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 XXX/Y - i2 Area Form no. 158 CrOSS streets and other buildings Reading 186 Summer Avenue Name_Kemp Place iginal dwelling esent dwelling p: Ez Private individual Private organization Public ginal owner Robert Kemp 7ASION: Date 1853 Source Concerning the Past Style Italianate Architect_ Exterior wall fabric clapboards Outbuildingsbarn Recorded by Architectural Preservation Associates Organization Reading Historical Comm. Date NovenREVISED Date 6/82 Major alterations (with dates) South veranda looks extended in 1920's. Queen Anne chimney (C.1880) Moved _ Date Approx. acreage 1,568 acres Setting_ Side entrance on south, set bad from street on raised plot.
19/326080/4709640 (Staple additional sheets here) ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE (describe important architectural features and evaluate in terms of other buildings within community) Built in 1853, this is one of the more high-styled of Reading's Itallanate houses, and somewhat ressembles John Hart Bancroft's house, built at about the same time on prospect street. A 2-1/2-story house with transverse gables, it has shouldered or "eared" architraves, a veranda with pierced Gothic columns, a Gothic cupola, and a roof supported on paired brackets. An exterior chimney has terra-cotta rosettes. floor. The windows are long on the first This is one of the few houses with cupolas which survive in Reading.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE (explain the role owners played in local or state history Robert Kemp, after being a cabin boy at sea, formed the firm of Mansfield and Kemp, a boot and shoe business in Boston. bought ten acres of land on Summer Avenue in 1853 and sold part to Kemp, who built a house and commuted to Boston. He bought an additional 12 acres on which he tried "gentleman farming." He formed "Father Kemp's Old Folks," a local amateur singing group touring first mearby, then later in 1858 the south and west. The troup went to England in 1861. Kemp sold this house in 1868 after financial reverses, and later built, at 199 Summer Avenue, a copy of a house he admired in Swampscott, Massachusetts. Kemp was the author of two books, and served on the School Committee where he tried to promote musical ed- ucation.
A subsequent owner was William Hawes, who started a doilar store in Boston, which was only the second such store in the nation. Charles Howard came to Reading in 1908, son of Dr. Herbert B. and Dr. Emily P. After the death of Dr. Herbert (who had been dir- ector and supervisor of Massachusetts General Hospital), Mother Howard turned the property over to Charles, living with his family for the remainder of her life. Most of Charles Howards life was spent in public service. He was a lawyer, State Senator, Treasurer of Middlesex County and Bank Commission, and Commissioner of Administration and Finance. Among his local civic activities were Board of Selectman, Town Moderator, and Town Counsel. *the Massachusetts Charles' wife, Katherine Graham Howard, wrote With My Shoes Off, recounting her experiences both in Reading and national affairs.
She was secretary of the 1952 Republican National Convention and Deputy Commissioner General to the Brussells International Exposition, 1955. BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES 1854 map- R. Kemp (Robert) 1875 map- Mrs. I. Hawes (Temperance, Wife of William) 1889 map- Jacob W. Roberts Reading Chronicle; June 18, 1980. July 13, 1928 wadlin, Concerning the Past, Chapters LIXXIX and XCIII Howard, With My Shoes Off, Vantage Press, 1977 20M-2/80 INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Commmity: Reacing Form No: C-153 Property Name: 186 Summer Ave. Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below.
CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION Che "emp Place is simnificant (1) as a product of the 19th century real estate boom on the West Side, and as the house of a railroad commuter; (2) for its connection with Robert ("Father") Kenp, shoe manufacturer and choral leader; and with public servants Charles and Katherine Ioward; and (3) as architectural ensemble. part of a high-style Italianate settins, materials, It retains integrity of location, design, and workmanship, and meets Criteria A, 3, and C of the Mational Rer ister. 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 Multiple Resource Area Thematie Group Name State Reading Multiple Resource Area MASSACHUSETTS Conu Nomination/Type of Review pesur 1.
Ace Art Company substantire devsor fukieeper Attest 2. Common Historic District Frbnta 3. Harnden-Browne House keriey ou Keeper Attest Aotlve Hovier dikeeper Attest 4. Haverhill Street Milestone Substantive Review 5. Kemp Place Entered in the National Register 6. Kemp , Barn Entered in the Matlouel Hegister 7. Nichols, Jerry, Tavern Entered In tho National Register . jics .8. Reading Standpipe Frbstantive Heview iKeeper Attest TReeper Attest fukeeper Attest fktéper Attest fkseeper Attest uw 9. Smith Shoe Shop atasáve davian yuw 10, Wobusn Street Historic District Substantive Review gukeeper Attest orkeeper Attest OMB No. 1024-0018 Exp.
10-31-84 For NPS use only received 6/4/s4 date entered Page /af9 dnr-11 uutaufet 7/19/84 Date/Signature toca puu Dauga i 2150 Dan-hacAonse Brue nadnpo 21:85 Bne la Dnyd 21885 duesuBr/410 AueuBoqun 2/41/04 AeluByer 119164 Fnte Dal 21:85 Foma fieitonyd 2185 Bau habongal 2Tt WASO Form - 177 ("R" June 1984) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE rej.#E4002723 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET Kemp Place (Reading MRA) Middlesex County MASSACHUSETTS resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: Reviewer's comments: -sample request Working No._ JUN 4,1984 Fad. Rosg. Date: 2/5/85 Date Due: _ - 54 17-19-84 Action: LACCEPT 7-19-84 Entered in the Nat1ona1 Reglster - RETURN.
REJECT_ Federal Agency: _ lappeal -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 Readigg Mns Hasent Kemp Mlace 186 Summer Ave. T 49 132 132.45 199 85 SUMMER 18G 155.15 10.00 126 211.20 AVENUE 168 108. 90 160 140.0 KING 185.0 34 115.0 19 20 110.0 140.0 25,881 29,275 185.08 256.21 20,557 116.21 185.0 114.91 8,479 Acres 17 218.50 228 50 299.99 19200 3.000 Sg FF 400.0 10.5-0 1.568 Acres 15 300.0 14 25,400 85.0 91.0 300 71.50 2.o: 82.01 71%6 100.0 82.60 11,098 11,045 10,593 10,975 N 10 9 #C-158 186 Summer Ave.
House Map 61, Lot:15-16 1983 Assessors Map 1" = 1001 1.0 82.45 55 TEMPLE 228.93 #157 STREET 300.07 21 1.879 Acres 329.79 329.79 22 Walter S.P Nunicha 133.33 123 80 16,275 8 123.45 51 13200 132.00 17.448 7 132.01 Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000290