Captain William Wildes House, 872 Commercial Street, Weymouth

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS MASS,11-WEYMO,1-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

A late eighteenth-century architectural remnant of the Georgian period, the Captain William Wildes House is associated with Brigadier General Solomon Lovell. Wildes was Lovell's son-in-law; Lovell acted as Commander of the Commonwealth's lead forces during the siege of Castine, Maine, in Summer Description: Clearly delineated by a monitor on top of a hipped roof and by its stone foundation, the frame house is two stories tall. The house's parameters are further articulated by corner quoins. Within the boundaries determined by the foundation and quoins, the exterior fabric is clapboard. The clapboard siding was painted yellow, at the time of the HABS survey. The South (front) facade is five bays wide, with a central entrance. The entry door is approached by an "old granite grindstone" step.

The entrance is emphasized by its classical surround. The entry is capped by a pediment; and, fluted pilasters, one per side, frame the doorway. The door itself is made of six panels. The windows have shutters and are twelve-over-twelve light sash. The two interior end chimneys are both made of brick. t On the east and west sides, a chimney stack obstructs one bay of the monitor level while a window pierces the other. The monitor level windows are six-over-six light, double hung sash. Below, the west facade fenestration consists of four windows on each of the first and second floors; these windows are grouped in pairs. These windows also consist of twelve-over-twelve light sash.

On the east facade, access to the basement level as well as another first floor entrance alters the paired window fenestration. The side entry is tucked under a pediment that, in turn, is supported by columns. The door is made of eight panels. This entry assumes the place of one window on the first floor level; all others remain in the groups of two as seen on the west side.