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 Area D Form no. 208 her buildings :ures. Reading 51 Mill Stneet :Name_Jerry Nichols Tavern ginal Tavern and Dwelling esent Dwelling lip: Private individual Private organization Public iginal owner -Jeremiah Nichols STION: Valc c. 1785 Source Style Architect Rooftrees Georgian Vernacular Na Exterior wall fabric Clapboards Outbuildings_ Hone MAIN kecordea Dy Organization Date 8T. Major alterations (with dates) Extension east with garage; earlier extensions were removed. Moved no Date Approx. acreage 10 acres (9.806F) with Architectural Setting Faces south, a horse Preservation Associates Reading Historical chestnut and old elm in front.
Commission NOREWISED 1980 Date_ 6/82 19/326900/4714940 (Staple additional sheets here) ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE (describe important architectural features and evaluate in terms of other buildings within community) This is a good example of the Georgian vernacular house form as found in Reading, Massachusetts. Five symmetrical bays long, it has its main architectural interest focused on the central, south-facing doors. The surround is composed of pilasters supporting a full entablature, but may not be original. The high-set windows are longer than most on the first floor, being 9/6. The eaves are framed with no return, as is usual in 18th century practice.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE (explain the role owners played in local or state history and how the building relates to the development of the community) The site of this farm, near the border of the Second Parish, now North Reading, was the drilling ground and powder house for Minute Men before 1776. After returning from service in the Revolutionary War, - Jeremiah Nichols took up the trade of shoemaker and farmer, bought eleven acres, and built this house around 1785. He probably added to it around 1810-13. It is unclear when it became a tavern and stage coach stop, but it certainly was one in 1830. Jeremiah, Jr., no longer owned the property, but before his death in 1846, he was recorded as inn keeper. Enormous quantities of rum were consumed in those days and the inn did a thriving business, though the place was mortgaged and then sold in 1822.
Asenath Nichols, Jeremiah's sister, was given right of homestead while single. Peter Sanborn, deposed minister of the Old South Church, bought the "farm" and settled his son, John, there, with the farm held in trust for the grandchildren. Two of these grand- children joined the army and died in Civil War hospitals far from home, one at 24, one at 21. The two oldest girls remained unmarried and isolated from village life, as apparently etiquette or convenience required an escort which they lacked. The property was in the Sanborn family ownership from 1824-1940's. BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES 1795 map J. Nichols (Jeremiah) 1830 map yes 1854 map J.N. Sanborn 1875 map J. N. Sanborn (John Norris) Bishop, Rooftrees, Chapter 22. INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Conmunity: Reading Property Name: 51 1i11 St.
Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. Form No: D-202 CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION The Jerry Michols Tavern is significant (1) in that its site was the drillinz ground for the Minutemen before 1776; (2) for its role as a tavern and stage-coach stop; (3) for its connection with Revolutionary War veteran Jeremiah Nichols and the Reverend Peter Sanborn; and (4) as an example of vernacular Georgian architecture. The tavern retains interrity of location, general design, setting, materials, workmanship, end feeling, and meets Criteria A, B, and Cof 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 OMB No.1024-0018 Exp.
10-31-84 For NPS use only received 6/4/s4 date entered Continuation sheet Item number Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group Page /af9 dnr-11 Name State Reading Multiple Resource Area MASSACHUSETTS Nomination/Type of Review Reswh 1. Ace Art Company 2. Common Historic District 3. Harnden-Browne House Conu tuutarufe muyt 1/19/84 Date/Signature subetantaro orsos fticeper Powca Mua Duja i 2/.54 Attest :rusteotire d Keeper toam-hae tngo :21.85 Attest antlve Hevier cukeeper Brue hardnpl 2i1.25 Attest 4. Haverhill Street Milestone Substantive Review 5. Kemp Place Entered in the National Register 6. Kemp Barn Entered in the MartLorel Register 7. Nichols, Jerry, Tavern Eatered In the National Register . M. 8.
Reading Standpipe Srbstantive Heview Keeper Bonee la Dorja 21Bs Attest TReeper duerBunT/410 Attest tereeper AueByun 2/9/94 Attest frtéper OeluByer 119164 Attest frseeper frunte Bgl 2175 Attest Nww 9. Smith Shoe shop .LASAVE MeVIAW yuw 10. Wobuser street Historzc District Substantive Review gutseeper Attest frkeeper Attest Poma heilanya z/85 Bau habngal 2.: WASO Form - 177 ("R" June 1984) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Reel # 84002757 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET Nichols, Jerry, Tavern (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. Date Due:2- Action: LACCEPT Entered in the -RETURN National Register REJECT_ Federal Agency: _ Jappeal -NR decision Recom./Criteria Reviewer.
Discipline- Date see continuation sheet 4 1984 7-19-84 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 J 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 1 completeness clarity applicable criteria justification of areas checked relating significance to the resource context relationship of integrity to significance J 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 Aiche, To Michats -Tur 51 Mill St. 30 PLAT 244 51.68 84. 75 85.0 49017 STREET 89./9 3 q.F+. 176.58 15,171 Sq. Ft. 180.40 91.87 212:00 1PSH 87.97 73.07 PLAT 236 BIID 46,1 MILL AN58 72.40 2 9.806* Acres 83.39 SHORT 36.7a PLAT 236 237.19 120.0 120.0 27,600= 78.93 STREET 21,000 21,000 #D-208 51 Mill St. Map 245, Lot 02 1983 Assessors Map 1" = 1001 (paqe 1) Nº 80.0 1490 1497 MAIN 958.27 120.0 175 21,000 8 120.0 1498 175.0 NORTH SWICH READING Tom Line RIVE 120.0 21,000 111.88 21,094 9,2° 120.0 21,000 #D-208 (page 2) 5 120.0 6 111.34 STREET 120.0 371.46 28 47.98 Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000290