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Nomination for Batchelder, George, House

The case file that argued this property on to the National Register: 1,214 words across 9 pages, filed in 1984. Reproduced in full, word for word.

Source document Held by the National Archives in Record Group 79 as reference 84002496, where it exists only as a scan with no text layer. The words below were read off that scan by machine, so the occasional stray character is the recogniser's and the typewriter's. Nothing is summarised, corrected or written by this site. See the catalogue record, or return to the property.

The 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 A Form no. 10 Reading (#33) 127-129 Franklin Street Nane George Batchelder Howe aginal Dwelling osent Dwelling p: Private individual Private organization Public ginal owner George Batchelder .ION: WORTH /018 STREE Date 1825 Source Tax records Style_Federal Architect Exterior wall fabric Clapboard Outbuildings 25 g. itooo Major alterations (with dates) Western STSON AVET Organization Reading Historical Date Commission Nov REVISED1980 Date_ 6/82 two story ell, fenestration west fenestration 2nd floor front. Moved yes Date_1947 Approx. acreage 18,543 sq. fte ion. Setting Faces south en slope of S hill; originally on Main Street, facing west.

19/327190/4713250 (Staple additional sheets here) ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE (describe important architectural features and evaluate in terms of other buildings within community) Although it has been moved, this Federal, five-bay, two and one-half storyhousenow faces south in the traditional manner. The fine door enframement has more Federal high-style elements than most surviving examples; tapered pilasters support a wide entablature. An elliptical lou- vered fanlight in starburst pattern surmounts the six-panel door. The sidelights are half-length. The low slope of the roof is an in- teresting Federal feature. SIGNIFICANCE (explain the role owners. played in local or state history and how the building relates to the development of the community) Iha building of this house illustrates the traditional form of Reading town development.

The stretch of Franklin Street between Main and Haverhill Streets was since c.1765 the site of two Batchelder homesteads. As younger sons needed houses of their own, they built on family land in the "modern" style, but with conservative detailing.. This house was built by George Batchelder, who grew up at 71 Franklin Street which his brother inherited. The house stood,until 1947, facing Main Street on the east side. It was moved to acconmodate a gas station. Its barn and shop stood across the Main Street. The relocation of this property did not affect its integrity. On Georgets property on west side of Main Street used to stand a sassafras tree. Thought to be the biggest east of the Mississippi, it stood fifty- eight feet high and was protected by Mr. Batchelder against the school boys of the Main Street School, who found the bark easy to remove.

The tree was taken down in 1961 after being struck by lightning. BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES 1830 map yes Gilson, Trees of Reading, Mass, No. 2 1854 map Geo. Batchelder (George) 1875 map G.O. Batchelder (George) 1889 map Mrs. Batchelder Tax Necoras all map references pertain to original site) Bishop, Rooftrees, Chapter 34 SPNEA, file of news clippings (Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities) INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Commmity: Readins Form No: A-10 Property Name: 127-129 Fran!:lin Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below.- CRITRZIA FOR ZVALUAZION This cronerty is simnificant (1) for its connection with the locally important Batchelder family; and (2) as an example of high-style Federal erchitecture in Reading.

It retains integrit: of desisn, settins, mat- erials, workmanship, and feeeling, and neets Criteria A, E, and C of the lational 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 G14/14 date entered Page 2af9 Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group Name State Reading Multiple Resource Area MASSACHUSETTS Nomination/Type of Review Determined Eligibite/Signature pesuh 11. Pratt, Joseph L., House Subafantive HevIew JKeeper Ruum Wu fru el 2/5/13 DOE/OWNER OBJECTION Attest 12. Bancroft, Joseph, House Eatored 1n tha Nationa? Regdater foKeeper Aeu Byun 119-14 Attest 13. Bancroft, Samuel, House EnToi Hat1o0e? fKeeper Fraater AulueBguns-19+4 Attest fKeeper 14.

Bancroft, Wendell, House Entored In the National Register 15. Bassett, Edwin, House Attest fKeeper Eatorad 1n i2a Hatlovel Register Attest 16. Batchelder, Alden, House Entered in the fakéeper National Register Attest 17. Batchelder, George, House Entored In tha Mational Register fakseeper Attest 18. Batchelder House In the Tattonal Register futseeper Attest 19. Batchelder, Nathaniel, House ratet in aba 2231009. Realster fasteper Attest 20.

Battell House Entered in the Nat1onal Register fKeeper Attest AelmeBye-15sx AilmeBya 49-54 AeloueByun 114184 Aebusßozus :19184 AulureBgun919194 AubresBgunl419/84 Auboreßgen119/4 WASO Form - 177 ("R" June 1984) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE R.+ 84002496 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET Batchelder, George, House (Reading MRA) Middlesex County MASSAC HUSETTS resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: Reviewer's comments: sample request Working No.. JUN 4,1984 Fed. Reg. Date: 2/5/85 Date Due: 7-5-f4 17-19-s4 Action: 2ACCEPT Entered in the National Register ,-RETURN 7-19-54 _ REJECT_ Federal Agency: .

-appeal 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 JonS3Rd 81 BetCheldo Gees Rendiat HRA D-LA 12 11G - 42.19 1337 157.20 14 20,726 G4.0 66.23 75.0 128.0 199.05 129 116.74 13 .18,543 94.78 199.57 179.43 STREET 139.50 61.58 12 31,23) 111.90 39 20,066 po 132.88 18.93 24.889 33.24 130.15 33.55 58- 76 196.79 83,00 90.0 10 5,600 126.50 0899 48 20,078 145.00 97.71 08 97 108.16 1a0 00 FRANKLIN 272.92 80.60 9 31,500 198.15 94.77 ,50 So 127.53 7 52.23 33.29 18,513 8T 38 149.

6 74.27 335% 88.65 MAIN 13G 120.0 34% 134.05 1362 120.0 76.74 16 15 173.90 17 205.12 176.04 /20,400 21,170 40,280 1.90 173 274.74 129.07 180.05 120.0 -69.02 29.29 200.85 159.16- 40 20,0%6 41 20,000 nent 42 20,364 86.2 1.00 68.00 GAVIN *32,00 37.00 88.4 124.581 76.20- CIRCLE F / Drainag 220.03 46 30 / 23,704 103.18 115.47 82.00 120.0 45 20,000 233.91 IIZ.64 47 117.94 49 20,500 999 170.0% 20772 20,790 .53 30 29. 178.47 - 85.97 12o.a GSE PEARL 71.69 664 48.31 8 43150 12:981 4 PLAT 226 #A-10 127-129 Franklón St Map 225, 1983 Lot 13 Assessors Map 1 11 = 100' UI Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000290