Nomination for Lawrence, Phineas, House

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

NPS Form 10-900 (3-82) Explres 13--2-18 Expires 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 JUL 2 1 1987 date enteJG 2 0 1987 historic Phineas Lawrence House (preferred) and or common Phineas Lawrence/Coffin House 2. Location street & number 257 Trapelo Road N/A - not for publication Waltham N/A city, town vicinity of state Massachusetts code 025 county Middlesex code 017 3.

Classification Category district X building(s) structure site object Ownership x public private both Public Acquisition _ in process being considered Status occupied unoccupied work in progress Accessible X yes: restricted - yes: unrestricted no Present Use - agriculture commercial educational entertainment - government industrial military _ museum park private residence religious - scientific _ transportation _ other: 4. Owner of Property name George S. Coffin street & number 257 Trapelo Road Waltham city, town vicinity of 5. Location of Legal Description state Massachusetts 02154 courthouse, registry of deeds, etc. Middlesex County Registry of Deeds street & number 40 Thorndike Street city, town Cambridge state Massachusetts 6. Representation in Existing Surveys Inventory of the Historic Assets of the Commonwealth title #111A-B-1 has this property been determined eligible?

_ no date September 1978 .federal X . state county local depository for survey records Massachusetts Historical Commission city, town Boston state Massachusetts 7. Description Phineas Lawrence House, Waltham, Massachusetts Condition _ excellent Check one .fair deteriorated ruins unexposed _ unaltered X altered Check one . original site moved date (see text) Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance

Description of the property

The Phineas Lawrence House is located in the northeast section of Waltham, Massachusetts, on Trapelo Road, a ma jor east/west route through the city. This section of Waltham is part of the Waltham Highlands, and is character ized by very rugged, steeply contoured topography, much of it between 200 and 300 feet in elevation. The Highlands area is the source for several important brooks which feed into the Charles River, and the Lawrence House is located approximately a quarter of a mile west of the Beaver Brook. The Phineas Lawrence House is set back twenty-five feet from Trapelo Road as it begins its rise from the Beaver Brook valley. Much of the land on the southern side of Trapelo Road and the area just west of the Lawrence House on the north side of Trapelo Roadis owned bythe Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and is occupiedby three hospitals for chronically or mentally ill patients.

Most of the hospital facilities are not visible from Trapelo Road and as a result the Lawrence House has a commanding view of largely open land to the wsouthwest. The Phineas Lawrence House is the only nineteenth century building in a small enclave of twentieth century residential structures in this largely institutional section of Waltham. The Lawrence House,which faces southwest, is sited on a one-acre wooded lot between Porter and Baldwin Roads and is bounded along Trapelo Road by a drylaid stone wall. The house is a ca. 1810, two-story, five-bay, center hall plan structure, tour bays deep with a ca. 1860 two-story, tive-bay ell oft the rear (north) elevation. A ca. 1925 garage addition has been appended to the east side of the ell. A small, late 19th century one story gable-roofed barn is located to the side of the house on the eastern edge of the property.

The nomination thus consists of two contributing buildings and one contr ibuting structure. The Phineas Lawrence House was built in the Federal style. The front facade consists of five regularly fenestrated bays with 6/6 double hung sash. A11 windows have wooden louvered shutters and the exterior cladding is clapboard with narrow cornerboards. A small, ca. 1925 one-story, hipped roof entry portico encloses the original front center doorway. The structure has a granite foundation and a gable asphalt shingle root, with three chimeys. (Two chimneys punctuate the front slope of the roof, one the rear slope.) The rises from the ell's gable roof. The side (east and west) elevations of the Lawrence House are constructed of brick to the cornice line; the gables are woodframed with clapboard exterior.

Two double hung windows with 6/6 sash surmounted by a small lunette window characterize both east and west gables. Four bays wide and regularly fenestrated with 6/6 sash, the east facade of the original house is bilaterally symmetrical except for a small lattice entrance porch, ca. 1925, located on the northern end of the east elevation. The doorway is Italianate in style and was probably added around 1860 when the ell was 1ikely built. 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 Phineas Lawrence House, Waltham, Massachusetts Continuation sheet Item number 7 For NPS uae only received date entered Page The original 6/6 fenestration of the west facade has been altered: two windows have been made into doors and one window opening has been made smaller.

1935 one-story flat roofed porch, with plain board pilasters and moulded capitals, has been added to the west elevation. These minor alterations in the form of window replacement and additions do not alter the character of the original structure. The rear ell echoes the character of the original structure in its two-story height, gable roof, and clapboard siding. Its Italianate entrance on the east elevation and its granite ashlar and mortar foundation suggest a mid-nineteenth century construction date. The ell is irregularly fenestrated with 6/6 sash and it is attached to the ca. 1925 garage addition. OMB No.1024-0018 Expires 10-31-87 1 east side of the house have been combined into a single large room and some of the second floor chambers have been altered to include modern conveniences. A second "back" stair services the rear ell.

These alterations in room arrangement do not compromise the character of the original dwelling. The small barn located on the property is a wood frame and wood shingled structure with a gable side roof. Archaeology Because of the proximity of Beaver Brook, prehistoric travel routes or settlement sites may exist in the vicinity of the Phineas Lawrence House. The house is sited on a remnant of a once large farm estate and evidence of long demolished outbuildings may exist. Because the Phineas Lawrence House is architecturally intact and in good condition archeaological research would probably not provided extensive additional information on the development of the house. Archaeological research might provide information on outbuildings and the daily workings of a 19th century farm.

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Significance Period prehistoric 1400-1499 1500-1599 1600-1699 1700-1799 1800-1899 X 1900- Areas of SignificanceCheck and justify below -__ archeology-prehistoric community planning _ archeology-historic conservation X agriculture economics X architecture education art engineering commerce exploration/settlement communications industry invention .. landscape architecture law literature military music philosophy politics/government Specific dates ca. 1810, 1860, 1925 Builder

Statement of significance

/Architect Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) Unknown The Phineas Lawrence House, 257 Trapelo Road, Waltham, Massachusetts, has significant associations with Waltham's early development and its agricultural past, as well as possessing integrity of location, des ign, setting, materials, and workmanship. The Phineas Lawrence House is important architecturally as one of the few remaining Federal-per iod farmhouses, which were typical of Waltham's early agricultural period. The property also includes a late 19th centur y barn; it, too, is considered contributing. The house was also the birthplace and home of Phineas Lawrence (1826-1924), who chronicled the history of the Trapelo Road area of Waltham and the Brown family in his book A Brief History of the Trapelo Browns.

Lawrence was also a prominent Waltham civic leader and bus inessman who contributed to the development of Waltham from town to city. The Phineas Lawrence meets Criteria A, B, and C of the National Register of Historic Places on the local level. The area occupied by present-day Waltham was originally part of the large Watertown land grant, one of the earliest settled areas of Massachusetts. By 1738 Waltham established itself as an independent town whose prosperity was der ived from farming and dairying activities. Up until the ear ly 19th century, Waltham was thinly settled, and the topography of broad valleys between Charles River tributaries lent itself to large farm estates. With the advent of industrialization, the river and brooks that ran through Waltham and watertown became attractive factory sites.

The farm estates prospered by providing foodstuffs to the burgeoning population of mill workers and town residents. Increased industrial development and town growth caused local roads, such as Trapelo Road and Lexington Street, to be improved and extended. These roads became major east/west (Trapelo Road) and north/south (Lexington Street) transportation links during the Federal period and farmers such Lawrences prospered. The Phineas Lawrence House, probably constructed by Lawrence's father and uncle, is typical of Waltham's Federal period farmhouses built by successful agriculturalists. The large scale of the house, the use of brick and granite, and the fine interior finish details reflect the Lawrence family's prosperity in the early 19th century.

As the farm flourished and family size increased, it became necessary to enlarge the house, and the two-story rear ell was added sometime around 1860. Phineas Lawrence continued to maintain a dairy farm on the property throughout the 19th century, even though large-scale farming in Waltham was becoming less economical. Extremely long-lived, Lawrence survived most members of his family, and at his death in 1925 the house was purchased by a man named Trenholm. Trenholm improved the property, adding the garage, porch, and east and south entrance pavilions. These changes do not compromise the architectural integrity of the house, but do reflect the changes in the property from a working 19th century farm to a 20th century suburban house. religion science sculpture social/ humanitarian theater transportation .other (specify) Community Development continued 9.

The rest of the file

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

Major Bibliographical References Form B, number 111A-B-1, MHC, Boston, MA "Some Historic Houses" "The Trapelo Browns" Majorie W. Childs, 1962, Waltham Public Library ,Phineas Lawrence, Published 1982 by George Cofawranda tbasePy3djs Liboage S. Coffin, Bicentennial Edition. "Phineas 10. Geographical Data Acreage of nominated property Less than one acre Quadrangle name - Lexington UT M References *L1,9/ 13/118/ 3,610 Zone Easting 1416/95/8010 Northing CL EL GLULI Quadrangle scale 1:25,000 B Zone LALULLIL Easting Northing LuLu LILLLL FLL Verbal boundary description and justification See attached sheet List all states and counties for properties overlapping state or county boundaries state N/A code county code state code county code 11. Form Prepared By name/title Susan E.

Hollister/Preservation Consultant with Betsy Friedberg, National Register Director, Massachusetts Historical Cormission organization Mass. Historical Commission date March 1987 street & number 80 Boylston Street telephone 617 727-8470 city or town Boston state Massachuseits 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evaluated significance of this property within the state is: _ national -- 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 propertyfor 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 Officer signature Vaceni A Talmage title Executive Director,State Historic Preservation Offfaler fules 15,1987 For NPS use only I hereby certify that this property is included in the National Register Uelores Keeper of the National Register biceni Hegdsien date 8/20/87 Attest: Chief of Registration GPO 911-399 date NPS Form 10.900-a (3-82) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form Phineas Lawrence House, Waltham, Massachusetts Continuation sheet Item number For NPS usa only racaived date antered 8 Page When the Commonwealth took, by eminent domain, much of the land along Trapelo Road for institutional use, Trenholm managed to save much of the Lawrence Homestead by subdividing the land and developing suburban tract homes along Baldwin and Porter Roads.

Compensation of so many residents was infeasible for the Commonwealth, and as a result of the subdivision the once-extensive Lawrence farm was reduced to its present one-acre size. Phineas Lawrence was a life-long resident of Waltham and always lived in the house at 257 Trapelo Road. in 1826, the fifth of eight children, Lawrence undoubtably witnessed the evolution of this house from a relatively contemporary structure to a home that reminded industrialized Waltham of the area's agricultural beginnings. Phineas Lawrence was a successful and prominent businessman and skillfully managed the family dairy farm. Active in local politics, Lawrence served on the first and second Boards of Alderman for the City of Waltham and was Chairman of the Board of License Commissioners. In addition to these successes. Lawrence was a dedicated local historian of the Trapelo Road area.

Lawrence not only concerned himself with local genealogy, but documented the history of the Trapelo Road area, paying particular attention to the development of the road from settlement times to 1858. Lawrence also concentrated on the major farms and estates in Waltham and their owners and families. Eventually, he completed an exhaustive study of his ancestors, the Brown family. Directly related to the Browns through his mother, Lawrence traced the family history which boasted deacons, pastors, Waltham selectmen, a U.S. District Attorney, Congressman, and Senator. Phineas Lawrence hoped his work in tracing the settlement of Waltham and the Brown family genealogy would someday assist other historians interested in Waltham's development and much of the present-day knowledge of Waltham and its history is due to Phineas Lawrence's interest in his town's early years. OMB No.

1024-0018 Expires 10-31-87 NPS Form 10-900-a (3-82) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form Phineas Lawrence House, Waltham, Massachusetts Continuation sheet Item number OMB No. 1024-0018 Expires 10-31-87 For NPS use only received date entered 10 Page 10. Verbal boundary description and justification: The boundaries of the Phineas Lawrence House follow the rear property line of 257 Trapelo Road and the street curblines along Porter, Roads. northwesterly along Trapelo Road 135 feet; turning right following Porter Road 130 feet; turning at a right angle and running 140 feet in a south-easterly direction; turning right and following Baldwin Road back to the starting point at Baldwin and Trapelo Roads. See attached assessors map for exact del ineations of boundaries.

djacent residential properties on the north, east, and west of these oundaries reflect mid-twentieth century residential development and are lifferent in scale, style, and use of materials. development in the form of nonresidential institutional structures (the Phineas Lawrence School and the Fernald School) has occurred on the southern boundary of the Phineas Lawrence House. 60.09 11639 26 112.96 27 109.54 28 106 H1 8 29 102.69 30 99.26 3 95.84 PORTER 32 69.84 271 150 271.06 City of Wolthe School Phineos Lawrence 615.6 80 100 63 375 6625|5 26 34 60 148.86 \ 100 128.86 RD. 70 148.80 75669 6539 RD. 8) 55.

406 27 60 11 10 10 c 20.27 4 351.84/ 60 63 6 28 60 9 100 8 29 575 38 30B3 50 30B2 30B/ 203.45 30A 169.61 Phi 23 575 S13.50 28 27 5 109.24 5052 6 103 45 50.76 BALDWIN 55.25 5525 7 31 PRIVATE*PUBLIC 55.24 94 122 73 146.56 3 35 154.03 21 60 63./7 123/7 30C4 37 12907 30C3 137.88 147.8 30C2 158.8 30CI 60.09 55.12 55.01 88 65 64.8 1317 20 19 52.31 52.22 10453 OT 26 /25 53.5 40 93.5 73.64 6 1, 23 /22 3199 28.13 21 1/3/6 27 92.67 5/.53 30 117.16 19 18 2 60 45 60 CHASE 7 142 99 257 RD.

61.66 88/5 29 115.15 30 142.04 80.38 5 64.8 71.57 8 64.55 5 (15.5) 9 512 3 A 70.52 243 60 235 60 <3) 31 68.29 223 25 2237 -55 3998 OAKLEDGE 2221 1268 9567 35.67 108 21 228.69 45 Assessor's Map - Waltham Phineas Lawrence House 257 Trapelo Road Waltham, MA 02138 1" = 100' 87001397 WASO Form - 177 ('R" June 1984) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET Lawrence, Phineas, House Middlesex County MASSACHUSETTS resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: Reviewer's comments: J sample Drequest Working No._JUL 2/ 1987 Fed. Reg.

Date: 2/788 8/20/87-9/4/87 Action: ( aatered in the KACCEPT 8-20-5 / 2eeioea1 __RETURN Begister REJECT Federal Agency: Jappeal 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? 7. Description Condition excellent good fair - deteriorated ruins unexposed yes - no Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates boundary selection Status Accessible Present Use Check one L 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 J completeness clarity JJ applicable criteria J justification of areas checked relating significance to the resource J context J relationship of integrity to significance 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 title date 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 PHINEAS LAWRENCE HOUSE 257 TRAPELO ROAD WALTIAM, MA PHOTOGRAPHER: VIEW: Susan E. Hollister, April 20, 1985 35 Concord Ave. Cambridge, MA 02138 PHOTO 1 of 2 EAST ELEVATION OF 257 TRAPELO ROAD. PHOTOGRAPI TAKEN FROM A POSITION FACING WEST. PHINEAS LAWRENCE HOUSE 257 TRAPELO ROAD WALTHAM, MA PHOTOGRAPHER: VIEW: Susan E. Hollister 35 Concord Ave. Cambridge, MA 02138 SOUTH (MAIN) AND WEST(SIDE) ELEVATIONS OF 257 TRAPELO ROAD. PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN FROM A POSITION FACING NORTHWEST. JIEE HATIAO P635542131 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 JUL 2 119: July 12, 1987 Carol Shull National Register of Historic Places Department of the Interior National Park Service P.O. Box 37127 Wash ington, DC 20013-7127 Dear Ms. Shull: En cl os ed you will find the following nomination forms: Iwo Boston properties are being submitted: Congress Street Fire Station, 344 Congress Street New Riding Club, 52 Hemenway Street, HPCA #0618-84-MA-85-0799 Cancord, Mott Shaw, Thamas Estate, 317 Gar field Road, HPCA #10297MA Southbridge, Southbridge Town Hall, 41 Elm Street Wal tham, Lawrence, Phineas House, 257 Trapelo Road All 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 oppor tunity to comment.

Comments received to date are attached to the nominatian form. Sincerely, Delay Fruedhers Betsy Friedberg Na tional Register Director Massachusetts Historical Conmission BF/1s Enclosur e 80 Boylston Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116 (617) 727-8470