BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
FORM B - BUILDING MAY 2 2 1989 MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION 80 BOYLSTON STREET BOSTON, MA 02116 630 Town Address Historic Name AREA FORM NO. 326 (Winchester, Mass. M.R.A.) WIN CHESTER 8 Grove Street Thomas Ayer House Photo (3"x3" or 3"x5", black and white) Indicate address of property on back of photo. - Staple to left side of form. Use: Present Original DESCRIPTION dwelling dwelling Date circa 1854 Source Walling Map of 1854 Italianate Style Architect unknown Exterior Wall Fabric clapboard Outbuildings_carriage house/C Sketch Map: Draw map showing property's location in relation to nearest cross streets and/or BACON / =200' STREET Major Alterations (with dates)Full-width open porch removed, later Colonial Revival entrance porch added; date Condition ? Moved no Excellent Date Acreage .81 acres 07-0048 Setting Suburban residential along early road to Medford.
GROVE 10 STREET SANBORN fa f UTM REFERENCE 19,3242/0. 400860 USES QUADRANGLE LEXINGTON, MASS. SCALE 1:25,000 Recorded by Bettina Cooper, Carolely Organization Winchester Historical Comm. Date 11/78; rev. by H. White 10/87 .- NATIONAL REGISTER CRITERIA STATEMENT (if applicable) The Thomas Ayer House is notable as a well-detailed example of an Italianate residence of conservative design, built at the time of the beginning of upper and middle class suburban residential development in Winchester. The Ayer house is also significant as the residence of Albert Ayer, a prominent local citizen during the second half of the nineteenth century. Therefore the Ayer House 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 Ayer House is a representative example of the type of house built for prosperous Boston businessmen, who settled in Winchester during the Iirst perioa o1 suburbanization, , just after mid century. Its setting amidst expansive landscaped grounds is typical. Ine Ayer house ls character- ized by an overall symmetry; it is based on a rectangular plan, with five- bay facade organization. The gable roof has a ridge parallel to the street, with gable ends and short gable returns. The eaves are embellished with paired brackets. There are two interior chimneys of brick on the ridge. Fenestration consists of of six-over-six moveable sash with projecting lintels and sills. Facade windows on the lower story are full-height. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE Explain the role owners played in local or state history and how the building relates to the development of the community.
The Thomas Ayer House was built circa 1854 by Thomas Prentiss Ayer, who was active in local affairs during the second half of the nineteenth century. Ayer came to Winchester around 1850, during its early period of suburbanization. At the time of the Civil War, Ayer presided over a town meeting concerned with raising the required quota of draftees to the military. Ayer was also involved with a town water supply committee, the town hall building committee, and he petitioned for reform of the school curriculum. Ayer was the second president of the Winchester Savings Bank, which had been chartered in 1871. A member of the Board of Selectmen in 1861-62, he became a Representative to the General Court in 1880. Ayer's brother Albert lived in the house at 8 Brooks Street (#345) (circa 1865), a property contiguous with the Grove Street estate. 1. Thomas P. Ayer, 1854-93 2.
Charles Jenkins, 1896-1908 3. William Forbes, 1909-1914 4. Cora Marsh, 1915-1917 5. Edward C. Mason, 1918-1951 6. w. Lawrence Usher, 1952-1977 BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES Deeds. History of Winchester, by H. Chapman, 1936, pp.192, 196, 211, 220, 231, 251, 290, 291, 339. Winchester Archival Center, files. 8/85 (IPS Fom 10000a United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number Page OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 MAY 22 1989 Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group Name State Winchester MRA Middlesex County, MASSACHUSETTS Nomination/Type of Review Cover lubatanlive Rerioi 1. Ayer, Albert, House Entered in the National Begister Date/Signature fir Keeper Bethaunge 7-5.89 fKeeper NloreyByu7/5/34 2. Ayer, Thomas, House atdana Kegtacof 3. Bacon, Robert, House Entered in the Matlonal Register 4.
Baker, Kenelum, House Entored 15 tha Matio0a1 Regiaiar Attest Fkeeper KhlseByen 1/3/84 Attest Kreoper AulmuaBgu 1/569 Attest Kéeper SelumeBye4/5/84 Entered in the Attest 5. Brackett, Edward A., House Natlonal Register breoper Auloußyun 4/5/62 Attest Entered 1n tha 6. Braddock, Edward, House National Register Hreopor delurer Bapu 115/59 Attest 7. Brine, George, House Entered in the National Register fReeper Helvresßyun 1/5/69 Attest Bter? 1E 79 8. Carr--Jeeves House i Kespor Veenn Bopun 9/4 Attest 9. Central Street Historic District Patittrivo Berion R Keeper Attest 10.
Childs, Webster, House fKéeper/_ XelurByu 1/0785 Attest UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET REQUESTED ACTION: NOMINATION PROPERTY Ayer, Thomas, House NAME: MULTIPLE Winchester MRA NAME: STATE & COUNTY: MASSACHUSETTS, Middlesex DATE RECEIVED: 5/22/89 DATE OF 16TH DAY: 6/22/89 DATE OF PENDING LIST: 6/06/89 DATE OF 45TH DAY: 7/06/89 DATE OF WEEKLY LIST: REFERENCE NUMBER: 89000630 NOMINATOR: STATE REASONS FOR REVIEW: OPHERTN PDTAPROBIEM: N PERTODAPE: N PROSRAM UNAPPROVEDN PROGRAM UNAPPROVED: REQUEST: N SAMPLE: N SLR DRAFT: N NATIONAL: N COMMENT WAIVER: N VACCEPT RETURN REJECT 7/5/89 DATE Entered in the National Register ABSTRACT/SUMMARY COMMENTS: 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 Signed Date _presentation Thos.
Ayer House 8 Grove St. 1/88 Winehester, Ma. MRA MHC Inv. #1 326 Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000303