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 : - hoto (3"x3" or 3"x5, black an white) Indicate address of property on back of photo. Staple 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 inventorfed property and nearest intersection(s). Indicate north (SEE ATTACHED MAP) UTM REFERENCE 19.317850.4690930 USGS QUADRANGLE NEWTON, MA SCALE 1:25,000 AREA FORM NO. 5119 Newton, Mass. MRA Town NEWTON (Newtonville) Address 171 Lowell Avenue Historic Name John A. Fenno House Use: Present Original residence residence DESCRIPTION Date Source Style c.1854 Jackson Homestead Pub.
#13 Gothic Revival Architect unknown Exterior Wall Fabric clapboards Outbuf1dings none Major Alterations (with dates) Entrance porch (late 19th cent.) Condition Good Moved yes Date c.1885 Acreage Setting 6,531 sq. ft. (less than l acre) Residential neighborhood off Washington Street Recorded byBruce Fernald, Peter Stott Organization Newton Historical Comm. Date March 1980, April 1986 NATIONAL REGISTER CRITERIA STATEMENT (if applicable) rare and well-preserved example of the Gothic Revival style of architecture in Newton, the John A. Fenno House meets criterion 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 residence is Newtonville's best example of the Gothic Revival style.
Its design is characterized by two steep gable roofs which intersect to form an L-plan. The vertical emphasis of the design is underscored by tall, narrow bracketed windows and similarly proportioned diamond windows under the apex of each gable. Earred label mouldings embellish the pairs of 6/6 sash windows at the second story of each gable. During the late 19th century, an entrance porch with columns resting on a shingled kneewall was added to the south elevation of the house. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE Explain the role owners played in local or state history and how the building relates to the development of the community. John A. Fenno (1849-1929), the ninth mayor of Newton, 1893-94, was the original owner of this house. For many years, Fenno was treasurer and superintendent of the Boston, Revere Beach, & Lynn Railroad.
He did not enter public life, as a member of the Common Council, until 1888, several years after he had moved from this house into a larger residence. As built, the house stood at the corner of Walnut Street and Madison Avenue. Fenno sold the house about 1885 to George A. Strout, who moved the house to its present location. BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES Brimblecom, Newton, the Garden City, p. 89. "John A. Fenno," The Newton Graphic 22 November 1929, p. 6. of the Jackson Homestead, Newton's Older Houses: Newtonville (1980), Publication No. 13. City Atlases: 1874, 1886, 1907. City Directory: 1887. .
(7-81) 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 State Newton MRA Middlesex County, MA Nomination/Type of Review 41. Dupee Estate 42. Elliott, Charles D., House 43. Eminence, The 44. Estabrook, Rufus, House 45. Evangelical Baptist Church 46. Farquhar, Samuel, House . 47. Fenno, John A., House 48. First Unitarian Church 49. Fuller, Capt. Edward, Farm 50.
Gane, Henry, House Entered in the Hathoaa Boslator Aeeper Attest Date/Signature delurBza 94106 Entercd in the National Registerl Keeper Auluna Bgen 5l156 Entered in the National Register Intered In the Nation1 Register Attest fKeeper ShlreByan 914186 Attest fkeeper AilmatByan 9411 Intered In the Mational Register Attest f'keeper AilmuByu 9/4116 Entered in the National Register Attest f' Keeper Selmeßgan 114/16 Intored In the Netional Register Entered in tho National Register Attest juteeper AeloneyBrn 914106 Attest fKeeper AelruBgun 9141 Intered in tho Mational Begister Attest f Keeper AelarerBge 914156 Eato Mgtt.
Attest fKeeper Attest WeloresBgen 9/4/86 8600 1800 WASO Form - 177 ("R" June 1984) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET Fenno, John A., House (Newton MRA) Middlesex County MASSACHUSETTS resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: Reviewer's comments: -sample Jrequest Working No. Fed. Reg. Date: 23 3 1986 Date Due: - 8/21/86 - 9/6/86 1213/87 Action:_LACCEPT ._ iilcored in the 9-4-86 National Rogistez -RETURN _REJECT- Federal Agency: . Lappeal -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 J 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 J relating significance to the resource context relationship of integrity to significance J justification of exception J 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 171 Lowell Ave., Newtonville (John A. Fenno House) Inv. #5119 Newton, Mass MRA 15 SECTION BLOCK 21 29 19 SANEAA 32 WASHINGTON TERRACE BAILEY PLACE Cuas.
110764 28 29 WASHINGTON PENN STREET CENTRAL -IRNPIKE ROUTE PARKING LOT 773407 E 678000 MASSACHUSSETTS INTERSTATE AUSTIN E SECTION 24 BLOCK STREET E 678400 E !4 12 15 E 678801 City of Newton Assessor's Maps. Sheet 31 Metric Series. 1979 Scale: UTM grid line interval = 100 meters (328 feet) Newton, Mass. MRA 171 Lowel1 Ave., Newtonville (John A. Fenno House) 21-32-41