Nomination for Luther House

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

FORM B - BUILDING MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION 80 BOYLSTON STREET BOSTON, MA 02116 73 AREA JAN N2 1990 FORM NO. 8 ess ¿oric kame Swansea, Mass. MRA SWANSEA 177 Market Street Luther House Present Original RIPTION residential residential/farmstead ce ca. 1740 Registry of Deeds, Fall River Georgian Architect- unknown Exterior Wall Fabric wood shingle 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 (see attached map) Major Alterations (with dates) east ell (19th cent.), greenhouse addition (ca.

196( Condition aood UTM REFERENCE 19 311380 4625890 USES QUADRANGLE_East Providence, RI-MA 1971/1979 SCALE 1:24000 Moved no Date --- Acreage approximately five acres Setting House faces south and is oriented Close to street in rural, residential area of North Swansea. Market Street (Route 136) moderately trafficked artery. Recorded byV. Frost/K. Valente/K. Broome Organization Swansea Historical Commissio Date 1978/March 1986/November 1989 JAN 2 1990 NATIONAL REGISTER CRITERIA STATEMENT (if applicable) The Luther House, 177 Market Street, retains integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, and association. an intact Georgian cape reminiscent of colonial development in Old Swansea, the house meets Criteria A and C on the local level. ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE Describe important architectural features and eyaluate in terms of other buildings within the community.

The Luther House--a 1½-story, five-bay, center-entry, gambrel cottage--is typical of 18th-century residential construction in Swansea. The shingled Georgian house retains a brick central chimney, gunstock corner posts on the interior, five-light transom over the center entrance, 12/12 window sash, and a narrow shed-roofed dormer centered over the entrance which appears to be original. Iwo later dormers were added to the rear (north) elevation at an unknown date. Other additions include a one-story gabled ell with secondary entrance and 9/9 sash, and a late 20th-century, one-story greenhoouse addition on the west side. The main block and ell were restored beginning in 1966. The house occupies a clearing close to the street, north and west of which are a stone wa11 and foundations of at least four buildings.

The extent of the property being nominated comprises approximately five acres closest to the street on a lot of roughly 37 acres. HISTORICAL SIGVIFICANCE Explain the role owners piayed in local or state history and how the building relates to the development of the community. A typical example of the dispersed farmsteads that characterized O1d Swansea in the 18th century, the Luther House is situated on a primarily north-south route through northwestern Swansea, between present Rehoboth, Mass. and Warren, Rhode Island. To the north is theFirst Baptist Church (1848), the site of a previous building relocated from present Barrington, Rhode Island in 1717. The church's relocation to this section of Swansea provided the impetus for colonial settlement of the area.

The house is noted for its long association with the Luther family, local farmers prominent throughout Swansea's history who were descended from John Luther, one of the proprietors of Taunton. The branch of the family believed to have been associated with this house is that of John's son: Hezekiah. Thomas Patterson Luther (1805-1887), a farmer, owned this house ca. 1850; it is believed that either his grandfather, Nathaniel Luther (b. 1733), or his great-grandfather, Moses Luther (b. 1694) built the structure. While Luther family homesteads were scattered throughout 01d Swansea (including present Warren), members of the family were active in the affairs of the First Baptist Church. The Luther family continued to occupy this house until the mid-20th century. BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES ca. 1849 map of Swansea and 1871 and 1895 atlases of Bristol County. Registry of Deeds, Fall River.

Swansea vital records, Swansea Public Library. Helen Pierce, Swansea Historical Society, interview, 11/89. 8/85 JNITED STATES DEPARTMENI OF THE INTERIOF VATIONAL PARK SERVICE ATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACE VALUATION/RETURN SHEE! REQUESTED ACTION: NOMINATION PROPERTY Luther House NAME: MULTIPLE Swansea MRA NAME: STATE & COUNTY: MASSACHUSETTS, Bristol DATE RECEIVED: 1/02/90 DATE OF 16TH DAY: 2/02/90 DATE OF WEEKLY LIST: REFERENCE NUMBER: 90000073 NOMINATOR: STATE REASONS FOR REVIEW: DATE OF PENDING LIST: DATE OF 45TH DAY: 1/1$/90 2/16/90 REQUEST: N SAMPLE: COMMENT WAIVER: N _ACCEPT XRETURN ABSTRACT/SUMMARY COMMENTS: PROGRAM UNAPPROVED: N SLR DRAFT: N NATIONAL: N REJECT 2/16/90 DATE see revecse. RECOM.

/CRITERIA texum REVIEWER DASCTPLINECeceitestural Sistery 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 No infornation has ueenpuvided on the soundationa and stone wall indicated on the shetch hap.. SIGNIFICANCE Period Áreas of Significance--Check and justify below Specific dates Builder

Statement of significance

/Architect please sperify statement of Significance (in one paragraph) licable area(s) of summary paragraph completeness clarity applicable criteria justification of areas checked hwe acres of 37 do not to conry context sigrifi other Puther Drauil suther pestificaon, ple of tis house reative to other numerous exanples referredto. BIBLIOGRAPHY

The rest of the file

Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.

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 (202) 343-9580 Signed facres Suge Date 2/16/90 FORN.D - BUILDING MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION 80 BOYLSTON STREET BOSTON, MA 02116 - AREA JAN 0 2 1900 FORN NO. 8 Town Address Historic Kame Swansea, Mass. MRA SWANSEA 177 Market Street Luther House 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 Detween inventoried property and nearest i Butidings intersection(s).

Indicate north (see attached map) Use: Present residential Original residential/farmstead DESCRIPTION Date ca. 1740 Source Recistry of Deeds, Fall River Style Georaian Architect unknown Exterior Wall Fabric wood shingle Outbuildings Stone. wall, foundations of barn, COOD, 2 sheds (all contributing) Major Alterations (with dates) _east ell (19th cent.), greenhouse addition (ca. 196. Condition aood UTM REFERENCE 19 311380 4625890 USES QUADRANGLE_East Providence, RI-MA 1971/1979 SCALE 1:24000 Valeni Taemage supo Moved no Date Acreage - annroximately 5 acres Setting House faces south and is oriented close to street in rural, residential area of North Swansea. Market Street (Route 136) moderately trafficked arter!. Recorded by V. Frost/K. Valente/K.

Broomer Organization Swansea Historical Cormission Date 1978/March 1986/November 1989 6/19/90 JAN 2 1900 NATIONAL REGISTER CRITERIA STATEMENT (if applicable) The Luther House, 177 Market Street, retains integrity of location, design, setting, materiais, workmanship, and association. As an intact Georgian cape reminiscent of colonial development in Old Swansea, the house meets Criteria C on the local level. The Droperty also includes a stone wall (ca. 1900) and the foundations of a large barn, coop, and two sheds (ca. 1895). Areas of significance: Agriculture, Architecture ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE Describe important architectural features and eyaluate in termas of other buildings within the community. The Luther House--a 1½-stcry, five-bay, center-entry, gambrel cottage--is typical of 18th-century residential construction in Swansea.

The shingled Georgian house retains a brick central chimney, gunstock comer posts on the interior, five-light transom over the center entrance, 12/12 window sash, and a narrow shed-roofed dormer centered over the entrance which appears to be original. Two later dormers were added to the rear (north) elevation at an unknown date. Other additions include a one-story gabled ell with secondary entrance and 9/9 sash, and a late 20th-century, one-story greenhoouse addition on the west side. The main block and ell were restored beginning in 1966. The house occupies a clearing close to the street, north and west of which are a stone wall and foundations of at least four buildings.

The extent of the property being nominated comprises approkimately five acres closest to the street on a lot of roughly HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE Explain the role owners piayed in local or state history and how the building relates to the development of the community. A typical example of the dispersed farmsteads that characterized O1d Swansea in the 18th century, the Luther House is situated on a primarily north-south route through northwestern Swansea, between present Rehoboth, Mass. and Warren, Rhode Island. To the north is theFirst Baptist Church (1848), the site of a previous building relocated from present Barrington, Rhode Island in 1717. The church's relocation to this section of Swansea provided the impetus for colonial settlement of the area.

The house is noted for its long association with the Luther family, local farmers prominent throughout Swansea's history who were descended from John Luther, one of the proprietors of Taunton. The branch of the family believed to have been associated with this house is that of John's son: Hezekian. Thomas Patterson Luther (1805-1887), a farmer, owned this house ca. 1850; it is believed that either his grandfather, Nathaniel Luther (b. 1733), or his great-grandfather, Moses Luther (b. 1694) built the structure. While Luther family homesteads were scattered throughout Old Swansea (including present Warren), members of the family were active in the affairs of the First Baptist Church. The Luther family continued to occupy this house until the mid-20th century.

Five acres of thirty-seven have only been nominated because this five acres contains the principle building and remains of outbuildings associated with the property. BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES ca. 1849 map of Swansea and 1871 and 1895 atlases of Bristol County. Registry of Deeds, Fall River. Swansea vital records, Swansea Public Library. Helen Pierce, Swansea Historical Society, interview, 11/89. 8/85 (ops "om 10200a United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number Page Swansea MRA Bristol County, MASSACHUSETTS 11. First Baptist Church and Society OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 12. Gardner, Francis L., House 13. Gardner, Joseph, House 14. Gardner, Preserved, House 15. Gardner, Samuel, House 16. Hooper House 17. Hortonville Historic District 18. Johnson, J. V., House 19. Luther House 20.

Luther's4 Corner Date Listed Entered in the Akeeper Aeaußyan 2116150 Hational Bagistes Attest Entered in the National Begister Entered in the Hatlarad Roglates ficeper Aelampfyu spo194 Attest fteoper Aelmu Fgun 2/10142 Attest Entered in the National Register /Reeper HelauAzua s10k Attest Kntered in the Nationad Begistes freeper Alorupyanspotse Attest absacttra Rarior Arkeeper Botto Barge 1/90 Attest Intered in the Hational Regiater froper Aeloußyat/10150 Attest xa Subatantava Sarden tntered in tue Hational Register for Keeper BothxBSange 440 Attest Seopor Bith Sange?/10 Attest Aukeeper KeluurAyettoke Attest (PS Fomm 10-900a United States Department of the Interlor National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number - Page OMB Approval No.

1024-0018 SUPPLEMENTARY LISTING RECORD NRIS Reference Number: 90000073 Luther House Property Name Date Listed: 08/08/90 Bristol County MA State Swansea MRA Multiple Name 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. sexty. fo signature lavaee of the Keeper 8/8/90 Date of Action Amended Items in Nomination: 7. Description: Contributing and non-contributing resources: The stone wall and foundations noted have not been evaluated in a historical archeological context; thus, they are noted in the description but are not counted as either contributing nor noncontributing at this time. 8.

Statement of Significance: Criteria and Area(s) Only criterion C is applicable for the property's architectural significance; criterion A was inadvertantly not deleted in the resubmission. Agriculture is not justified as an applicable area of significance. This information was confirmed with Ann Tait, 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: RESUBMISSION PROPERTY Luther House NAME: MULTIPLE Swansea MRA NAME: STATE & COUNTY: MASSACHUSETTS, Bristo1 DATE RECEIVED: DATE OF TIYH DAY: 6/25/90 DATE OF PENDING LIST: DATE OF 45TH DAY: DATE OF WEEKLY LIST: REFERENCE NUMBER: 90000473 NOMINATOR: STATE DETAILED EVALUATION: Y VACCEPT RETURN Neror S/e/40 crt ABSTRACT/SUMMARY COMMENTS: 8/09/90 hocally significant Steorgian cape residence Pritial retun coumente have been addresses RECOM.

/CRITERIA Accept C REVIEWER SSaNage DISCIPLINE Uercli DATE Ritual Hestory 8/8/90 DOCUMENTATION see attached conments 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 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 177 market ST.

Swansea, MA. Luther House (MHC #B) 177 Market Strut Swausea, Mass. MRA 1986 View Nw PROPERTY MAP 12 TOWN OF SWANSEA BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS SWALL-COMPANY 1961 / REVISED:10/821 SCALE 1INCH- 200+FEET FOS AR 53 c 190 OLD TOWN, MAINE BBLNO FURPOSES ONLY 18825 12 × YX XXXXX 32- 28 33 446 1- MHC#8 i40 82 227 177 MARKET STREET 34 A 37 ?2. 34A Im -22 5. ROAD HILL FCAD T STONEY JAN 2 1990 5, KEX LJ=HOUSE L:= FOUNDATIONS XX = STONE WALL 250 27 173.6 125 26 286° 25 2c, 233 (210/a/y -5125 95 012= 110 104 MARKET 407 5 g Tég 135.2 130 111' 15 133 100 16 10>- 165 109 375 1.A 11,50 Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000296