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 B - Form no. 61 eading 97 Pleasant Street Name_ Octagon House ginal_ dwelling sent i dwelling p:E Private individual Private organization Public ginal owner Dr. Horace P. Wakefiel -) nearest buildings - TION: Date_ 1860 Source Middlesex Journal Style Gothic Revival Architect_unknown Exterior wall fabric_clapboard siding over board &. batten Outbuildings none LL0O GIC Major alterations (with dates)extension on south. $0600 : 0 AT Recorded by Architectural Preservation Associates Organization Reading Historical Comm. Date NovREVISED80 Date_ 4/82 Moved_ Date Approx. acreage 12,624 s.f. Setting Faces north on slight rise.
19/327450/4709860 (Staple additional sheets here) ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE (describe important architectural features and evaluate in terms of other buildings within community) This Gothic Revival structure is an interesting variation of the Fowler octagonal house ideal, using a series of small octagons grouped around a central cupola. Even the side porch has an octagonal shape. Fowler's objective was a shape conducive to healthful living and reflective of the picturesque period, hence the small balcony to take the air and long, first- iloor windows which contribute to circulation and add a picturesque image. The heavy zig-zag trim, brackets with faces carved like gargoyles (of old men), and board-and-batten original siding complete the Gothic imagery. The house is of unusual construction, being made of heavy timbers laid in crib fashion, much like a log cabin.
HISTORIEAL SIGNIFICANCE (explain the role owners played in local or state history and how the building relates to the development of the community) John Damon, on which this house stands. Dr. Horace was educated at Am- herst College, and taught school in Reading as a young man. He practiced medicine here, was on the school committee, was a town clerk 1862-1864, and was gecretary of the Massachusetts Anti Slavery Society. The octagonal shape represents the nation-wide influence of Dr. Fowler, who proposed this shape as structurally and mathematically elegant and because of increased cross-ventilation, healthier than the conventional box shapes of the day. This would appeal to a man like the scientific, liberal Doctor, who built the only such structure in Reading. A Dr. Wakefield house appears on the 1854 map, but is of a different shape.
This house was moved to 48 John Street in 1860 to make way for the octagonal house, which appears on the 1875 map. BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES 1875 map Dr. Horace P. Wakefiela 1889 map E. Foster Wadlin, Concerning the Past, Chapter LXXX Eaton, Memorial Volume, p. 312 Middlesex Journal, May 12, 1860 James Newton, Old-Time New England, SPNEA, July 1977 20M-2/80 INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Commmity : Readins Form No: B-61 Property Name: 97 Pleasant st. Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION The Octagon house is significant (1) for its connection with Dr. Horace Makefield; and (2) for its outstandcing architectural design. It retains integrity of location, desiin, setting, and workmanship, and meets criteria B and C of the lational 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 749 Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group Name State Reading Multiple Resource Area Middlesex County, MASSACHUSETTS Nomination/Type of Review 61. Nichols, James, House 62. Nichols, Richard, House 63. Octagon House Entered in the National Register Entered in the National Register Entered In the National Register Entered In tfa Natlonel Begister 64. Old Hose House 65. Parker, Capt. Nathaniel, Red House 66. Parker House (52 Salem St.) 67. Parker, Joseph, House 68.
Parker, Samuel, House Entered in the National Register Entered in the National Register Entered in the National Eogister Entered in the batherel Eogister 69. Parker, Stillman, House Entered in the National Register 70.
Parker House (316 Haven St.) Entered in the National Register Tkeeper Attest jaseeper Attest Keeper Attest fseeper Attest fereeper Attest freeper Attest fkeeper Attest fok eeper Attest fKeeper Attest fukeeper Attest Date/Signature AulomBjen 7-19-54 AularaByen 219-54 dleloreByur 219-54 SilouByen 719-54 AelouBzun 1/:944 AulnByun +19-54 AlelmarByan 719-54 AelonByun 719-54 AeluuByen 2-1984 AelmuByer 219-54 WASO Form - 177 ("R" June 1984) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Rel#84002762 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET Octagon House (Reading MRA) Middlesex County MASSA C HUSETTS resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: Reviewer's comments: L sample LJrequest Working No. JUN 4 1984 Fed. Reg. Date: 2 Date Due: _ 2-5- -fV 7-19-8Y Action: -ACCEPT 7-19-54 Entered in the -RETURN Natlona?
Register 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 justification of exception other SOH) 9EUC! sJoU 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 Ho Xina A - 22 475 PLAT 76.
ISANT STREET J2l 129 6404 5030 97 51.30 214.45 108.05 23.2540 87.25 -EE1 3 2 JOHN 25 833316 8,535 ls 8,880iy 5,1000 L3S 325.06 PARKER 7 9,817 22,512 37.25 5 170.45 Yoo #44,207 161.25 6 95 18,700 5 a 12,6240 2.65 6500 un 7,643 73.60 5510 68.30 Fia630 STREET 79.44 58.60 32.32,2686 72.60 62.70 70.45 61.0 579 4,647 118 STREET 126.80 101.35 60.0 17020877 8:12%0 95.00 16 12 6,300 6,283 51.37 12,826 29.3015.25 7,673 1184585 13 10,540 83.3 6,697 109.33 67% 117 60.0 60.0 376 320 6245 330 32C 337 27.85 10323 STREET 3530 A65 HAVEN 77.53 3775 265 69.0 53.5 5083 sa0 29 51.00 28 37.37 /30,36 7158 18 19 4,500 0'99 5,700 109 13 4,350 5,375 110:24 4,446 61.94 110 14 86 4,867 ILZA 100.10 3,245 116 126.75 77.02 290 106.50 46.0 84.65 100% 5012 stfyela6o 27 12,730 108 3,291 274573284 VILLAGE 20 6,100 36246.
1800 84 i"'2oe ORDWAY 240 83 82 13758' 103.20 200 ELLIOTT 4,207 62.20 5,227 122.25 26 6,116 73,80 860 48,99 25 6785,2869 30 137.70 6,392 50 6000 6,130 13440 24 6,655 87 --00/ 100.0 000 N 000'% 0:00. 70 11,10 0. 10159 69 23 STREET 6,000 81 8079 78 7675 746 4,245 31 -322 12,515 290k 19e 50.00 28 AVENUE 25 29 1080 11,555 320 62.01 800 137.07 57.03 15 75.0 75.0 800 1,400 3148 125.20 22 66 68 80.0 570 15051 8 7,642 ocick 10.0 3213 1,350 119,83 49.65 8,7095.21 2,728 s 63 62 2.718.o6 2.77E21s 2,790.35 58 218 14| 40 10,560 10,522 140.30 108.50 00 N° 67 STREET 32 8 3,982 T69.13 67.19 80.0 33 11,100 12786 8,375 80.3 200.75 172-89 A.2° Laped 2000 132.15 97 Pleasant St.
34 145.30 35 214.95 1,lale #B-61 15,646 39 38 4,557 9,695 74.45 370 Map 65, glot 05 36 1983 Assessors:Map 1" 92.15 17,775 = 100' 176.27 129.00 13G.0z 133.23 134.33 90 Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000290