BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
FORM B - BUILDING MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION C-21 Area A Form no. 29 Draw map showing property's location in relation to nearest streets and other huildings Reading 797 Main Street c Name_Alden Batchelder House liginal dwelling esent dwelling ip: X] Private individual Private organization Public iginal owner_Rex. John Cookson DESCRIPTION: Date 1849 Source deed Style Italianate Architect -- Exterior wall fabric clapboards Outbuildings Italianate barn SALEM ST S/AMTAO Recorded by Architectural Preservation Associates Organization Reading Historical Date November 30, CommissfonED 1980 Date. 2/14/84 Major alterations (with dates)side porch enclosed; converted to a . two-family in 1962 Moved no Date_ Approx. acreage 27,700 sq. ft.
Setting on a hill, facing south at intersection of two main roads; high granite retaining wall with step inscribed "Batchelder" 4TM: 19/327280/4710380 (Staple additional sheets here) ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE (describe important architectural features and evaluate in terms of other buildings within community) The form of this house is the basic Georgian-Federal rectangle oriented southward, but it has been given an Italianate feeling by the use of details. These include a bracketed roof and arched gable windows. A two-story bay and a central gable add interest to the composition, and provide complex spaces within the house. A veranda with turned balusters wraps around the front and one side. First-floor windows are long and have deep moldings.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE (explain the role owners played in local or state history and how the building relates to the development of the community) A. Pitman is listed for this house on the 1854 map, but apparently he was only a tenant. The account books of John Batchelder, a contemporary of Pitman, indicates that he received rent from Pitman for the Rev. John Cookson. Cookson was a Baptist minister. He was listed as the owner of this property in the 1850 and 1860 valuation books, and the 1860 census has him living here. Five years later, however, he was living elsewhere. By 1875, Alden Batchelder owned the property. He had married in 1864 Loisa Carter, a granddaughter of the Rev. Peter Sanborn. Batchelder was a cabinetmaker, a trade for which Reading was famous in the mid- 19th century- He succeeded to the business of Solon A. Parker, at Salem and Pearl Streets, in 1864.
He employed 25 workmen in the pro- duction of parlor desks and bookcases, primarily for the South but later for the West. The factory was destroyed by fire in 1876. After that event, Batchelder moved his business to Charlestown, using prisoners as his workforce. BIBLIÖGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES 1854 map - A. Pitman 1875 map - A. Batchelder (Alden) 1889 map - A. Batchelder (Alden) 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 valuation books Eaton, Memorial Volume, p. 326 John Batchelder's account books, vol. 5; owned by Mrs. C. Nelson Bishop Chronicle, Feb. 4, 1879 20M-2/80 -INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Commnity : Reading Property Name: Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below.
Form No: A-29 -- CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION This house is significant (1) for its connection with Alden Batchelder, one of Reading's more prominent cabinetmakers; and (2) as an example of the way in which conservative Reading builders adapted the familiar Goergian-Federal house plan by the application of later stylistic details. It retains integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workman- ship, and feeling, and meets Criteria B and C of the National 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 614/34 date entered Page 2a19 Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group Name State Reading Multiple Resource Area MASSACHUSETTS Nomination/Type of Review Determined E11giBite/Signature pesw 11. Pratt, Joseph I., House Subsfantiva HovIew Keeper Rurm Nu fr sel 2/5/75 DOE/OWNER OBJECTION Attest 12. Bancroft, Joseph, House Entered 1n tha National Regdster fateeper AueuByu 1-19-14 Attest 13. Bancroft, Samuel, House Bacoto! Hat1o0e? Fozeater TKeeper AelureBguns-19+4 Attest fKeeper 14. Bancroft, Wendell, House Entered In the National Register delmeByu19t4 Attest t°Keeper 15. Bassett, Edwin, House Facorad 1a tha Natloval Register AelmeBya 79-54 Attest 16. Batchelder, Alden, House Entered in the National Register friseper AuloueBgun114184 Attest 17. Batchelder, George, House Entared In the Hational Register fakseeper AebusBozus 119184 Attest 18.
Batchelder House Tir the Mattone? Register fukeeper AelseeBigen119184 Attest 19. Batchelder, Nathaniel, House rsest in tha Lattona? Realster fasteper Aubreszun119/84 Attest 20. Battell House Eatered in the Nat1onal Register fKeeper sibreßge2119184 Attest WASO Form - 177 ("R" June 1984) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE RJ. #84002491 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET Batchelder, Alden, House (Reading MRA) Middlesex County MASSACHUSETTS resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: Reviewer's comments: sample Jrequest Ersred In Mat1o0a? Lappeal JUN 4 1984 Working No. Fed. Reg. Date:2/5/86 Date Due: _ -5-84 7-19-84 Action: ACCEPT.
- RETURN 7-19-s4 _REJECT _ Federal Agency: LJNR 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 Batchelder Aldeia Reading MRA A - 29 C -214 797 106.90 PLAT 103 FEDERAL ST. 94.32 209 Laurel HilI Cemeter MAIN 797 278.30 149.75 4500 83 L 82 29 12,855 150 0 12.375 82.0 150.0 27 13,500 01.02 150.0 26 12.015 95.25 95.25 116.65 25 a 2475 108.65 13,860 2 5 e26t 13.10 TS 93. 142.25 8340 11,250 1090* 27,700 8.50 24 133.62 200 :43. 311.87 So. 16,447 2ld 22,210 210 80.0 CHARLES 6207 90.0 323.70 ,564 :73.7 23,098 800 PLAT Match 3.00 Line #A-29 797 Main St Map 104, 1983 Lot 24 Assessors Map 1"1 = 100' PLAT 87 Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000290