area no. Old Camb. - 1. Town Cambridge Address 17 Brown Street Name Aaron Hill House Present use residential Form no. OC IIB1 2. Photo (3x3" or 3x5") taple to lett side oi torn hoto number 1099-3 - 4. Map. Draw sketch of building location in relation to nearest cross streets and other buildings. Indicate north. CIRCLE BRATTLE MERCER 2 L. Present owner Natalie Saville Hewitt Dwight Andrews 3. Description: Date c. 1754 Source Deed records Style Late Georgian/Federal Architect unknown Exterior wall fabric wood Outbuildings (describe) garages Other features originally built as a two-story structure, now three storie gambrel roof. Altered Altered -Yes Date c.
1867 Moved Yes Date c. 1867 5. Lot size: One acre or less XX Over one acre Approximate frontage_ 53 feet Approximate distance of building trom street 8 feet 6. Recorded by Bainbridge Bunting Organization Cambridge Historical Comm. Date 1964 UTM- LEXINETON 191324680/4693520 ASSESSOR # 220-60 30M-5-77 NOV" 4 1980 7. Original owner (if known) Aaron Hill 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) The Aaron Hill house was constructed in the mid-eighteenth century at what is now the site of 99 Brattle Streeet.
Built originally as a two story house, a third story was added when the house was moved to its present location c. 1867. The original roof was probably quite steeply pitahed and was later lowered by converting it into a gambrel. Other features include a number of interesting nine-ovep-six, and eight-over-twelve windows on the rear (south) elevation, and a bowing of the window lintels on the second story.. Hill was the First Church Deacon and a prominent salesman. As with most early Cambridge buildings extaht, the Hill house has survived due to a move. When the Episcopal Theological School began developing at 99 Brattle Street, the house was moved to a nearby side street. Despite this, the building still merits recognition for its architectural 1mportance. 10.
Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records, early maps, etc.) INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Commnity : Old Cambridge Form No: OC II.B.1 Property Name:Aaron Hill House Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. Deacon Aaron Hill (1730-1792) was a prominent Cambridge mason who held various positions in the town government as selectman, assessor, and overseer of the poor; he was also a representative to the Massachu- setts Legislature in 1789-90 and Deacon of the First Church, 1774-92. The Hill House was moved from Brattle Street in 1867-68 and raised one story. As built it was a two-story gambrel, the present first story having been put under it when it was moved.
Descriptions of it before it was moved speak of it as a large low house, painted white, with green blinds and a piazza across the west end (the end now facing Brown Street). Comparable structures surviving in Cambridge have almost all been moved from their original sites. They include the Daniel Watson Cambridge in 1960; the Abraham Watson House, 181-183 Sherman Street (1760), moved from Dunster Street to Manchester, Massachusetts, in 1926; the John Hicks House, 64 Boylston Street (1762, Harvard Houses N.R.D.), moved in 1928; and the James Munro House, 8 Willard Street (by 1765, old Cambridge N.R.D.), moved in 1908.
This house is one of seven of the period remaining in Cambridge, all but one of which have been moved from their original locations, that were occupied by patriots during the Revolution and which illus- trate the social and architectural distinctions between the Tories, with their elegant mansions on Brattle Street, and the patriots, who occupied more modest vernacular houses. It meets Criterion A for its associations with the Revolutionary period in Cambridge, Criterion B for its associations with an important local figure, and Criterion C as an example of Mid-18th century residential architecture.
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 Inventory - Nomination Form Continuation sheet Item number For NPS use only received date entered Page // 111 Multiple Resource Area Thematie Group Name State Cambridge Multiple Resource Area MA Nomination/Type of Review -101. Harvard Graduate Center DOE/OWNER OBJECTION Keeper Attest ,102. NChtld; Francis J., House Iatorttwa Powfep v Keeper Attest 193. "H111, Aaron, House Subelantive Hev1ew Keeper Attest 104. Cook, William, House Substantive Bev1ew Keeper Attest Sulelenitve Eevinw 105. Building at 10 Follen Street Keeper Attest 106. XHal1 Tavern äubesentira Fevlog Keeper Attest '107. Xcloverden (Mann House) aviva Bev1a Keeper Attest 108. ( The Fairfax DOE/OWNER OBJECTION Keeper Attest 109.
Larches, The SabstantIve Heview Keeper Attest "120. THo1mes, Joseph, House otima Keeper Attest Date/Signature Ret 6/10/82 Haward Boknea lu Bgel 6-30-83 tenkemha By 1 6,70 Wuam H. Bracham 413.82 Welian /Arachan 4.1382 thm ho Hghl, 6.90.13 Somenhang el 630-63 6 /10/62 Hauad. Wielam H. Bracham 4./382 Dona hui Big 1 6:30B ATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES tted States Department af the lateries tfonal Park Service Subatantive RevTew Hill, Aaron, House (Cambridge MRA) Middlesex County MA EYALUATION / RETURN SHEET resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: Reviewer's comments: Working No. 1/.14.80-2862 Fed. Reg. Date: - 2-7-84 Date Due: 7/78 Action: ACCEPT_6/30/83 - RETURN. REJECT. Federal Agency:_ - sample - request - appeal - NR decision Sigrificanee Chaigied Rocom. /Criteria A,B, G Isccet Reviewer.
War Discipline A.H Date h:30.83 continuation sheet - technical corrections cited below -substantive reasons discussed below -Nomination returned for: 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification mason Uos aettion 4. Owner of Property 5. Location of Legal Description - 6. Representation in Existing Surveys Whie property been de 7. Description tene - Meree and erginel [lf teewat piryetee summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates boundary seloction Choch ene 8. Significance Arsoe ef 3i eeiie dete ent ef Signifieanoo (in ene : 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 Aereage ef nomineted property auedrangle neme - UNT Reterencee Vertel beundery deecription iJustification 11. Form Prepared By 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The eveluated significance of thie property within the state is: netionat Pate Historie Preeervation Officer signeture 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 1099-36 NOV 1 4 1980 Canbridge MRA, Ma Hell, Aaron, House 17 Brown St. 1099-36 Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000275