BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
FORM B - BUILDING MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION 80 BOYLSTON STREET ,BOSTON, MA 02116 : Photo (3"x3" or 3"x5", black and white) Indicate address of property on back of photo. taple to left side of form Sketch Map: Draw map showing property's location in relation to nearest cross streets and/or geographical features. Indicate all bufldings between inventoried property and nearest intersection(s). Indicate north AREA FORM NO. LF 42 Newton, Mass. MRA Town NEWTON (Lower Falls) Address 26 Quinobequin Road Historic Name Allan Crocker Curtis Houst Pillar House Use: Present Original restaurant residence DESCRIPTION Date Source 1845 Registry of Deeds, 462:111 Style Greek Revival Architect_ William Lyon Exterior Wall Fabric clapboards Outbutldings none (SEE ATTACHED MAP) Major Alterations (with dates) converted to restaurant 1952; additions on side and rear elevations Condition Good.
Moved no Date Acreage 87,868 sq. ft. (2acres) enctre egolated residen e/restauranps ramps and major thoroughfares UTM REFERENCE USGS QUADRANGLE SCALE 19.314300.4688340 NATICK, MA 1:25,000 Recorded by Organization Date -. Deborah Shea Newton Historical Comm. May 1981 NATIONAL REGISTER CRITERIA STATEMENT (if applicable) As a well-detailed example of high-style Greek Revival architecture in Newton, as the home of one of Lower Falls' prominent residents, and for its association with the paper industry in Lower Falls, the Allen C. Curtis House meets criteria A, B, and C of the National Register of Historic Places. ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE Describe important architectural features and evaluate in terms of other buildings within the community. This stately mansion, lately the Pillar House Restaurant, is an excellent example of the mansion type Greek Revival architecture at its height.
The structure is set gable end to the street, and features a monumental 2-1/2-story portico that transforms the street facade into a classical pediment. The facade sheathed with flush boards, a technique inspired by the masonry construction of the Greek originals, while side elevations are clapboard. Embellished Roman Ionic pilasters frame the corners of the residence and support a full entablature, on the side elevations. entrance is on the' south elevation, though its detail has been altered during later restaurant renovations. The south colonnade is also now enclosed. The principal windows are floor-to-ceiling, while upper-story windows are 6/6 sash and capped with peaked lintels. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE Explain the role owners played in local or state history and how the building relates to the development of the community. Allen C.
Curtis (1789-1871) was a prosperous paper manufacturer as well as prominent in local politics. His distinctive Greek Revival mansion was designed and built by William Lyon, a housewright from Needham. contract, dated May 24, 1845, and detailed specifications are recorded at the Middlesex County Registry of Deeds. The house was to be completed "in a good workmanlike manner" by October, for a $3575.00 payment, a sizeable sum for the day. Lyon also constructed William Curtis' residence on Washington Street (1839, see #128), as well as several cottages on Grove Street (Area C). Allen and his brother William Curtis inherited their father Solomon Curtis' interest in the Curtis Paper Mill in 1818, after their father's They were among the earliest to install Fourdrinier machines in their mills (1828), enabling the company to manufacture paper on a continuous roll.
In 1831 the brothers acquired full interest in the mill. They continued to expand the company, and in 1834 built larger stone mills located on the island in the middle of the Charles River. Newsprint and fine book papers were a speciality of the mill, though its also manufactured banknote paper for a bank in Dedham. The stone foundations and some gable end walls are still visible, incorporated into later BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES Newton's 19th Century Architecture: Upper & Lower Falls (1982). M.F. Sweetser, King's Handbook of Newton (1889). Clarence A. Wiswall, One Hundred Years of Paper Making (Reading, 1938). Newton's Older Houses: Newton Lower Falls, publication #8, Jackson Homestead, 1974. Middlesex County Registry of Deeds, Book 462-111, 112, 113.
8/85 INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Commmni ty : NEWTON, MASS. MRA Form No: LF-42 Property Name: 26 Quinobequin Rd Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE, cont. construction behind 2284 Washington Street. Business conditions just prior to the Civil War forced the brothers to close the 68-year old business. The company was subsequently sold. Staple to Inventory form at bottom PS Form 10.900- United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form Continuation sheet Item number For NPS use only received 7/23/86 date entered Page Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group Name Newton MRA State Middlesex County, MA Nomination/Type of Review 31. Buckingham, John, House - 32.
Building at 1--6 Walnut Terrace 33. Central Congregational Church 34. Chestnut Hill, The 35. Claflin, Adams, Estate 36. Clark House 37. Collins, Frederick, House 38. Curtis, Allan Crocker, House--Pillar House 39. Curtis, William, House 40. Davis, Seth, House Entered in the National Begister fkeeper Attest Intersd in tha Mationel Register Jieeper Attest Interad Mationsl 1IL the Register Heeper Entered in the Mational Register Attest Meeper Enterei Nationa.
the Regiater Attest JKeeper Entered in the Mational Register Entered In the Mational Rogieter Attest keeper Attest fKeeper Intered the Mational Logister Attest Tkeeper Interud Mat1on In Ma: Attest fkeeper Attest fReeper Attest Date/Signature AclourBgan9/t86 HiloresBgan 9/41816 Allmebyen 914656 dllmueByan 214/86 Sllmubyun 2/486 deloualgan 914186 dicruaßgea 91414 AelmueByan 914146 shlreeßyan 814116 Salreybiza 214106 WASO Form - 177 ("'R" June 1984) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET 86001787 Curtis, Allan Crocker, House--Pillar House (Newton MRA) Middlesex County MASSACHUSETTS resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: Reviewer's comments: sample Jrequest Intered Nationa JUL 23 1986 Working No. Fed. Reg.
Date: 2/3/37 Date Due: _ 8/21/86 2/6186 in t.hAction: _ACCEPT.- 9-4-86 RETURN Boglater _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 Jexcellent good fair deteriorated ruins unexposed Check one J 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 J original site moved date 8.
Significance Period Areas of Significance-Check and justify below Specific dates Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) Builder/Architect Jsummary paragraph - completeness clarity applicable criteria justification of areas checked J relating significance to the resource context relationship of integrity to significance J 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: - GPO 918-450 Comments for any item may be continued on an attached sheet Newton, Mass. MRA 26 Quinobequin Rd., N. Lower Falls (Allan Crocker Curtis House) Inv. #LF 42 Falls STREET SECTION 42 BLOCK 32 16 BA PRIVATE DRIVE WASHINGTON WALES STREET UINOEGUN SECT LON 42 BLOCK 31* CHARLES NEWTON (APPROXIMATE, WELLESLEY City of Newton Assessor's Maps. Sheet 98 Metric Series. 1979 Scale: UTM grid line interval - 100 meters (328 feet) .. SR 128 & 195 -TrOr SECTYON 42 BLOCK -RIVER-- 5 SECTION A BLOeK! ROAD Newton, Mass. MRA 26 Quinobequin Rd., N. Lower Falls (Allan Crocker Curtis House) 42-1-3