BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
FORM B - BUILDING -FIRST PERIOD SURVEY JAN 2 4 1990 214 - FORM NO. MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION 23 80 BOYLSTON STREET BOSTON, MA 02116 24-25 main view of house 009 Town Gloucester 24-16 left chimney girt and post stair hall, firstaddress f1001 302 Essex Street 24-22 owner's photo of house Historic Name Davis-Freeman House 23-33 right hand chamber rear wall 24-24 front doorway Use: Present Shelter for Homeless 24-18 staircase Original Residential 24-12 detail docr frame In stair hall, 2nd fdoor DESCRIPTION Date Ca.
1709-1712 SourceLocal history Style First Period Architect None Sketch Map: Exterior Kall Fabric Outbuildings None Clapboards Little River AVe WOODWARD UTM REFERENCE USGS QUADRANGLE MAGNOLIA AUE Z E N 19/359-830 / 4718-780 Gloucester SCALE 1:25,000 Major Alterations (with dates) Additions to the left side and rear, 20th century Condition Good Moved No Date Acreage 1.675 acres Setting At the head of Little River in an area of structures of mixed use (residentia and commercial, and industrial) and date. Recorded by Anne Grady Organization Boston University Date October 1985 INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Commmity: GLOUCESTER Form No: 23 Property Name: DaV15-Freeman House Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below.
SIGNIFICANCE The Davis Freeman house has integrity of location, design, setting, materials, and workmanship. The property meets criterion C because of its distinctive plank frame construction, its finely-crafted, decorated frame (particularly the rare surviving six exterior molded post heads below the overhang). The building is representative of the group of plank frame structures built in northern Essex County in the late 17th and early 18th century. The exposed braces on the walls of the chambers are characteristic of plank frame The shorter cambered braces at the fireplace walls in the chambers may be unique to this house in the study area. also significant for the transitional trim elements found in the lobby, the squat turned newel post which mimics on a larger scale baluster turnings just coming into fashion, and the deeply molded handrail and stringer.
The fashioning of the molded mitered door from the edges of the sheathing boards in the upstairs lobby represents an early attempt to suggest Second Period form with minimal means. EXTERIOR DESCRIPTION The Davis Freeman House is a two and one half story plank frame structure, five bays wide. There are 20th century additions to the left side (a sun porch), rear (a two-story lean-to), and rear-right (a two-story, gable-roofed wing). The clapboarded house, built c. two room plan structure with central chimney, has hewn overhangs on the front and sides and at the gable ends. Original moulded post heads are still exposed below the lower overhangs. Double casement windows with leaded glass, drops along the eave of facade, and the rebuilt central chimney reflect the 1930's restoration of the building.
The double-leafed refurbished front door with transom lights appears to be the doorway shown in pre-restoration photographs. MAJOR FIRST PERIOD FEATURES All four of the original rooms and lobby retain exposed framing members. The summer beams and summer tie beams have flat chamfers, 1 1/2" wide, and well-executed lamb's tongue stops. All other major framing members, posts, girts, plates, and ties, have inch wide flat chamfers and lamb's tongue stops. Chimney girts in the downstairs rooms are additionally embellished with lamb's tongue stops on either side of the summer beams. The downstairs rooms, except for the exposed frame, reflect the 1930's restoration of the building for use as an inn. Joists, 22 inches on centers, are boxed. Fireplaces are rebuilt with brick from the original chimney which was destroyed by fire in 1929.
Fireplace walls are sheathed with plain boards, perhaps some of the old wood Staple to Inventory form at botton -1- INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Commumity : GLOUCESTER Form No: 23 Davis-Preeman Property Name: House Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. from a house in Exeter, New Hampshire known to have been installed in the house during the restoration. The right and left hand rooms are 15' 8" and 18' wide respectively, evincing the asymmetrical plan of the house. In the lobby is the original turned newel post of ample proportions and a deeply molded original hand rail and stringer. Upstairs there are remnants of the original door frame moldings.
These moldings are fashioned in the edges of the sheathing boards which surround the door cut out to form miters at the corners (see photographs). The molding is found on the battens on the rooms side of the vertical board doors to the hallway. The profile of the molding, combining First and Second Period forms of crease moldings and a quarter round, expresses the transitional date of the house. In the upstairs chambers are the exposed rising braces one would expect to find on the outer walls of a plank framed house (no evidence of braces was found on the first floor). There are shorter, slightly chamfered braces on the fireplace wall as well. All the braces are c. 5" wide. Those on the fireplace wall are slightly chamfered on the edges. Again in accordance with plank frame construction, the only pegs in the plates and end tie beams are those to secure the braces and window studs.
At least some of the window studs are original (see photograph). The casement windows, installed during the restoration of the 1930's, are correctly located in the space between studs. ample window length is , however, a reflection of First Period restoration tastes of the 1930's rather original size. There were no windows originally in (north) wall. In the attic, there is a much reinforced roof of principal rafters and common purlins. The trenched purlins span only one bay. HISTORICAL INFORMATION The Davis Freeman house is representative of restoration practices of the early 20th century and is an important example of a broad pattern in our history. As restored by Mr. and Mrs. Peter Keffer, antique dealers, the building exhibits ample lead glass casement windows with rectangular panes, and drops at the eaves which do not appear to have been based on historical evidence.
The Keffers participated in the practice, common at the time, of introducing materials from another old house to restore this one. Their restoration was, nevertheless, quite careful. Reuse of old materials was apparently limited to the sheathing of the fireplace walls and replacement of the clapboards and floorboards. The boxing of the first floor joists in an otherwise exposed frame was a highly individual solution. -2- Staple to Inventory form at bottom INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Conmunisy: GLOUCESTER Form No: 23 vavis-ireeman Property Name: House Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued belor. is also associated with an early mill, alternatively described as a saw or fulling mill.
Davis received "a grant stream at the head of the Little River to set a saw mill on" in 1682 (manuscript materials, Cape Ann Scientific, Literary and Historical Association). Jacob's son Jacob took over the business upon his father's death in 1685, and in 1709, Davis received a grant "near the fulling mill...[of] a piece of land on the easterly end of his little house to set a larger house on being 42' long and 20' wide and adjoining his little house". The house in question, the present Davis-Freeman House, was constructed by 1712. The presence nearby of a means of sawing out planks may have influenced the choice of plank frame construction. The house was operated as a tavern for most of the 18th century. Tavern keepers included John Procter, Samuel Rust, keeper in 1738, and his son Benjamin Rust. From c. 1860 until 1929, the house was owned by Robin Freeman and his descendants.
Freeman was a black who escaped from slavery in South Carolina, made his way north, where he was eventually able to purchase the house The building saw use as a hostelry again in the 20th century. It was restored and operated as the Stage Coach Inn in the 1930's by Mr. and Mrs. Peter Keffer of F. C. Poole Antique Shops. Since 1981, the house has served as a shelter for the homeless called Welispring. REFERENCES Boston Sunday Globe, 28 October 1928. Boston Sunday Herald, 8 August 1965. Cape Ann Shore, 13 July 1929. "Wellspring", Esser County Newspapers, 13 February 1982. Manuscript materials at the Cape Ann Scientific, Literary, and Historical Association. Ncopy in possession of Mrs. Winfred Bell, Gloucester.) Deed Research in possession of John C. McCullough, attorney, 121 Main Street, Charlestown, MA.
Staple to Inventory form at botton NPS Form 1-900 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number. Page. OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 /24/90 Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group Name State Nomination/Type of Review First Period Buildings of Eastern Massachusetts TR Date/Signature 11. Coker, Benjamin, House Entered in the National Register ankeeper AelaseDgen 3/9/40 Attest 12. Conant, Exercise, House Entered 1n the Keeper National Registes WelueBgen 3/9/50 13. Corning, Samuel, House 14. Davis, Ephraim, House 15. Davis--Freeman House Attest Entered in tne Hational Register Keeper AuluuaAgun 3/4/50 Attest Entered in the Matlonal Registed Keeper AilmerByu 3/7/50 Attest Entered in the Natlonal Register Keeper AtilorerByen 312/90 Attest S'16. Dickinson--P111sbury--Witham House Substantive Rories 17.
Dustin House 18. Dyke-Wheeler House SrKeeper Attest Balt Sauge 3//20 Entered in tue Hatlonal Registo/Keeper AeluuByun 311/50 Attest fatered in the Lutlonnd Register/Keeper NelmuByan 3/5/20 Attest 19. Emerson House Entered 1n tbe National Regiater Keeper AilouBgun:3/9/50 Attest 20.
Foster, Phineas, House Entered in the National Register Keeper Aelareßgen 3/9/50 Attest UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET REQUESTED ACTION: NOMINATION PROPERTY Davis--Freeman 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: 90000214 NOMINATOR: STATE REASONS FOR REVIEW: OPPEAL: N PATA PROBLEM: N LANDSCAPE: N LESS THAN 50 VEARS: N PROGRAM UNAPPROVED: N SLR DRAFT: N NATIONAL: N COMMENT WAIVER: N LACCEPT _RETURN ABSTRACT/SUMMARY COMMENTS: _REJECT 3/2/90 DATE Iatered in tha National Registes 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 sketch maps _USGS maps photographs presentation OTHER COMMENTS Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to Phone Signed Date 302 Essex Avenue Glouceatzr, MA Davis- Treenan Ho 302 Essex Averue Tais ver fhouse 1985 Ist Percd Buldigs of F.
Ma TR Gloucester, MA Dauis-Freenan Huse 302 Sssex Street front dan 1985 Ist Porecel B. 2 24:23 Ist perid suldingsof E. Ma, TR SBl ..... Gloucestr, MA Dauis-Freeman #t 302 Essex St. Right hand chamber-re 1985 Ist Pered Buldings e/ E. Ma TR 1985 Ist Pered Benldlngs dE MA, TR 24:18 Glaccester. MA Davis-Freenan Huse 302 Essex Street Detul-dan fone ins 1985 GLOUCESTEL, MA Daues-FrssMan No 302 Essex Avenue Lft chmney gret spost 1985 Ist Pered Burldngs a E MA, TR 302. Essex Avenue, s Gloucester, TA Dauis- Feseman to 302 Essex Street ild ghoto of heuse Ist Pered Buldings of E. Ma TR Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000281