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 Form no. 6/27-4 PHOTO (3x3" or 3x5", black & white) Staple to left side of form Photo number MAP Draw map showing property's location in relation to nearest cross streets and other buildings or geographical features. Indicate north. Town Brookline /MRA Address 217 Freeman Street Historic Name Emmett Cottage Use: Original Residential Present Unoccupied Ownership:X Private individual Private organization Public Original owner See Historical Significance DESCRIPTION: Date See Historical Significance. Source Style - Gothic Revival Architect Information not available Exterior wall fabric Clapboard Outbuildings_ Metal garage See attached map. Boston South Quadrangle UTM Reference: 19/325350/4690350 Map #: 18 Recorded by_ Leslie Larkin, Flora Greenan Organization BHC Date Feb.
1979, revised Fall 1980 6/27/4 Major alterations (with dates). 1903 - new bay window on first floor Dates unknown - enclosed staircase at rear, side entrance porch. Moved See other side _ Date_ 1/3 acre Approx. acreage Setting Set well back from the street on a small knoll and in the center of an overgrown lot, this house is bor- dered by the backs of Craig Place houses on one side and St. Aidan's Church on the other. (Staple additional sheets here) ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE (describe important architectural features and evaluate in terms of other buildings within community) This Gothic cottage is reminiscent of some of A. J. Downing's designs. It is very simple, originally square with a cross-gabled roof. There are no label moldings or hoods, but the bargeboards sport a lively and detailed sawn trim, and the slate roof and chimney pots are handsomely done.
In shape and size it is like the original designs for two gate- houses in the town (present 186 Warren St. and 248 Dudley St.) both of which have been extensively altered. Except for the enclosed outside staircase and bay window, and side entrance portico, all readily remov- able, this house has been little spoiled. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE (explain the role owners played in local or state history and how the building relates to the development of the community) Although deed research indicates that no house ever stood on this lot prior to 1871, and the tax list for that year mentions an "unfinished house" belonging to John J. Mahoney on Freeman St., its architectural style indi- cates a date in the 1830's or 40's. (See above).
However, extensive re- search (comparison of houses on 1871 map and 1874 Atlas, review of tax on tere nan an 10% lists for buildings possibly moved, etc.) has not revealed the existance of this house at any other location. It has been found that the mention of an unfinished house in the tax list does not necessarily mean a new house - it also refers to new foundations beinug laid, so it is possible that this was a gatehouse moved from a neighboring estate. The Sears family, including David Sears's daughters Harriet Crowninshield, and Mes- dames Amory, Rives and D'Hautville, all owned estates nearby, and much of the architecture was Gothic Revival - we know as well of other Gothic style houses nearby, including 16 Copley St., still standing. Also, the Ridgeway house and outbuildings, later owned by William Amory: stood on the land between Browne and Pleasant Sts.
(In 1807 & 1810 Philip Ridgeway, a Boston tobacco merchant, bought 15 acres from E. K. Wolcott, who had in- herited part of the Sewall farm by marriage. In 1855 Henry G. Clark, a Bos- ton physician, bought lots 17 & 18 of the Ridgeway estate, on part of which -this house stands, and in 1870 sold the lots to John J. Mahoney.. Mahoney that year was renting a shop in Brookline Village opposite the post office, where he pursued his trade of sign painter and glazier. (See attached Xerox). By 1873 Mahoney's shop was also on Freeman St., and that year he sold the front part of his lot, retaining a right of way to his house, to Michael Lemis, a hostler and laborer for William Amory. Lemis built a house there the next year (since demolished).
The Misses Keegan, (see 120-122 Browne St.), whose grandfather John Keegan built the house Continued BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES Maps, 1871 Atlases, 1874-1927 Tax lists, 1870-74 Brookline Directory, 1870-74 L 395 f 261, 1870 - Deed, Norfolk County Courthouse, Dedham L 224 f 321, 1851 - PIan, Norfolk County Courthouse, Dedham Boston Directory, 1810, 1857 20M-2/80 INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Commmity : BROOKLINE Form No: 6/27-4 annett Cottese Property Name : 217 Freeman Street Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE, continued they live in in 1879, state that #217 Freeman Street was always called "Emmett Cottage," although they do not know the origin of the name.
Mahoney's widow owned the house for some time, and then it was owned by her heirs until the early 1900s, when it was bought by John Keegan. 1927, it was owned by William Keegan, John's son. Although we cannot be certain of the building date and oviginal owner of this house, its architecture, and long period of ownership by members of the Irish community in this area (see 142-144 Pleasant Street) make it significant in Brookline. CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION 217 Freeman Street meets National Register Criteria A and , being a property with longstanding historical assocations with the Irish community that settled in the area of Saint Aidan's church on Freeman Street and being a rare and well-preserved example of Gothic Revival architecture. Set on a rise and surrounded by a woodsy area of almost 1/3 acre, it has retained its mid 19th century suburban/rural character.
Staple to Inventory form at bottom NPS Form 10-900-a (3-82) United States Department of the Interior NationalPark Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form Continuation sheet Item number OMB No. 1024-0018 Expires 10-31-87 For NPS uae only receitved 9-4-825 date anterec Page Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group Name State Brookline MRA MASSACHUSETTS Nomination/Type of Review 21. Elliot, General Simon, House 22. Emmett Cottage 23. Fernwood 24. Fire Station #7 25. Fisher Hill Historic District 26. Francis, Dr. Tappan Eustis, House 27. Fuller, Peter, Building 28. Goddard, John, House 29. Graffam Development Historic District 30.
Green Hill Historic District TKeeper Entered in the Jationel Beglaber Attest 6K eeper Entered in the National Begister Attest tKeeper Entered in taa Natlonal Register Entered in the National Register Attest & Keeper Attest 6Keeper Entared 1n 1 tha Mational Regiater Attest Eabecsé 1n tna 6 Keeper Teblenal Megriante"Attest (Keeper Entered . in tho National Register Trbored In täe Hationel Register Attest fKeeper Attest Entered 1a the National Register Keeper Attest OReeper Entened In etienel fegister Attest Date/Signature tenBye1a1e AelurBgun 1/261 AeleruBya (01218) AelomeByen02219. AubmBgan0)118.
MemnByen 0/0/65 AbreByera10/2/85 demBgan1d0o5 85003263 WASO Form - 177 ('R" June 1984) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET Emmett Cottage (Brookline MRA) Nortolk County MASSACHUSETTS resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: Reviewer's comments: sample Lrequest SEP 4 1985 Working No._ Fed. Reg. Date: Date Due: 3 18. Action: ~ACCEPT Entered In the #obienet -RETURN Legtla REJECT- Federal Agency: -10/12/80 10 -17-85 Lappeal 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 Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) Builder/Architect summary paragraph completeness clarity C8El 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 Emmettcottage 217 Freemanst Brooklene CMA)MRA Emmett cottage 217 freemeen 8t Brooklike (MA) MRA 217 Freemun st Ennett cottege Brookline (MA) MRA 2-85 HO S NW 000 STREE DUPLATGRAND 0002 20 LT H DBD WINS 000 -30 6 STETSON agdo00o. eodosbsasö Saio BROWNE da WINTHROP TOST. AIDEN'S CHURCH EWE KNYVET .65 0.
STRERT, HAL PON AMORY .AYGROUND PL MALVERN 217 Fraeman ST. (b/274) Emment Cottaga " BROOKLINE (MA)MRA 198/ Town o7 Bmokine Map st ST. 90 GAFFNEY MONWEALTH ARMOK AVENUE- MASON SQ.