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 0-27 Form no. 138 CIOSS streets and other buildings or geographical features. Indicate north. Reading (48) 232 West Street Name Semuel Bancroft House ginal_ Dwelling sent Dwelling p:[] Private individual Private organization Public ginal owner Samuel Bancroft TION: -Date c. 1748 Source Robftrees. Style Vernacular Georgian Architect n/a Exterior wall fabric Wood shingles Outbuildings Garage Major alterations (with dates) Bay window on east, porch & portice en south addition across north, chimney removed Moved no Date Approx. acreage 20,990 sq. It. tion Organization Readine Htstorical Conmission Date NoveREV|SED1980 Date: 6/82 Setting_Oriented south, screened from road by hedges.
19/325710/4709340 (Staple additional sheets here) ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE (describe important architectural features and c: evaluate in terms of other buildings within community) Nelson and Eleanor Bishop conjecture that the remains of a pre-1748 dwelling are incorporated in this house. Interior analysis would be valuable in determining the development of this structure. At present, the house is a symmetrical, 18th-century traditional form, with smal1 windows on the second floor touching the plate. The door enframement has been altered, and a 19th-and 20th-century portico added. A bay:,, window at the east and a lean-to addition on the north are both 20th- century in origin. The foof is framed with no eaves return.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE (explain the role owners played in local or state history and how the building relates to the development of the community) This land, on the extreme west of town, was divided for the residents of Reading in 1652. Henry Merrow assembled a large farm by purchases over the next three decades. The farm lay between two "highways"--County Road and West Street. In 14 when Samuel Bancroft bought Merrow's house and land, County Road had become the less traveled way (a bridle path), while West Street had become the major thoroughfare...(Bancroft probably built this house, nearer the highway and close to the woburn Road to the village, as the meetinghouse focused attention there after 1769-70). Bancroft may have incorporated part of Merrow's dwelling in this house.
Samuel came from a prominent family, many of whom settled in this area of Reading; he was a deacon, justice of the peace, captain of the Militia in 1757 for the relief of Fort William Henry on Lake George, and was selectman in 1757 - 1760, 1762-63, and 1766. He also served in the Legislature. In 1798 Ephraim Weston bought the place. He was a major shoe manufacturer, wholesaling shoes his Reading neighbors made at home. With his partner on West Street, Jonathan Temple, he owned a general store at Weston Square, now called Dragon Corner after a painted weathervane he installed at the head of Woburn Street. In 1800 he built 229 West Street, and his son took over this house. Clifford Weston, also a shoe manufacturer, had this place at the end of the century. A store still serves this neighborhood nexus. BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES 1830 map yes 1854 map H. Pendexter (Henry) 1875 map C. E.
Weston (Clifford) 1889 map C. E. Weston Bishop, Rooftrees, Chapter 11 20M-2/80 INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Commmity: Reading Property Name: 232 West St. Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. Form No: C-138 CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION This property is siznificant (1) for its role in the development of the Dragon Corner node of development on lest Street; (2) for its connection with early shoe manufacturer Ephraim Weston; and (3) because it may contain the remnant of a mid-17th century house within it. It retains interrity of location, general cesign, and settint, and meets Criteria A, 3, and C of the Mational Register.
Staple to Inventory form at bottom 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 G14/34 date entered Page 2af9 Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group Name State Reading Multiple Resource Area MASSACHUSETTS Nomination/Type of Review Deterpined Engibfte/Signature pesa 11. Pratt, Joseph L., House BubstantIva HevIow Jkeeper Ruum Na frr el 2/7/15 DOE/OWNER OBJECTION Attest 12. Bancroft, Joseph, House Entered 1n tha National Regdster faKeeper Aue Byun 7-19-14 Attest 13. Bancroft, Samuel, House Hat100e? YKeeper Rreastet AelreByuns-19-+y Attest fKeeper 14. Bancroft, Wendell, House - Entored In the National Register diluByet194 Attest f°Keeper 15. Bassett, Edwin, House Ratoral in the latlova?
Regiater AelmeBye249-54 Attest 16. Batchelder, Alden, House Entered in tbe National Register frseoper Aelone Bgun 14180 Attest 17. Batchelder, George, House Entored In the Mational Register frkeeper Aeluspgus119184 Attest 18. Batchelder House fukeeper dactona? Register AbseBgesa119184 Attest 19. Batchelder, Nathaniel, House Ttet in tha Tablona? Realster fasteper Aubusßzun1115/84 Attest 20. Battell House Entered in the Nat1ona1 Register fKeeper AulomeAgee 219t8 Attest WASO Form - 177 ("R" June 1984) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE R# 84002471 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET Bancroft, Sa muel, House (Reading MRA) Middlesex County MASSA CHUSETTS resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: Reviewer's comments: L sample Jrequest JUN 4, ,1984 Working No. Fed. Reg.
Date: o Date Due: Action: 17-19-84 7-19-87 LACCEPT Ewiored In the -__ RETURN Mational Realeter _ REJECT- Federal Agency: -appeal L 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 J 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 J original site moved date 8.
Significance Period Areas of Significance-Check and justify below Specific dates Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) Builder/Architect 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 Bencroft, Ra 232 Dest 9,192 5og.54. 96 30 80.04 69 8788 3q.5t. 80 8,800 o3g.5t. 65 30 12 15.0 38 7,500 Sq:Ft. 75.0 80.0 100 7,988 Jog. F$. 34 80.04 29 98 -32 80 7 SEMENT 01.97 -37/2g 1,128 bog. Ft. 3.71 30-17 12,622 706, 9,214 Sog.Ft. 97 80 9,236 5og.Ft. 98 80 9,257 Sog.Ft. 99 80 9,279 Eo.Ft.. 100 80 9,295 Sng. Ft. 101 80 12,020 50g.5t. 102 Bz.1s: 104 68 161.31 11,170 Sop. Ft. 35 7,500 Sqp.Ft. 67.64 Randall Park: ROAD 8338 0689 68121 66 75. 67 65 156.55 107 150.39.910 Se. Ft. 108 16.070 Sq.Ft. 128,34 109 9,610 59,74. 111.08 50.0 99.78 01.45 106 6,580 Yq.F4 73.57 105 174.80 Sub Plan 116 59.20 228.80 108.30 1IO 85.18 20,990 5q. 4.115 37 7,500 74. 75. 36 FI 16.47 67.76 3,170 340 g° 8,290 5q,Ft. 35 136.51 COOLIDGE Page -Park 9720 5g.04. 112 104.30 2712 317.75 122.87 0,200 ||4 Sog.Pt..
111.53 7,100 + g5q.07.||37 18,59 71.11 228 STREET 18 80 4 14 80 3 9,817 100.15 Sog. rt. 82.19' 8,019 10 80 2 8,014 so.Ft. 77.95 218 8,042 F4. #C-138 232 West St. Map 37, Lot 115 1983 1" Assessors Map 100' 9,0003q.F7. 4431. Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000290