Nomination for Ellis, Moses, House

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

NPS Form10-900 (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 OCT 27 1983 date entered historic Moses Ellis House and/or common Moses 2. Location Ellis House street & number 283 Pleasant Streete N/A not for publication city, town Framingham N/A vicinity of state Massachusetts code 025 county Middlesex 017 cocie 3.

Classification Category _ district X building(s) _ structure site object Ownership public private both Public Acquisition N/Ain process being considered Status X occupied - unoccupied work in progress Accessible X yes: restricted - yes: unrestricted no Present Use agriculture X commercial educational entertainment - government industrial military museum park private residence religious scientific transportation other: 4. Owner of Property name David and Carol Reed, Procorp, Inc. street & number 283 Pleasant Street city, town Framingham N/A vicinity of 5. Location of Legal Description state Massachusetts courthouse, registry of deeds, etc. Middlesex County Registry of Deeds street & number 208 Cambridge Street city, town Cambridge state Massachusetts 6.

Representation in Existing Surveys Inventory of the Historic Assets of title the Commonwealth #55/ has this property been determined eligible? - yes _no date 1979 _ federal- X - state - county - local depository for survey records Massachusetts Historical Commission Boston Massachusetts city, town state 7. Description Moses Ellis House, Framingham, MA Condition X excellent good S fair 130 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

The Moses Ellis House faces south on Pleasant Street in central Framingham just northwest of the town's commercial/civic area (Irving Square Historic District and Concord Square Historic District; National Register 1982 & 1983). Pleasant Street probably served as a native trail and certainly acted as an important route in the 17th and 18th centuries. The house itself is slightly elevated on a treed 2.3 acre lot. The Moses Ellis House was designed in 1866 in the academic Italianate style by prominent local architect Alexander Rice Esty. It is square in plan with a projecting central entry pavillion and porte-cochere; to the rear it is extended by an ell. Resting on a full granite basement, the house rises two stories to a low hipped roof. The exterior is sheathed in clapboard with moldedbeltcourses demarcating a watertable and the division between first and second stories.

Major decorative elements include boldly scaled window pediments, the arched and paneled porte-cochere, a wide frieze lit by small windows and pediments breaking through the orverhanging cornice on the facade and side elevations. Windows, unless otherwise specified, contain original 6/6 double hung sash. The exterior siding and trim all appear to be original. The three bay facade is symmetrically organized around a projecting entry pvaillion which breaks through the roof in a triangular pediment. A one story porte-cochere extending out from the pavillion is supported by squared, paneled columns and has flat topped arches at its sides and screening the entry, and a semi-circular arch on the front; all arches are molded and accented with keystones. The recessed entry is surmounted by an elipitical fan.

The pavillion contains single windows at each story on its side elevations and is also flanked by single windows on the main body of the house. At the first story these have heavily molded caps and at the second story they have triangular pedimented caps. The exception is the central second story window which has a segmental arched cap and contains 8/8 sash. The attic frieze is lit by single small square windows on the main body and a larger, more elaborate segmental arched window in the gable. The four bay east elevation is treated in a similar fashion to the facade. First story windows have identical enframements but are elongated and headed by glazed transoms. The outer second story windows are pedimented as are those of the facade but a triple window which may be a replacement occupies the central bays.

The three bay west elevation follows the facade treatment; the only alteration is a metal fire escape added to the southern halt of this elevation. The rear elevation has a two story ell and one story garage attached. The exterior appearance of the building'has remained largely unaltered, except for the removal of a one story four bay wide porch along the eastern facade with a second story enclosed central bay. A fire escape has been added to the western facade. The circular driveway indicated in 1900-1912 photographs and a 1875 Atlas map has been main- tained. - 1912 ph The barn which stood on the property until it burned in 1950, has not been replaced. A parking lot has been added to the rear of the building. ... The interior has been rehabilitated maintaining the integrity, character, and aesthetics of the original spaces. Bathrooms and a kitchen have been added, walls and doorways..

have been moved, especially on the second floor, and two safes added in the 1950's remain. The third floor has remained largely unaltered; ten small rooms, which may have NPS Form 10-900-8. (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 For NPS usaianly recaived date entered Continuation sheet Moses Ellis House Item number 7 Page 1 served as dormitories when the building was used as a school, remain intact. The stairway hall on this floor has been enclosed, originally it may have been open. The interior walls are of lath and plaster construction. Trim, doorways, stairs, and fireplaces remain intact. Cornices in most of the rooms have been removed. The stairway in the entry hall and the fireplaces are of special note.

The stair has an elaborate Victorian newel as well as ornate balusters. The entry hall walls are wainscotted and this treatment is carried up the stair wall. Other staircases are less elaborate; a rear first story stair is smaller, less ornate and the stair leading to the third floor is also less elaborated than the main staircase but both are still intricate. The fireplaces are all built into projecting chimney breasts. The fireplaces originally all had mirrored overmantels, only the one in the west front room remains. The fireplace in that room has a rectangular opening with Victorian bracketed trim supporting a mantel shelf. The mirrored overmantel has a Victorian pediment and surrounds. The dining room was originally wainscotted; the fireplace in this room bears two still life representations of ducks and foliage.

The library, or west rear room, fireplace originally had two dog busts supporting the mantel shelf; as it appears today this is also a rectangular opening Victorian style mantelpiece. The fourth fireplace is also Victorian in character, similar to that in the west front room.

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Significance Moses Ellis House, Framingham, MA Period prehistoric 1400-1499 1500-1599 1600-1699 1700-1799 1800-1899 1900 Areas of Significance - Check and justify below archeology-prehistoric - community planning . archeology-historic conservation - agriculture economics 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 1866 to 1871 Builder

Statement of significance

/Architect Alexander Rice Esty Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) The Moses Ellis House possesses integrity of location, design, setting, materials, and workmanship as well as association with several locally prominent people. Designed C.1866 it also embodies the distinctive characteristics of the academic Italiante style as applied to a wood frame residence. Thus it meets criteria B and C of the National Register of Historic Places. Moses Ellis was a wealthy Boston and San Francisco merchant turned gentleman farmer. Born in Dedham, he moved to California in 1850. His activities there are unclear at prèsent, but it appears that he spent most of his time in San Francisco and perhaps accumulated his fortune there. He returned to New England in 1866, settling in Framingham where he remained one of the town's wealthiest man until his death in 1910.

Upon arrival in Framingham, Ellis purchased the 200 acre Buckminster Homestead at auction. He immediately demolished the 1768 house which had also served as a tavern and built the present house shortly thereafter (appears on 1871 map). Ellis chose local architect Alexander Rice Esty to design his new house, perhaps upon the advise of his friend George Weeks who had employed Esty for his house in 1865. Alexander Rice Esty (b.1826, d.1881) is perhaps best known for his public works. Esty - began his career by drawing the buildings around Framingham Center Common. He was app- renticed to Richard Bond of Boston and later worked in the office of Gridley J.F. Bryant. He opened his own practice in the early 1850's. He was a leading church architect in the 1850's and 1860's; he was responsible for the widest use of the Upjohn Church type in the Boston area.

In 1880, he was appointed to a oommittee to design an addition to the U.S. Congress to better accommodate the Library of Congress. The plan from' this design was used but the Gothic exterior was changed to a Classical scheme. Esty also served on a committee to design the expansion of the Massachusetts State House. Known residential works by Esty include: The George Weeks House (1865), the William Mellon House (1865), and Nuttingholme (Wallace Nutting's home-no longer in existence) all in Framingham and all in the Italianate style. Mosses Ellis Jr. sold the property upon his father's death, for $1 to James C. Flagg, headmaster of the Danforth Schoo1. The property was sold in 1911; by the end of that year Moses Ellis Jr. stipulated that the building was to be modernized, with plumbing, electricity, public water, etce At this time Mr.

Flagg moved the Danforth School from Nuttingholme to the Moses Ellis house. was a "country life" boarding and day school for boys under 15 preparing for New. England's high schools. The house was again sold in 1919 to the Young Orchard Co. The next owners were also a landscape and garden company. During the 1950's, a cotton machinery company operated from the building and most of the land was sold for house lots.

The rest of the file

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

Major Bibliographical References Danforth School Catalogue. Framingham: 1912. Framingham Gazette. December 31, 1910. 10. Geographical Data Acreage of nominated property 2.3 acres Quadrangle name _ Framingham UT M References Zone 2/918/11010 Easting CLL [416|816|21810/ Northing LLLL LILLL LLLL Quadrangle scale 1:25000 B LLILL Zone Easting Northing PLULLILLILILLL FLULLILLLI LILILIL HLULLILIdLILALLL Verbal boundary description and justification Please refer to the attached assessor's map: Sheet 287, block 1, lots1 and 1J List all states and counties for properties overlapping state or county boundaries state N/A code county code state code county code 11.

Form Prepared By name/title Candace Jenkins, Preservation Planner Director with Silvia Sabadell-Johnson organization Massachusetts Historical Commission date July 1983 street & number 294 Washington Street telephone 617-727-8470 Boston Massachusetts city or town state 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evaluated significance of this property within the state is: national _ state X 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 the criteria and procedures set forth by the National Park Service.

State Historic Preservation Officer signature cluwLNoslarski State Historic Preservation Officer title Massachusetts Historical Commission date 10/19/83 For NPS use only I hereby certify that this property is included in the National Register Entered in Tae yeu National Register 11/29/83 date date Attest: Chief of Registration NPS Form 10-900-e 3-82) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form Continuation sheet Mosses Ellis House Item number 8 OMB No. 1024-0018 Exp. 10-31-84 Far NPS.ueaionly recalved date entered Page 1 Although presently unevaluated, the land around the Moses Ellis House should be considered as potentially sensitive for the presence of historic archaeological remains associated with the Ellis family occupation and the earlier Buckminster Tavern which was located nearby.

Any subsurface remains of structures, landscaping, and cultural material which exist have to potential contribute to our knowledge of the past. NPS Form 10-900-e. 3-82) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form Continuation sheet Moses Ellis House OMB No. 1024-0018 Exp. 10-31-84 Far NPS. uasianly racsived date entered Item number 9 Page Maps and Atlases from 1780 to 1930 of Town of Framingham. Framingham Historical Society. Kendall, Frank A. Alexander Rice Esty. An unpublished report, 1934. Kushner, Suzette A. May 1978, unknown institution. Alexander Rice Esty. Paper for American Architecture class, South Middlesex County Registry Deed and Probate records. Temple, J.S. History of Framingham. Framingham: Town of Framingham, 1887. Tucci, Douglass Shand. Built in Boston City and Suburb.

Boston: New York Graphic Society, 1978. WASO Form - 177 ("R" June 1984) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET Ellis, Moses, House Middlesex County MASSA CHUSETTS resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: Reviewer's comments: sample J request -appeal Working No. OCT 27 1993 Fed. Reg. Date: 7-5-83 Date Due: 11124/83 -12/11/83 Action: LACCEPT. 11/29/83 Entered in tha _RETURN National Registen _REJECT_ Federal Agency: - NR decision Recom./Criteria Reviewer Discipline Date see continuation sheet Nomination returned for: _technical corrections cited below _ substantive reasons discussed below 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification Category Ownership Public Acquisition 4. Owner of Property 5. Location of Legal Description 6.

Representation in Existing Surveys Has this property been determined eligible? yes no 7. Description Condition excellent good fair deteriorated ruins unexposed Check one unaltered altered Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates boundary selection Status Accessible Present Use Check one -original site moved date 8. Significance Period Areas of Significance-Check and justify below Specific dates Builder/Architect Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) 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 Acreage of nominated property Quadrangle name UTM References Verbal boundary description and justification 11. Form Prepared By 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evaluated significance of this property within the state is: national state _local State Historic Preservation Officer signature date title 13.

Other Maps Photographs Other Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to - Signed - Date - Phone: Comments for any item may be continued on an attached sheet Moses Ellis House 283 Pleasant Street Framingham Middlesex County Massachusetts Pnoto by Silvia Sabadell-Johnson 37 Salem End Road Framingham, MA 19.82 Negative with photographer View of main entry facade Photo 1 of 1 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 October 19, 1983 Ms. Carol Shull, Chief National Register of Historic Places National Park Service Department of the Interior 18th & C Streets, NW Washington, D.C. 20240 Dear Ms.

Shull: Enclosed you will find the following nomination forms: Edgartown - Edgartown Village Historic District (state) Framingham - Moses Ellis House (local) Great Barrington - Monument Mills (local) Peabody - John Southwick House (local) Scituate - Captain Benjamin James House (local) Stockbridge - Villa Virginia (local) Westfield - United States Whip Company Complex (national) 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 nomination forms.

Also included are the forms for Border City Mills (Fall River Multiple Resource Area) which had been returned to us for boundary justification and for Woodbridge Street Historic District, South Hadley, returned for technical corrections. Sincerely, Candace fenkins Candace Jenkins Preservatida Planning Director Massachusetts Historical Commission EGEIV E UuI 27 1983 CJ/hi Enclosures