BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
MAY 2 2 1989 FORM B - BUILDING MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION 80 BOYLSTON SIREET BOSTON, MA 02116 Photo (3"x3" or 3"x5", black and white) Indicate address of property on back of photo. Staple to left side of form. 7 MAY 2 2 1989 AREA FORM NO. 215 Town Winchester, MA, Winchester MRA Address 5 Myrtle Street Historic Name O.W. Gardner House Use: Present dwelling Original _dwelling DESCRIPTION Date -c1840 Source historic maps: style Style Gothic Revival Architectunknown Exterior Wall Fabric clapboard Outbuildings none 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 1'= 200' 10 MYSTIC b FEIV VERNON 1717 MOUNT 2 L WASHINGTON ~ 10 STREET UIM REPERENCE 19.324600.470/970 USGS QUADRANGLE LEXINÓTON MASS SCALE :25 000 Major Alterations (With dates) porch added c1889 Condition excellent from site of Moved Iown Hall Acreage I3A Setting Date 1889 5,7565*/ 04-0163 tightly developed residential neighborhood directly east of downtown commercial area Recorded by - Carol Ely Organization Winchester Historical Comm. Date 1/79; 10/87 revised by C. Jenkins NATIONAL REGISTER CRITERIA STATEMENT (if applicable) The O.W Gardner House posseses integrity of design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and associations.
It is significant as an exceptionally well conceived and preserved example of the Gothic Revival style, featuring steeply pitched gables trimmed with fanciful scroll-sawn vergeboards, acorn-shaped drops, and lancet windows in some of the gables. As one of the finest representations of the Gothic Revival style in a town noted for its numerous examples of this generally rare style (see forms #230, 171, 172, 443, 429, 276, 232), it meets criterion C of the National Register of Historic Places. Its move from the town hall (NR: 3/83) site in 1889 has not effected its architectural significance. ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE Describe important architectural features and evaluate in terms of other buildings within the community. The Gardner House is a it story, wood-frame dwelling sheathed with clapboards and enclosed by a steeply pitched gable roof with cross gables.
It is built on the innovative sidehall plan introduced in the 1830s and 1840s and used until the end of the century. As is the case with many of these other small-scale houses, it is extended by a one story wing. The house displays many of the hallmark features associated with the Gothic Revival style in- cluding elaborate scroll-sawn vergeboards, acorn drops, grooved cornerboards, and windows headed by label moldings, and in some cases, pointed arches. Windows generally retain original 6/6 sash. The main entry is simple detailed with sidelights and a gabled hood with its own miniature vergeboard. A second entry with sidelights provides access to the wing. The only alteration to the house, and one which is in keeping with its overall spirit of design, is a Queen Anne style porch that wraps around the wing and was probably added around the time the house was moved in 1889.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE Explain the role owners played in local or state history and how the building relates to the development of the conmunity. - This house is one of a pair that once stood on the triangle formed by Washington Street, Main Street and Mt. Vernon Street (see Winchester Center H.D.; NR 1987). It was owned by Oliver W. Gardner while its twin (no longer extant) was owned by Alexis Cutting. Stylistic evidence along with historic maps indicate a construction date of c1840 for both. In 1887 when the town voted to locate its new Town Hall on the site, the Gardner House was moved to its present site on Myrtle Street which was then a rapidly developing residential area. At the same time the house was sold to Charles H. and Abbey Dunham who retained ownership until 1940.
The Cutting House remained on the site and was used by the American Legion and later the Red Cross until it was demolished in 1968 to allow for expansion of the Winchester Library. In addition to its architectural significance, the house reflects a development pattern typical of many Massachusetts communities in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Town centers, originally characterized by an eclectic mix of uses were increasingly given over to commercial and institutional uses and became ringed by residential neighborhoods. The moving of the Gardner House in 1887 to make way for a town hall clearly illustrates this pattern. BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES Chapman, Henry, Smith. History of Winchester, Mass. 1936. Winchester Archival Center resources.
NPS Form 10-900-a 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 21. Gardner, O.W. Hause Entered in tha National Beglatar 22. Ginn Gardener's House 23. Grover, Henry, House 24. Hovey--Winn House 25. Hutchinson--Blood House 26. Johnson--Thompson House 27. Jones, Marshal1 W., House 28. Locke, Asa, House 29. Mann, James H., House 30.
Mason, John, House Entered iu the National Registez Entered in the National Register Date/Signature fxosper Aulu Bgun 1/5/64 Attest Goopor Aelruazu 715164 Attest /Keeper SelmuBgu15/89 Entered in the National Register Attest /Keeper AllouBzun 115/89 Attest Entered 1n th9 fKeeper Natdonal Register AelueBzun 1/514 Attest Entered in tbe Natlotai Register Vkoopor AlauAgun11514 Entered in the Natlonad Begister eeper SuluByen215164 Attest Entered in the /Reeper National Regiater AeluuBgun 210/69 Attest Entered i0 the Lkeeper National Register Aelmeßyu 41159 Entered in the National Register Attest /Keeper SilmDyen 115164 Attest UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET REQUESTED ACTION: NOMINATION PROPERTY Gardner, O.
W., House NAME: MULTIPLE Winchester MRA NAME: STATE & COUNTY: MASSACHUSETTS, Middlesex DATE RECEIVED: 5/22/89 DATE OF 16TH DAY: DATE OF WEEKLY LIST: 6/29/87 DATE OF PENDING LIST: 6/13/89 DATE OF 45TH DAY: 7/06/89 REFERENCE NUMBER: 89000791 NOMINATOR: STATE REASONS FOR REVIEW: REQUEST: N SAMPLE: COMMENT WAIVER: N ACCEPT _RETURN ABSTRACT/SUMMARY COMMENTS: N SLR DRAFT: N _REJECT NATIONAL: Entered in the 1/5/89 DATE Batorod 1n thator RECOM./CRITERIA REVIEWER DISCIPLINE DATE DOCUMENTATION see attached comments I/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 Gardner"'touse 5 Murtle Street 1/88 Winchester MA MRA MHC Inv.
# 215 Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000303