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 Area Recivd 11/21/23 Form no. - PHOTO (3x3" or 3x5", black & white) Staple to left side of form Photo number SKETCH MAP Draw map showing property's location in relation to nearest cross streets and other buildings or geographical features. Indicate north. see attached Town Cambridge Address Historic Name 11 Forest Street (Cambridge M Homer-Lovell House A Use: Original residence Present two-family residence Ownership: El Private individual Private organization Public Original owner William Frost, Jr. DESCRIPTION: Date 1867 Source Middlesex County Deeds Style Second Empire Architect unknown Exterior wall fabric clapboard Outbuildings none Recorded by Organization Date B.R.
Pfeiffer ACT for Massachusetts October, 1982 Major alterations (with dates)converted to two-family residence & east entry added (ca. 1920-1930) Moved Date_N/A Approx. acreage less Than /4 Setting, mixed mid-nineteenth century sub- urban district with early twentieth century apartment houses (Staple additional sheets here) ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE (describe important architectural features and evaluate in terms of other buildings within community) Standing at the northwest corner of Forest and Frost Streets, in a residential area of free-standing wood-frame houses and brick apartment blocks, the Homer-Lovell House consists of two sections, or a 2 1/2 storey main house (south) with a side-hall plan, and a 2 storey rear wing (north), both of which rest on brick foundations and are covered with clapboards.
The main house is enclosed by a bell-cast mansard roof covered with fish-scale slates; eleva- tions are trimmed with corner boards and a wide cornice with paired brackets. Windows con- tain 2/2 sash set in surrounds with moulded hoods. Sash in bay windows consists of 2/2 in the bay's widest opening and 1/1 in side faces; these windows are set in unmoulded surrounds above panelled bases and beneath cornices. ccorainesa 272e mansadee contastldedsirners HRSTORICAL SIGNIFICANC (expihin ten role onuners played sanhiocale r state history and how the building relates to the development of the community) The Homer-Lovell House possesses integrity of design, materials and setting as well as historical associations with the suburban development of Mid-Cambridge in the last half of the nineteenth century.
Built near the Porter Square Railroad Station, which provided direct commuter transport to Boston during the mid-nineteenth century, the Homer-Lovell House is a good and well- preserved example of the type of Second-Empire style architecture that predominated in the early development of this section of Cambridge as a well-to-do suburb of Boston. Although houses of this type were once relatively common in this area, apartment house construction in the twentieth century and the conversion of former single-family houses to apartments have left relatively few intact examples. The house retains all of the important features of its original design, including bay windows, moulded window hoods, panelled front doors, bracketed cornices and a slate-covered mansard roof.
In addition, the interior retains parquet floors, marble mantel pieces, panelled doors, plaster cornices and other original decorative details. Land on which the house stands was formerly part of the large Frost family estate, which was assembled by Gideon Frost in the late eighteenth century, beginning in 1763. Upon the elder Frost's death in 1803, the property passed to his son, William, who held ownership until his death in 1832. Between 1832 and 1855, Frost's estate remained unsettled and the property undeveloped; however, between 1855 and 1858, a plan of settlement was devised whereby the whole property was sub-divided into suburban streets and houselots. Lots were granted to the various heirs in settlement of their claims with the restriction that they. could not be rented or sold during the lifetime of Frost's widow, Mary, who continued to live in an old house on the property.
(see continuation sheet) BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES Middlesex County Registry of Deeds. Book 983, page 312 (1/4/1867); Book 1010, page 100 (8/1/1867). Survey of Architectural History in Cambridge: Mid-Cambridge. Cambridge Historical Commission (1967). Cambridge City Directories. 20M-2/80 INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Conmuni ty : Cambridge Form No: Property Name: Homer-Lovell House Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE cont'd The facade of the main house (south elevation) is asymmetrical, having an entry porch surmounted by a semi-octagonal oriel in its westernmost bay, a bay window surmounted by two regular windows in its eastern two bays and two dormers at the roof.
The entry porch consists of boxed posts with brackets supporting a cornice with paired brackets. The front doorway contains double doors with panelled bases and single lights above. The east elevation of the main house contains an added entry (ca. 1920-30) and bay window at the first storey, one window and a bay window at the second storey and two dormers at the roof. The added entry is enclosed by a glazed porch that is essentially identical to that of the main entry. The west elevation contains a bay window at the first storey, one window at the second storey and two dormers at the roof. The rear (north) elevation is mostly blocked by the rear wing, although its exposed portions contain two windows per storey and one dormer. Centered on the north elevation of the main house, the rear wing rests on a brick foundation and is enclosed by a low pitched roof.
Trimmings are simpler than the main house although all elevations have clapboards, corner boards, and brackets at the cornice. Windows are mostly of 2/2 sash set in moulded surrounds with consoles beneath the sills. Elevations are asymmetrical; the east contains two windows at both stories and a modern door at the second storey; the north contains two windows at the first storey and one window at the second storey; the west contains a two-storey high arched window (added 1982). An original one-storey veranda exists on the east elevation although it has been altered by the addition of a staircase and railings to serve two stories (ca. 1920-30). This porch is supported by boxed posts with brackets and decorative railings.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE cont'a By the terms of this settlement, the lot on which the Homer-Lovell House stands was granted to Gideon and Lucy (Frost) Frothingham, together with eight other lots in 1858. In 1867, the Frothinghams sold the property to Frost's son, William, Jr., a merchant and real estate developer, who gradually acquired and developed a large number of lots in the area during the 1860s-1880s. Between January and August of 1867, William Frost built the present house at 1l Forest Street, apparently on speculation. Soon after completion, the house was sold to Eliza Homer, wife of George W. Homer, a Boston leather merchant. Subsequently, in 1870, the house was sold to Andrew J.
Lovell, a Boston grocer and director of the North End National Bank in Boston, who occupied the house throughout the remainder of the nineteenth century, all the while maintaining business interests in Boston. In 1899, the house was sold to Emma Hubbard, under whose ownership the Building remained a singlefamily house. In 1916, the house and many surrounding properties were sold to the Newport Apartment Trust, which constructed apartment houses nearby and probably con- verted the Homer-Lovell House into apartments. Owner: Mr. James L.
Miller UTM 19/325630/4694520 11 Forest Street Cambridge, MA Staple to Inventory form at bottom NPS Form 10 (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 Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group Page / f17 Name State Cambridge Multiple Resource Area Nomination/Type of Review 161. Mead, Alpheus, House ofentive Reviey Keeper Attest 162. Snow, Daniel, House DOE/OWNER OBJECTION Sudefentive Review / Keeper Attest 163. Wyeth, John, House / Keeper SsriFive MaNtar Attest 164. HomER-hovell HousE mbetantive hevlew Keeper Attest Subsbaative Review 165. Reversible Collar Company Building Keeper Attest Keeper blys 166. Ash Street Ilistoric District (Boundary Increase) Subsbentive Reviem Attest 167.
Berkeley Street Historic District (Boundary 6Keeper Increase) Entered Natiesel Regiatex 168. Bertram Hall at Radcliffe College Entored 1m National Regiater 169. Bennink-Douglas Cottages Fateced 1x1 ona.0 Rogietor 170. Brabrook, E. H., House Entered 1n tho National Regiaten Attest fakeeper Attest fKeeper Attest f-Keeper Attest Date/Signature Wieliam H. Bravam 4.138 William H.Broviam 413.82 Determmned lizaue WiiamH. Brackam 4.1382 Lanl Dahù 1/2283 Bueaalan Oaayel 9-22-85 IS Mennel Syas 5.14-86 AelmByusa-1 AebmeByuns19+6 WASO Form - 177 ("R" June 1984) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET Substantive Heview Homer-Lovell House (Cambridge MRA) Middlesex County MASSAC HUSETTS resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Working No. NOV 2 1983 Fed. Reg.
Date: -84 Date Due: 12/22/83 - 15784 Action: ACCEPT RETURN 12/27/83 _REJECT_ Federal Agency: _ Substantive Review: Asample J request Jappeal NR decision Reviewer's comments: The toner-hovell Houne is a ly sgrifiant Second Empere otgle house tet retaivs all Recom./Criteria Accept C the important featares of lls desije and Buhorf Aestora 1s a fative example of the tupe of 12/22/83 residence built in this railroad subuct of Bodtondun see continuation sheet the nud-xenfeent Nomination returned for: technical corrections cited below _substantive reasons discussed below contery. 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification Category Ownership Public Acquisition Status Accessible Present Use 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 Check one -original site I moved date. Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates - boundary selection 8. Significance Period Areas of Significance-Check and justify below Specific dates Builder/Architect Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) summary paragraph completeness clarity VOM applicable criteria justification of areas checked relating significance to the resource context relationship of integrity to significance justification of exception other 21TICUR0A2EAM 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 Home r-Love11 House Cambrids An assachusetts Facade (south elevation) taken from a position facing north (May 1982) Medford Hillside Parson Han Sch MYSTIC Wellington *Playground Lindoln Bch RIVER BROADWAY * Powder House! Sauare West Somerville Tutt 1Sch - Tuits & Park 510 000 FEET Tufte Park Bath Square RESERVATION Wellington Bridge *Browu Sch Magoun Square Teld Sch Winter Hill Ten Hills MYSTIC Davis* Savare Cütter.
Square a Bt Polycaiph Fire Binghane 8ch AXBM41 BROADWAR Park Spring Hill Northeaster /Ir High Sel Cambridge Jr College. BÖSTON Wilsor Square/ Ife *Hospital Armon SOMERVILLE *ST Centlal Hozplas Conway Playground/ High Sot BMa1 Hath Lbrary a AeCumamings /Sch Hanecony Sch 4 aat Someryille -Prescott -Pêabody Sch 4694 e2 CAMBRIDGK Radelffe College. Lestey Commen -il TUANERD , UNIVERSITY -3=ARKLANTD BM MAINI Soathert Jr High Seh - Prospect HHL Park Square L8O E -Pire Stal Mayground Lincoin Park 42° 22' 30" 71° 07' 30" CAMBRIDGE (CITY HALL/ 0.8 MI. 327 (NEWTON) 6768 / SW Mapped, edited, and published by the Geological Survey Control by USGS, USC&GS, and Massachusetts Geodetic Survey Topography by planetable surveys 1943. Revised from aeriai photographs taken 1969.
Field checked 1971 Selected hydrographic data compiled from USC&GS Chart 248 (1971) This information is not intended for navigational purposes Polyconic projection. 1927 North American datum 10,000-foot grid based on Massachusetts coordinate system, mainland zone 1000-meter Universal Transverse Mercator grid, Baxter (Sch % 710 000 FEET 0.8 MI. TO U.S.
/+ MN GN 15%* 276 MILS| 1°24 25 MILS UTM GRID AND 1979 MAGNETIC NORTH DECLINATION AT CENTER OF SHEET Boundaries in tidewater areas from information supplied by Massachusetts Department of Public Works Red tint indicates areas in which only landmark buildings are shown There may be private inholdings within the boundaries of the National or State reservations shown on this map riomer-Lovell liouse 11 Forest Street Cambridge, MA UTM A 19325630/4694520 (WILD)/ Drive-in Theater ¿ Radia Tower SaCle Playg Maiden Bridge Ryan Playground Playground! 329 .0.4 70 C 1000 1000 CO NATIONA DEPTH CURVES AND THE RELATIO SHORELINE SHOWN RE THE MEAN THIS MAP COMPLIES - FOR SALE BY U. S. GE A FOLDER DESCRIBING TOPOGR 35 1749 (MET.
SYSTEM 175 1153 1755:57 59- 61- 1763 1769 167/ H 1173 0 Homer-Lovel1 House Cambridge, Massachusetts A 5 B 4B DoFO7 A 7 2 40 22 Sanborn Atlas of Cambridge 1" = 50' House indicated by cross-hatching W ROOMG- .h or FOREST7 FOREST - -2 TE.2- V-º EXETER EXETER PARK PARK 20 6"H.P. " 2B-1 ROOM'G. FOREST 9 E SA. BR 4B: lo - TaN FORFST Apes 61 55 51 FROsT D.H.N 21 FROST 24 T5-APTS. TON ° ESF 13 FOREST FoRrsrl2 P. 12 FOREST 64 FROST FROT.56 50 Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000275 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 November 15, 1983 Ms.
Carol Shull, Chief National Register of Historic Places National Park Service Department of the Interior 18th and C. Streets, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20240 Dear Ms. Shull: Enclosed you will find the following nomination forms: Cambridge: Homer Lovel1 House (local; addition to MRA) Greenfield: Leavitt-Hovey House (national) -Lowel1: Worcester House (local) North Adams: St. Joseph's School 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. Please be aware that the owners of the Homer Lovell House in Cambridge and of St. Joseph's School in North Adams have recently completed certified rehabilitations.
They have requested expedited review of their respective nominations to secure listing before the end of 1983. Please let me know as soon as possible if this cannot be achieved. Sincerely, Candace fenkins Candace Jenkins Director, Preservation Planner CJ/1k EC EIVE cc: Elizabeth Hengen Brian Pfieffer NOV 2 | 1983