BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
FORM B - BUILDING MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION I-21 294 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02108 Area C Form no. 116 location 3L relation to nearest huildings Reading ess 26 Center Avenue oric Name Howt at Original dwelling Present dwelling rship:Z Private individual Private organization Public Original owner CRIPTION: -Date C. 1870 Style Source_ town valuation book Gothic Revival-Italianate Architect -- Exterior wall fabric clapboards Outbuildings garage Major alterations (with dates) I-story rear extension; shed-roof dormers Moved no Date Approx. acreage 17,856 sq. ft.
Setting on a slight rise, facing and close to street Recorded by_ Architectural Preservation Associates Organization Reading Historical CommissionD Date November'30, togt Daie 2/16/84 19/326930/4709240 (Staple additional sheets here) ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE (describe important architectural features and evaluate in terms of other buildings within community) This is an extremely eclectic house. From the Greek Revival tradition comes its setting, on high brick foundations on a rise, and its trabeated doorway enframement. There are, however, no gable returns, as is customary in houses of this style; instead, there are bargeboards all around the eaves, exhibiting a cut-out design. The long first-floor windows on the front facade have flat caps supported on brackets, in the Italianate mode.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE (explain the role owners played in local or state history and how the building relates to the development of the community) This house was part of the area known either as Cummingsville, after Amos Cummings, who developed it; or Mudville, for the mud that followed the flooding of its low, unpaved streets. Cummings' scheme was to advance money to workers so that they could build the cottages, or else to build them him- self and collect dues or rent until the accrued amount would cover his expenses. However, the Panic of 1857 caused the collapse of the Loan Fund Association of which Cummings was treasurer. Many persons lost their life savings. The real-estate boom Cummings had hoped to start never materialized; the 22 house that stood here in 1875 were the only ones here in 1889..
In later years, residents improved the streets, whose soil had been taken to build up house sites, and planted maple trees. They hoped to change the name of the area from Mudville to Mapleville. Today, neither name is used. The 1875 map reference to R. Knight as owner of this house seems to be in error, since Erastis Knight was assessed for the house in 1870, and he remained its owner for many years. He was a machinist in Boston (probably associated with the railroad), and he was elected to the board of directors of the Boston and Maine Relief Association in 1897. Knight died in 1904, at. age 67. BIBLIÖGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES 1875 map - R. Knight (probably an error; should be "E. Knight") 1889 map - E. Knight (Erastis) 1906 map - deleted Eaton, Memorial Volume 1886/7 business directories 1870 valuation book Chronicle, Jan.
23, 1897; July 2, 1904 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: C-116 CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION This house is significant (1) as part of the 19th-century real-estate development called Cummingsville; (2) for its connection with railroad employee Erastis Knight; and (3) for its eclectic mix of 19th-century architectural styles. It retains integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, and feeling, and meets Criteria A, B, and C of the National Register. Staple to Inventory form at bottom .
(7-81) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form Continuation sheet Item number For NPS use only received 6l4/y date entered Page 5 49 Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group Name State Reading Multiple Resource Area Middlesex County, MASSACHUSETTS Nomination/Type of Review 41. House at 11 Beech Street Entered in the National Register Entered in the 42. House at 16 Mineral Street Wat1onal Register 43. House at 26 Center Avenue Entered in the National Begister 44. House at 42 Salem Street Entered in the National Register 45. House at 44 Temple Street Entered in the National Register Entered in the 46. House at 57 Woburn Street Nattone? Registor 47. House at 17 Howard Street Entered in the National Register . 48. House at 79-81 Salem Street Entered in the National Register 49.
House at 129 High Street Entered 1n the Hatione? Register 50. House at 199 Summer Avenue Entered sattone tha Begester Date/Signature Tieeper KulrepByun 1/19/84 Attest fK eeper AeluesByun 7/19/8 Attest tKeeper AlorBye 4/19/8 Attest fkeeper AeluByan 2/19/8 Attest tkeeper AeluuaByen 0/29/84 Attest eeper aulmByan1119184 Attest YKeeper AlanaBya 1/9/8 Attest Kiseeper AulrrAzen +/19/85 Attest tseeper AliluusByun 1/1918 Attest NKeeper AelreByen 1/1965 Attest WASO Form - 177 ("R" June 1984) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET House at 26 Center Avenue (Reading MRA) Middlesex County MASSACHUSETTS RJ.#84002679 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 15/85 Date Due: _ 7-5-84/719784 Entered in Action: 7-19-84 the Hattpnel 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? ves 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 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 1f Recdng Miks, lla C - 116 26 Center Ave 88 64.0 AVENUE PLAT 52 36 131.95 109 .83 WARREN 2G 78.40 20 77.0 114.90 7,351 114.86 2 10,149 114.60 3 8,800 114.80 4 8,800 114.75 5 0,795 114.70 6 8,925 114.65 81.30 61.0 64.72 76.0 25 9,595 62.10 PLAT 53 64. MINOT 50 114.90 15 8,775 114.85 75.70 88. 14 8,770 114.80 15.70 28.40 13 6,770 114.60 76,50 AVENUE 19.0 : 12 8,760 114.75 76.40 76.
76.40 8,750 114.70 68.80 8 8,745 10 76.60 8,625 114.65 78.19 9a 62 4,762 76.64 9 4,824 81.0 37 75.60 CENTER 97.30 116.15 16 6,875 116.25 76.10 117.0 35 9,000 119.0 17 70.10 84.0 34 84.0 8,925 116.35 18 8,900 116.45 .20 19 6,675 10,086 121.37 33 8,389 123.0 32 7,175 83.40 AVENUE 44.60 4407 160.21 3la 20 h 13,675 10,117 170.28 7I.17 21 17,858 400.0 -S01 82.81 31 PARK 45 12,348 129.00 69.0 MAPLE 77.0 26 6,025 77.0 28 4,500 .80.75 22 16,800 192.69 STREET 17.6 292,925g 2 30,10 80.75 21902 54.0 77.0 27 6,075 55.10 1,325 53.10 PLAT 41 #C-116 26 Center St. Map 42, Lot 21 1983 Assessors Map 1" = 100° 28 58.50 36 77.0 4,500 58.45 116,8 38 9,00 110- 40 6.3 4002 11G HG 38 90.0 4 10,4 110 4 12,8 4 11305 12,0 Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000290