Wyman, Francis, House

The Wyman Homestead sits atop a small knoll on the west side of Francis Wyman Road, a short distance northwest of the center of Burlington, Massachusetts. The first quarter 18th century building faces south and utilizes the cellar foundation and chimney structure of the former mid-17th century Francis Wyamn farmhouse. The land to the north, south and east of the Wyman Homestead is occupied by a slightly crowded twentieth century urban development. The view to the west, however, presents a picture of the mid-17th century, when the Wyman farm consisted of 500 acres purchased from Henry Dunster, president of Harvard College. The Wyman Homestead is a four over four dwelling with central chimney and pitch roof. The exterior walls are covered with clapboards with cornerboards.

The fieldstone foundation extends under slightly more than half of the building and together with the chimney foundation appear to have been built during the 17th century. The roof framing is of the common rafter and purlin variety with ridge pole. Primary structural components are made of pine with the exception of studs, braces and posts. It appears that the Wyman Homestead was built around 1730 and is an unquestion- ably fine example of a transition period house. The floor plan is definitely mid-18th century; however, the structure and interior trim relate more closely to the type of construction which characterizes the typical first period, single room wide structure.

Each of the eight rooms of the Wyman Homestead is framed in the late first period fashion with posts at eadh corner and summer beams joined per- pendicularly to the chimney girts with rising braces at the second floor level.

/ARCHITECT STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE The Wyman Homestead stands on a small portion of the 500 acres of land originally purchased by Francis Wyman in 1655 from Henry Dunster, first president of Harvard College. The early 18th century building utilizes the chimney structure and foundation that was once incorporated in the original 1666 farmhouse built by Francis Wyman. The present house was built by a third generation Wyman. The house is architecturally significant because it clearly displays the transition i construction between the first period style, (before 1720), and that style common to mid-18th century buildings. Many interior features also display the trend in style which placed great emphasis on the joiners trade and a decrease in importance on the carpenter or housewright's trade.

The Wyman Homestead depicts that stage in the history of building construc- tion when the heavy First Period frame became diminished in size and eventually was hidden by plaster ceilings and elaborate raised panelled sheathing. The existence of a partially exposed frame, simple beaded trim and considerable feathered edge sheathing in combination with elaborate reverse curve moldings make this building an interesting example of transition features. This, together with a completely untouched and unfinished room, and elegant 18th century staircase with newel post and molded edge rail and a primitive puncheon stairway add another degree of importance to this dwelling.

Historically, the Wyman homestead is significant because it stands as one of the few reminders of the first settlers in the Woburn-Billerica area.