National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Historic Architecture Program Northeast Region MERIAM HOUSE Minute Man National Historical Park Concord, Massachusetts Historic Structure Report THE MERIAM HOUSE HISTORIC STRUCTURE REPORT Minute Man National Historical Park Concord, Massachusetts By Barbara A. Yocum, Architectural Conservator Historic Architecture Program, Northeast Region National Park Service Lowell, Massachusetts Written 1994 Published 2004 TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES AND CREDITS .................................................................................... viii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................................................... xii PREFACE ............................................................................................................................... xiv INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................. xvi I. ADMINISTRATIVE DATA ...............................................................................................1 II. ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY ...................................................................................... 7 GENERAL INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................... 9 MERIAM FAMILY OWNERSHIP .................................................................................... 11 Early Concord Family .............................................................................................. 11 Joseph Meriam's House, Circa 1638 .............................................................. 11 John Meriam's House, Circa 1663 ................................................................. 13 Development of Meriam's Corner ........................................................................... 16 The Children of John and Mary Meriam ....................................................... 16 Joseph Meriam's House, Circa 1705 .............................................................. 18 House Enlarged, Circa 1725 .......................................................................... 18 New Chimney and Kitchen, Circa 1743 ........................................................ 19 Property Deeds of 1745 and 1747 ................................................................. 19 Nathan Meriam, Owner ........................................................................................... 20 Nathan Meriam Household ............................................................................ 20 Town Selectman, 1774-1779 ......................................................................... 21 Events of April 19, 1775 ................................................................................ 22 Appearance of Meriam's Corner, 1775 .......................................................... 26 Nathan and Josiah Meriam Households, 1775 .............................................. 27 Meriam Family Involvement in the Revolutionary War ............................... 28 Nathan Meriam's Will, 1782 .......................................................................... 28 Ephraim Meriam, Owner ......................................................................................... 29 Deed Dated 1788 ............................................................................................ 29 Ephraim Meriam Household .......................................................................... 29 iii Schoolhouse Constructed, 1799 ..................................................................... 30 Purchase of the East Adjacent Lot, 1803 ....................................................... 33 Ephraim Meriam Probate, 1803-1806 ........................................................... 33 William Swan, Owner ............................................................................................... 38 Marriage to Widow Mary Meriam, 1806 ...................................................... 38 Construction of New Kitchen Addition, Circa 1810 ..................................... 39 Main-House Renovations, Circa 1820 ........................................................... 41 William Swan's Will, 1822 ............................................................................ 42 Ephraim Meriam, Owner ......................................................................................... 43 Brief Biography .............................................................................................. 43 The Meriam House and Property ................................................................... 43 Rufus Meriam, Owner .............................................................................................. 45 Deed Dated 1834 ............................................................................................ 45 New Schoolhouse, 1852-1854 ....................................................................... 45 Henry David Thoreau Survey, 1855 .............................................................. 46 Rufus Meriam Household: 1840, 1850, and 1860 ........................................ 47 Kitchen Sketch, Circa 1865 ........................................................................... 48 Death of Rufus Meriam, 1870 ....................................................................... 49 BURKE FAMILY OWNERSHIP ....................................................................................... 55 Thomas Burke ........................................................................................................... 55 Purchase of the Meriam Farm, 1871 .............................................................. 55 Thomas and Rose Burke ................................................................................ 56 Memorial Stone, 1885 .................................................................................... 57 New Barn, 1898-1899 .................................................................................... 58 New Front Doorway, Circa 1900 .................................................................. 59 Electrical Wiring, 1900-1901 ......................................................................... 60 Thomas J. Burke House, 1903-1904 ............................................................. 60 Schoolhouse Remodeled as Residence, 1903-1904 ...................................... 61 New Bathroom, Circa 1903-1904 .................................................................. 62 Remembrances of Alice Burke Hargrove ...................................................... 62 Deaths of Thomas and Rose Burke, 1921 ..................................................... 62 Ellen Burke ................................................................................................................ 62 Deeds Dated 1922 .......................................................................................... 62 Tenants, 1925-1951 ........................................................................................ 63 Fire, Circa 1925 .............................................................................................. 64 Willow Pond Restaurant Lot, 1928-1977 ...................................................... 66 New Barn and Garage, 1940-1941 ................................................................ 68 iv INGRAHAM FAMILY OWNERSHIP .............................................................................. 81 Deed Dated 1951 ............................................................................................ 81 James and Margaret Ingraham ....................................................................... 81 Restoration and Renovation Work, 1951-1969 ............................................. 82 Chimney Rebuilt, 1984 .................................................................................. 87 United States Government Taking, 1987 ...................................................... 87 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE OWNERSHIP .................................................................. 92 III. ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION ........................................................................ 93 GENERAL INFORMATION ............................................................................................... 95 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 97 Summary Evolution .................................................................................................. 98 STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS ............................................................................................. 101 Original House, Circa 1705 .................................................................................... 103 West Second-Story Addition, Circa 1725 ............................................................. 104 Kitchen Addition, Circa 1743 ................................................................................ 105 Kitchen Addition, Circa 1810 ................................................................................ 105 North Shed Addition, Circa 1820 .......................................................................... 106 Garage, 1952-1953 ................................................................................................... 106 EXTERIOR ELEMENTS ................................................................................................... 107 Foundation Walls ...................................................................................................