BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
MAY2S 1969 699 FORM B - BUILDING MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION 80 BOYLSTON STREET BOSTON, MA 02116 AREA B FORM NO. 147 Iown Wakefield Address 15 Nahant Street Historic Name Michael Sweetser Home Photo (3"x3" or 3°x5", black and white) Indicate address of property on back of photo. Staple to left side of form. Sketch Map: Draw map showing property's location in relation to nearest cross streets and/or geographical features. Indicate all buildings between inventoried property and nearest intersection(s).
Indicate north Use: Present dwelling Original dwelling DESCRIPTION Date pre 1775 (Or 1755?) Source Morrison, "Wakefield's Old Houses" StyleGeorgian/Greek Reyiyal Architect A Exterior Wall Fabric clapboard outbuildings none Major Alterations (with dates) 2 story rea ell; 2 story Beverly-jog, east; 18858 entry enclosed (this century) Condition from southeast corner Moved Main and Date s. 1930 Nahant Streets Acreage_ Less than one acre Setting parallel to old road, faces north UIM REFERENCE USGS QUADRANGLE SCALE 19/329950/4706860 Boston, North, Mass. 1:25,000 Recorded by Architectural Preservation Associates arganization Wakefield Historical commission Date March 1985 NATIONAL REGISTER CRITERIA STATEMENT (if applicable) The Sweetser House is a well preserved example of local Georgian Vernacular house design and belongs to one of Wakefield's prominent families.
A 19th century occupant of the house was Paul Hart Sweetser, one of the founder's of the Massachusetts Teacher Association and very active in town affairs. The house retains integrity of design, materials, workmanship, feeling and association, and meets exception B, & C of the NRHP. ARCHITECIURAL SIGNIFICANCE Describe important architectural features and evaluate in terms of other buildings within the community. This is an excellent example of the local Georgian Vernacular house. The door surround of paneled pilasters supporting a simple entablature and framing long sidelights appears to have been added during the Greek Revival period, about 1830-1850. Five bays long and 2½ stories high, house had a gable roof framed with a boxed cornice. Wide cornerboards and paired end windows are typical of local building patterns, as is the conservative central chimney.
The Beverly jog, the two story addition with a shed roof, is infrequently found in Wakefield, but is common further north of Boston. The house was moved a short distance from its original site on Main and Nahant Streets. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE Explain the role owners played in local or state history and how the building relates to the development of the community. The land on which the house stands was part of the original Smith farm, which was purchased from local Native Americans, SIOAE and stretched from Crystal Lake to the border with Malden. Michael Sweetser, who built this house about 1755, was the first of the respected clan of Sweetsers. His wife was a the land from his father-in-law. A later decendant, Paul Hart Sweetser, was one of 19th century Wakefield's most respected town figures.
Like most local boys he trained as a shoemaker but he attended the South Reading Academy when it opened in 1828. He became a teacher in Boston and Charlestown, helped to establish the Massachusetts Teacher Association, and was editor of its journal. He was a longtime member of the Wakefield School Board, and wrote many of its annual reports. He was also active in the Abolition movement, held almost every local public office, and was twice a Middlesex County Commissioner. : BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES maps 1765, Michael Sweetser Thomas Sweetser Eaton, Chester, and Eaton, Warren, Proceedings of the 250th Anniversary of the Ancient town of Redding. Reading, 1896. NPS Form 10-900- (8-86) United States Department of theInterior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet OMB Approvel No.
1024-0018 Section number Page Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group Name State Wakefield MRA Middlesex County, MASSACHUSETTS Nomination/Type of Review 71. Massachusetts State Anterya in the Mational Begister 12- Richardson, Dr. S.o., House untered 1n the Hational Register 73. Simpson, Dr. Thomas House Entered 10 the Nationnd Begistar 74. South Reading Academy Entered in the National Register 75. St. Joseph's Schoo1 Entered in the Matiopal Register 76. Stimpson, William, House Entered 1n the Natlonal Beglster 77. Sweetser, Daniel, House Entered in the National Regiater 78. Sweetser, Michael, House Entered 1n the National Register 79. Temple Israel Cemetery Entered in the National Register 80. Tilton, D.
Horace, House Entered 1a tb9 Nationad Rogtutar Date/Signature f'keeper AelauByu 7/6/89 Attest fo Keeper< AllueDyan 2/6/69 Attest Kéeper Slbuebyan 216/89 Attest Akcapor selmuBigun 7/6/89 Attest ( Keeper Delmußigun 2/a/6i Attest V keeper SlilruBge 1/6/89 Attest Keeper AelouByu 7/4/59 Attest 1Keeper Aelousga 114/69 Attest Keeper/ lloutDye 7/6/89 Attest FKeeper Thilmuezen 7/6/89 Attest NP& Porm 10-800-8 (8-80) United States Department of the Interlor NatlonalPark Service Natlonal Reglster of Historlc Places Continuation Sheet Section number - Page - OMB Approvel No.
1084-0018 SUPPLEMENTARY LISTING RECORD NRIS Reference Number: 89000699 Date Listed: 07/06/89 Sweetser, Michael, House Property Name Wakefield MRA Multiple Name Middlesex County MA State This property is listed in the National Register of Historic Places in accordance with the attached nomination documentation subject to the following exceptions, exclusions, or amendments, notwithstanding the National Park Service certification included in the nomination documentation. BithtDarge forsignat 7/6/89 Date of Áction Amended Items in Nomination: Clarification of Criteria: The property is listed for significance under criterion C only, as a Georgian vernacular house. This information was confirmed with Ann Tait, Acting national Register Director, MASHPO, by telephone.
DISTRIBUTION: National Register property file Nominating Authority (without nomination attachment) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET REQUESTED ACTION: NOMINATION PROPERTY NAME: Sweetser, Michael, House MULTIPLE Wakefield MRA NAME: STATE & COUNTY: MASSACHUSETTS, Middlesex DATE RECEIVED: DATE OF 16TH DAY: DATE OF WEEKLY LIST: 5/23/89 6/22/89 DATE OF PENDING LIST: 6/06/89 DATE OF 45TH DAY: 7/07/89 REFERENCE NUMBER: 89000699 NOMINATOR: STATE REASONS FOR REVIEW: APPEAL: N DATA PROBLEM: N LANDSCAPE: N LESS THAN 50 YEARS: N OTHER: N PDIL: REQUEST: N SAMPLE: N N PERIOD: N PROGRAM UNAPPROVED: SLR DRAFT: N NATIONAL: N N COMMENT WAIVER: N ACCEPT RETURN REJECT 7/6/89 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 presentation OTHER COMMENTS Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to Phone Signed Date B 147.
15 Nahaut St. Sweetser, Micheel, Horse Wakefiele MRA,Ma B 147 15 NAHANT ST 19 10 N SCALE: ["= 80' IE 3.74 A TOWN SIREET 114.93 24 13917 19.0g 1207 203%6 13950 , CIC CIB 209.30 13/16 16409 TS. 6180 °24A 125.28 26B S551x CIA 14600 +820-636 10310 24B 11350 4C 18400 2 97422.26 77258560 134. 45. 27A -8813 053961 66.0 725200:23 26 26A 28A:29 13150 8450 NAHANT 21,133 7852 1A 15420 3 160/200. 4A 5 36800 8019 FRANK itrs 58363 4906 61.23 836 37 2> Sai 65co 1365 L6284 L 10A ID 10 40. 31 2 5874 2 33 4 1058 6 138 3015 a/ 15. 40 82.5 9728 #44 237. A40g 41 55,3 44.5 _76:- 52506020 11 1 2522 /917 (3228 ö 35 /2 6100 82C ----148 '6a3 11300 45 6477 46* * 7894 9405 to i s. 4A:42;42A: 37614330 Mesi t4 55 "STREET 58662) ~, /C 50 L3s1 ESIO 66. 11362 65. 9215 US. 746A /8990 67.
3216 47 # 49B 48.25 .o.L $:64 SUNMER 48 49 7369 ORCHARD 14039 5/ 52 21165 53 54 55 50 3 109709 7953 5386 S0.La2 000 10200 12087 11476 8019 66. 5AA AVE. = 66. 66 66. 782, 4492 66. 7639 66. 1/S 67 66. =: 65Á 5320 gy 68 6). 60 69 6/ 7662 123 9834 9520 70 63. 62 9207 .478 107 579074825 9280 39. 8507 72 STREET 63 2. HILL .120 102 121 5693 3635 6605 e8. 7796 11736 7854 7524 8/A 67.66 7177 -66 11zz 3.* 181.61 88 483y 6485 8597- 7238 6831 76 T5. 66. 6501 62200 7486 28 91B 50 17800 CHARLES 67. 87A 9650 15761 88 "'s. .89A y 6312 BIRCH 25,5 12S 174.36 8250 $3 /94/95 ". T7zor 220. 2A2L. 90AI :124 8132 Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000300