BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
AUG0 4 1989 FORM B - BUILDING MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION 30 BOYISTON STREET 3OSTON, MA 02116 1295 AREA Prospect Hill TCWn Somerville MRA FORM NO. 177 Address 45 Walnut Street Historic Name Louville Niles House Photo (3"x3" or 3"x5", black and white) Indicate address of property on back of photo. Staple to left side of form. iketch Map: Draw map showing property's location n relation to nearest cross streets and/or reographical features. Indicate all buildings etween inventoried property and nearest ntersection(s). ndicate north Use: Present residence Original residenca DESCRIPTION Date 1390 Source style. Samuels, Somerville, Past and Present Queen Anne Architect Eawin K.
Blaikie Exterior wall Fabric clapboard Outbuildings none Major Alterations (with dates) Condition excellent none See Attached Assessor's Map IM REFERENCE 19 - 327/470 - 4694/220 SGS QUADRANGLE Boston North CALE 1:25,000 Moved no Date n/a Acreage less than one acre Setting The Niles House occupies a prominent site on Prospect Hill, an urban residential neiahborhood. situated on northeast corner of Walnut and Munroe Streets. Recorded byBetsy Friedbard, Prasarvation Planner Organization Mass. Historical Comrission Date May 1986 NATIONAL REGISTER CRITERIA STATEMENT (if applicable) The Louville Niles House, one of the most stylish and best-preserved examples of the Queen Anne style in the City of Somerville, retains integrity of location, design, materials, workmanship, and feeling.
Historically the property is significant for its associations with Louville Niles, a successful Boston provisioner who was active in Somerville real estate during the city's peak growth years. Significant in his own right, Niles also typified the middle-class resident/entrepreneur who built comfortable homes in Somerville in the late-19th century. The Louville Niles House thus fulfills Criteria A and C of the National Register of Historic Places on the local level. ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE Describe important architectural features and evaluate in terms of other buildings within the community. The Louville Niles House is significant as one of the best-preserved examples of the Queen Anne style in the city. The Niles Housewas designed by Edwin K. Blankie was trained at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and was active in residential and commercial construction in 1870s.
Included among his other Somerville residences at 97 Munroe Street. Notable features are the conical tower with its copper finial, the half timbered gables, and asymetrical massing of the design. A mix of patterned shingles and clapboard add dynamisum to the building. The front gable contains a small oriel window. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE Explain the role owners played in local or state history and how the building relates to the development of the conmunity. Louville Niles was born in North Way, Maine in January 1839, and came to Boston in 1860. In 1870 he formed a partnerhip with his two brothers in the provision business under the name Niles Brothers. In 1896 it was merged with the Boston Packing and Provision Company. Niles moved from Boston to Somerville in 1882 and purchased the Bradshaw estate on Walnut Street, which extended from Munroe to Boston Street.
In 1890, the nominated property was erected on the site, one of the last prestigious single-family homes built on Prospect Hill. Niles was active as a developer of real estate in the Prospect Hill area in the 1890s. He was typical of Prospect Hills late-19th century residents, a Boston merchant who commuted from this pleasant suburban neighborhood into the city by convenient public transporation. BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES Samuel, Somerville, Past and Present #177 BOSTON WALNUT ST. $0.0 520t 400 m BL.77 MUNROE 5650 394 LOT 2 4575 0 6274 12,480g 57.56 132.29 COLUMBUS AVE. 41.25 u1,33.00 937 ST. 980 3190 0 32400 0|8 PT. LOT E 8 RE& LOT A- 3390 100.42 169.79 17,0 192.2, LOT 51900 30 Q PECOTB 74.63 3270 32.2 2H0E 11,460 46.2 41.7 louville Niles 45 wahut st. Somegville (MRA), Mass, 52.0 HAMLET ST. 72 70 IAEE LOTP J1850 0 50 LOT 39 8 PT. LOT 37 59790.
PT.LOT 37 14.19 51.00 O00 J ® 136 BIGELOW ST. - MORREOT,00LL PI 50.09 LoIs PT. 12 NPS Form 10-000e (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 AUG 41989 Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group Name State Son ryadlesex County. MASSACHUSETT. Nomination/Type of Review 51. Langmaid Building 52. Langmaid Terrace 53. Lockhardt, Charles H.,Horsa in the Mational Register 54. Loring, George, House Entered in the National Register Date/Signature Entered in the National Register feeper ulByu 9/18/84 Attest Intered 1a the Nat1onal Regiater theeperAulomByun 2/18/84 Attest fkeeper NelrusByen 9/18/89 Attest HelousByen 9/18/09 55. Lovejoy, A.L., House Entered in the Mational Register Attest Tkeeper Neleazun 9/18/84 Attest 56.
Munroe, Robert, House Intered in the treeper Aelmusßzan National Register Attest 7/18/84 57. Mystic Water Works Entered in tha Matlonal Begister 6 Keeper Hilrugun 9/10/89 Attest 6Reeper delmaßze. 9/18/69 58. Nichols, John F., House Entered in the Vational Reglatez Attest_ Reeper AelreaAgun 9/18/64 59. Niles, Louville V., House Entered in the National Register Attest 60.
Niles, Louville, House Hkeeper SlulreaByud 9/18/84 intarod 1n the National Reriatar Attest UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET REQUESTED ACTION: NOMINATION PROPERTY Niles, Louville, 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: 89001295 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 Enteredin the National Register ABSTRACT/SUMMARY COMMENTS: RECOM./CRITERIA REVIEWER DISCIPLINE DATE DOCUMENTATION see attached comments X/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 verbal boundary description UTMS _boundary justification ACCOMPANYING DOCUMENTATION/PRESENTATION _sketch maps USGS maps photographs OTHER COMMENTS Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to Phone Signed Date _presentation 49 Walmut 1.45 halnut street 2.
Somerville. te c. Zellie 4. 1984 5.- somenvile City Hale 6. 100kena northeast 7.*174 Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: - 64500253