Barlin Acres

The Keyes-Dakin House (Barlin Acres) is located off School Street, which runs south from Boylston Center to the interchange of State Route 140 and Interstate Route 290. It is a two story frame house with brick ends which appears to date primarily from the late eighteenth century, although tradition ascribes a construction date of 1743. Major additions are known to have been made in the 1920s, but the east service wing may date from the same period as the central block. The house presently stands on 300 acresofundevelopedland which includes most of an early eighteenth century land grant to the Keyes family. Several outbuildings surround the house, but they appear to date from the twentieth century.

At this time, the nomination 1s contined to the house and the land immediately surrounding it, including the well. The original portion of the house is square in plan with a symmetrical, five bay facade. It rises from a masonry foundation (partially covered by concrete to a low hipped roof and paired end wall chimneys (of which the right front is missing). Windows consist mainly of 12/12 double hung sash in simple frames with louvered shutters. Trim includes a plain, boxed cornice, plain corner boards and a molded water table. The facade (south) displays the customary 5 bay, 9 window configuration of the two story eighteenth century house. Its focus is an enclosed entry porch ascended by two granite doorsteps.

The entry consists of paired fluted pilasters, supporting a plain frieze and a triangular pediment. This composition enframes a six panel door which appears to be a recent replacement. The window directly above the entry is slightly smaller than the rest due to the intrusion of the pediment, and contains 6/6, rather than 12/12 sash.

(in one paragraph) Builder/Architect unknown The Keyes-Dakin House possesses integrity of location, design, setting, materials and workmanship as well as significant associations with the development of Boylston since the eighteenth century and with one of the area's prominent families, the Keyes. Additional- ly, it stands as a fine example of early Federal period architecture in its original agrarian setting. Thus, the Keyes House meets criteria A, B, and C of the National Register of Historic Places. The land on which the Keyes house stand was granted as the 35th house lot of the town of Shrewsbury; Boylston was a part of Shrewbury until its incorporation as an independent town in 1786. settle on the land.

Cyprian was one of the twenty founders of the North Precinct (which was later incorporated as Boylston) Church and one of its first Deacons. He also held numerous offices in Shrews- bury, including Town Clerk, Selectman and Assessor. He was also a member of the first The property remained in his possession until his death when he willed it to his son-in-law, Oliver Dakin, who gave it to this son David in 1805. David Dakin held the land until 1883 when he sold it out of the family, to William Toombs. The house appears to have undergone substantial renovation, if not rebuilding, shortly after Cyprian's death, since its form and details are those of the early Federal period. After Toomb's death in 1856, the property was owned by his son Edward W.

Toombs who subsequently sold the portion with the house to Patrick Griffin, an Irish immigrant. Griffin retained the property until his death in 1888at which time photographs show it to be little altered trom its turn of the century appearance. It was subsequently owned by George Flagg, F.C.