BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
[AUG 0 4 1989 FORM B - BUILDING MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION 80 BOYLSTON STREET 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. 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 See Attached Assessor's Map UIM REFERENCE USGS QUADRANGLE SCALE Z E N 19 - 328/830 - 4694/320 Boston North 1:25,000 1278 AREA Eas t Somer- ville FORM NO. 158 Town Somerville MRA Address 55-67 Perkins Street Historic Name Gustavus G. Prescott House Use: Present residence Original residence DESCRIPTION Date ca.
1840-1850 Source map research Style Greek Revival Architect none Exterior Wall Fabric clapboard Outbuildings none Major Alterations (with dates) some 5/5 window with 2/2 Condition excellent Moved Acreage Setting no Date n/a less than one acre The Prescott House is now withir a densely built residential area of two-and three-family residences. Recorded by Betsy Friedberg, Preservation Planner Organization Mass. Historical Commission Date May 1986 NATIONAL REGISTER CRITERIA STATEMENT (if applicable) A survivor in East Somerville, the Prescott House is significant architecturally as evidence of the Greek Revival style in the vernacular, expressed in a building, or tradtional plan. Retaining integrity of location, design, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association, the Prescott House fulfills Criterion 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 Prescott House is extremely important as a rare and well-preserved example of the early domestic Greek Revival architecture in East Somerville, based on the traditional five-bay center hall plan. The building is two bays deep, and has a series of rear ells. The foremost feature of the Prescott house is the colonnaded wrap-around portico with fluted Doric colums. Also of note is the flushboarding of the lower story, the wide overhand of the eaves, and the survival of some 6/6 divided moveable sash windows. The windows of the lower redt rese se story along the facade are full-length 6/9; the lower section of the exterior blinds are still in place. The rear ell was built in several stages.
Adding to the significance of the Prescott House is the irrevocable damage done to what was originally a trim house, still standing on the opposite corner at 69-71 Perkins Street. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE Explain the role owners played in local or state history and how the building relates to the development of the conmunity. - Gustavus Prescott was a Charlestown merchant, according to the 1851 Directory of Somerville. Local tradition has it that this structure was built as a smal1 inn, as was the twin house at 69-71 Perkins Street. The Prescott House was known as "The Ivaloo" and its twin as "The Hawthorne." on the early-20th century, a three decker was added to the east of the nominated property, on the same lot.
(Continuation Architectural Significance) The Prescott House interior retains numerous original features, including gilded anthemion motifs on all interior lintels, high baseboards, elaborate plaster ceiling medallions and an ornate staircase. BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES Draper, Martin, Map of Somerv! le Hopkins, G. M. 189 CityDector r Somervfife 21534 13160 sorai. LOT B PERKINS PL. STRIP 57.53 06.25 LOT MGFT. LOT N 13270R- 5T254 55710 31640 PT. LOT OBA t0T. 985 B..o. ELER ST. L02E - 45934 10.50 3276. LOT - 8000 1202 79. MT. VERNON ST. 80 oal N.oa 4500g 100 REE. LOT E 24020 REG LOT D 10936 m.13 REG. LOT C J 10m°gas REG. LOT B 1885+ se.9 PEC. LOT : 1877 ge M9B- BFL 900- 5000 100 5060 L20 RT. LOT 24 61156 FT. LOT 25 47914 22021 3 19.00T 903+ 2304 30G 2,245 10 5,7734 5000 26 50564 0725 PLEASANIT STRSET MT. 2550 24040 LOT B 242 000 40 3,128.
2,7724 3.7 PERKINS ST. O.M 08.71 m.20 55000 MT. PLEASANT COURT 3000 8 -61301 3000* 3000- 8 PT. LOT B 00O- 935e 2 8 8 *= 12) PEARL ST. 1'=100 N Gustavus Pros 65-63 Porkins somecville (MKA), Mulass' #158 IERVILLE OSTON * NPS Form10-000 (8-86) United States Department of the Interior National ParkService National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet OMB Approvel No. 1024-0018 AUG 4 1989 Section number- Page _ Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group Name State Somerville MPS Middlesex County, MASSACHUSETTS Nomination/Type of Review 61. Old Cemetery 62. Otis--Wyman House 63. Parker--Burnett House 64. Prescott, Gustavus G.House in tbe Matiozal Reriatar Date/Signature Entered in the Mational Register pxespar AubmurBiur 9/18/69 rntered in the Natlopad Register freopor Aulouya 2/1/4 Attest Entered 1n the National Reglater Foer delunbyen /4/4 Attest TeeperKiluuByun 4/11/64 65.
Russell, Philemon, House Entered in the Natlonal Register 66. Russell, Susan, House Entered 1a t5g Natlonal Register 67. Schuebeler, Charles, House 68. Snow, Lemuel, Jr., House Mntared inthe Natlonal degtster 69. Somerville High School Intered 1n tha Mational Register 70.
Somerville Journal Building prepor Aulrun Bgun 2/14/4 Vreepor Lubmgu 2/0169 Attest KeeperAelouDazan 9/18/84 Entered in the National Register Attest Hreopo ebuyan 9kk/9 Attest KreoporllmuByun 3/14/51 Attest Fatared In tha KeepeAilone Dyen 2/6/69 National Rortater Attest UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET REQUESTED ACTION: NOMINATION PROPERTY Prescott, Gustavus G., House NAME: MULTIPLE Somerville MPS NAME: STATE & COUNTY: MASSACHUSETTS, Middlesex DATE RECEIVED: DATE OF 16TH DAY: DATE OF WEEKLY LIST: 8/04/89 8/31/89 DATE OF PENDING LIST: 8/15/89 DATE OF 45TH DAY: 9/18/89 REFERENCE NUMBER: 89001278 NOMINATOR: STATE REASONS FOR REVIEW: APPEAL: N DATA PROBLEM: N LANDSCAPE: N LESS THAN 50 YEARS: OTHER: N PDIL: N PERIOD: N PROGRAM UNAPPROVED: REQUEST: N SAMPLE: N SLR DRAFT: N NATIONAL: N N N COMMENT WAIVER: N ACCEPT RETURN REJECT 9/18/89 DATE Intered in the Hational Register ABSTRACT/SUMMARY COMMENTS: RECOM./CRITERIA REVIEWER DISCIPLINE DATE DOCUMENTATION see attached comments Y/N see attached SLR ./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 OTHER COMMENTS USGS maps _photographs presentation Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to Phone Signed Date 65-67 Perkns 1.65.67 Perkins Street 2.
Somezuille, MA 3. C. Zellie 4.1984 5. Someruille Cuy Hall 6. north 7. # 157 Prescatt, Gustauus G, Hase Sereville MRA, Ma Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: - 64500253