FORM A - AREA Assessor's Sheets USGS Quad Area Letter Form Numbers in Area

Massachusetts Historical Commission 157,

58, 70 I I Marlborough I I__ J __ 85, 195-201;
80 Boylston Street 535-560
~oston, Massachusetts 02116 <52tS+ fV} ~ VI, "3}.

Town Marlborough
\
\ Place (neighborhood or village)

Name of Area East Main Street Area"

r

,- Present Use residential; commercial

Construction Dates or Period mid-19th- to

early 20th C.
Overall Condition fair to good

Major Intrusions and Alterations some visible

alteration and demolition: a few modem

stores on lower E. Main.
Acreage ca. 13 acres

Recorded by Anne Forbes, consultant

Organization Marlborough Historical Comm.

Date (month/day/year) 9/1/94

"Includes entire street, unless otherwise noted:

Auburn Street
Clinton Street: 11-50, inclusive
Church Street: 3
Davis Street
East Main Street: odd #s, 47-133 inclusive;
odd and even #s, 135-202,
SEE ATIACHED MAP inclusive
Elm Place
Stevens Street: 4-24, inclusive

Follow Massachusetts Historical Commission Survey Manual instructions for completing this form
 AREA FORM

ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION [X] see continuation sheet

Describe architectural, structural and landscape features and evaluate in terms of other areas within the
community.

Although many of the 55 buildings in this ca. 12-acre area have been altered, in contrast with some
of the later-nineteenth-century neighborhoods at Marlborough center, its unique character derives
from the predominance of pre-1855 Greek Revival houses, intermixed with stylish examples from
the later decades of the nineteenth century.

The East Main Street area consists of the southeastern section of busy East Main Street/Route 20,
(north of Sawin and facing Spring Hill), and a broad west-east band of buildings flanking East Main
as it turns east toward Hosmer Street. The area includes the base of Stevens Street south of the
Rocklawn and Chipman Cemetery, the four buildings of Elm Place, and a small late-nineteenth-
century neighborhood on Davis, Auburn, and lower Clinton Streets. Only two modem intrusions
exist here, a late-twentieth-century fast-food restaurant and a highly-modernized one-story store
block of ca. 1930, both on East Main Street. What appears to be a large intrusion, the four-story
L-plan comer building at 133 East Main (MHC #541), is actually the 1878 Rice & Hutchins
Middlesex Factory, recently modernized with new siding, windows, etc.

The East Main Street area claims several of the most high-style Greek Revival houses in
Marlborough. The large temple-front houses of Samuel and John Chipman, (see Forms #85 and
195), both probably built in the late 1830's, are the largest and best-preserved of the group. Both
have flushboarded facades and wide corner pilasters, and the John Chipman House is one of the
(. few in Marlborough to display floor-length triple-hung windows on the facade. (Cont.)

HISTORICAL NARRATIVE [X] see continuation sheet

Explain historical development of the area. Discuss how this area relates to the historical development
of the community.

Even though East Main Street was in existence by the late-eighteenth-century as part of the county
road system and as a section of the Boston Post Road, the ca. 12-acre area flanking it northeast of
today's Sawin Street did not begin to develop as part of Marlborough's busy center villages until
,, about 1850. From that time through the 1880's it gradually changed from a rural area to the
.' easternmost combined industrial/residential section of Marlborough center.

In 1800 a few houses stood on the east side of East Main south of this area, but except for a small
artisan's shop and one or two houses that have since been demolished, this section was virtually all
open land. The nearest buildings were two houses to the northwest on Spring Hill, the Stevens
family homestead well to the north off Stevens Street, and the old homestead of John Howe to the
east. (See Form #44.) Through the mid-1830's, even as gradual development came to the East
Village at the base of Spring Hill (See Area Form I), this area remained rural. (Cont.)

BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES [ ] see continuation sheet

Bigelow. Historic Reminiscences of Marlborough. 1910.
I Hudson. History of the Town of Marlborough, 1862.
~-/
\ Hurd. History of Middlesex County. 1890.
Maps, birdseye views, and atlases: 1853, 1857, 1871, 1875, 1878, 1889, Sanborns.
Marlborough directories and tax valuations.
Pictorial Marlborough. 1879.

[X] Recommended as a National Register District. * If checked, you must attach a completed
National Register Criteria Statement form. *(part of area only--see Criteria Statement)
INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Community Property

Marlborough East Main Street Area

Massachusetts Historical Commission
80 Boylston Street Area(s) Form Nos.
Boston, Massachusetts 02116 J 85, 195-201, 535-560

ARCHITECfURAL DESCRIPTION, cont.

The Thankful Stowe House and the Whitney House at 16 and 24 Stevens Street are less intact, but
the Stowe Huse retains its proportions and magnificent tetrastyle portico, and the Whitney House
displays the same comer pilasters as those on the Chipman houses. (See Forms #197 and 198.)

Several other Greek Revival houses located here, though in less than intact condition, still illustrate
other forms and aspects of the style. The highly-altered William Holyoke House at 140 East Main
Street is one of a handful of examples at Marlborough center of the little 1 1I2-story temple-front
cottage, and its neighbor, the Felton House at 138 East Main, though later updated in the Queen
Anne Style, may have started out the same way. (See MHC #544 and Form #200.) Three tall 2-
story gable-end houses with pedimented facades are located at 156, 166, and 178 East Main Street.
(MHC #s 546,556, and 555.) 178 East Main has large paneled comer pilasters, as does the Stowe
House, also pedimented, at 97 East Main (MHC #540), (later updated with a Queen Anne porch).
156 East Main has a fully-sidelighted recessed entry. 160 East Main Street, (MHC #557), one of
the three Davis family houses, is the area's only two-story, three-bay side-gabled house with a
projecting lobby entrance. A nearby house of about the same vintage, 12 Davis Street, (MHC
#547), is the area's only illustration of the one-room-deep, five-bay "stOly-and-a-half cottage that
l

continued from the Federal into the Greek Revival period. The largest of the Greek Revival
buildings in the area is the unique three-part, 2 lI2-story house of Charles Palmer at 7 Elm Place
(MHC #537). Though altered, it still displays its generous Greek Revival proportions and paneled
comer pilasters.

Three examples of the small Second Empire mansard cottage of the 1860's and 1870's, all somewhat
altered, are located in this area at 157 and 167 East Main, and at 24 Clinton Street (MHC #s 559,
558, and 552.) Well-preserved houses in the other major late-nineteenth-century styles, the
Italianate and the Queen Anne, also appear here. 151 East Main Street, (MHC #560,) probably
built around 1860, is an unusual Marlborough example of the early Tuscan Italianate, with a very
shallow-hipped roof. The R.D. Mortimer House (MHC #545), at 148 East Main, although updated
with a slightly later Queen Anne comer porch, is a good example of the typical bracketed "upright-
and-wing" form. The best-preserved Italianate building here is the ca. 1878 extended farmhouse of
O.P. Walker at 3/5 Stevens Street (see Form #199). A tall gable-end house, it has two porches on
the typical chamfered posts of the Italianate era, and paneled and scroll-bracketed window crowns.
Several other houses, though somewhat altered, still have such ltalianate details as heavy, bracketed
window hoods (cf, e.g. 47 East Main, 17 Clinton Street, and 10 and 18 Auburn Street--MHC #s
535, 553, 549, and 550.)

Several gable-end houses were built in the area during the 1880's and 1890's with some vernacular
Queen Anne details. In particular, several porches with lathe-turned posts and saw-cut brackets
grace the area, on houses such as 50 Clinton Street, 22 Davis Street, and 202 East Main (MHC #s
551, 548, and 554.) The 1890's gable-end duplex at 4/6 Stevens Street (MHC #543) has porches
at both stories with lattice-work frieze screens, and also displays an elaborate gable-screen, incised
verge boards, skirted gables, and the leaded-glass-surrounds at the l-over-Lsash windows that are
some of the hallmarks of the Queen Anne. The best-preserved of the Queen Anne houses is the
little Brigham House at 10 Stevens Street (see Form #196). Here patterned shingle, turned posts
and frieze screen at the wraparound porch, and some vertical-and diagonal-board reminiscent of the
Stick Style all combine in one of the area's most charming houses. The large, 2 l/2-story gable-end
C.L. Bliss House at 165 East Main Street also retains some Stick Style elements in its horizontal
wall banding and in the diagonal, horizontal, and vertical stickwork of its gables. (See Form #201).
(Cont.)
INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Community Property

Marlborough East Main Street Area

Massachusetts Historical Commission

80 Boylston Street Area(s) Form Nos.
Boston, Massachusetts 02116 J 85,195-201,535-560

ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION, cont.

Two bungalows bring the area into the early modem era--a large, hip-roofed example of ca. 1910
at 79 East Main Street, and a smaller one at 2 Elm Place. (MHC #s 539 and 538).

HISTORICAL NARRATIVE, cont.

The first real catalyst for development along upper East Main and lower Stevens Streets came with
the opening of several small early shoe "manufactories" in the late 1830's and 1840's. This "first
generation" of Marlborough's shoe industry was characterized by a proliferation of small companies,
most of which were short-lived, and many of which eventually sold out to larger concerns. The
earliest major shoe manufacturer in the area was John Chipman, whose father, carpenter Samuel
A. Chipman, had a house just south of the location of today's Elm Place (at about the location of
51 East Main.) John Chipman set up his first shop on the adjoining Amory Cotting property. His
brother Samuel joined him in 1842, and they remained in partnership for several years, soon moving
their shop to the property at 83 East Main Street. (See Forms #85 and 195).

By the 1850's, upper East Main in the vicinity of what was formerly known first as "Stevens' Comer,"
and later "Chipman Comer", (the intersection with lower Stevens Street) had joined the West
Village and the south side of Main Street as the third major locus for shoe-manufacturing in the
center of Marlborough. Other early entrepreneurs who opened shoe -shops in the area included
Elijah Dickinson in 1842, and two men in 1851: Charles G. Whitney (see Form #197--16 Stevens
Street) and Thomas J. Howe. The latter two both began on East Main east of Stevens. C.G.
Whitney later formed the firm of Whitney & Palmer with Charles Palmer, building a shop in 1856
on the lane that later became Elm Place. Mr. Palmer eventually built the grand house at 7 Elm
Place for his own residence. In 1859 CiG. Whitney teamed up with Charles Howe, who relocated
here from Main Street.

In the early 1860's, when many of the smaller shoe manufacturers were consolidating, Charles
Whitney, Samuel Chipman, and Lewis Felton (see Form #200--138 East Main Street) formed the
firm of Whitney, Felton & Chipman, and built the first of the major factories to be located on the
southeast comer of the East Main/Stevens intersection; (by then known as "Chipman's Comer"--
it was at about this time that Lincoln Street was extended east to create even more of a true square
at the intersection.) The company was bought out in ca. 1867 by Rice & Hutchins, a large Boston-
based shoe company that had been started by a local resident, William Rice. The factory burned
and was replaced with a larger one in 1878, which still stands today in highly altered form as 133
East Main Street. Named the Rice & Hutchins Middlesex Factory, from at least the time of its
construction the intersection, and the growing area around it, gained yet another name, "Middlesex
Square."

The residential development of the East Main Street area progressed, first slowly, then more rapidly
after 1855. As in other formerly rural areas, houses here were built on land divided out from the
older homesteads for the homes of new generations. Also in typical fashion, neighboring families
here tended to intermarry. Hence the Chipmans, Howes, Stowes, Whitneys, Feltons and others
were all related, and formed familial business partnerships. The first increase of houses in the area
was the result of relatives building homes near each other. (Cont.)
INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Community Property

Marlborough East Main Street Area

Massachusetts Historical Commission

80 Boylston Street Area(s) Form Nos.
Boston, Massachusetts 02116 J &5, 195-Wl, 535-Sffi

HISTORICAL NARRATIVE, cont.

The opening of the larger factories, however, together with the presence, from 1853, of the
Methodist Church on the new Church Street (see Form #97), combined to inspire more rapid
residential development all along the adjacent sections of East Main Street later in the century. By
1870, on the north side of East Main several acres of the farm then belonging to Rufus Howe (see
Form #44), and possibly some land belonging to members of the Davis family, were laid out for the
new Davis, Auburn, and Clinton Streets. Rufus Howe himself retained ownership of the four lots
on the north side of Auburn Street for many years, in fact, and his greenhouses still occupied much
of the east side of Clinton Street at the end of the nineteenth century.

By 1889, the area was nearly fully-developed with houses. Among the last historic buildings to be
built were two 1880's houses at 4/6 and 10 Stevens Street on the former Stowe/Whitney property
of #16 (see Forms #196 and 197), and the ca. 1890's house on the former Stowe property at 97
East Main. In the early part of this century a few more houses were built on the open spaces of
the area or as replacements for a few that had been demolished.

The buildings discussed above and listed on the Area Data Sheet represent some of the most
historically or architecturally significant resources in the area. There are several more historic
properties located in the area, however. See Area Sketch Map for their locations.
INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Community Property

Marlborough East Main Street Area

Massachusetts Historical Commission

80 Boylston Street Area(s) Form Nos.
Boston, Massachusetts 02116 J 85t 195-201t 535-560

AREA DATA SHEET

NOTE: Although the inventory includes the entire area outlined on the Area Sketch Mapt only
resources which have individual forms, or are mentioned in text of the Area Form, have been given
inventory numbers and are listed on the Area Data Sheet. As a rule, these represent the most
historically or architecturally significant resources in the area. There are many more historic
properties located within the area, however. (See Area Sketch Map for their locations.) Starred
properties (*) have individual inventory forms).

MHC# Parcel # Street Address Historic Narne Date Style/type

549 57-373 10 Auburn Street ca. early 1870's Italianate

550 57-372 18 Auburn Street ca. early 1870ts Italianate

553 58-16 17 Clinton Street J. Andrews Hse. ca. 1870 Itali an ate

552 58-5 24 Clinton Street ca. 1873 mansard cottage

551 50-3 50 Clinton Street ca. 1890 Queen Anne

547 57-383 12 Davis Street mid-19th C. 1 1/2-S. cottage

548 57-385 22 Davis Street ca. 1890 Queen Anne

535 70-329 47 East Main Street ca. 1900 Italianate

536 70-328 51 East Main Street ca. 1900/earlier astylistic

539 57-182 79 East Main Street ca. 1910 Bungalow

*195 57-184 83 East Main Street Saml. Chipman Hse. ca. 1835-40 Greek Revival

540 57-186 97 East Main Street Emerson Stowe Hse. ca. 1850 Greek Revival

541 57-190 133 East Main Street Rice & Hutchins factory 1878 astylistic

542 57-190 135 East Main Street Nourse House ca. 1870 Itali an ate

*200 57-379 138 East Main Street Felton House ca. 1845 Greek Revival!
Queen Anne

544 57-380 140 East Main Street Whitney/Dadmun/ ca. 1850 Greek Revival
Holyoke House

545 57-381 148 East Main Street R.D. Mortimer Hse ca. 1880 Italianate
INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Community Property

Marlborough East Main Street Area

Massachusetts Historical Commission

80 Boylston Street Area(s) Form Nos.
Boston, Massachusetts 02116 J 85, 195-201, 535-560

AREA DATA SHEET, cont.

MHC# Parcel # Street Address Historic Name Date Style/type

560 57-169 151 East Main Street Bowen House 1860's Italianate

546 57-382 156 East Main Street Davis House ca. 1850 Greek Revival

559 57-168 157 East Main Street ca. 1876 mansard cottage

557 57-391 160 East Main Street Davis House ca. 1840's astylistic

*201 57-160 165 East Main Street c.i, Bliss House ca. 1888 Queen Anne

556 57-394 166 East Main Street Davis House ca. 1850 Greek Revival

558 57-159 167 East Main Street ca.1876 mansard cottage

555 57-395 178 East Main Street Davis House ca. 1850 Greek Revival

554 58-13 202 East Main Street ca. 1890 Queen Anne

538 70-326 2 Elm Place ca. 1915 Bungalow

537 70-327 7 Elm Place Charles Palmer Hse. ca. 1860 Greek Revival

*199 57-378 3/5 Stevens Street D.P. Walker House ca. 1878 Italianate

543 57-230 6 Stevens Street Brigham duplex ca. 1890 Queen Anne

*196 57-232 10 Stevens Street Brigham House ca. 1889 Queen Anne

*197 57-233 16 Stevens Street Thankful Stowe Hse. ca. 1852 Greek Revival

*85 57-377 17 Stevens Street John Chipman House ca. 1838 Greek Revival

*198 57-234 24 Stevens Street L.P. Whitney House ca. 1850 Greek Revival
INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Community Property
Marlborough East Main Street Area
Massachusetts Historical Commission
80 Boylston Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02116

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Massachusetts Historical Commission

80 Boylston Street Areais) Form Nos.
Boston, Massachusetts 02116 J 85, 195-201, 535-560

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80 Boylston Street Area(s) Form Nos.
Boston, Massachusetts 02116 J 85, 195-201, 535-560

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Boston, Massachusetts 02116 J 85, 195-201, 535-560

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Marlborough East Main Street Area

Massachusetts Historical Commission

80 Boylston Street Area(s) Form Nos.
Boston, Massachusetts 02116 J 85, 195-201, 535-560
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Marlborough East Main Street Area

Massachusetts Historical Commission

80 Boylston Street Area(s) Form Nos.
Boston, Massachusetts 02116 J 85, 195-201, 535-560
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Marlborough East Main Street Area

Massachusetts Historical Commission

80 Boylston Street Area(s) Form Nos.
Boston, Massachusetts 02116 J 85, 195-201, 535-560

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Massachusetts Historical Commission Community Property Address
80 Boylston Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02116 Marlborough East Main/MiddlesexSquare

Area(s) Form No(s).

J; K 85, 196-200, 202, 546, 556-560

National Register of Historic Places Criteria Statement Form

Check all that apply:

[ J Individually eligible [ ] Eligible only in a historic district

[ ] Contributing to a potential historic district [x] Potential historic district

Criteria: [x] A [] B [x] C [] D

Criteria Considerations: [] A [] B [] C [] D [] E [] F [] G

Statement of Significance by __ A_._F_o_r_b_es _

The criteria that are checked in the above sections must be justified here.

A potential National Register District, meeting Criteria A and C of the National Register, exists in
the vicinity of the old Middlesex Square, where several houses, from the high-style Greek Revival
to the elaborate, well-preserved Queen Anne, reflect the affluence of the early shoe-manufacturers
of the Middlesex Square (formerly "Chipman's Comer") neighborhood, and that of their relatives
and descendants. Several recent restorations, notably of the C.L. Bliss property, where cigars were
once made, and the little multi-color Queen Anne Brigham Cottage, combine with other houses
which, though perhaps threatened by pending resale or recent neglect, still retain virtually all their
characteristic features, to create one of the most intact nineteenth-century building clusters in
Marlborough center.

Suggested district boundaries, (which, regretfully, leave out the highly-altered anchor property of the
1878 Rice & Hutchins Middlesex Square shoe factory at 133 East Main) extend from 135 East Main
east to 167 and around the comer of Walnut to the mansard cottage of Thomas Jackson at 7
Walnut, and north from the base of Stevens Street to the Whitney House at 24 Stevens.