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 M- 32 . - Area Form no. 145 Reading SS 81 Prospect Street tric Name Asa M. Cook House Original Dwelling Present Dwelling Private individual Private organization Public Original owner Major Asa M. Cook RIPTION: ate 1872 Source Genealogical History yle Second Empire chitect_ unknown terior wall fabric Clapboards, slate roof itbuildings Garage now is residence. = Recorded by Organization Date jor alterations (with dates) ldition of screened porch on west. ved 8 Date_ R upprox. acreage 20,426 sa.ft. Architectural Setting On hill, shaded by large Preservation Associates Reading Historical copper beech tree.
Commission NovRE&|SED1980 Date 6/82 UTM: 19/325800/4709860 (Staple additional sheets here) ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE (describe important architectural features and evaluate in terms of other buildings within community) This is a large and imposing, 2-1/2 story, French 2nd Empire house, with a wealth of architectural detall, including rope-edged corner boards, paired bossed brackets, pedimented windows, an Eastlake-style veranda ornament, and a scallop-patterned slate roof over paired bay windows. The door reflects earlier design ideas, having both long sidelights and a transom. Dormers in the mansard have cut-out designs in their pediments. While Reading had a fair number of French 2nd Empire buildings, this is distinguished by its high architectural quality.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE (explain the role owners played in local or state history and how the building relates to the development of the community) Major A. M. Cook--Commander of Cook's Battery, Boston -- fought in the Civil war. He had made money in the trucking business in Boston. Appointed superintendent of warehouses of the Boston Custom House in 1861, sbe built this house a year after his move to Reading. He, commuted to his job in Boston via the train--probably using the nearby Highland Depot,built in 1873. By 1910, the house and land was owned by Edward H. Palmer and occupied by his son, Harold, for many years. Edward had purchased nearby 118 Prospect Street from Oscar Foote by 1889, and developed the north end of Prospect Street that was known as Palmer Hill. BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES 1875 map As M. Cook (Asa) 1889 map A. M. Cook Eaton, Memorial Volume, p.
270 photo Eaton, Genealogical History, P. 556 20M-2/80 INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Commmity : Reading Form No: C-145 Property Name: 81 Prospect St. Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. CRITFRIA FOR EVALUATION This pronerty is significant (1) for its role as the home of rail- road commuters and real estate developers; (2) for its connection with Hlajor Asa M. Cook, Civil War veteran and Superintendent of Marehouses for Custom House in Boston; and (3) as an intact example of high- style Second Empire architecture in Reading.
It retains integrity of location, design, settins, and meets Criteria A, B, and C of the 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 c/Yler date entered Page 3a19 Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group Name State Reading Multiple Resource Area Middlesex County, MASSACHUSETTS Nomination/Type of Review 21. Beard, Benjamin, House Entered in the National Register 22. Boston and Maine Railroad Depot 23. Bowser Gazebo Entered in 2e National Register Entered in the National Register 24. Brackett House Taroral In thin "-1sa? Arrirs, 25. Brande House Entered in u.u National Register 26. Brooks, Francis, House Entered in the National Register 27.
Carro11-Hartshorn House Entored in the National Register 28. Carter Mansion Entered in the National Register 29. Coggin, Gilman, House Entered in the National Register 30. Cook, Asa M., House atbre? Tr T6g 31.ca?
Register Date/Signature Jrceper AuluuByur 7/12/84 Attest freeper AuburBayan 2/0l64 Attest fKeeper AulauByur 1/19/84 Attest Keeper AelmeaBgua 7/4/84 Attest FKeeper AblorByun 219194 Attest Meeper AlbreBgun 2119184 Attest fkeeper DilrurBye 7/4184 Attest HKeeper AelreByua 7/19/80 Attest Fkeeper SlvresByesn 1119/64 Attest fikeeper AeloueByun 719/80 Attest WASO Form - 177 ("R" June 1984) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET ry.#84009555 Cook, Asa M., House (Reading MRA) Middlesex County MASSA CHUSETTS resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: Reviewer's comments: sample Jrequest Working No. JUN 4 1984 Fed. Reg.
Date: 1 2189 Date Due: _ 7-1914 Action: -ACCEPT - 2-19-87 Eatered in the -RETURN National Register _REJECT- Federal Agency: LJappeal LJ 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? 7. Description Condition Jexcellent good fair deteriorated ruins unexposed yes 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 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 Cock Asa n, 8/ Prospect st.
ION OR S BY OSTON, MASS E01 - 101 38 8,747 00 122.23 84.51 34.27 49.40 32.94 150.32 37 14,541 150.0 36 13,500 150.0 212.77 84.51 140.80 69 LONGVIEW 63 126.33 11.32 103.68 34 2IA 13,334 125.82 114.85 35 11,368 125.77 63.0 32 82.71 21B 11,4743 114.85 229.70 32.62 82.29 -3.98 54 33 =/L$2 20'62 120 18 66.42 66.C 160.29 186.81 45,068 0 51,007 20 1.19Acres 2IC 1.0 Acres 21 H 22 76 100.0 19 81 132.30 18 SgIST 130.51 94 PROSPECT 21 190.20 17 28,440 180.60 160 0 10G 97 100.0 16 118.0 2 150?5 14,744 20,426 KING 00-06 ESt01 100.0 146.44 59 11,809 98.55 - 18,856 118.59 149 974.46 132.33 152.33 187.0 78.31 99.80 142.30 800 63,82 15,266 6 11.0 86.0 2 220.80 141.00 71.00 70.0 4 5 33,404 18,600 8,776 8,749 MINERAL 95.51 7 8,570 88.0 8,375 8 151.08 85.34 69.45 70.0 88.0 141 135 131 125 119 SUMMER PLAT 71 #C-145 81 Prospect St.
Map 60, Lot 18 1983 Assessors Map 1"1 = 100° 7 ROM RECORD JATA, )SES ONLY Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000290