BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
FIRST FERIOD DURVEY FCRM B - SUILDING WAN 2-4 1990 - 205 FORM NO. MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION EO BOYLSTON STREET BOSTON, MA 02116 29-26 main. view of house 29-22 78 Town Danvers : 007 detail, transverse summer beam and molded postaddress head, south wall of original (northwest) room 42 Summer St. Historic Name James Putnam Jr. House 29-17 northeast room 29-23 Door between stair hall and original left hand'se: Present (north) chamber Original Residential Residential DESCRIPTION 29-19 rear (north) wall north east chamber Date ca. 1715 29-25 detail post, at rear wall, original right- hand chamber Source Local Records 29-18 Sketch Map: Fireplace wall, northwest room Style First Period core; Second Period envelope Architect_Unknown Exterior Kall Fabric shingles Outbuildings None AN TAwWAS Major Alterations (with dates) South rooms, gambrel roof added ca.
1780 Condition Good X INNIS Moved No Date -- Acreage less than one acre Setting Adjacent to road, surrounded by scattered suburban development of mixed date. Convalescent home to the rear. UTH REFERENCE 19/ 340-010 14715-350 Recorded by Anne Grady USES QUADRANGLE Salem Organizaticn Boston University SCALE 1:25,000 Date Fetruary, 1986 INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORI CAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Conmunity : DANVERS Form No: 78 Property Name: James Putnam Jr. House Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. SIGNIFICANCE The James Putnam house has integrity of location, design, materials, and workmanship in its First Period frame, intact except for the roof. embodies distinctive characteristics of form and construction under Criterion C.
The configuration of the posts at the second level is an unusual variant, combining features of both the jowl and the flare (noted also in the White Preston House in Danvers). The house is also noteworthy as an example of the way in which a First Period house was enlarged c. 1780 to approximate the Second Period double pile house. The construction of another file of rooms with rear fireplaces and a central hall in front of the original house created a highly unusual house form. The ample addition is significant for its adaptive plan and for its assemblage of well crafted large Second Period (post-colonial) finishes. EXTERIOR DESCRIPTION The James Putnam House is five bays wide, two rooms deep, and two and one half stories in height. A broad gambrel roof covers both the original c. 1715 double-cell house, now forming the rear (north) half of the building and the file of rooms added c.
1780 to the south. The pedimented doorway and symmetrical placement of the sash windows on the south facade are features of the late Second Period enlargement of the house. Fenestration of the east and west walls reflects the two stages in the house's development. Small sash windows arranged as on the end wall of a room deep house light the north rooms, while a file of larger windows light the later, higher studded rooms to the south. Three chimneys pierce the roof of the shingled structure: two at the ridge which serve the fireplaces at the rear of the south rooms and one at the center of the north slope, an early 19th century replacement of the central chimney of the original house. There is a small one story addition to the right MAJOR FIRST PERIOD FEATURES four rooms of the original house of slightly asymmetrical plan, much of the framing is exposed.
The transverse summer beams of the downstairs rooms have 1 1/4 " flat chamfers and simple triangular stops, as does the chimney girt in the right-hand (northeast) room. The heads only of the posts supporting the summer beams are exposed. These have flat chamfers at the sides and a deep quarter round molding at the lower Joist spacing in the downstairs rooms is a relatively wide 21" on centers. In the northeast and northwest chambers, framing exhibits narrow flat chamfers and triangular stops. The posts have a distinctive configuration which is neither precisely a flare nor a jowl. The post curves outward to a thicker dimension with a slightly concave curve and then continues Staple to Inventory form at bottom INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Cammumity : MASSACHUSETTS HISTORI CAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston DANVERS Form No: 78 Property Name: James Putnam Jr.
House Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. straight upward (see photo). The door to the left hand rear chamber is conprised of two raised field panels with 3" wide feather edges and applied bolection mouldings (see photo). In the lobby, the staircase is enclosed with plain board sheathing, possibly original. The door to the attic is made of vertical boards, but bolection moldings are applied to it to simulate a paneled door and relate its design to the adjacent paneled door to the northwest chamber. The foundation walls of the north portion of the house are built in from the sills in characteristic First Period manner. LATER SIGNIFICANT FEATURES C. 1780, judging by the style of the finishes, another file of rooms was added to the south of the original structure.
All four rooms display Second Period raised field panels on the fireplace walls, wooden dado with molded chair rail and baseboard, and cornice moldings. These, with the staircase, which runs straight up to the landing which communicates with the older part of the house and then rises three more steps, form the relatively high style treatment of this important addition. Additional features are the crossetted fireplace surround in the southwest room and the turned balusters, newel posts, and molded handrail of the staircase. HISTORICAL INFORMATION The house was the residence of individuals important to local and national history. In 1715, local records refer to the property of James Putnam, Sr. (1661-1727) "on which his son James has lately built him a house." James Putnam, Jr.
(1689-1763), yeoman and brickbuilder, served as selectman in Salem Village in 1747 and was active in the establishment of Danvers as separate town in 1752. (1744-1800) was a physician and Danvers Selectman in 1774. in 1zATandaas 3ntie James Jr.'s son, Archelaus Putnam It was Archelaus who enlarged the house so that the property was described in the 1790 Danvers direct tax list as "House on road, (including Chaise house 2 stores, 31 windows, 229 sq. ft. glass, built of wood, 80 p., value $900." The House's most distinguished resident was Col. Timothy Pickering (1745-1829) who leased the property from early 1802 to the summer of 1804. Pickering, a prominent Federalist, was Secretary of War and then Secretary of State under Washington and Adams. house he While residing in the served as Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas and in 1803 was appointed to an unexpired term in the U.S.
Senate. Nevertheless, Pickering found time to pursue experiments in scientific farming at the Danvers property, which he continued at Larch Row in Wenham (also included in the present study) where he moved in 1806. Pickering's endeavours and his promotion of modern farming methods were reflected in his membership in the Essex Agricultural Society, linking the property to the development of agriculture in Essex County. - 2- Staple to Inventory form at bottom INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Commumity: DANVERS Form No: 78 Property Name: James Putnam Hous e Jr. Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. FOOTNOTES AND REFERENCES 1. Charles Hammond, Ph.D. Thesis, B.U., 1980. Tapley, Harriet S., Chronicles of Danvers (Old Salem Village). Massachusetts 1632-1923.
Danvers, The Danvers Historical Society, 1923, p. 106-108. Danvers Herald, 18 Sept. 1924, p. 1. Pencil Points. Nov, 1938, p. 728-729. Essex Institute Historical Collections., Salem, MA, The Institute 1933, p.1-35. Putnam, Eben, A History of the Putnam Family., Salem, MA, Salem Pres, 1891, p.222-245, 381, 66-69. Danvers Historical Society Collections, Danvers, MA. The Society, 1918, v. 6, p.61-62. Mss. Danvers Valuation Lists, 1828, 1880-1910. - 3- Staple to Inventory form at bottom (NPS Form 10-900 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number. Page OMB Approvel No. 1024-0018 1/24/40 Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group Name_ First Period Buildings of Eastern Massachusetts TR State Nomination/Type of Review Date/Signature TReeper AeluuByu 3/9/90 71.
Putnam, Deacon Edward, Jr., House Entered in the National Register 72. Putnam, James, Jr., Houseyantered in the Natlonal Register *73. Ross Tavern ReustenitSom Borion Attest fReeper_ AeloreByu 3/9/90 Attest J Koopor BetlX. Saurge 3//20 74. Sawyer House Entered in the Natlonal Register 75. Smith House Entered in the Hatlonal Regiater IxeeperAelouByu 3/2/90 Attest V Keeper_ Aeloneßyu 3/9/90 Attest 76. Smith, Hazadiah, House Entered in the Bat1ona1 Reglster Heeper AelunesByun 3/9/90 Attest 71. Thorndike, Capt. John, Haltfred in the CReeper AelvesBgan 3/9/90 National Register Attest Entered in the 78. Titcomb, Benaiah, House National Register /keeper AhlvuBgun 319/90 Attest 79. Tufts, Rev. John, House Entered 1n the National Register KeeperSllrualyen2 3/9/90 Attest 80.
White--Ellery House Entered in the Hatlonal Register Ikeeper Allmußyun 3/9/90 Attest UNITED STATRS DERARPAAOSOOTEETERIOR NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET REQUESTED ACTION: NOMINATION PROPERTY Putnam, James, Jr., House NAME: MULTIPLE First Period Buildings of Eastern Massachusetts TR NAME: STATE & COUNTY: MASSACHUSETTS, Essex DATE RECEIVED: 1/24/90 DATE OF 16TH DAY: 2/23/90 DATE OF PENDING LIST: 2/07/90 DATE OF 45TH DAY: 3/10/90 DATE OF WEEKLY LIST: REFERENCE NUMBER: 90000205 NOMINATOR: STATE REASONS FOR REVIEW: N PDIL: REQUEST: N SAMPLE: COMMENT WAIVER: N VACCEPT _RETURN ABSTRACT/SUMMARY COMMENTS: PROGRAM UNAPPROVED: N SLR DRAFT: N NATIONAL: REJECT 3/9/40 DATES Entered in the National Register 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 USGS maps photographs sketch maps OTHER COMMENTS Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to Phone _presentation Signed Date Danvers Janes Putnan Or House 42 Summer Shee Northeast coom 1985 1s7 Porid Buldings df E.
Ma, Danvers Janes Rutran Jr. House 42 Summer Street Lsplace wall, nothuneo Ist percel Buleliys df E. Ma Danvers Tanes Pitran Ir. Hoese 42 sunner Sreet Pear wall north east. 1985 Ist peried Burldheys of E.May DANUSAS Janes Putnam Hhouse 42 Sunmer Sreet Detael: Transvese Sunn 1985 Ist Perid Buldngs af Es Ma., TR Danoers Janes Putnan Je House 42 Sunner Door. fom staur Hall, to orynal lft handchanber 198.5 Ast Pered Buldings of En Ma, TR 29:23 Danvers James Putran Joe Huuse 42 Summer Street Detaul Pust-at Mear wall 1985 Ist Percol Berlolngs df E. Ma., TR 29:25 4a Summer St, ? Danvers Finas nitnam House Naen veew of House 1985 Ist Roial Buldrugsd En Ma., Te 131.84 201 22641 165.6° 9 158. 09- 39% POND 12 100' 5. DRAINAGE EASE. 14.79 AC AS'LSE 140.35' 200 22824 140' 10 175' 120 211 29970 202.82° DaNvers. 42 lummerSt.
TAO 34-003 TAp 24 Scate: 1"= 100' 92 195.31 85' 167.97' 177.54' 150 199 18516 130.85' 27.58 DRIVE 8 75° 212 18861 222. 52' 128.85' *._ - 3 38328 204 c 3A 4.27AC 275' 39.63 161 23420 109.63° 4 40112 32.238 RAD1S 6291 52.0 2 1.A 2646 (210.95 207.821 1.32 272 SUMMER 33 32.14 167 20148 3 96.63 85.16 90.5' 214 12033 34.37° 23.08- 94.68 213 13223 168.96' 121.67 152 5 15443 87.01 131 N) 3 87.63' 93.3 123.98' 146.02' 30.93' 270' 19425 3733225 135' 1 23775 160.78° 90 370- 128 WADSWORTH CEMETERY 8 A 5.2 AC. 150'? 319.87 = 15152 70.25 22 15070 131 23 15070 To. 32 18030 136.4. 31 11° 15000 1369 30 15000 139.26. 85 18387 5.46- 136.38' 16152 25' 88.991 50.15 233.82' 3 52.s4. 59.87 42.33 5LlL 22.06° 3:4 3016 32.54 88 29200 157 128 IAC 13174 178.74 10 32 24 15070 2° 16170 92 14065 143.90 o. 38.75 STREE 91 32100 48.4745.6° 8 15070 132 Le 5 25 15262 26 15444 1/9.
204.72 28 18000 160.37: 2' 16900 857,. 113.19 31.05-211 128.76: 93 1.5 AC 109.45° 1 15070 14244 28.35 136.5 21.23: 64.23 29' , v0" DRIVE 2203 28 30 85 -. '8' ~ f.1sis DANUeRS, TIA 42 Summer Sr. TAP 34-003 MAP 26 SCALE: I"=100' Petnan, Jwer Tr., Hese 160.2 39.38 119° 15/27 13271 4 15500 111.75 49 139.11' 2 117. 117.20' 94 21820 138.9' 33° 55.68/25.09".100.19: 3462: SE 150 3 2.23AC. 168.19 104.45 80.93 116 19500 150 $52.34 217.52 $ASSESSORS MAP A Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000281