UPS Form 10-900 CMS Wo. 10244018 (Rev. M6) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service 2 2 National Register of Historic Places Registration Form This form is for use in nominating or requesting determinations of eligibility for individual properties or districts. See instructions in Guidelines for Completing National Register Forms (National Register Bulletin 16). Complete each item by marking "x" in the appropriate box or by entering the requested information. If an item does not apply to the property being documented, enter "N/A" for "not applicable." For functions, styles, materials, and areas of significance, enter only the categories and subcategories listed in the instructions. For additional space use continuation sheets (Form 10-900a). Type all entries. 1. Name of Property historic name Winchester Multiple Resource Area____________________________________ other names/site number 2. Location street & number various not for publication city, town Winchester vicinity state Massachuestts code 025 county Middlesex zip code Q189O 3. Classification Ownership of Property Category of Property Number of Resources within Property private xl building(s) Contributing Noncontributing public-local district 362 ; buildings public-State site 0 sites n public-Federal structure , MA structures object i ; , 0 objects 173 Total Name of related multiple property listing: Number of contributing resources previously _______N/A, ,, ' _t listed in the National Register 0 4. State/Federal Agency Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, I hereby certify that this EJ nomination L_J request for determination of eligibility meets the documentation standards for registering properties in the National Register of Historic Places and meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60. In rny opinion, the j^rjgperty 0 meets HUdoes oot meet the National Register criteria.; LJ See continuation sheet. ' IA A 0. A I M. QvUAfl-Cg_________________________________________ *Z\ I) / Signature of certifying official <o Oati Executive Director. Hi flnmr State or Federal agency and bureau State Historic Preservation Of f ice/f In my opinion, the property LH meets LJdoes not meet the National Register criteria. LJSee continuation sheet. Signature of commenting or other official Date State or Federal agency and bureau 5. National Park Service Certification I, hereby, certify that this property is: p*Tentered in the Natipnaf Register. I | See continuation sheet. 7- 6"- I I determined eligible for the National Register. ["""] See continuation sheet. I I determined not eligible for the National Register. O removed .from the National Register. [ I other, (explain:) __________ Signature of the Keeper Date of Action 6. Function or Use Winchester Multiple resource Area, Winchester, Massachusetts Historic Functions (enter categories from instructions) Current Functions (enter categories from instructions) i r .si n1 e. dwellin Domestic/single dwelling______;'' i r./miilt 1 pie dwelling Domestic/multiple dwelling______ Funerary/cemetery___________________ 1 I'OTI' onrp 1 i i ous structure _ Religion/religious structure_________ F.Hiirat- i on /school : Commerce/Trade Education/school; Commerce/Trade 7. Description Architectural Classification Materials (enter categories from instructions) (enter categories from instructions) see individual forms Colonial: Georgian foundation see individual forms Early Republic: Federal walls __ Mid-19th Century; Greek Revival, Gothic Revival, Octagon Mode________________ _______________________________see individual forms Late Victorian: Italianate, Mansard, Queen other ______________________________ Anne, Shingle Style, Stick Style Late 19th & 20th Century Revivals; Colonial Revival, Georgian Revival; Other; Medieval Reviva Describe present and historic physical appearance. Boundaries for the Winchester Multiple Resource Area are the incorporated limits of Winchester, Massachusetts, an area of 6.3 square miles bounded by the towns of Woburn (N), Lexington (VI), Arlington (S), and Medford/Stoneham (E). Located in eastern Middlesex County, Winchester is approximately eight miles north of Boston in one of the oldest areas of the state. Topographically, Winchester is located within a large valley at the head of the Mystic Lakes. The eastern wall is formed by the rocky ledge of the Middlesex Fells, which is preserved as a component of the extensive Metropolitan Park system. The western edge is more diverse, including a cluster of hill's- Myopia Hill, Andrews Hill, Turkey Hill, Indian Hill., and Zion Hill, to the north, the valley floor slopes upward to the higher ground of Woburn. Some of these surrounding hills rise to well over 200' while the valley's center is barely 25' above sea level. Varying from a mile to a mile and one-half in width, the valley was formed by the pre-glacial course of the ancient Merrimack River, which flowed south through Horn Pond and the Mystic Lakes. Today only the diminished stream of the Aberjona River and its tributary, Horn Pond Brook, flow through the valley, which is dotted by several glacial kettle holes known as Winter, Wedge, and Horn Ponds. Politically, Winchester originated as part of the immense Charlestown grant of 1636, which extended the original 1629 settlement eight miles northward into the wilderness encompassing most of present-day Winchester. In 1640, additional lands were granted to Charlestown, pushing its furthest reaches northward to Wilmington. In 1642, the northern two-thirds of Winchester were incorporated as part of the new town of Woburn. Its southern section was divided between Medford on the east and Charlestown on the west. The town of Winchester was incorporated in 1850 with bounds approximating those of today. First Settlement/Agricultural Period (1638-1774) The territory that now comprises Winchester was divided among Charlestown freemen in 1638. A 19th-century map based on the original records shows the land northwest of present-day Church and Washington Streets divided into about 60 unequal rectilinear lots. Land southeast of the line was divided into larger lots of irregular shape including some of ca. 300 acres. The area west of Cambridge Street was set aside as common land. Finally, a parcel west of the Mystic Lakes was reserved for Squaw Sachem. [xl See continuation sheet (848) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Winchester Multiple Resource Area Winchester, Massachusetts Section number 7 Page —l—— The first dwelling-house in the area then known as Waterfield was erected in 1641 near the Aberjona River in present-day Winchester Center. At the same time, a bridge across the Aberjona was constructed nearby to provide better access to the northernmost reaches of the Charlestown grant. The following year most of Waterfield was incorporated as part of the new town of Woburn and gradually became known as South Woburn. "South Woburn" is used in this nomination to denote the most heavily settled portions of present Winchester until incoporation in 1851. A meetinghouse was erected several miles to the north in present Woburn Center at the same time. The southern third of Waterfield was divided between Charlestown and Medford (inc. 1630). Lacking a community focus, Waterfield thus developed as a sparsely populated farming region between the growing town centers of Woburn to the north and Medford to the south. By 1670, no more than a dozen families resided in Waterfield, and even as late as 1798 only thirty-five houses had been built, indicating a maximum population of about 200. The pattern of settlement remained one of dispersed farmsteads well into the 19th century. Only a handful of roads, most of which adapted from the existing native trail system, served Waterfield throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. The earliest and most important route was the way from Medford to Woburn, which followed present day Grove and Main Streets through Winchester Center. In 1660 this road was improved to a uniform four-road width. Another early road, formally set out in 1643, was Plain Street, now known as Cambridge Street. It provided connections between the west side of Woburn and Cook's gristmill in Cambridge. A few years later, Pond Street was added as a way from Cambridge Street to Horn Pond and thence to the meetinghouse at Woburn Center. In 1646 another east-west road known as Driver's Lane was developed along the present route of Church Street to connect Cambridge Street with the mill and bridge at Winchester Center. It also served as a route along which cattle were driven to pasturage on the Town Common near Winter Pond. Other early roads probably included High Street and Ridge Street on the west side, and Washington-Forest Streets as a connector between Medford and Stoneham. Additionally, Cross Street may have been established to provide residents in the northeast corner of town with a more direct route to the meetinghouse at Woburn Center. Some indication of South Woburn's growth as an independent community that would eventually become the town of Winchester is found in the organization of a rudimentary school system. Woburn began providing limited educational opportunities by the late 17th century and occasionally the school location migrated to South Woburn. It was not until 1761, however, that a permanent public school was maintained at South Woburn, and a school house was not erected