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Nomination for Hall, Stephen, House

The case file that argued this property on to the National Register: 1,279 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 84002630, 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 Form no. 115 location in relation to nearest -ier buildings rures. Reading ess 64 Minot Street oric Name (Stephen) Hall) Kruse Original. Dwelling Present Dwelling eship:L8 Private individual Private organization Public Original owner Stephen Hall DESCRIPTION: Date 1850's Source Style Concerning the Past Gothic Revival Architect John Stevens Exterior wall fabric Board & batten OutbuildingsGarage D Recorded by Organization Date Architectural Preservation Associates Reading Historical Conuission NOVREVISED 1980 Date 6/82 Major alterations (with dates) Porch rails and stairs replaced. Moved Date Approx. acreage 8,895 s.f. Setting On a slight rise, at corner lot, faces east.

UTM: 19/326980/4709400 (Staple additional sheets here) ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE (describe important architectural features and evaluate in terms of other buildings within community) This is one of the few houses in Reading built in the fully developed Gothic Revival Style. It bears a striking resemblence to Design #3 for "Symmetrical Bracketed Cottage" pictured in A. J. Downing's The Architecture of Country Houses, published in 1850 and reprinted 9 times thereafter. the house was copied from one in Wakefield. In the transition, it has lost the pro- portions which Downing found so charming, but retained all the other features, the symmetrical (rather than romantically asymmet- rical) massing, the heavy porch, board-and-batten siding, and rather Italianate window caps.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE (explain the role owners played in local or state history and how the building relates to the development of the community) Out of the old Sweetser farm, Amos Cummings planned a real estate development in the 1850's. This house was built for Stephen Hall, a local mason, by John Stevens of So. Reading. Stevens later'styled himself an architect, as capital for building and local sophistication grew. He practiced in Reading, Boston, and New Hampshire. The "Cummingsville" development was financed by the Howard Mutual Loan & Fund Association of Boston, and managed by Reading men. It later failed. So too did the development, as it flooded in wet weather so badly that it was nickmaned "Mudville". It is not now a distinct community. In the 1850's Cummings also built Cottage Hall n ere t8boia curninee a for meetings and dances.

It was located on Main Street, served as a school, then a hotel, and was converted to a two-family dwelling. It was demolished in 1968. BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES Eaton, Memorial Volume page 215, photo Wadlin, Concerning the Past, Chapter LXXIV 1850 Dover Publications, N. Y., 1969 1875. map S.M. Hall (Stephen) 1889 map .E.W. Wedsworth 1890 Valuation is G. F. Wadsworth 20M-2/80 INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Community : Readin: Property Name: 64 Rinot St. Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. Form No: C-115 CRITERTA FOR EVALUATIOI Stephen Hall is significant (1) as a remnant of the ""udville" real estate develonment in the 1350's; (2) for its connection with local architect John Stevens; and (3) as one of Peadinz's few examples of hich-style Gothic Pevival design.

It retains integrity of location, desirn, settins, materials, workmanship, and feelins, and meets Criteria A, 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 date entered Page 4of9 Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group Name State Reading Multiple Resource Area Middlesex County, MASSACHUSETTS Nomination/Type of Review 31. Damon, Joseph, House Entered in the National Register 32. Damon, Washington, House Entered in the National Register 33. Dewey Place Entered in the Natlonel Register 34. Durgin House Entered in the Hatlepe? Begiatar 35. Eaton-Prescott House Entered in the National Register 36.

Elliott, Luther, House Entered in the National Register 37. Hall, Stephen, House Lilicieu in the Nationel Register 38. Hartshorn, Timothy, House Entered in the Natlore? Hogister 39. Hartwell House 40.

Highland School ulicttd in the National Register Entered in the Natiapel Begister Date/Signature (eeper Aeloußyen 1/19184 Attest fReeper AelunaByen 119/04 Attest tkeeper delmuaßgu 1/95 Attest TReeper diluaByes 7/19/84 Attest fReeper dlelueByen 1/19/34 Attest Keepe AilreBzun1/19104 Attest Keeper XubreByan 1114/0 Attest tKeeper dllveeByen +119/8 Attest fuReeper AelmesByun +119/84 Attest AleluuBye1/19/84 Attest WASO Form - 177 ("R" June 1984) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET Raf.#84002630 Hall, Stephen, House (Reading MRA) Middlesex County MASSACHUSETTS resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: Reviewer's comments: -sample request JUN Working No. 4 1984 Fed. Reg.

Date: 2/5/85 Date Due: _ 2-5 +4 17-19-89 Entered in Astion: ACCEPT 7-19-84 National Register - RETURN _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 J justification of exception other 98UO! 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 Hall, Stephe - Pas C -115 64 Minot st - PLAT 42 PLAT 53 CROSBY ROAD 26 (19.86 17451 78.40 5930 STREET 69.32 50.0 34 8,895 5q.Ft 83.70 35 SAGO 112.55 133.40 8,470 Sq. Ft. 20.850 48.0 33 131.33 32 50.0 SWEETSER 108.30 $28 sc 4827 103.30 8 29 6,589 Sy.7t. 5,400 8 30 Bq. F7. 35.35 10735 5,011 54.0 $ 2c00 88 Sq. Ft. 22.0 26 50.0 0.6 80.25 ,30 a 50.0 4280 SaF+ 5000 57.0 25 36.78 13 5q F9. 29 02059=+ 5,700 8 8 50.0 109 23 57.0 & 770 36 113.10 59 TT.0 112.38 1.03659fa 107.0 TT.O 37 13 T7.0 38 113.0 8,705 9q. Pt. 8,630 71.0 770 79.14 8,443 sq. Ft. 31 a AVE.

150.0 220 17,315 S9 Ft 303.80 130.0 WARREN 39 1.10 =7 115.50 40 111.30 2569 77.0 12 840 5qF+ 115.50 426.18 BOSTON 185.0 LINCOLN ,0' STS MAINE _R.R.E NO ASSESSMENT HERE --1155.85- Woshington 575.05 wo,H oX Woburn 8 15 10 107.15 $T. ULTON 61.202 28.700 Sq=a 280 50.0 22b o Sqro 7000 1300 20g 21 20 WASHINGTON 30-95 SO.o 0g 50.7g 58.60 68.0 12 30 58.60 8.700 13 - Ft. 1n/ Z8s. 15 64 Minot St. Ma 52, Lot 34 1 9 8 3 Assessors Map 1" 01001 ST. 6.278 231,018 Sq. F 150.0 50.0 50.0 7000 Z0cn 19 00o - 18 59.60 15 6,705SqF+ 80.20 26.035 5q Ft. 6 299.80 16 39.10 516 STRE 52.33 3:40 62.67 5955 62.10 3,965 sa Pt. 49.0 05,450 3q. F4 11,060 Sq.F+ 30. 5 4 INI SA Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000290