Nomination for Plimpton--Winter House

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

NPS Form 10-900 (3-82) OMB No.1024-0018 Exp. 10-31-84 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form See instructions in How to Complete National Register Forms Type all entries - complete applicable sections 1. Name For NPS use only received NOV 6 1985 date entered historic Plimpton-Winter House (preferred) and/or common 2. Location Foxboro Savings Bank street & number 127 South Street N/A not for publication city, town Wrentham N/A vicinity of state 3.

Massachusetts Classification code 025 county Norfolk code 021 Category district X building(s) structure site object Ownership public X private both Public Acquisition N/Ain process being considered Status x occupied - unoccupied _ work in progress Accessible x yes: restricted - yes: unrestricted _ no Present Use agriculture _ commercial educational entertainment - government industrial .military museum park private residence religious scientific transportation other: 4. Owner of Property name Donald G. Ranieri street & number 59 Pleasant Street city, town Franklin N/A vicinity of 5. Location of Legal Description Norfolk County courthouse, registry of deeds, etc. Registry of Deeds state Massachusetts street & number High Street city, town Dedham state Massachusetts 6. Representation in Existing Surveys title Inventory of the Historic has this property been determined eligible?

Assets of the Commonwealth #33 _ yes X date federal X 1984 state county - local depository for survey records Mass. Historical Commission, 80 Boylston Street city, town Boston state Massachusetts 7. Description Plimton-Winter House, Wrentham, Massachusetts Condition excellent good fair deteriorated ruins unexposed Check one unaltered X altered Check one X_ original site moved date Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance

Description of the property

The Plimpton-Winter House, built in 1868, is located in Wrentham, a small town 25 miles southeast of Boston at the headwaters of the Charles River. The Ital ianate-style house sits about 1,000 feet southwest of the town common on South Street, a major roadway in Wrentham since the 17th century. Formerly a residential neighborhood near the center of town, the area in which the Plimpton-Winter House is located is gradually changing to conmercial use as the town grows increasingly suburban. The Plimpton-Winter House is now the Wren tham Branch of the Foxboro Savings Bank. To the south is the Thomas Proctor House, a Second Empire-style structure erected in 1867 that now houses the Ross Funeral Home, while across the street are the radically altered Greek Revival/Italianate style building that now serves as Wrentham Cooperative Bank (ca. 1870), and the Rev.

David Avery House (Federal-style, ca. 1788), which now serves as the rectory of the St. Mary's Catholie Church. To the north of the Plimpton-Winter House stands the Colonial Revival-style Wrentham Town Hall, built in 1955 on the site of two late 19th century residences. To the west and south of the property lies a neighborhood that is still predominantly residential in character. The square, half-acre lot on which the house sits slopes gradually to the rear. The house is set back about 30 feet from the street on a small lawn. Old photographs show that the house was once surrounded by carefully landscaped gardens and fronted by a semicircular drive. Today, however, the building is approached by a curved brick walkway leading from the two dr iveways (entrance and exit) that now lie on either side of the house and lead to a parking area in the rear.

Several old beech trees and a dogwood on the property have been retained. Landscaping today includes carefully trimmed hedges border ing the property and plantings of evergreens and low-growing per ennials at the front and sides of the structure. A lamppost at the edge of the walkway bears a gold-lettered sign identifying the building as a bank. The Pl impton-Winter House is a well-preserved example of the Italianate style that displays a full range of high-style Italianate features. The wood-frame building is square in plan, with a low-ranking hipped roof sheathed in asphalt shingles. It is three bays wide and four bays deep, two stories in height with a two-story rear ell. The house rests on a full granite foundation, which has been reinforced on the inside with poured concrete. Clapboards sheathe the building's facades.

There is a single right-of-center chimey in the main block of the house. The asynmetrical rear ell with projecting bays was built at the same time as the main block. Its shallow, hipped roof is pierced by a single, centrally located chimney. Continued NPS Form 10-900-a (3-82) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form OMB No. 1024-0018 Expires 10-31-87 For NPS use only recBived date antered Continuation sheet Plimton-Winter House, Wrentham, MA Item number 7 Page 1 The nor thern (main) elevation is three bays wide with its first floor dominated by a richly decorated, flat-roofed entry porch and broad polygonal bay window. The single-bay porch, approached by three cement steps, consists of square pedestals from which rise four attenuated columns; these in turn support a deep, bracketed cornice.

A cut-work balustrade frames the porch's roof. The bay window, also flat-roofed, displays a similar deep bracketed cornice. Fenestration in the bay consists of paired 1/1 sash at the center and single 1/1 sash on the sides. On the second story, 2/2 windows feature pedimented crowns with central medallions. A broad entablature on all four sides of the main block consists of a plain frieze framed by a single row of beaded molding below and modillions at the roofline. Single carved brackets that extend below the entablature support the building's deep eaves. The western elevation, four bays deep, has at its northern end a small verandah framed by a low cut-work balustrade fronting two elongated 2/2 windows. Two grani te-block steps lead from the drive to an opening in the center of the balustrade. To the south are two smaller 2/2 windows.

fenestration on the first floor is fully enframed and capped by medallioned cornice lintels. Centered above the porch is a paired 1/1 window capped by a single broad, low-ranked pediment with central medallion. Two pedimented 2/2 windows, again fully enframed with pedimented hoods and centrally placed medallion, are located at the second story's southern end. A small, narrow second-floor window with six fixed panes, simply en framed and set in the center of the western facade, is a recent addition that does not detract from the building's appearance. The eastern elevation of the main block displays three asymmetrically placed bays with pedimented enframements on first and second story similar to those on the western elevation.

At the southeastern corner of the building, one bay has been replaced by a fixed horizontal pane that now serves as the bank's serves as the bankte Day dr ive-in window. A rounded canvas canopy extending over the adjacent driveway protects the window. The rear, southern facade of the main block displays two bays, one on the eastern end and one on the western. The 2/2 sash windows, symmetrically aligned, are simply en framed. Extending fram the center of the rear facade is a two-story ell, three bays deep, which is slightly shorter than the main block. Projecting from this ell is an additional single-bay-deep ell, also two stories in height, but with an even lower roof line. Both portions have a simple molded cornice topped by an overhanging hipped roof.

An assortment of simply en framed, asymmetrically placed fenestration of differing sizes and shapes can be seen on both Continued NPS Form 10.900-a (3-82) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form Plimpton-Winter House Continuation sheet Wrentham, Massachusetts Item number 7 OMB No. 1024-0018 Expires 10-31-87 For NPS use only received date entered Page 2 portions. Most are 2/2 sash, simply enframed, and are contemporaneous with the rest of the structure. Those on the second story are set flush with the One Colonial Revival-style tripartite window on the first story of che eil's western elevation is probabiy a later addition, as is a hip-roofed polygonal bay with 2/4 windows on the first story of the eastern elevation. Also on the eastern elevation is a rear door, lit by two narrow glass panes.

Placed slightly off center at the rear of the back ell is a narrow, two-story projection, one bay wide, with a single blind window on each floor. Its flat roof extends above the level of the rear ell. This small extension may originally have housed the building's privies. There was once a small garage on the property, built after 1920. This garage was demolished by the bank in its rehabilitation of the property.(This is the structure that is crossed off on the attached assessors map.) The side-hall-plan interior was carefully altered when the use of the building changed from a single-family residence to a bank. The molded cornice, wainscoting, marble fireplaces on the ground floor, and carved balustrade on the staircase have been retained. The first floor serves as the bank, while the second floor is used as office space.

The rehabilitation of the Plimpton-Winter House was undertaken in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabiliation, in order to take advantage of the investment tax credits available for the rehabilitation of historic properties.

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Significance Plimpton-Winter House, Wrentham, Massacnusetts Period prehistoric 1400-1499 1500-1599 1600-1699 1700-1799 X 1800-1899 1900- Areas of SignificanceCheck and justify below archeology-prehistoric community planning archeology-historic conservation agriculture economics X architecture education art engineering X commerce exploration/settlement communications X industry invention Builder/Architect landscape architecture law literature military music philosophy politics government Unknown religion science sculpture social/ humanitarian theater transportation other (specify) Specific dates 1868 Statement of Significance

Statement of significance

(in one paragraph) The Plimpton-Winter House retains integrity of location, mater ials, design, and workmanship, as well as association with two prominent Wrentham bus iness Massachusetts. Its fully realized design was probably taken from a patternbook. The house thus fulfils Criteria B and C of the National Register of Historic Places on the local level. Incorporated in 1673, Wrentham was until the late 19th century an agricultural conmunity with a tiny town center and outlying farm cottages. With some moderately successful industrialization (straw works), Wrentham's growth was slow but steady throughout much of the 19th century. Therewas a light concentration of conmercial and institutional building at the town center and residential structures nearby.

Most of the latter are vernacular expressions of the Greek Revival and Second Bmpire styles, with later Queen Anne and Colonial Revival examples as well. There were few high-style dwellings erected in the center; the Plimpton-Winter House is one of the few examples, and is one of the only Italianate-style houses in town. The house was built for Francis N. Plimpton (1828-1913), an employee of the National Bank of Wrentham (now South Shore National Bank) from ca. 1845 to ca. 1910. Plimpton, a native of nearby Foxborough, began his banking career as an assistant cashier. By the time he built the nominated property, he held the position of Director of the bank, a post he held for forty years. addition, Plimpton served as a justice of the peace, was Wrentham's treasurer for 44 years, and was an active member of the town's Democratic party.

His interest in horticulture was well known locally and the gardens of the nominated proper ty were said to be among the finest in town when he lived there. The house was bought by Murray Winter in 1915, two years after Plimpton's death. A native of Mansfield, Winter came to Wrentham and together with his two brothers, Charles and John, established the Winter Brothers Tap and Dye Factory, manufacturers of gauges and valves. During the early 20th century, the factory was Wrentham's largest employer, with nearly a thousand workers at BENSB its peak dur ing the Second World War. The Winter Brothers' best-selling product, called the Thistle Brand tap and dye, was sold worldwide. The business was sold tothe National Twist Drill Company in 1948. Continued 9.

The rest of the file

Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.

Major Bibliographical References Fiore, Jordan D., Wrentham A History 1673 - 1973, Boston, 1973, p. 183. arner, Samuel, Historic of Nortolk County, .w. Lewis & Co., Philadelphia, 1884, p. 667. Interviews with Bruce Crowther, Wrentham Hist. Comm. and Collector of the Wrentham Original Congregational Church (Continuation) 10. Geographical Data Acreage of nominated property ½ acre Quadrangle nameWrentham Quadrangle scale 1: 25,000 UT M References AL1,9 3071,8,0 B Zone Easting Northing Zone Easting LIILLL Northing LLuL E FLL GLULLILIULILILLL HLULLILULILILIL Verbal boundary description and justification The nominated property is the house and appoximately one half acre of land at 127 South Street, Wrentham Massachusetts.

The parcel, having , 1is hom on the ls esor nap a tesened page 28, let aroi charles List all states and counties for properties overlapping state or county boundaries state N/A code county code state code county code 11. Form Prepared By Betsy Friedberg, Preservation Planner, Mass. Historical Commission with name/title Mary Elizabeth Pyne, Consultant organization Mass. Historical Commission date Sept. 1985 street & number 80 Boylston Street telephone 727-8470 city or town Boston state MA 02116 12.

State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evaluated significance of this property within the state is: national _state X local As the designated State Historic Preservation Officer for the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Public Law 89 665), I hereby nominate this property for inclusion in the National Register and certify that it has been evaluated according to the criteria and procedures set forth by the National Park Service.

Sstate Historic Proservation Omlcer signature Valeuie Talmage State Historic Preservation Officer title Executive Director date ct.23,1985 For NPS use only I hereby certify that this property is included in the National Register leloey for caorer a ine Mationl oste yer Entered in the date 12-5-85- Nottonat Register Attest: date Chief of Registration GPO 894-785 NPS Form 10-900-a (3-82) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form Plimpton-Winter House Continuation sheet Wrentham, MA Item number oMB Expires No.1024-0018 10-31-87 For NPS use only received date entered 8 Page 1 Winter was also active in conmunity affairs. He was a volunteer fireman and a leader in Wrentham's Congregational Church, serving as treasurer from 1911 to 1944.

His wife, Mary, equally active, was super intendent of the Church School for much of the same period. Like Plimpton, Winter played an active role in the National Bank of Wrentham, serving for many years on its Board of Directors. The house remained in the Winter family until 1981. Architecturally, the Plimpton-Winter House, although small in size, is significant as the finest and most intact example of Wrentham's few Italianate-style residences. The building's intact three-bay, square plan, low-ranked hip roof, and extensive use of high-style details make it an unusual example in this part of southeastern Massachusetts. (Most examples of the style in this area are five-bay, gable-roofed structures with simple bracketed ornamentation.) The building's architeet is unknown and it is thought that the full-blown Italianate styling and design may have been taken from a pattern book.

Pur chased and rehabilitated recently by the Foxboro Savings Bank to serve as its Wrentham Branch, the building's association with banking continues to the present day. ARCHAEOLOGY Because of extensive alterations to the building's site, the possibility of prehistoric or historic remains are minimal. WASO Form - 177 ("R" June 1984) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET Plimpton-Winten House Norfolk County MASSA CHUSETTS resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: Reviewer's comments: L sample Lrequest 85003071 NOV, 6 1985 Working No. Fed. Reg. Date: 2 Date Due: 12/585 Intered in Actioe: LACCEPT.

attona1 IegisterRETURN _ REJECT_ Federal Agency: -1/21/85 12-5-85 -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 J 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 Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) Builder/Architect summary paragraph completeness clarity _ applicable criteria justification of areas checked relating significance to the resource J 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 itemmay be continued on an attached sheet Plimpton Winter House 127 South St. Wrentham, MA 6/84 Mary E. Pyne Northwest facade photo #1 of 2 Plimpton Winter House 127 South St. Wrentham, MA Front entry photo #2 of 2 Mary E. Pyne 0000 Plimpton Winter House 127 South st. Wrentham, MA Southwestern photo 1a Mary E. Pyne elevation 6/84 Plimpton Winter House 127 South St. Wrentham, MA. Southeastern elevation photoza Mary E. Pyne 6/84 Plimpton Winter House 127 South St. wrentham, MA 6/84 northeastern elevation photo 3a Mary E. Pyne Plimpton Winter House 127 South St. Wrentham, MA 6/84 northeastern elevation photo 4a Mary E.

Pyne NE Bads for VTs signatue Saly: Showd we send these smal Cuephatos tão 1 copy these DAIIM IN VIA AETATY STEE The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Office of the Secretary of State Michael Joseph Connolly, Secretary P 284 880 609 Massachusetts Historical Commission Valerie A. Talmage Executive Director State Historic Preservation Officer October 24, 1985 Carol Shull National Register of Historic Places Department of Interior National Park Service P.O. Box 37127 Washington, DC 20013-7127 Dear Ms. Shull: Enclosed you will find the following nomination forms: Boston, Hingham, Hull, Quincy, Weymouth and Winthrop, Boston Harbor Islands Archaeological Distirct, Boston Harbor, 21 islands. Boston, Dudley Station Historic District, Washington, Warren and Dudley Streets, 40 properties. Lawrence, 34-30 Summer Street, 4 properties. HPCA pending, no number assigned.

Lynn, Central Square Historic District, Central Square, Munroe, Union and Willow Streets, 15 properties. HPCAs pending: The Peavear Building, 101-127 Munroe Street, #0758-85-MA. New Bergengren Block, 1-21 Central Square, #0653-85-MA. Weymouth, John Adams School, 16 Church Street, 1 property. Wrentham, Plimpton-Winter House, 127 South Street, 1 property. HPCA complete: MA-85-0727. All have been voted eligible by the State Review Board and have been signed by the State Historic Preservation Officer. Owners were no- tified of pending State Review Board consideration 30-75 days before NOV 6 1985 80 Boylston Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116 (617) 727-8470 the meeting and were afforded the opportunity to comment. received to date are attached to the nomination forms. Sincerely, SaranJ. zimmenan Sarah J.

Zimmerman Director, Preservation Planning Massachusetts Historical Commission Enclosures -Comments SJZ/dr