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 A-8 dings n° Area B Form no. 33 Reading 52 Salem Street Name Parker House ginal sent Dwelling Dwelling p: 8X Private individual Private organization Public iginal owner Jonas Parker TION: Date Source 1792 Built around earlier chimney- Rooftrees & Weston diary Style Early Federal Architect na Exterior wall fabric Clapboards Outbuildings Recorded by Organization Date Architectural Preservation Associates Reading Historical Commission NOvR BISOD 1980 Date 6/82 Major alterations (with dates) Attached garage, early ell on fieldstone foundation for 2 additions. Both present in picture, though one story, Moved of 1832 Date Moved No Approx. acreage 23,517 sc. ft. Setting Set close to main road runnin east. The house faces south. The large public park behind it was once part of the farmstead.
19/327460/4710260 (Staple additional sheets here) ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE (describe important architectural features and evaluate in terms of other buildings within conmunity) This 5-bay, center entrance, central chimney, 2-1/2 story house is enriched by a more important door than one generally found in Reading. Broad in width, it has sidelights nearly to the sill, and shallow pilasters support a deep entablature crowned by a shallow hood. The second-floor windows nearly reach the plate. Thehouse is set on long, thin blocks of granite. Its side door has an eaved entablature and 5 very small, square panes set above the narrow door.
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 stands on land once part of the large John Boutwell farm, part of which was sold to the Parish Church for Laurel H11l Cemetery. A house stood here in 1715. Jonas Parker, who lived at Walnut Street, bought 40 acres and the house in 1790. In 1792, according to James Weston's diary, a new house was raised on the spot, apparently around the old Boutwell chimney. Jonas gave this house to his son, Amos, while the Walnut Street family homestead went to another son, Aaron. Jonas was active in Revolutionary affairs. Amos moved the old meeting house from the Common to Union Street and billed the Parish in 1818 for $28.55. A large parcel of the former Parker farm was purchased by lirs. Alden Batchelder, Mrs.
Joseph Temple, Miss May Temple, Mrs. Lucia Temple Crocker, and Miss Clara Pierce, and presented to the town in 1917 as a memorial to Joseph Temple, Alden Batchelder, and Samuel Pierce. This is now known as Memorial Park. Warren Manning suggested a community day to build the park, and the whole town threw itself into a mammoth effort, with men, women and children donating time, tools, money and work on April 19, 1919. The theme was "work or go hungry" -- so all worked and participated in a huge dinner after the day. The following year, another work day was held but on a smaller scale. BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES 1795 map Parker 1830 map yes 1854 map D. Parker (Dana) 1875 map D. Parker 1889 map M. D. Parker (Milton) Bishop, Rooftrees, Chapter 36 Pitkin, Vignettes, p.
110 James Veston Diary, property of Reading Antiguarian Society 20M-2/80 INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Commmity: Reacing Property Name: 52 Saler St. Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. Form No: 3-33 CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION The Parker House is significant (1) for its role as en early farm home- stend; (2) for its connection with the locally inportant Parker family, and with lemorial Park, created on the Parker farm; and (3) as a well- creserved example of Federal architecture in Meadin?. It retains internity of location, cesimn, settint, feelin, and meets Criteria materials, workmenship, and A, B, end 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 4/+l 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 tha Natjonel 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 Register Entered in the Natierel Egister 69. Parker, Stillman, House Entered in the National Register 70.
Parker House (316 Haven St.) Entered in the National Register Date/Signature Tieeper Aulaußgun 719+4 Attest jas eeper dilarBye 7-19-54 Attest jeeper Attest fiseeper dlelonByer 219-54 SelouaByer 7-19-+4 Attest feséeper Attest freeper AelirBzun 1/19/44 AulonByu +19-14 Attest fKeeper AelvuaAyin 719-54 Attest fok eeper AelunBgun 719-14 Attest fKeeper delmmByen 2-1984 Attest fuseeper AelmerByex 119-64 Attest WASO Form - 177 ("R" June 1984) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET Parker House (Reading MRA) Middlesex County MASSACHUSETTS resubmission nomination by person or local ge owner objection appeal Substantive Review: Reviewer's comments: Lsample - request Working No. JUN Fed. Reg. Date: e Date Due: 7-S Action: «ACCEPT Ixtered in the -RETURN Netional Register _REJECT.
Federal Agency: _ 4 1984 7-19-84 7-19-54 -appeal LJNR 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 deteriorated ruins unexposed Check one J 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 J 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 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 Match_ Line MAIN CHARLES 258. 346.43 38.56 28 1.19 ACRES ST. 18459 725 90.22 169.95 767 69 1G 26 20,230 116 78 R.O.W 17671 740 25 12,880 400 177.55 30.40 74 0 24 13,845 67.97 58 1968 119 60 70.09 5409 23 8825 140 82 13,125 21195 20925 PLAT 76 22 7128 38 593 78: 89721 Acres tedashline 17 5:30 66° 131.03 19,400 20 1160 56 76 4-2 -ST. PLAT 151.70 7609 * 6125 6125 75.11 13,309 170 75° 48 23,517 17b ICC.30 52 850 188. 400 750 5,625 19 750 60-62 58 SALEM #B-33 52 Salem St. Map 87, Lot 17B 1983 Assessors Map 1" = 100' 50 850 12,750 18 850 Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000290