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. 80 aue ongisa u location in relation to nearest cross streets and other buildings or geographical features. Indicate north. 1 Reading :ess 77-83 Ash Street th anel :oric Name Captain Parker : Original dwelling : Present dwel1ing ership: @ Private individual Private organization Red House Public_ Original ownerNathaniel Parker SCRIPTION: Date before 1765 Source 1765 map Style vernacular Georgian Architect -- Exterior wall fabric clapboards, shingles Outbuildings Associates Organization Reading Historical Date NovemiREVISED3O Date_ 6/82 Major alterations (with dates)_two-story ell, north; two-story porch, south; one-story extension, west LOC Com- Moved no Date Approx. acreage 11,490 sg. ft.
ion Setting Faces south on old coach road UTM: 19/321130/4709680 (Staple additional sheets here) ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE (describe important architectural features and evaluate in terms of other buildings within community) This is a common house type, having a five-bay facade, a center entrance, and a center chimney. It features two important doors, both probably from an early date: one on the south and one on the north. Perhaps one led to the tavern room. The corner boards are rather wide for the period. The south-facing door is probably the earlier of the two, in terms of a main entrance. It is somewhat more sophisticated than usual, with pilasters exhibiting entasis on pedestals and a four-light transom window in its enframement.
'HISTORICAL SICNIFICANCE (explain the role owners played in local or state history and how the building relates to the development of the community) This house was a landmark when the 1765 map was made of the community. The fact that the house was painted -- an uncommon occurrence for the period -- made it noteworthy. It stood on a coaching road, on land that had long been owned by Parkers. Ensign Nathaniel Parker was the first; he left the land to his son, Lieutenant Nathaniel Parker, who left it to his son, Captain Nathan Parker. Captain Parker was the owner of the house when it was identified in 1765; he was active in town affairs. The same was true of his son, Colonel Nathan Parker, who became the town's first postmaster. After Captain Nathan died in 1778, the house passed to Colonel Nathan, began to keep a tavern there in 1781.
This tavern was where area residents gathered for the memorial service to George Washington. After the Andover and Medford turnpike was built in 1806-07, however, the tavern was no longer on the main road, and Colonel Nathan built another tavern on the turnpike. The turnpike became Main Street, the focus of commercial activity. Colonel Nathan's son, Edmund, was a selectman and a member of the General Court, and he drew the 1830 map of Reading. His daughter Caroline married James Davis, whose name appears on the 1854 map for this house. The Davises lived here from 1831 to 1888; they were Abolitionists, and may have sheltered runaway slaves. The land on which the "red house" stood was subdivided in 1831, and in 1845, streets were opened near the house. BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES 1765 map Captain Parker's Red House 1795 map Col. Parker 1830 map .yes 1854 map J.
Davis (James) 1875 map 1889 map L. Hutchins Bishop, Rooftrees, Chapter 29 Eaton, Genealogical History, P. 310 20M-2/80 INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Commmity: Reading Property Name: 77-33 Ash St. Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. Form No: B-80 CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION Captain Parker's Red House is sirnificant (1) for its role as an 18th-century tavern on a major north-south coaching road; (2) for special designation on the map of 1765; (3) for its connection with the locally important Parker family, particularly Captain Iathan Parker and his son Colonel Nathan; (4) for its connection with Reading's Abolition movement; and() as a largely intact example of vernacular Ceorgian architecture.
It retains integrity of location, gerneral design, materials, workmanship, and feeling, and meets Criteria A, 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 recelved date entered 4/ala Page 79 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 Registor 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 Natlonal Ergister Entered in the Netienei Segister 69. Parker, Stillman, House Entered in the National Register 70. Parker House (316 Haven St.) Entered in the National Register Date/Signature Tieeper AulruBgun 719-54 Attest jiseeper Attest JKeeper duloraByen 219-84 dlelonBye 219-54 Attest fiseeper DelouByena 7-19-54 Attest fereeper Attest fReeper AelorBzun 41:9/4 AlnByen 719-54 Attest fkeeper AelvuaAyin 719-54 Attest fok eeper AelonBgun 719-84 Attest fKeeper delmßyen 2-1984 Attest fuseeper Almßye +19-54 Attest WASO Form - 177 ("R" June 1984) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Rl.#84002772 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET Parker, Capt.
Nathaniel, Red House (Reading MRA) Middlesex County MASSA CHUSETTS resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: Reviewer's comments: Lsample L request Working No. JUN Fed. Reg. Date: e10 Date Due:7-5-84 Action: LACCEPT. Entered in the National Register - RETURN - REJECT - Federal Agency: - 4 1984 7-19-54 7-19-81 -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 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 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 Parker Capt Neria Ledlig A # I-80 8/ Ask st. PLAT 64 113 143.7 ,55 STREET 320.39 2 28,490 Sq. Ft. 4,045 4,962 Sa9. Ft Sa, Pag 3 4 23.30 $230 41.95 63.77 42,27 4,670 4,280 Sop Ft. 9 2,790 Sa. F7. 132.33 a 210/219 46.85 3,110 Sq. 110 04 6 24,596 54. a9. 3.110 Sq. Ft. 110.20 GOULD 162.32 2490 STREET 58.65 H25 1030 Sa.Fr 8a 0*23 90.1240 3,705 FT 18 lo 8,435 sq. Ft 17 124.50 21,895 Sq.Fr. 15 i,87! 146 14 12,23, 9q.Pt 13 4180 40.27 0.290402 2,990 61.56 161.96 19 4,440 32.4 24.50 19di 19c Sq, F4.
To 2,340 0 3,00 0 Sp.Ft 30.28. T0 $50 19b Sq.Pt. 3,300 4939 20 GREEN 4037 Fq.Ft. 53.42 22 22.2 352 15 44,50 46. 55 52, 0 36.3 10 R.aN 2,184 2,425 3g F 3lfn.F$ 4550 21 410 STREET $01a 313 Sa Ft Hl 3,090 204.95 500 F$. 53 :30290 Sg. Ft. 3 243412633 29 400 5,213 69.60 519 Sq. Ft. 34 35 13,150 5q. Ft. 71.43 4. 30 15.8 3,290 Ft. 3,495 3g. F+. 2. 445 24 78. 45 59.75 25 23a -5.90 34 27 52,598 Sq. Ft. 180.89 STRE 53.79 -136.45 39 42.920 54.#B-80 77-83 Ash St. Map 54, -Lot 12 1983 Assessors Map 1" = 100' 18.98 174.51 WASHINGTON 15.0 90 8 9,665 44.31 9 10 135.0 - 5,890 sq. Fr 1c- 218 58.03 12070 Bg. Fy 7,65 ,T0- 86.52 4,923 Sg. pt. 97.99.1 Ta 15.0 48.65 lld 3205 30. 18.6c. 45.40 2.54] 148.09 G6o.30 11,490 Sq. Ft. 12 10 67.35 4,610 25* 82.75 4392 F+. 52 R7 1a n -TATO STRE 4,010 5/ Sq. F4. 1670 50 49 T02.55 258y 16.35 8L 3,90% 5g. rag.. i Sog. Ft.
65.20 530 L1.05 48 4,689 62.3= 47 30= 67. TO 9,490 3q.Ft. 46 136.30 139.50 50.08 3,015 5q.F7 95.55 12977 45 5,455 8q.7 2 50.37 44 50.81 o 3,510 9q Ft. 119.30 53.89 9 ASH 83.8 42 560s TO.GS 5q. 54 43 68.T9 139.40 180 11,175 Sq. Ft. MAIN 41 13T.06 1,550 sq. Ft. 40 452 118.09 STREET 12G. 50 30.42 Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000290