Brookline Preservation Commission Local Historic District Report
Address: 107 Upland Road District: Pill Hill LHD Applicant: Francis Meehan Date Built: 1892 Architect: Hartwell & Richardson Builder: F.W. Stevens
Statement of Significance:
The 1892 Eclectic Revival style home at 107 Upland Road was designed by Hartwell & Richardson and built by F.W. Stevens for owner Franklin W. Hobbs and his wife Jennie (Jane) who were married the same year. The couple resided at this home until at least 1919, raising a family of four at the home with the help of three servants. Franklin Hobbs was a Treasurer and eventual President of Arlington Mills, a leader in the textile industry with offices at 78 Chauncy Street in Boston.
Hartwell & Richardson was one of the most prolific architects of suburban houses during the 1880s & 1890s. This house is characteristic of their work in the way it combines the French Chateauesque roof treatment and tower on the body of a house that is essentially Colonial Revival. This combination produces a distinctive picturesque effect for a house prominently sited at the curve in the road where Upland Road becomes Maple Street. Until 1902 the address of this home was 36 Maple Street.
Previous alterations to the house include a library wing addition c. 1895, the addition of a brick two-story sunroom and sleeping porch of the west side in 1919, replication of the trim in 1990, as well as roof, gutter & chimney restoration in 1998-1999.
Page 1 of 7 107 Upland Road Local Historic District Report – June 2020 Proposed Alterations:
The Applicant is proposing to remove the existing stockade driveway gates and install a 4’ open picket fence with a pedestrian gate at the back of the driveway. The new fence will run 32’ from the existing side yard picket fence to the house porch, providing a secure enclosure for the family dog.
Applicable Guidelines:
The Preservation Commission’s Design Guidelines for Local Historic Districts state that:
New fences and walls should not prevent or restrict views of buildings from a public way. Tall solid fences and walls should not be constructed as noise or headlight barriers. The design of fences should be appropriate in scale and architectural style to the building, its site and surrounding buildings. New fences and walls running along property lines with street frontage, as well as any section of a side yard lot line fence or wall that is forward of (i) the applicant’s house or outbuilding, or (ii) adjacent houses or outbuildings, should not exceed 42” in height. Other new fences and walls should not be more than 42” high if a higher fence would obscure significant features on the side of the building or site.
Preliminary Findings:
The design of the proposed fence matches the existing side yard fence. It will be made by Reliable Fence, the same company as the existing fence. The applicant is removing the pre-existing (non-conforming) stockade driveway gates and replacing them with a smaller, less visible fence set back from the street. The proposed fence meets the requirements of the design guidelines and may be considered an appropriate alternative to the existing driveway gates.
Page 2 of 7 107 Upland Road Local Historic District Report – June 2020 Aerial view of 107 Upland Road, looking north.
Aerial view of 1 Mason Street, looking west.
Page 3 of 7 107 Upland Road Local Historic District Report – June 2020
Aerial view of 1 Mason Street, looking south.
Aerial view of 1 Mason Street, looking east
Page 4 of 7 107 Upland Road Local Historic District Report – June 2020
Site Plan, 107 Upland Road
Page 5 of 7 107 Upland Road Local Historic District Report – June 2020
Existing stockade driveway gates, proposed for removal.
Existing picket fence, proposed fence & gate will match style & materials.
Page 6 of 7 107 Upland Road Local Historic District Report – June 2020
Photo of driveway from street, proposed fence site to rear of driveway.
Manufacturer’s image of fence type. The pickets will be pointed to match the existing fence on the property, not “clipped” as shown in this picture.
Page 7 of 7 107 Upland Road Local Historic District Report – June 2020