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 H-IA Area D Form no. 209 Reading 55 Lowell Street .c NameRev. Peter Sanborn House Farm House riginal Single Residence resent ip: 4 Private individual Private organization Public Viginal owner_ Rev. Peter Sanborn Tborn I766 d. 1857) nearest bulildings TION: Date C. 1812 - not much earlier Source Deed: reference to "Peter Sanborn's New House" Style Central chimney, saltbox Architect n/a Exterior wall fabric Clapboards Outbuildings None , a barn demolished 1896-7 and shop moved aagor altérations (with dates)_ salt box roof raised, 1870 - windows and doors; porches added 1920; 1946-50 restored-porch removed, return to small pane windows, porch removed, Victorian doorway removed. Moved Date_ Approx. acreage_ 7125 sq. ft. Recorded by Eleanor Bishop and Architectural Preservation Assoc.
Organization Reading Historical Omm Date lovembatBiSB030 Date: Setting Faces_south on knoll, what was oack corner Parsonage Farm, 25A which now is all west side Reading Square from Lowell to Gould Streets and westward. 6-82 uTM: 19/327000/4710220 (Staple additional sheets here) ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE (describe important architectural features and evaluate in terms of other buildings within community) This Federal house, though altered, retains the lines and proportions of the local vernacular form--five south facing bays, with the ridge parallel to the road. The windows are set high on the second floor. The house has a center chimney which originally served five fireplaces. The central door surround dates from the mid-20th century.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE (explain the role owners played in local or state history and how the building relates to the development of the community) The original owner-builder, Rev. Peter Sanborn, was the third minister of Reading's Third Parish Church, 1790-1820, and a strong influence in the community for another thirty years. He donated land for the Academy, Third Congregational Society, and for the Bethesda Con- gregational Church somewhat later. Benjamin Boyce bought the house for rental income from Rev. Sanborn's estate in 1860. He was in the clock business with his father-in-law, Daniel Pratt, and lived in a nearby house also built on Sanborn land. It was the next owner, Howard P. Nichols, who did the "Victorian" remodeling, and later moved off the outbuildings.
Julius Gleason added the porches in 1920, and it was his grand- daughter who -sold the property in 1944 to the present owners. The Bishops returned it to a single residence, removed the porch, victorian windows and doors, and opened fireplaces downstairs. Mr. Bishop was editor of the Reading Chronicle; and later on Mrs. Bishop served the Copy Desk of the Christian Sclence Monitol 1944 and the Bicenten- as secretary to the Tercentenary Commission in nial Commission. Both were ie aocal Kiatoriand many years active in the Reading Antiquarian Society, and as local historians. They authored Reading's Colonial Rooftrees, Vignettes of Reading History and other public- ations. (continued) BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES Deeds and probate records, Middlesex Co.
Cambridge, Reading town recoras: tax, town meeting, church and parish, valuations, etc., Reaaing Chronicle files 1870, Reading's Colonial Rooftrees, Chap. 6 and 22. scripts collection. Unpublished paper: Rev. Peter Sanborn. Personal manu- (continued) 20M-2/80 INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Commnity: Form No: MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Reading D-209 Property Name: 55 Lowell Street Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE They also own an extensive collection of local records, manuscripts, books, pictures, and maps. BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES There exists much detail in the portfolio of records of this house, in the possession of the current owner. 1830 map yes 1854 map Rev. P. Sanborn (Peter) 1875 map H.P. Nichols (Howard) 1889 map H.
Nichols CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION This property is sirnificant (1) for its prominent location at the intersection of two roads just off the Common; (2) for its connection with the Pevèrend Peter Sanborn, clockman Benjamin Boyce, and local historians C. Melson and Eleanor C. Bishop; and (3) as an example of vernacular Federal architecture. It retains integrity of location, general design, setting, materials, workmanship, and feelinz, and meets Criteria B and C of the National Pegister. 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 6/Y/sf date entered Page 9af9 Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group Name State Reading Multiple Resource Area Middlesex County, MASSACHUSETTS Nomination/Type of Review 81. Sanborn, Rev. Peter, HouseEntered in the National Register 82. Symonds, Thomas, House 83. Temple, Joseph, House 84. Iemple, Mark, House 85. Walnut Street School 86. Wells, Charles, House 87. Weston, Ephrain, House 88. Weston, Jabez, House Entered 1n tho Nationel Regisiol Matered in tha Hatione? Regtstex Irtered In the National Register Ertered in the Nationa? Register Entered in the Natlona? Regtster Entered in tho National Register Entered 1n the National Register 89. Wisteria Lodge Entered 1n the Nationa?
Register fkeeper Date/Signature AubrByun 7197, Attest jKeeper dleluuByen 719-74 Attest foKeeper AilunBger +19-54 Attest fakéeper AelunByua 1-17-54 Attest fateeper AiluuaByen717-4 Attest Hkeeper Attest AiloreBogu 119-514 f'Keeper deloresByen +1954 Attest fkeeper AelureByun 71974 Attest fKeeper Aeloußyur +19-64 Attest Keeper Attest WASO Form - 177 ("'R" June 1984) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET Sanborn, Rev. Peter, House (Reading MRA) Middlesex County MASSACHUSETTS rcl# 84002819 resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: Reviewer's comments: L sample - request JUN 4 1984 Working No. Fed. Reg.
Date: 2/5/85 Date Due:2-5 -84 7-1484 Intereü Action: LACCEPT7-/4-84 Hational -ne -RETURN Registen-REJECT- Federal Agency: -appeal L 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 éxception 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 Saibçra Rer, Peto 1PRendine 55 Lowell St. VE. 3.14 03 63.53 58.65 25 5,403 83.67 83.67 11,785 23 152.60 75 22 159.0 21 92.50 52.30 20 74 19 30 8 7 82.55 58 82.50 34 LINDEN .40 59 1040 023 5 83.45 62.06 261.20 STREET 69 128.85 76 37.75 97.90 PLAT 86 4,375 45 12.80 42 4,825 63.08 36.20 26.29 3,925 44 26 10,050 98.40 7,125 43 LOWELL 27 8,950 28 8,785 89.90 43.62 -33.52 29 9,210 134.10 30 17,350 13,410 31 134.40 268.50 134.10 32 69,980 High School Lot 168.27 268.40 6,000 237.91 160.89 77.02 E9- 011 17,583 12 211 162.93 400 -1S -9011 40 17,698 12'211 16.898 164.96 77.44.
242.40 104.25 27.150 39 .80 112 37.0 64 18 62.64 100.0 60-62 STREET 15.54 163.30 29.10 30.30 STRE 107.43 36 21,175 Christian Science Church Lot 260.10 SANBORN ST. URN wOB TO 170.0 333.33 .25 193.25 18,840 68.77 106.75 37 11,357÷ my 35 Congregational Church - Lot 31.54 67.97 100.0 34 40 See Lot 43 100.0 Plat ca #D-209 55 Lowell St. Map :75, Lot 43 1983 Assessors Map 1" = 100' 87.30 Laurel Hill Cemetery 38 14,000 Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000290