Nomination for Littlefield--Roberts House

The case file that argued this property on to the National Register: 2,115 words across 14 pages, filed in 1986. Reproduced in full, word for word.

Source document Held by the National Archives in Record Group 79 as reference 86002070, where it exists only as a scan with no text layer. The words below were read off that scan by machine, so the occasional stray character is the recogniser's and the typewriter's. Nothing is summarised, corrected or written by this site. See the catalogue record, or return to the property.

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

- FORM B - BUILDING MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, State House, Boston - - - - 2. Photo (3x3" or 3x5") Staple to left side of form Photo number 1095-29 1 - 4. Map. Draw sketch of building location in relation to nearest cross streets and other buildings. Indicate north. QUINCY _Z ASSESSOR 13G |l 30M-5-77 In Area no. MID CAMB. 1. Town Cambridge Address 16 Prescott Street Lttle field-Ruberts Hese Name ----- Present useoffices Form no. MC II B26 Present owner Harvard University 3. Description: Date 1873 Source deed records Style_Mansard Architect Joseph Littlefield, builder Exterior wall fabric_wood Outbuildings (describe) -- Other features an iron-crested, chateau-roofed corner tower adorns the reofline; the columns and walls of first story imitate masonry. Altered_No Date ==-- Moved No Date =---- 5.
Lot size: One acre or less XX Over one acre Approximate frontage S0' Approximate distance of building from street 12' 6. Recorded by E. MacDougal1 Organization Cambridge Historical Comm. Date 1966 UTM-BOSTON SLUTH 19/325940|4693140 hittlefueld-Reberts Ierse 7. Original owner (if known) Joseph Littlefield. Original use_ residential Subsequent uses (if any) and dates_residential/offices 8. Themes (check as many as applicable) Aboriginal Agricultural Architectural The Arts Commerce Communication Community development Conservation Education Exploration/ settlement Industry Military Political Recreation Religion Science/ invention Social/ humanitarian Transportation 9. Historical significance (include explanation of themes checked above) This house is one of the finest examples of the Mansard style in Cambridge.
The chateau- roofed corner tower and entrance porch with a hip roof supported by pairs of ringed columns are features characteristic of the 1870s. These columns and walls of the first story are scored to imitate masonry. the linear incised detail and projecting cornice supported by elaborate brackets. Joseph Littlefield, the architect/builder, retained ownership of the house until 1875 when it was sold to Orrin Roberts, a mason from Chelsea. The Littlefield House embodies the distinctive charac- teristics of the Mansard style as ennumerated above and so meets criterion C. 10.
Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records, early maps, etc.) 0861 7 T AON NATIONAL ROREGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVAtUATION / RETUANtSHlerkederts Host Building at 16 Prescott STeut Property: Cambredge multole Resounc Anea) State, County:- MA-Mudaleser Federal Agency: United States Department of the Interior National Park Service DOE/OWNER OBJECTION Working No.- 11-14-80-2862 Fed. Reg. Date:_ Date Due: Action: resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal 4/12/82 ACCEPT. RETURN 6-10-82 - REJECT - photos L maps - Substantive Review: - sample - request _ appeal - NR decision Reviewer's comments: Returned per agreement ly MA. SHPO t0 iesubmit to State Reirew Roaud Preleter enpbin ag keantapt j s tile in compauson to other local examples.
Recom./ Criteria lelurn Reviewer _ latuck Anduus Discipline Historian Date 10/10 (92 - see continuation sheet -Nomination returned for: - technical corrections cited below substantive reasons discussed below 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification nosom Uao Pblle hoqutattten 4. Owner of Property 5. Location of Legal Description 6. Representation in Existing Surveys les taie property teon determined oliglbte? 7. Description exceller -ratatorena Dhook one . unsitered attered seont and ertelnal (if knorm):

Description of the property

summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates boundary selection JUL 3 0 1986 Working No. Wed. Reg. Date: 2/2/88 Date Due: _ 8/28/86 - 2/13/86 Action: _ACCEPT. 9-/2-86 -_RETURN _REJECT _ Federal Agency: LNR decision Recom./Criteria Accept C Reviewer S Diabine aeuectenal Xistory Date_ see continuation sheet Present Use Check one - original site moved date 8.

The rest of the file

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

cal References 10. Geographical Data carcago of nominated property . Quedrengte ramo - UNIT Roderences Varbed bouadory desertatten and hesttheath 11. Form Prepared By 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The ercluatad slgnilicance of enia property wtehin the etate le: _ national oca en Orficer eignature 13. Other Maps Photographs Other Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to Patich Andus signed W.H.Brahay - Date 6./0.82 Phone: 202 272 -3504 Comments for any Item may be continued on an attached sheet FORM B - BUILDING LASSACHUSETTSSSRORICABOSOONA BOSTQN, MA 0210 -.9° 1 PHOTO: (3x3" or 3x5" stagl o to leet blackot vbite) Photo aumber_ 89-25 ' 1 SKETCH MAP Show property's location in relation to nearest cross streets and/or geographical features. Indicate all buildings between inventoried property and nearest intersection. Indicate north AREA Mid.
Cam MOFORM NO. II B 26 USGS Map #22 - Town Address Historic Name Roberts House Cambridge, Mass. Cambridge MRA 16 Prescott Street Littlefield - Use: Present residential Original residential DESCRIPTION: Date 1873 Source deed and tax records. Style Mansard Architect Joseph Littlefield, builder Exterior wall fabric wood Outbuildings_ NA Major alterations (with dates)_ none SEE ATTACHED MAP Recorded by E. MacDougall/I. Alduino Organization_ Cambridge Historical Com. Date 1966/1985 UTM 19/325940/4693140 USGS Quad: Boston South Moved no _Date NA Approx. acreage - 1446 acres Setting. Set on a confined lot wit paved driveways on either side ar a parking lot to the rear, 16 Prescott Street faces the Harvard Yard Extension. Prescott Street includes four mid-nineteeth century wood frame houses and (Staple additional sheets beets here V twentietn century brick apartment buildings.
Ltthe tidled-keserps aeun RCHITECTURAL SIGVIFICANCE (Describe important architectural features and evaluate in terms of other buiidings within the conmmity.) Constructed in 1873, 16 Prescott Street is a wood frame clapboard house rising two stories from a brick foundation to a low, slate mansard roof. Details include a wide frieze, corner boards, molded water table and mid-story beltcourse. The facade (west) is heavily ornamented with a bold side entry. This consists of a molded segmental frame with transom and narrow sidelights and a porch with paired rusticated columns on paneled bases supporting a bracketted mansard roof. Above this is a window with bracketted, pedimented entablature and 2/2 sash.
South of the entry is a three-sided, two story bay which projects through the cornice to its own IISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE (Explain the role owners played in local or state Continued history and how the building relates to the development of the conmmity.) Joseph Littlefield, the architect/builder, retained ownership of the house until 1875 when it was sold to Orrin Roberts, a mason from Chelsea. 16 Prescott Street is a quintessential example of the Mansard sty-le ol the 1870's in Cambridge. Retaining some of the plasticity of the 1860's in .its entry and side window treatments, its vertical form and linear details are pure expressions of the period. ne oreshe portod.
3IBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES (name of publication, author, date and pub sher) SEE ATTACHED BIBLIOGRAPHY 10M - 7/82 INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Commnity : MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Cambridge, Mass. Form No: II B 26 Cambridge MRA Property Name: 16 Prescott St. LHtlefrold-Ruberts ltouse Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. Architectural Significance con't. towered roof with iron cresting. This bay is flush boarded and contains narrow windows with stilted flat top arches, bracketted sills and 1/1 The south elevation has a similiar bay at its rear and windows with segmental pediments below and triangular above toward the front. The north elevation follows a similiar window scheme with segmental pediments below and triangular above, but all are blocked.
Ihe house is extended by a rear ell with secondary entry on the south side. Roof bracketts have been removed. This house is one of the finest examples of the late Mansard style in Cambridge. While earlier buildings a certain stability as the result of the heavy horizontal mass of the Mansard, 16 Prescott Street shows the trend in the 1870's toward a more pinched verticality and aggressiveness of outline in its chateau roofed bay and corner towers. The iron tower cresting and incised window caps are featured on other Cambridge houses as 334 Braodway and 37 Arlington Street (although neither of these houses features both details). The walls of the bay paired columns are scored in imitation of masonry, a technique used on earlier houses of the period (6 Maple Avenue, 1860 and 20 Sacra- mento street, 1869).
The Littlefield House embodies the distinctive characteristics of the Mansard stvle as enumerated above and so meets Criterion C. Staple to Inventory form at botton. -INVENTORY FORM LUNILIUAI MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Cambridge Mass. Cambridge MRA MC II B 26 Property Name: 16 Prescott St. L.tetie - Kebots herst Indicate each item on inventory forn which is being continued belaw. Bibliography/References Cambridge Historical Commission. Survey of Architectural History in Cambridge: Vol ume I, East Cambridge (1965), out of print. Vol ume II, Mid Cambridge (1967), Cambridge, MA Volume III, Cambridgeport (1971), Cambridge, MA Vo lume IV, Old Cambridge (1973), : Cambridge, MA Volume V, Northwest Cambridge (1977), Cambridge, MA Cambridge Historical Society, Proceedings (1906-Present), Cambridge, MA.
D.A.R., Winthrop Chapter, An Historical Guide to Cambridge (1907), Cambridge, MA. Gillman, A. (ed.), Cambridge of Eighteen Hundred and Ninety-Six (1896), Cambridge, MA. Paige, L.R., History of Cambridge (1877), Boston, MA.; Supplement (1930), Boston, MA. Rand, C., Cambridge, U.S.A. (1964), New York, NY. Rettia, R.B., Guide to Cambridge Architecture (1969), Cambridge, MA. Stillman, N.J. (ed.), Poetic Localities of Cambridge (1876), Cambridge, MA. Woods, R.A., and Kennedy, A.J. (Warner, ed.), Zone of Emergence (1962), Cambridge, MA.
Zaitzevsky, C., with the advice of the Review Committee members, The Harvard University Study of Historic and Architectural Properties in the Environs of Cambridge, (April 1983-December Staple to Inventory form at bottom NPS Form 10-900-a (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 date entered Page 9h1 Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group Name State Cambridge Multiple Resource, Area Nomination/Type of Review 81. Buildings at 15-17 Lee St. v Keeper 82. 83. Substantiro Heview Eliot, Charle§Me, OWNER ÖBJECTION Substantira MevIo: Sanders, Ch3JES/ÖWRE ÖBJECTION Attest Keeper Attest Keeper Attest - 84. 1Jones, William R., House SubetantIva EevIewv Keeper Attest Nubsca stuusa -85.
ownn abjectern Bullatns at IBBESENER OBJECTIONG|Keeper wtherawn Attest N9807 Dexter, D. GbeEt HPMER OBJECTION Keeper Attest , 87. Keen, Alden T., House DÓE/OWNER OBJECTION Keeper Attest 88./ Bradbury, William Fi, House / Keeper. Attest " 89. Hyatt-DUSBE HOUNER OBEEPI8ovfer Keeper Attest 90. James, William, House DOE/OWNER ÖBJECTION Keeper Attest Date/Signature Weliam/t.Bracham 4.13:82 rut 6/10/82 Harvaud Wellam H.Bravham 4.1382 deers enid eezible te hw Sy 6-353 Vatuick Andeus 9/12/86 Bettot Saouse 9/148 put 6/1452 Hasond Hawerd .jom Trillyl 6-5083 Hawend Hawerd 85 86002070 WASO Form - 177 ("R" June 1984) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET Little-fielo--Roberts House Building at 16 Preseott Street (Cambridge MRA) Middlesex County MASSACHUSETTS MSxs. XAnion resubmission man ounewols.
nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: J sample Jrequest -appeal Reviewer's comments: hoallyrisnijice residence de of Roteru comnents have been addressed. Nomination returned for: technical corrections cited below _substantive reasons discussed below 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification Category Ownership Public Acquisition Status Accessible 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 J unaltered altered Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates boundary selection JUL 3 0 1986 Working No. Wed. Reg. Date: 2/2/88 Date Due: _ 8/28/86 - 2/13/86 Action: _ACCEPT.
9-/2-86 -_RETURN _REJECT _ Federal Agency: LNR decision Recom./Criteria Accept C Reviewer S Diabine aeuectenal Xistory Date_ see continuation sheet Present Use Check one - original site moved date 8. Significance Period Areas of Significance-Check and justify below Specific dates Builder/Architect Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) J summary paragraph completeness clarity l applicable criteria justification of areas checked J relating significance to the resource J context relationship of integrity to significance justification of exception Jother 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 Littlefield-Roberts House 16 Prescott Street Canbridge MRA,, 89-25 STREET "0° HARVARD 130 No. 21 Ar00 QUINCY No = 11060 _(92122 MARMARONION (200 3) PRESCOTT (er7af 7492 (184020) 698s WARE Nº. 34 12.02-771 STREET HETD TTTAS VISUAL CARPENTÉO CENTEM CANTER STREET STREET 7578a7 No 15 s9re 130 BROADWAY Cambridge, Mass. Cambridge MRA J. H.
LITTLETILLD HOUSE Base: CILVOI Canbridge Assessor's Plans Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000275