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 MAY 2 2 1989 606 AREA E FORM NO. 298 Town (Winchester M.R.A.) WINCHESTER Address 212-214 Main Street Historic Name Deacon John Symmes House - Photo (3"x3" or 3"x5", black and . white) Indicate address of property on back of photo. Staple to left side of form. Sketch MaD: Draw Ban chnwinn lnr V Use: Present dwelling Original dwelling DESCRIPTION Date circa 1807 Source Chapman's History of Winchester Style Federal Architect anonymous Exterior Wall Fabric clapboard Outbuildings-._garage /NC EDGEHIL ROAD SANBORN MajorAlterations (with dates) Roof eaves balustrade removed, date unknown.
Porch added to entrance, date unknown Condition Excellent GTREE 13381S 1"= 200' Moved no Date Acreage Setting -30 acre Suburban residential near major intersection 07-004: I:J2EP UTM REFERENCE 19.324300,4700790 USGS QUADRANGLE LEYINETON, MASS. SCALE 1:25 000 Recorded by Bettina Cooper, Carol Ely Organization Winchester Historical Comm. Date 8/78, revised 10/87 by H. White NATIONAL REGISTER CRITERIA STATEMENT (if applicable) The Deacon John Symmes House is one of Winchester's most important and well-preserved Federal period dwellings, and it is associated with the Symmes family, whose members were among Winchester's earliest settlers. The Deacon John Symmes House therefore meets Criteria A 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.
The Deacon John Symmes House (c.1807) is a typical Federal period dwelling, of the type which dotted the countryside surrounding Boston during the early nineteenth century. The Deacon John Symmes House is one of two houses of this period associated with the Symmes family. The other is the Marshall Symmes House (#300), circa 1817, which stands nearby at 230 Main Street. The Deacon John Symmes House is a two and one-half story, rectangular plan dwelling with a hip root oi low pitch, and double rear wali chimneys. It exhibits the characteristic boxy proportions of the Federal style. The five-bay facade is organized around a central entrance, which has been enclosed by a later entrance porch. The outer windows are paired with the center window aligned with the entrance. Other features of note include the wide corner boards and slightly projecting eaves.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE Explain the role owners played in local or state history and how the buflding relates to the development of the community. The Deacon John Symmes House is one of several Symmes family dwellings located in the vicinity of Symmes Corner, the area near the intersection OI Main Street, Bacon Street and Grove Street. The Symmes family members were among Winchester's earliest settlers. The Reverend Zachariah Symmes, minister of the Charlestown Church, received a land grant of roughly 300 acres centered around present-day Symmes Corner. Although the Reverend himself remained in Charlestown, his sons began farming the Winchester land soon after 1650, and by 1700 had erected a fulling mill and dye house as well. The Deacon John Symmes House is the oldest of the extant Symmes family houses.
It was built by Deacon John Symmes circa 1807, in an area of Win- chester which was then still part of Medford. Deacon John Symmes (1781-1860) was a son of John Symmes, a local blacksmith and wheelwright and veteran of the Revolutionary War. The younger John Symmes married Pamela Richardson in 1804. In addition to continuing the blacksmith trade, he served as deacon of the Medford Congregational Church until his death. Pamela operated Winchester's first formal school in this house. Symmes opposed the incorporation of the Town of Winchester in 1850, and refused an appointed to the Board of Selectmen. However, he remained active in the town and church affairs of the city of Medford. After his death, the house was inherited by his son luther and daughter Mary. The house remained in the possession of Symmes family members until 1926.
BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES Deeds Maps History of Winchester, by Henry Chapman. Files, Winchester Archival Center. Winchester Star. 8/85 Page 2 oI 2 INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Commmity: Winchester M.R.A Form No: 298 Property Name: Deacon John Symmes House Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. HISTORICAL SIGNIFI CANCE: Other Symmes family houses in Winchester include the Marshall Symmes House (#300) built circa 1817; Staple to Inventory form at bottom NPS Form 10-800 8-86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number Page OMB Approvel No. 1024-0018 MAY 2 2 1989 Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group Name State Winchester MRA Middlesex County, MASSACHUSETTS Nomination/Type of Review 51.
Symmes, Deacon John, House Entered in the National Regiater Date/Signature TkeeperAulmZyun 215/84 Attest 52. Symmes, Marshall, House Tatere? 10 Natlonal Regiater CReeper AelmSye 215/84 Attest 53. Symmes, Marshall, Tenant House Entered 1n the Mational Register Ikeeper@dulmBye 215159 Attest 54. Thompson, Abijah, House Entered in tne National Register Ckeeper AulruBzen 2/5769 Attest 55. Trowbridge--Badger House tored 1a the National Hegiater VReeper ( XlilmuByur 7/5789 56. Vinton, Alfred, House 57. Wedgemere (H.D.) 58. White, S.B., House Wildwood Cemetery Mubatantave Beries 60.
Wyman, George, House Attest antered in tne National Begiater tReeper AilrueSgu 715/89 Attest Entered 1u the dational Register Ixeeper SebueByu 115/79 Attest antered in tne National Register Hxeoper LulmeBgeni 115/69 Attest duxoper Bett@ Saorge 7-5-89 Entered in tba Nattonal Registar ftéeper Alelvurzan 215/69 Attest UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAT RLUATTOR RE URN OREC PRACES REQUESTED ACTION: NOMINATION PROPERTY Symmes, Deacon John, House NAME: MULTIPLE Winchester MRA NAME: STATE & COUNTY: MASSACHUSETTS, Middlesex DATE RECEIVED: 5/22/89 DATE OF 16TH DAY: 6/22/89 DATE OF WEEKLY LIST: REFERENCE NUMBER: 89000606 NOMINATOR: STATE REASONS FOR REVIEW: COMMENT WAIVER: N LACCEPI _RETURN ABSTRACT/SUMMARY COMMENTS: N SLR DRAFT: N NATIONAL: RRJECT 2F/89 DATE Intered in the National Registen RECOM./CRITERIA REVIEWER DISCIPLINE DATE_ DOCUMENTATION see attached comments Y/N see attached SLR Y/N CLASSIFICATION count resource type STATE/FEDERAL AGENCY CERTIFICATION FUNCTION historic current DESCRIPTION architectural classification materials descriptive text 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 relating significance to the resource context relationship of integrity to significance justification of exception other BIBLIOGRAPHY GEOGRAPHICAL DATA acreage UTMS verbal boundary description boundary justification ACCOMPANYING DOCUMENTATION/PRESENTATION sketch maps USGS maps photographs OTHER COMMENTS Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to Phone presentation Signed Date Deacon John Symmes 212-214 Main St.
Winichester, Ma. MR.. MHC Invit) 298 Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000303