BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
FORM B - BUILDING In Area no. - MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, State House, Boston - - - MID CAMB. Form no. MC II B 4 , 1. Town _Cambridge Address _21 Kirkland Street Name Treadwe11-Sparks House Present use residential 2. Photo (3x3" or 3x5") Staple to left side of form Photo number 10 97-5 - 4. Map. Draw sketch of building location in relation to nearest cross streets and other buildings. Indicate north. 220 Present owner Harvard University 3. Description: Date -1838 Source deed records Style_Regency/Greek Revival Architect William Saunders/builder Exterior wall fabric wood Outbuildings (describe)_stable - now garage Other features two-storied, with very wide pilasters on street facades. Altered No Date --- Moved Yes Date 1968 5. Lot size: One acre or less XX Approximate frontage Over one acre 160' Approximate distance of building from street 68' 6.
Recorded by Robert Rettig OrganizationCambridge Historical_ Comm. Dat_1968 UTM- BOSTON NORTH MOV I4 1981 19/325830/4693560 ASSESS0R # 144- 8 30M-5-77 - 7. Original owner (if known) Daniel Treadwell residential Original use Subsequent uses (if any) and dates_ 8. Themes (check as many as applicable) Aboriginal Agricultural Architectural The Arts Commerce Communication Community development Conservation Education Exploration/ settlement Industry Military Political Xx Recreation Religion Science/ invention Social/ humanitarian Transportation 9. Historical significance (include explanation of themes checked above) XX XX This conservative wide-pilastered Regency/Greek Revival house was built in 1838 at the corner of Quincy and Kirkland Streets for Daniel Treadwell, inventor and Harvard proiessor.
Historian Jared Sparks bought the house in 1847 and lived there while president of Harvard (1849-53). Subsequently owned by the New Church Theological School, the property assed in 1966 to Harvard University. The University moved the house and its stable (now a garage) to its present location. The building's pilastered end facade faces toward the street with the entrance facade facing the side of the lot, duplicating the original siting. The preservation of the stable and accurate positioning of both buildings when they were moved approximately one hundred yards in 1968 mitigate the effects of this move. Despite the move, the building's architectural anú historical associations make it worthy of recognition. The Treadwell-Sparks House embodies the distinctive 10.
Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records, early maps, etc.) characteristics of the Regency/Greek Revival style such as cubical form, flat linear surface treatment, and wide pil- asters, and so meets criterion C. It was evaluated by the Cambridge survey as a local masterpiece. toi -NPS Substantiva "REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES NATIONAL EVALUATION / RETURN SHEET Readwell -Sparks House Property:(CAmbRedse multole Area) State, County:- MA- nuddlesu 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:. 417/82 Action: - ACCEPT.
resubmission K RETURN 6-10-82 nomination by person or local government - REJECT - owner objection photosL appeal maps- Substantive Review: sample - request - appeal - NR decision Reviewer's comments: Returned per agreenent f MA. SHPO t0 resubmit to Atote Reirew Boud Please exphin what characteristi & this building make it a "leal masterpiece" Recom. /Criteria Keturn Reviower Fatue Andrus Discipline Histcran Date _ 610/82 _ see continuation sheet --Nomination roturned for: - technical corrections cited below _substantive reasons discussed below 1. Name Location 3. Classification procom Uao sataltten 4. Owner of Property 5. Location of Legal Description 6. Representation in Existing Surveys es lola property teoon detormined oligiote? 7.
Description aceller tair letertorator ruine Ohock _ unaitered werec chock en -ontvind ne -moved acortbo the prosont and ertginel (il knoroma) plryateet cspoaraso summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates boundary selection 8. Significanco ore ed jeetity baler Ader Arebltos summary paragraph completeness clarity applicable criteria justification of areas checked relating significance to the resource context relationship of integrity to significance justification of excepticn other 9. Major Bibliographical References 10. Geographical Data oreage of d property - Quedrengle nemo UNIT Rolerence Verbel bound 11. Form Prepared By 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evet significance of thie property within the etote is: rationel - lca Oeto Mletarte Preserretten OMicer etgnature - 13.
Other Maps Photographs Other latuc Anlus Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to Signed W.H. Bravzam - Date 6.10.82. Phone: 202 272-3504 Comments for any Item maybe continued on an attached sheet bridge MASSACEUSETTS EISTORICAL COMMISSION B0 BOYLSTON STREET, BOSTON, MA 02116 1IIB4 USGS Map #25 Cambridge, Mass. Iowa Cambridge MRA Address _21 Kirkland Street Historic Name Treadwell-Sparks House PHOTO: (3x3" o= 3x5", black & white) staple to left side of fora Photo aumber. 79-5 1 SKETCH MAP Show property's location in relation to nesrest cross streets and/oI geographical features. Indicate al1 buildings betwees invescoried propesty and nearest intersection. Indicate aorth. Use: Present Original.
DESCRIPTION: Date 1838 residential residential Source tax records Styte Regency/Greek Revival Architect William Saunders/builder Esterior wall fabric: wood Outbuildiags_stable - now garage (See Attached Map) Majos alterations (with dates) None Recorded by R. Rettig/T. Alduino Organization Cambridge Historical Comm. Date 1968/1985 UTM 19/325830/4693560 USGS Quad: Boston South Moved Yes Date 1901/68 Appros. acieage_ .0116 acres Setting Surrounded by HarvardAcademic Buildings: Memorial Hall, Lowell ecture hail, The Busch-Relsinge. luseum, and The Science Labs: set 1 a large lawn. (Staple additional sheets bere) ARCITECTURAL STOVIPICCE Describe imporant architectura, ieatures an valuate in terms of other buildings within the cormmity.
(See Attached Sheet) HESTORISOY EndOW Che bupdain tel ros outhe deveyoent y (See Attached Sheet) BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES (name of publication, author, date and publisher) (See attached standard bibliography) Specific References: Report Four: O1d Cambridge, p. 95. - Rettig, Robert. "History of the Jared Sparks House". A paper on file at the Cambridge Historical Commission. January 15, 1968 (Typewritten). LOM - 7/8. - INVENTUKI EURN CUNILUDILUN NANNA MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Community: Cambridge, Mass. Cambridge MRA Form No. M.C. ILB 4 Property Name: Treadwel1-Sparks House Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. Architectural Significance The Treadwell-Sparks House was built in an innovative cubical form with austere geometric details.
It rises two stories from a granite foundation to a wood shingled, hip roof with tall, thin end wall chimneys. Its two main elevations (east and south) are flushboarded, enhancing the severity of the design. are divided vertically by wide pilasters without capitals, and horizontally by a frieze and molded beltcourse which also serves as a heading to the second and first floor windows, respec- wide with a sidelight entry recessed into the second bay. Flanking first floor windows sash while second floor windows contain 6/6. The south ele- vation, which faces Kirkland Street, is four bays wide (each slightly narrower than those of the south); windows with 6/6 sash are located in The secondary narth and west elevations are clapboarded and asymmetrically treated although generally four bays in width.
The Treadwell-Sparks House is one of the finest Greek Revival style houses in Cambridge, and certainly one of its most innovative. It was one of the first houses in the city to employ a three bay facade and was both early and exceptionally severe in its interpretation of geometric, English Regency forms. Less than a dozen of these conserva- tive broad-pilastered houses were built in Cambridge, mostly in the 1840's; the Sparks House is the earliest and most distinguished example. As such it is significant under Criterion C. Historical Significance The Treadwel1-Sparks House was built in 1838 for Daniel Treadwell, inventor and Rumford Professor at Harvard, by Cambridge builder William Saunders at the corner of Quincy and Kirkland Streets. In 1847, Nathanial Silsbee of Salem bought the property as a gift for his daughter, Mary Crowninshield Silsbee Sparks, wife of Jared Sparks.
Jared Sparks (1789- 1866) is the acknowledged first scholar of American history. He was also He was appointed McLean Professor of Ancient and Modern History at Harvard in 1839 and was President from 1849 to 1853. Sparks lived in the house now at 21 Kirkland Street from 1847 until his death. His heirs sold the house to the New Church Theological School in 1889. In 1901, the school turned the house 90 degrees and moved it further south on its lot at 48 Quincy Street to make way for the Church of the New Jerusalem. terior alterations were also made by the school during its long period of ownership (1889-1966). In 1966, Harvard acquired the property. Since the land was needed for the new Gund Hall, the house and barn were moved Continued Staple to Inventory form at bottom INVENTORY FOKM CUNTINUATIUN DAEDL MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Community: Form No.
Cambridae, Mass. M.C. Cambridge MRA II B4 Property Name: Treadwel1- Sparks House Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. Historical Significance (cont'd) in 1968 to 21 Kirkland Street and refurbished as the official residence of the Preacher of the University. On its new lot, the building was then positioned with its entrance to the driveway, duplicating the siting prior to the 1901 move. As the principal residence of Jared Sparks during the most pro- ductive years of his life, the Treadwell-Sparks House is signiiicant under Criterion B. INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Conmmity: |Form No: Cambridge, Mass. Cambridge MRA Cambridge Multiple Property Name: Resource Area Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued belor.
Standard Bibliography - Cambridge Multiple Resource Nomination Bunting, Bainbridge, and Floyd, Margaret H., ed., Harvard, An Architectural History. Cambridge: The Belknap Press of Harvard University, 1985 Cambridge Historical Commission, Survey of Architectural History in Cambridge. Cambridge: The MIT Press. One: East Cambridge (1965) Report Iwo: Mid Cambridge (1967) Three: Cambridgeport (1971) Report Four: Old Cambridge (1973) Report Five: Northwest Cambridge (1977) Cambridge Historical Society, Proceedings. Cambridge, 1906-present Daughters of the American Revolution, Hannah Winthrop Chapter, An Historical Guide to Cambridge. Cambridge, 1907 Gilman, A., ed., Cambridge of Eighteen Hundred and Ninety Six. Cambridge: The Riverside Press, 1896 Paige, L.R., History of Cambridge. Boston: H.O Hougton and Company, 1877 palge, L.R.i Gozzaldi, M.I.!
ed., History of Cambridge Supplement and Index. Cambridge: The Cambridge Historical Society, 1930 Rettig, R.B., Guide to Cambridge Architecture. Cambridge: The MIT Press, 1969 Stillman, W.J., ed., Poetic Localities Of Cambridge. Boston: James R. Osgood and Company, 1876 Woods, R.A., and Kennedy, A.J.; Warner, S.B., ed., Ihe Zone of Emergence. Cambridge: The MIT Press, 1962 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 1984) Staple to Inventory form at botton JaQMkbk HARVARO UNNERSITY frol RUSCH MEIZUMGAR MUSEUM 144 26.19. ogesa (mao FRISBIE OXFORD MKLINCKAQRI CHEMICAL LAR 5710 MEMAER VANEESTI CONVERSE LAA PL. UNINEASITY DIVINITY AVE. -N ST. UNTERS MISEHM enes.
H1RHARO UNVIVERNIY 144 119690) necr MERANTA TOMMAATICE RORLOSY Cambridge,Mass Cambridge MRA TREADWELL-SPARKS HOUSE 160 Base: City of Canbridge Assessor's Plans January 1983 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 7 11 Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group Name State Cambridge Multiple Resource Area MA Nomination/Type of Review 'G1. X Valentine Soap Workers cottages (101 Pearl St.) Keeper 62. Opposition House Substantive Review Substanilre Reyier Attest Keeper Attest 63. Frost, Walter, House Keeper =64. Attest fal Keeper Attest 65.
Francis, Ebenezer, House DOE/OWNER OBJECTION Keeper Attest Subatant Ire Navs suine abjetin oyetin gepro WOVER OBJECTION flKeeper Attest 6T.Y Atwood, Ephiram, House Keeper Attest 68./Buildings at 104-106 Hancock St. Keeper Attest - 69. Colburn, Sara Foster, House SubafentIve HeviewKeeper Bubstant1 10. Brooks, Luther, HeyOWNER OBJECTIONAffeeper aune arjection lithdeawn Attest Attest Date/Signature Ponu - Aia. Dr 42113 Wilian H.Bracham 4.13.82 H. Brockom 4.13.82 latuich Andeuus 9/12186 Both1 Saurse 9/17 Hawend Patucke Andurs 9/12186 BethY.Sauzge /1/8 lu Biangdabets WilsamH. Brockam 4.13.82 Patrick Anduus 9/1981 Betht.
Sovafe 1/12/86 86007078 WASO Form - 177 ('"R" June 1984) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET Sulsteative Keview Treadwell--Sparks House (Cambridge MRA) Middlesex County MASSACHUSETTS JUL 3 0 1986 resubmission was Dot ounu oby. nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Working No. Fed. Reg. Date: 0 5/86 Date Due: _ 128/86 91/3/86 Action: _LACCEPT. 9-/2-86 - RETURN _REJECT_ Federal Agency: - Substantive Review: -sample Jrequest -appeal -NR decision Reviewer's comments: Locally important for histeric arsociations co/ Productive lefe of pcholar_ Jared SpackL Recom./Criteria and as fene representature of Regence Reviewer _ tecept BtC Heek Reviwal style.
Keteeru comnerts 9/10/86 dtectnaltiston adequately addreare-see continuation sheet Nomination returned for: _ technical corrections cited below _substantive reasons discussed below 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification Category wnershi ublic Acauisitio Status Accessible Present Use 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 Check one -original site I moved date Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates boundary selection 8.
Significance Period Areas of Significance-Check and justify below Specific dates Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) Builder/Architect summary paragraph completeness 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: GPO 918-450 Comments for any item may be continued on an attached sheet Treadwell-Sparks House 21 Kirkland Street Canbridea MRA, Ma79-5 Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000275