BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
FORM B - BUILDING MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION 294 Wachinaton Street Rostop. MA 02108 Area 0-26 Form no. 137 location in relation to nearest "ildings Reading (#8) ess 229 West Street oric Namo Ephraim Weston House Original Dwelling Present_ Dwelling rship: [ Private individual Private organization Public Original owner__Ephraim Weston =CRIPTION: Date_C. 1800 Source Rooftrees, Concerning the Style Federal "Past Architect: n/a Exterior wall fabric Frame/granite OutbuildingsGarage foundation 'Major alterations (with dates). Bay window on west, and porch on south. Moved Date Approx. acreage_ 11,215 sq.ft." ifeservation. Setting Set on slight slope, the MAssoclates Organization Reading Historical Commissien main door faces south Date NORELISED 1980 Date_ 6/82 UTM: 19/32682014709340 (Staple additional sheets here) ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE.
(describe important architectural features and evaluate in terms of other buildings within community) This elegant house is one of the few hipped-roof houses left in Reading. The year of its construction is uncertain, but an early 1800's date seems likely. It faces south, as did most Federal houses in town. The two-story, five-bay facade is framed by corner pilasters with unusual capital at cornice level. The windows are flush with their frames to create a "flat" wall plane; the doorway surround has been altered. The bay window has to have been added later, although the granite of its foundation seems to be the same as the granite of the main houses foun- dation. This may argue for a later construction date, since bay windows were a post-Federal feature. The Italianate porch--also an addition-- has posts with different capitals than seen on the original corner pilasters.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE (explain the role owners played in local or state history and how the building relates to the development of the community) The house was built by Ephraim Weston, an early shoe manufacturer, and owner--with Jonathan Temple--of the Dragon Corner Store. He also dealt in real estate. He is credited as being among the first manufacturers in town who "employed any considerable number of hands." Giving work to many Reading families, who sewed the shoes by hand, he sold shoes to the West Indies and to Baltimore, after his son opened an outlet there. He also dealt in groceries. A grocery store still functions at Dragon Corner, though the shoemaking and shoemakers have disappeared. BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES 1830 map yes 1854 map. A. Weston (Aaron) 1875 map Mrs. M. P.. Weston (Mary Parker, widow of Aaron) Bishop, Rooftrees, p.
32 Wadlin, Concerning the Past, Chapter XXXIX Eaton, Genealogical History, p. 532 20M-2/80 INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Commmity : Readinz Property Name: 229 West St. Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued belor. Form No: C-137 CRIFERIA FOR EVALUATION This property is significant (1) for its role in Peading's shoe- makin. industry; (2) for its connection with early shoe manufacturer hphreim eston, and the Dracon Corner neighborhooc; and (3) as an example of Federal architecture with Italianate alterations. It retains interrity of location, cesirn, setting, materials, workmanship, and feelint, and meets Criteria A, 3, and C of 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 Continuation sheet Item number OMB No. 1024-0018 Exp. 10-31-84 For NPS use only received 6(4/sf date entered Page 9at9 Multiple Resource Area Thematie Group Name State Reading Multiple Resource Area Middlesex County, MASSACHUSETTS Nomination/Type of Review 81. Sanborn, Rev. Peter, HouseUntered in the National Register 82. Symonds, Thomas, House 83. Iemple, Joseph, House 84. Temple, Mark, House 85. Walnut Street School 86. Wells, Charles, House 87. Weston, Ephrain, House 88. Weston, Jabez, House Entered 1n tho Nationel Registor Matered in tis Hatione? Begtatex Irtered in tha Nationa? Register Ertered In the Nationa? Register Entered in the Nationa? Register Entered in the Nationa?
Register Entered in the National Register 89. Wisteria Lodge Entered in the Nationa] Registor. freoper Date/Signature AherBgen 7-197 Attest fKeeper AliluuByen 719-14 Attest foKeeper AilurBgur +19-84 Attest ftteeper Aelonstagua 1-19-54 Attest fateeper AiluuBgar 719-54 Attest teeper AuloneBigun 111-54 Attest f°Keeper deluresByu+19-84 Attest fKeeper AelunByun719-64 Attest fKeeper AlouDyen 11914 Attest Keeper Attest WASO Form - 177 ("R" June 1984) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Ry*84002845 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET Weston, Ephrain, House (Reading MRA) Middlesex County MASSACHUSETTS resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: Reviewer's comments: L sample Lrequest Working No. Fed. Reg. Date: 2/6 Date Due: 7-5-54 17-19-54 Action: LACCEPT_ 7-19-87 Entered in tha - RETURN.
Nationel Regtster 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 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 oter 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: Commentsfor any item may be continued on an attached sheet WosteEphraim Reaing. MRA Ma 229 West 4a 0) - 42,650 10,000 = 80: 121.40 FREMONT 65 6,490 LI5'+ 64 66 7,065 120'= 66a 7,355 124'= 11,350 70.0 67 18,011 86.73 31.0 89.90 63 8,800 120.55 62 9,000 120.75 180.55 61 15,250 177.60 60 5,65 142 ÷ 67a WEST 5b: 1,09 14,301 166°= 55a 11,421 175't 55b 8,825 185' 55 535 PLAT 37 9,497 143.49 8,600 113.80 82.50 38.0 14,350 177.40 59 9,775 177.70 58 13,375 180.0 57 18150° 56 11,625 180.60 6OpT 5la 99.02 60.0 7,840 98.36 65.0 96.26 55d 6,670 114.37 (9 55e 11,215 59.32 135.02 75. 70 55fg 55g° 7,035 6,364° 36.85 65.0 297 54 20,550 53g 82.50 293 60.0 52 9,880 8,720 97.81 5lb -8 5R7L #C-137 229 West St. Map 49, OLot 55E 1983 Assessors Map 1" = 100' 8.0 291 cot WOBURN Rev.
JAN.I, 197l Rev Jan1,7983 Rev. JAN.I, 1970 Rey. Jan./,1982 PREPARED UNDER THE OF THE READING BOARD OF DIRECTION ASSESSORS BY NEW ENGL AND SURVEY SERVICE INC.- BOSTON, MASS PLAT 38 104.0 5 13,200 103.30 133.60 39 17,955 136.17 40 41 2 42 84 20 84.20 43 75.0 44 9,234 113.17 30 4 65.75 55.80 79 214.50 45 13,850 214.25 12,517 46a 214.55 46 12,558 6.214.85 91.30 50 8,775 B. 10 277 49 8,275 65.35 271 48 11,100 76.30 PLAN INFORMI FOR Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000290