Nomination for Wellesley Farms Railroad Station

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 DEC 3 | 1985 date entered historic Wellesley Farms Railroad Station and Station Pond and or common Wellesley Farms Railroad Station (preferred) 2. Location street & number Croton Street Extension N/A not for publication city, town Wellesley N/A vicinity of state Massachusetts 3.

Classification code 025 county Norfolk code 021 Category district xbuilding(s) structure site object Ownership public - private both Public Acquisition N/A in process being considered Status - occupied unoccupied work in progress Accessible - yes: restricted x yes: unrestricted no Present Use agriculture commercial educational entertainment government industrial military museum park private residence religious scientific x transportation other: 4. Owner of Property name Town of Wellesley street & number 525 Washington Street city, town Wellesley N/A vicinity of 5. Location of Legal Description state Massachusetts courthouse, registry of deeds, etc. Norfolk County Registry of Deeds street & number 650 High Street city, town Dedham state Massachusetts 6.

Representation in Existing Surveys Inventory of the Historic Assets of title the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has this property been determined eligible? date 1985 #368 federalX state - county- yes x no local depository for survey records Massachusetts Historical Commission city, town Boston state Massachusetts 7. Description Wellesley Farms Railroad Station, Welleslev. Massachusetts Condition excellent good & 33u X fair deteriorated _ ruins unexposed Check one - unaltered altered Check one X original site moved date N/A Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance

Description of the property

The Wellesley Farms Railroad Station is a small granite building set on a two-acre lot with hardwood plantings and a small pond. The property is located in a residential neighborhood approximately two and a half miles northeast of Wellesley Center. Wellesley is a densely developed residential suburb some 11 miles west of Boston. The property is bounded by Glen Road on the north, Croton Street Extension on the east, by a line of convenience on the south and by the Boston and Albany (now Conrail) right of way on the west. In addition to the station, the property also contains a one-acre pond, which the Town of Wellesley has designated as a park. South of the property is a large paved parking lot for commuter traffic. The station is basically rectangular in plan with a small projection, containing the Ticket Office, in the northwest corner.

One story in height, the station is dominated by its deep hipped roof, enclosing the waiting room and an inset porch on the track side. An open porte cochere with a smaller hipped roof intersects the building at its northeast corner. The building on a full basement which has been filled in. In 1969, a fire gutted the None of the interior finish was replaced and the building is now maintained as an open shell. The station is constructed of tan Milford granite with red Longmeadow sandstone trim. It rests on a low foundation of smooth-faced granite. Large blocks of rock-faced granite laid in coursed ashlar form the walls of the structure. Windows and doors are framed with rusticated sandstone surrounds. The hipped roof of the station rises to a short ridge, which is capped with copper coping. The roof is sheathed with rectangular dark grey slates laid in a regular pattern.

A tall, rectangular chimney of rusticated granite pierces the south side of the roof. In the northwest corner, the roof is conically contoured to reflect a bowed window which originally occupied that corner. The station is entered on the east side from Croton Street Extension. The east elevation is three bays wide. It contains a large double window in: the central bay flanked by a narrow window to the south and a simple flat-arched entrance to the north. A hip-roofed porte-cochere, supported on square stone piers of smooth-faced granite, projects from the entrance. The north elevation is two bays wide and incorporates a double window to the east and a large square single window to the west. The latter window, which features a projecting curved sill, once contained a bowed window and housed the station's ticket office.

The shallow, conically contoured roof above further articulates the ticket office bay. 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 Wellesley Farms Railroad Station Continuation sheet Wellesley, Massachusetts 7 Item number OMB No. 1024-0018 Expires 10-31-87 For NPS use anly received date entered Page 1 The west elevation faces the tracks and contains the ticket office and an open recessed porch to shelter commuters. The elevation is four bays wide. In the northwest corner is the ticket office bay, with its curved sill and corresponding contoured roofline. The porch extends the length of the building and is supported by a large, square, rock-faced granite pier on the southwest corner and by a massive oak beam resting on large curved oak brackets set into the wall.

The porch shields the three remaining bays of the elevation. Centered in that section is a flat-arched entrance to the A single large window is set on either side of the entrance. The south elevation is two bays wide and contains the open entrance to the porch, at the southwest corner, two windows and a chimney. The station's chimney is centered on the south wall. To the west is a single large window lighting the waiting room. The window to the east, originally for the oone. "Tne windor station's toilet and since bricked in, is small and narrow and set high up on the wall. floor poured. Only the wooden roof framing remains of the original interior structure. Electric floodlights have been placed in a grilled enclosure at the roof's apex. Of the station's original landscaping, however, much is extant. The station stands in an area of rocky highlands within the Charles River drainage.

Numerous smal1 ponds dot the town. Wight's Pond, just west of the station, is one of these. It is probable that the pond at the station was formed by the laying of the railroad bed across the eastern end of Wight's Pond. Two other shal1ow depressions,just east of the station, may also once have formed part of Wight's Pond. The station pond is the focus of the lot's landscaping. The lot is relatively flat and is planted naturalistically with red oak, white pine, rhododendron and forsythia. Much of this grows from stock originally planted as part of 01msted's scheme. Low evergreen shrubbery, of recent date, is planted around the station itself. Croton Street Extension forms a looping S-curve from Croton Street, around the pond, in front of the station and up to Glen Road, an early east-west corridor Newton Lower Falls to Weston.

The station is set on this curve, some 300' from Croton Street. Directly before the station, Croton Street Extension makes it deepest curve. Originally, at this point, the road, on its outside curve, gave drive-through access to the station's porte-cochere; the installation of sidewalks has since eliminated vehicular access. Originally, too, it is assumed, the interior (eastern) curve of the road was laid parallel 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 Wellesley Farms Railroad Station Continuation sheet Wellesley, Massachusetts Item number OMB No. 1024-0018 Expires 10-31-87 For NPS use only received dale entered Page 2 to this.

Subsequently, the east side was opened to allow adaitional parking- The pond and adiacent land are now owned by the Town of Wellesley and are used as a park.

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Significance Wellesley Farms Railroad Station, Wellesley, Massachusetts Period prehistoric 1400-1499 1500-1599 1600-1699 1700-1799 1800-1899 1900 Areas of SignificanceCheck and justify below archeology-prehistoric community planning archeology-historic conservation agriculture economics architecture education art engineering commerce exploration/settlement communications industry invention Specific dates 1885; 1894 Statement of Significance

Statement of significance

(in one paragraph) X landscape architecture law literature military musIc philosophy politics government religion science sculpture social/ humanitarian theater X transportation - other (specity) community development Builder ArchitectH.H. Richardson (commissioned);Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge (designed); 0. W. Norcross (builders); F. L. O1msted (landscaping) The Wellesley Farms Station and its grounds meet Criteria A and C of the National Register of Historic Places and retain integrity of location, design, setting, materials, feeling and association. The Station is an excellent example of the Richardsonian Romanesque style of architecture, commissioned to Henry Hobson Richardson and Frederick Law 01msted.

Though gutted on the interior by fire in 1969, the station still conveys the critical elements of the Richardsonian style in its simplicity of detailing and form, extensive use of polychromatic, rock-faced masonry, broad roof planes and massiveness of construction. Constructed in 1894, under the supervision of the firm of Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge and built by the Norcross Brothers Construction Company, the station was commissioned in 1884 by the Boston and Albany Railroad Company to H.H. Richardson. While the extent of Richardson's direct involvement in the station's design was probably quite small, the Station nonetheless embodies the characteristics which made Richardson's railroad stations for the Boston and Albany models of their day. Frederick Law 01msted was responsible for the1andscaping of ,the station, much of which remains intact.

A curvilinear approach to the station takes advantage of a pond located on the site, while surviving stands of the original hardwoods and evergreens planted on the site provide a naturalistic setting for the suburban station. The Wellesley Farms Station is one of only two examples of the collaboration of H.H. Richardson and F.L. 01msted in railroad stations that remain substantially intact and is the only such example remaining of the Boston and Albany Railroad Stations. For these reasons, the Wellesley Farms Station and its grounds meet National Register criteria on the State level of significance in architecture and landscape architecture.

In addition, the Wellesley Farms Station is locally significant in the areas of transportation, community planning and community development as the only substantially intact 19th century commuter rail station in the town, which developed as an affluent suburb of metropolitan Boston largely as a result of the introduction in 1834 of the Boston and Albany Railroad. The Boston and Albany was one of the earliest passenger rail lines in the country. Auburndale station in a section of Newton, Massachusetts, in 1881. Considered his finest by Henry-Russel1 Hitchcock, the Auburndale Station (demolished ca. 1960) was probably the only one of his suburban railroad stations designed completely by Richardson himself. Continued 9.

The rest of the file

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

Major Bibliographical References See continuation sheet. 10. Geographical Data Acreage of nominated property 2.08 Quadrangle name . Natick UT M References *L1ial L3/112/715101 Zone Easting 416/817/91410 Northing Quadrangle scale - 1:25,000 B Zone Easting DULLLLLL EL G L1 Northing LIILu LILILLL LULLL Verbal boundary description and justification See continuation sheet. List all states and counties for properties overlapping state or county boundaries state N/A code county code state N/A code county code 11. Form Prepared By name/title Sarah Zimmerman, Director, Preservation Planning with Mathew A. Kierstead, Wellesley, MA organization Massachusetts Historical Commission date October, 1985 street & number 80 Boylston Street telephone (617) 727-8470 city or town Boston state Massachusetts 12.

State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evaluated significance of this property within the state is: national x- 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. State Historic Preservation Oficer signature Valeue A Talmage title Executive Director, Massachusetts Historical Commission date 12/20|85 For NPS use only I hereby certify that this property is includeg in the National. Register Wilhann Dushay fuKkooper of tho National Registerf Attest Betlot Savge Chief o Regietrati daa2/14/86 date 2-14-86 U.S.

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1983 0 - 419-311 NPS Form 10.900-a (3-82) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places For NPS use only received Inventory - Nomination Form date entered Wellesley Farms Railroad Station Continuation sheet Wellesley, Massachusetts Item number 8 Page 1 By 1885,when three railroad stations for the town of wellesley were commissioned to Richardson by the Boston and Albany Railroad, most of Richardson's designs were being developed from Richardson's sketches by his office staff. Prominent among that staff were Charles A. Coolidge (1858-1936), Charles H. Rutan (1851-1914) and George F. Shepley (1860-1903). Successors to Richardson's practice after his death in 1886, Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge were responsible for the construction of the three Wellesley Stations.

Thesewere built at wellesley Farms, Wellesley Square and Wellesley Hills. The Wellesley Square station was demolished in 1961, while the Wellesley Hills station, converted to commercial use, has been substantially altered. With the exception of the interior, the original fabric of the lellesley Farms Station remains essentially intact and unaltered. OMB No. 1024-0018 Expires 10-31-87 Though not constructed until eight years after Richardson's death, the Wellesley Farms Station is nearly identical to one commissioned to Richardson in 1884 and completed in 1888. The Eliot station of the Highland branch of the Boston and Albany (demolished ca. 1960) exhibited porch and ticket bay features, massing and detailing nearly identical to Wellesley Farms. This suggests that the design for Wellesley Farms was substantially developed by 1888 and probably stems from concepts initiated by Richardson.

Regardless of Richardson's actual involvement, the Wellesley Farms Station is today one of only two Massachusetts railroad stations in an intact setting that demonstrates the work of the master. Richardson's collaboration with Frederick Law 01msted was extensive and is well known. Richardson and 0lmsted are known to have collaborated on at least ten railroad stations for the Boston and Albany Railroad. The Wellesley Stations (Farms, Hills and Square) are three of these. These were commissioned to 01msted as Boston and Albany Job #647. 01msted and Richardson also collaborated on the 01d Colony Station (NR, 1972) in North Easton, Massachusetts. Of the ten Boston and Albany Stations, six have been demolished. Of the four stations still extant (Wellesley Farms, Wellesley Hills, Palmer,Framingham), only Wellesley Farms retains its landscaping.

Richardson and 01msted's railroad stations were considered models of good design for their day. Mariana Griswold Van Rensselaer wrote of Richardson's Stations in 1885: Their beauty is so seductive - so simple yet so picturesque, so dignified yet so rural looking - that it is hard to protest against them. In fact our country railroad stations had so 1ong been hideous makeshift or futile attempts at prettiness (and in either case synonyms for fragility and parsimony), that the massiveness of Richardson's seemed a protest which would have been less welcome had it been less emphatic. Nor was it often too emphatic. The majority of his stations are as simple and right in feature as they are appropriate in general effect, while none of them show more than a touch of decoration.

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 Wellesley Farms Railroad Station Continuation sheet Wellesley, Massachusetts Item number 8 OMB No. 1024-0018 Expires 10-31-87 For NPS use only received date entered Page 2 Some seventeen years later, Charles Mulford Rubinson, the first professor of civic design in the country, remarked on the place of Richardson and 01msted's stations on the design of railroad systems in general.

In A Railroad Beautiful, published in the November, 1902 issue of Garden and Forest magazine, Mulford wrote: Instead of a fadist's dream or the whimsical claim of the theorist, the purpose to beautify the railroad is a matter of common observation knowledge, the principal systems of the country now having their 1andscape architect as certainly as their roadmaster. A pioneer in the work was the Boston and Albany road...of all the roads in the country, the Boston and Albany, by the degree to which it has developed the project...offers the most complete and perfect object lesson available of what "the railroad beauti ful" may be...The stations, designed by H.H. Richardson, had created a new standard and had given birth to ideals that could not be satisfied with neglected or barren station yards. So... Frederick Law 01msted was engaged to prepare the grounds.

The Wellesley Farms Station itself is further described in an April, 1904 House and Garden article by Robinson: Beyond the Newton Circuit the Wellesleys are the first places reached. At Wellesley Farms, which is the first of the three, the highway is about parallel to the railroad, with the little station lying between. In the tract that separates highway and railroad there is a pond, and probably most railroad companies would promptly have filled it up. But once more a good andscape architect is glad to get not only hints, but all the help he can, from Nature; and when in this case she furnished so charming and unusual a feature as a pond on station grounds, he availed himself of the opportunity. There is certainly a sensible and widely practicable suggestion in this action.

He has protected the little sheet of water by a tangled border, and since it was not in quite the most convenient place he has swung the highway sharply around so that, while skirting, it may not trespass upon the pond. The result? Wellesley Farms Station is unique, and to be remembered. It has the strong sort of individuality, as almost every site in nature would have if it were given a chance. You can have no doubt that people grow actually to love it, and can fancy little babies wheeled up and down there in their carriages - think of that, for a station on the main line of an important steam railroad! In this connection it should be observed, that as one comes to the statsca,e hectrtecsi s busselsss toagertesesteet raits It is not s business to advertise steel rails and cinders. He does better than that for his road.

It is interesting to note that station keepers of the Boston and Albany took an active interest in the upkeep of the 1andscaping: E.A. Richardson (no relation), one such station keeper, studied at the Arnold Arboretum, Boston, 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 Far NPS use only received date entered Wellesley Farms Railroad Station Continuation sheet Wellesley,, Massachusetts Item number 8 Page 3 andwas subsequently appointed Manager of the Boston and Albany horticultural nurseries. The Boston' and Albany Railroad was built in 1834 and was the sole rail route west from Boston to New York State. The railroad immediately began to influence the areas it served. OMB NO.

1024-0018 Expires 10-31-87 When travelers first began to pass through Wellesley - then West Needham, a Village of Needham -by rail, the area was noted for its natural beauty; its clean air, clear lakes and rolling hills. The Village soon became a popular convalescent area, particularly for individuals afflicted with consumption, and also became known as simply a "beautiful place to live". By the 1850s, wealthy Bostonians began to settle in the Village, drawn by its beauty and the convenience of a forty minute rail commute to Boston. In 1852, a Bostonian, Horatio H. Hunnewel1, built his mansion, "Wellesley" , on the shores of Lake Waban in the Village. It is from the great volume of mail delivered to "Wellesley" through the railway Post Office that the Village became known popularly as Wellesley; and when the Village became a Township it adopted this name.

In 1875, Henry FowleDurant,a wealthy relation of Horatio Hunnewel, founded Wellesley College. Dr. William Morton, discoverer of the anaesthetic properties of ether, was one of the many notables who took up residence in the Village. Thomas Alva Edison lived there for a short time. By 1876, more than a hundred businesses had been established in the Village to serve its growing population. In that year, F. Diehl & Sons began their 1umber supply and ice and coal operations in the Village. F. Diehl soon became the largese freight customer on the Boston and Albany Railroad. Their freight yard and coaling docks occupied the extensive area now known as the Linden Street shopping center in Wellesley.

The combination of existing waterways and the new railroad brought mill operations to the Lower Falls area of the Village and a paint factory and ice house to Lake Crossing, adjacent to the currently existing athletic fields at Wellesley College. The new industry was served by branch lines of the Boston and Albany Railroad. In addition to new residents and new businesses, the Village attracted developers who sought to capitalize on its proximity to Boston and the convenience of its railway stops. The early railway stations served as the for several early land developments and subdivisions. In 1853, Daniel Ayers' "Bostonville" was planned, 306 lots in a 200 acre parcel near Rice's Crossing, now the Wellesley Farms Station.

Another, more successful 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 Wellesley Farms Railroad Station Continuation sheet Wellesley, Massachusetts 8 Item number MB NO. 1024-001 Expires 10-31-8 For NPS use only received date entered 4 Page of the Yotz family property. Stonework and waterworks of the development at the site was the paroekway" development still exist in the Wellesley Farms area today, a feature of interest and evidence of the richness of the development proposed in the area. In 1865, Isaac Sprague and Robert Albion Clapp purchased two parcels of 1and adjoining the Grantville (now Wellesley Hills) station. The 1and was successfully developed into the Belvedere and Cliff Estates, as they are now known- The Village Square area, with its close proximity to F.

Diehl & Sons, became the business focus of the Village and its development was of a mixed residential and commercial nature. Al1 three of the Village Stations served as Post Offices, as all mail was deliveredto the Village by means of Railway Post Office cars. The Boston and Albany railroad was instrumental in fostering the expansion and development of the Village of West Needham to the degree that it became a self-sufficient community. The Village population had swollen and it had its own churches, schools, post offices and libraries. The Village was served by its own railroad line and there were no convenient rail or water connections with Needham proper. The coming of the railroad brought new leadership, a changed economy and formal patterns of land use to the Village of West Needham, giving it an identity of its own.

Ultimately, the Village split from - Tne Towm of Wetlestey Needham and was incorporated as the Town of Wellesley in 1881. In 1885, the Boston and Albany Railroad commissioned H.H. Richardson and F.L. 01msted to design, build and landscape three railroad stations in the new Town of Wellesley. The stations replaced dilapidated wooden structures then in place and were given new names that reflected their places within the new community: Wellesley Square,Wellesley Hills, and Wellesley Farms. The Farms Station is the only remaining station in the town that still serves its original purpose as a shelter for railroad passengers. The station is no longer used for the sale of tickets or for freight or mail delivery purposes.

NPS Form10-900-a (3-82) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form Wellesley Farms Railroad Station Continuation sheet Wellesley, Massachusetts 9 Item number OMB No. 1024-0018 Expires 10-31-87 Far NPS use only received date entered 1 Page Bibliography 1. Mern = le Gentey s lentemsa StoFiye Poundst of Cuereny Thsae Psends of T981. Hi tchcock, Henry Russell. The Architecture of H.H. Richardson and His Times. M.I.T. Press, 1977, Cambridge, Mass. Van Rensselaer, Mariana Griswold. Henry Hobson Richardson and His Works. Dover Publications, 1969, New York, New York. 4. Oc.h.T. P,ress, y ka, Cambridge, chardson: Complete Archi tectural Works. Robinson, Charles Mulford. "A Railroad Beautiful." House and Garden Magazine. November, 1902, H.T. Coates & Co. Philadelphia, PA. 6.

Robinson, Charles Mulford, "Suburban Station Grounds." House and Garden Magazine. April, 1904. H.T. Coates & Co. Philadelphia, PA. 7. O'Gorman, James F., H.H. Richardson and the Architecture of the Commuter Railway Station. Essay appearing in "Around the Station: The Town and the Train - Focus of a New England Town's Growth". Danforth Museum, 1978, Framingham, MA. 8. Archives: Wellesley Historical Society, Wellesley, MA. 9. Archives: Wellesley Public LIbrary, Wellesley, MA. 10. Archives: Shepley, Bulfinch, Richardson and Abbott, Boston, MA. 11. Archives: Houghton Library, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA. 12. Archives: Baker Library, Harvard Business School, Cambridge, MA. 13. Archives: Massachusetts 01msted Historic Site, Brookline, MA. 14. Private Archives: Richard S. Bowers Jr. Esq., Elkhart, Ind.

NPS Form 10.900-a (3-82) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form Wellesley Farms Railroad Station Continuation sheet Wellesley, Massachusetts Item number 10 VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION AND JUSTIFICATION For NPS use only received date entered Page 1 Refer to attached Assessors Map and Deed Descriptions. The property was sold to the Town of Wellesley in two parcels on two separate dates. Both parcels are now in Town ownership, and include all structures and plantings pertinent to this nomination. OMB NO.

1024-0018 Expires 10-31-87 WASO Form - 177 ("R" June 1984) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET Landscaya 86000259 Wellesley Farms Railroad Station Norfolk County MASSACHUSETTS stestive Review resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: -sample request appeal Working No._ Fed. Reg. Date: Date Due: _ 130/86 -2/14786 Action: ACCEPT_ 2-14-86 _RETURN _REJECT_ Federal Agency: - XNR decision 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? 7.

Description Condition excellent good fair deteriorated ruins unexposed yes Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates boundary selection Status Accessible Present Use no Check one unaltered altered 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 J summary paragraph completene: 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: CPO 918-450 Comments for any item may be continued on an attached sheet Property Name: Wellesley Farms Sta- tion and Station Pond Area Street Address: Croton Street Community: wellesley, Mass. Photographer and Date: Matthew.Kier- stead 4/84 Location oi Negative: 6 Paine Street Wellesley Hills, Mass. Photo Number 1 of 47 Description of View: Station, North Facade Property Name:Wellesley Farms Sta- tion and Station Pond Area Street Address: Croton Street Community: Wellesley, Mass. Photographer and Date: Matthew4/34x- stead 4/84 Location of Negative:6 Paine Street Wellesley Hills, Mass.

Photo Number 2 of 4 7 Description of View: Station, West Facade Property Name: Wellesley Farms Sta- tion and | Station Pond Area Street Address: Croton Street Community: Wellesley, Mass. Photographer end Date: Matth.w K/84- Photo Number 3 0f 47 Description of View: Station, South Facade Property Name: Wellesley Farms Station and Station Pond Area Street Address:Croton Street Community: Wellesley, Mass. Photographer and Date: Matthew Kier- stead 4/84 Location of Negative: 6 Paine Street Wellesley Hills, Mass. Photo Number 4 of 4 1 Description of View: Station, East Facade Property Name:Wellesley Farms Station and Station Pond Area Street Address:Croton Street Community: Wellesley, Mass.

Photographer and Date: Matthew Kier- stead 11/84 Location of Negative: 6 Paine Street Wellesley Hills, Mass - Photo Number 5 of Z Description of View: Station, with Pond behind, looking South from Glen Road Bridge. Property Name: Wellesley Farms Station and Station Pond Area Street Address: Croton Street Community: Wellesley, Mass. Photographer. and Date: Matthew Kier- stead 11/84 Iocation of Negative:6 Paine Street Wellesley Hills, Mass. Photo Number & of ] Description of View: Station, looking Northwest on Croton Street, with Grounds and Pond on Left. Property Name: Wellesley Farms Station and - Station Pond Area Street Address:Croton Street Community: Wellesley, Mass. Photographer and Date: Matthew Kier- stead 11/84 Location of Negative: 6 Paine Street Wellesley Hills, Mass.

Photo Number 7 of ] Description of View: View of Station from across the Pond, looking North M TOWN OF WELLESLEY MASSACHUSETTS NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION TOWN HALL, WELLESLEY, MASSACHUSETTS 02181 WETLANDS PROTECTION COMMITTEE LANDSCAPE ADVISORY COMMITTEE LONG RANGE PLANNING COMMITTEE JUDITH A. NICOLSON DIRECTOR TELEPHONE: (617) 235-5167 December 19, 1984 Ms. Valerie Talmage Executive Director Massachusetts Historical Commission 80 Boylston Street Boston, Massachusetts 02116 Dear Ms. Talmage: The Wellesley Natural Resources Commission is pleased to support Matthew Kierstead's nomination of the Wellesley Farms Railroad Station and Grounds to the National Historic Register. The combination of the H.H. Richardson Railroad Station and Frederick Law O1msted landscape is a unique open space feature in the Town of Wellesley.

The area still retains the simplicity and tranquility intended in Richardson and O1msted's original 1884 design. Listing the Station on the National Historic Register would help ensure the continued enjoyment of the area by future generations. Matthew Kierstead's effort in researching the Station and in preparing the nomination papers is to be congratulated. His volunteer spirit and public interest represent the personal committment the Commission feels toward preservation of this area. The Natural Resources Commission strongly supports the Farms Station nomination and encourages you to act favorably on the application. Fof Chairman CC: M. Kierstead P. Gardner, Chairman Long Range Planning Committee J. Fager, Chairman Landscape Advisory Committee TOWN OF WELLESLEY APRILGTBLS HISTORICAL COMMISSION MASSACHUSETTS December 1984 Ms.

Valerie Talmage, Executive Director of MHC 80 Boylston Street Boston, Mass. 02116 Dear Ms. Talmage, Matthew Kierstead worked alone for the most part in collecting data and pertinent material about this Richardsonian station and the surrounding landscape by Olmstead. He has done a thorough job with some guidance by a member of the Wellesley Hist- orical Commission, June Price. He received encouragement from several sources in town---Natural Resources Comm. and Wellesley Historical Society. Wellesley Historical Conmission supports the nomination of the Wellesley Farms R.R. Station for enrollment in the National and State Registers of Historical Places. Inventory # 386 of the Farms Station has been filed recently with MHC. Comm. TOWN OF WELLESLEY NELLESHEY DESIGN REVIEW BOARD MASSACHUSETTS Town Hall Wellesley, MA 02181 Tel.

235-3134 SUSAN GLAZER Design Review Administrator January 16, 1985 Ms. Valerie Talmage Executive Director Massachusetts Historical Commission 80 Boylston Street Boston, Ma. 02116 Dear Ms. Talmage, The Design Review Board has endorsed the efforts of Mr. Matthew Kierstead and the Landscape Advisory Committee of the Natural Resour- ces Commission to nominate the Wellesley Farms Station to the Nation- al Historic Register. The Wellesley Farms Station is one of the few H.H. Richardson and F.L. O1mstead collaborations. The presence of a pond next to the station makes the site unique. The landscaping and the natural features are essential to the site and should be restored to their former prestige. The Design Review Board wholeheartedly supports efforts to do this restoration. Placing the Wellesley Farms Station on the Nation- al Historic Register will give the impetus to accomplish this goal.

Sincerely, Susan Slager Susan Glazer Design Review Administrator cc: Matthew Kierstead, Landscape Advisory Committee Natural Resources Commission HISTORICAL 2 TomFil WELLESLEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY 229 Washington St., P.O. Box 142, Wellesley Hills, MA 02181 SC TIAM (1926 RECEIVED FEB 41985 January 24, 1985 MASS. HIST. COMM. Ms. Valerie Talmage Executive Director Massachusetts Historical Commission 80 Boylston Street Boston, Massachusetts 02116 Dear Ms. Talmage: The Wellesley Historical Society enthusiastically supports the nomination of the Wellesley Farms Railroad Station and grounds to the National Historic Register. .The combination of the Richardson designed Railroad Station and the Olmsted landscape design is unique in the Town of Wellesley.

Matthew Kierstead's research of the station and grounds in preparing the nomination papers represents the volunteer commitment to the past that the Wellesley Historical Society seeks to foster. We encourage you to act favorably on the application. For the Society: Pauline A. Gardner Pauline A. Gardner President CC: Matthew Kierstead Mary Fitzpatrick, Chairman Wellesley Historic Commission Wellesley Selectmen TOWN OF WELLESLEY MASSACHUSETTS BOARD OF SELECTMEN PHILLIPS BLDG. - 12 SEAWARD ROAD - WELLESLEY, MA 02181 PATRICIA J. PALMER, CHAIRMAN FELIX JULIANI, VICE-CHAIRMAN FRANCES P. O'LEARY, SECRETARY THOMAS E. LEE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY TELEPHONE: 431-1019 April 4, 1985 Ms.

Valerie Talmage Executive Director Massachusetts Historical Commission 80 Boylston Street Boston, Massachusetts, 02116 Re: Nomination of Wellesley Farms Station and Grounds to the National Register of Historic Places Dear Ms. Talmage: On March 19,1985 the Wellesley Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to support Matthew Kierstead's nomination of the Wellesley Farms Railroad Station and Grounds to the National Register of Historic Places. The station is located on Town of Wellesley land controlled by the Board of Selectmen. Commissioned by the Boston and Albany Railroad in 1885, just four years after Wellesley's incorporation as a Town, the simple beauty of the H. H. Richardson building situated in a Frederick Law 0lmsted landscape represents the aesthetic quality on which Wellesley prides itself.

The Board of Selectmen feel that inclusion of the station on the National Register during the 100th year of its being commissioned is an appropriate birthday present to a building which generations of Wellesley residents have admired. We urge your support of this nomination: Singbety. Patricia J. atruusamer faemer Chairman, Board of Selectmen The Commontealth of Massachtsetts Huuse of Kepresentatitres State House, Boston 02133 ROYALL H. SWITZER 14TH NORFOLK DISTRICT 473 WASHINGTON STREET WELLESLEY. MA 02181 BUSINESS TEL. (617) 235-1299 Sile wINR 152 VED JUL 1 2 1985 MASS HIST, COMM Committee on State Administration ROOM 35, STATE HOUSE TEL. (617) 722-2320 June 11, 1985 Sarah Zimmerman Director of Preservation Planning Massachusetts Historical Commission 80 Boylston Street Boston, MA 02116 Dear Ms. Zimmerman: This letter is written in support of Mr.

Matthew Kierstead's nomination of the Wellesley Farms Railroad Station and Grounds to the National Register of Historic Places. The Wellesley Farms Station andaccompanying landscape are an integral part of the scenic community that is Wellesley. It would be fitting to have the station included in the National Register of Historic Places in 1985, this marks the one- hundredth anniversary of the commissioning of the station. Inclusion of the Farms Station in the Register now would be timely in that the redevelopment of the commuter parking lot adjacent to the Station has been proposed, and it would be beneficial to the community to accomplish this redevelop- in a manner consistent with the historic nature of the Station.

Thus, the Wellesley Farms Station and its accompanying landscape, as one of the last intact examples of the Boston and Albany Railroad series involving a collaboration between H.H. Richardson and Frederick Law Olmsted, hold importance EAtchardson and. for both the Town of Wellesley and the Commonwealth of Mass- achusstts. If I may provide further information on this matter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Sarah Zimmerman June 11, 1985 With every good wish, I am, Sincerely, Ray duitzlen State Representative RHS : jW HWOUE OMD BF RIVED heew/NR -1985 MASS. HIST. COMM. Dear Valerie: 85 I au very much in favar 8 National Register cotatus for the wellesley farms RR Station. D supput The effurts o Matt Kierstead to preseeve the buldugg + restore the grounds - both of which I've eeN. The grounds au a shamsles, fut are not duffialt to restore.

Not too often do I endorse something in the suburlss but the Farmo sta. 1s worthit. Fichard Heath Please put me doun as in favor at MHC's Dec. IIt hearinG. RichardHeath Thankr 319 Forest Hills St. Jamaica Plain, Mass. 02130 VS2 filewINP WALBIAO SYB LBEY ROYALL H. SWITZLER 14TH NORFOLK DISTRICT 473 WASHINGTON STREET WELLESLEY, MA 02181 BUSINESS TEL. (617) 235-1299 Che Cammuonfueallt of Mrsachuse IVED House of Kepresentatites DEC 51985 StateHouse, Boston 02133 Committee o MASS. HIST. COMstate Administratio Legislative Research Council ROOM 35, STATE HOUSE TEL. (617) 722-2320 December 2, 1985 Ms. Sarah Zimmerman Director of Preservation Planning Massachusetts Historical Commission 80 Boylston Street Boston, MA 02116 Dear Ms.

Zimmerman: to affirm my continued support for the inclusion of the Wellesley Farms Railroad Station in the 1985 National Register of Historic Places, and I wish to have this letter of support included in the December ll hearing of the Historical Commission on this issue at the Charlestown Navy Yard, as I unfortunately cannot be present at the hearing due to a 1 p.m. session that day. The idea of inclusion of the Wellesley Farms Station in the 1985 National Register enjoys community-wide support in Wellesley. Listing of this project in the 1985 Register is important for two reasons: it holds historical significance in that it marks the one hundredth anniversary of the station's commissioning; also, the act of being recognized in the Register would make the station eligible for state Olmstead grants, which would enable redevelopment of the commuter parking lot next to the station.

I realize that nomination of the Farms Station at the state level is the first important step in the process of including it in the 1985 Register. I am aware that the second step is to send the completed paperwork to the United States Department of the Interior, where it awaits a review that can take from 40 to 75 days. I would hope, then, that the initial step in this process could be completed as soon as possible, so that ultimately the Wellesley Farms Station would be able to be included in the National Register of Historic Places for 1985. Ms. Sarah Zimmerman December 2, 1985 Page 2 Thank you in advance for your consideration of this matter, and as always, if Imay provide further information or assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.

With every good wish, Iam, Sincerely, Ray Antzle stat Representative ONO 9 38 P 15 7 78/ 086 The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Office of the Secretary of State Michael Joseph Connolly, Secretary Massachusetts Historical Commission Valerie A. Talmage Executive Director State Historic Preservation Officer December 20, 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 (Hyde Park), Christ Church, 1220 River Street. Cheshire, Stafford HillMemorial, Stafford Hill Road. Wellesley, Wellesley Farms Railroad Station, Croton Street Extension. Al1 have been voted eligible by the State Review Board and have been signed by the State Historic Preservation Officer.

Owners were notified of pending State Review Board consideration 30-75 days before the meeting and were afforded the opportunity to comment. Comments received to date are attached to the nomination forms. Sincerely, Teran Zimmeman Sarah Zimmerman Director, Preservation Planning Massachusetts Historical Commission SZ/1s 80 Boylston Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116 (617) 727-8470 DEC 3I 1985