Col. James Barrett Farm HISTORIC STRUCTURE REPORT The Col. James Barrett Farm in Beneath Old Rooftrees, A. E. Brown, 1896 For Save Our Heritage Concord, Massachusetts By New England Landmarks Frederic C. Detwiller Architect & Preservation Planner 302 Central Street Georgetown, Massachusetts 01833 July 25, 2007 Rev A - February 17, 2008 Rev B – April 17, 2009 Barrett Farm Historic Structure Report April 17, 2009 i TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 Introduction............................................................................................................................. 7 1.1 Scope............................................................................................................................. 7 1.2 Document Overview..................................................................................................... 7 1.3 Colonel James Barrett................................................................................................... 7 1.4 The Barrett Farm........................................................................................................... 8 1.5 Key Participants............................................................................................................8 2 Background History ............................................................................................................... 9 2.1 Early Property History .................................................................................................. 9 2.2 Benjamin Barrett Period c. 1705-1728 ...................................................................... 10 2.3 Col. James Barrett Period c.1728-1779 ...................................................................... 11 2.4 Peter Barrett (1755-1808) and Prescott Barrett (1788-1861) Period c. 1780 -1860... 15 2.5 Late Barrett Period: c. 1861-1905.............................................................................. 17 2.6 McGrath Period c. 1905 to 2005................................................................................. 18 3 Comparable/Related Houses, Outbuildings and Property Features................................ 20 3.1 Deacon Thomas Barrett House (demolished) Barrett’s Mill Road............................. 20 3.2 Ebenezer Hubbard House, (demolished), Concord..................................................... 22 3.3 John Beaton-Heywood House, 105 Lexington Road, Concord.................................. 23 3.4 James Barrett Jr. House (ca.1754, ca. 1795) , 612 Barrett's Mill Rd. Concord.......... 24 3.5 Lieut. Jonas Barrett House (1764), Piper Hill Road, Ashby MA ............................... 25 3.6 Adams Birthplaces (1681/1720s; 1663/1740s), Braintree, MA.................................. 25 3.7 Col. John Robinson House (early-mid18th Century), Westford, MA ......................... 25 3.8 Emerson's "Old Manse” (ca. 1770), Concord, MA Trustees of Reservations........... 25 3.9 Hunt-Hosmer House and Barn (18th Century), Concord ............................................ 26 3.10 Houses in Minuteman Park:........................................................................................ 26 3.11 Gen. Israel Thayer Homestead (ca. 1720), Braintree, MA ......................................... 26 3.12 Nathaniel Felton Sr. & Jr. Houses (17th and 18th Century) , Peabody, MA................ 27 4 Existing Conditions............................................................................................................... 28 4.1 Introduction................................................................................................................. 28 4.2 Annotated Existing Conditions Drawings and Restoration Schematic Design .......... 28 4.3 Site .............................................................................................................................. 38 4.4 Related Structures....................................................................................................... 38 4.5 House Exterior............................................................................................................ 40 4.6 Interior......................................................................................................................... 43 4.7 Utilities........................................................................................................................ 47 4.8 Conclusion .................................................................................................................. 47 5 Recommendations.................................................................................................................49 5.1 Preservation Philosophy, Restoration and Interpretation Alternatives....................... 49 5.2 Schematic Drawings – Restoration Alternatives ........................................................ 51 5.3 Restoration Plan - Prioritized...................................................................................... 54 5.4 Furnishings.................................................................................................................. 55 5.5 Site Development - Grounds and Outbuildings.......................................................... 56 5.6 Related Sites................................................................................................................ 56 6 Scope of Work ....................................................................................................................... 58 6.1 Stabilization Phase I (Urgent- one year)..................................................................... 58 6.2 Restoration Phase II (Short Term - two to four years)................................................ 59 New England Landmarks Save Our Heritage, Inc. Barrett Farm Historic Structure Report April 17, 2009 ii 6.3 Site Development Phase III (five to ten years) .......................................................... 60 7 Bibliography .......................................................................................................................... 61 7.1 Published Sources .......................................................................................................... 61 7.2 Primary and Archival Sources ......................................................................................... 61 8 List of Appendices................................................................................................................. 62 8.1 Background Research................................................................................................. 62 8.2 Suggested Maintenance Schedule............................................................................... 62 8.3 National Register of Historic Places – Barrett Farm .................................................. 62 9 Illustrations............................................................................................................................ 63 9.1 Historic Maps and Views............................................................................................ 63 9.2 Existing Conditions Photographs................................................................................ 69 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1 Barrett Farm illustrated in Margaret Sidney's "Old Concord Highways & Byways" 1888. Hosmer Photo. CFPL. ................................................................................................... v Figure 2 Deacon Thomas Barrett House (demolished), Barrett's Mill Road................................ 20 Figure 3 Scotchford-Wheeler House ............................................................................................ 21 Figure 4 Concord Ebenezer Hubbard Saltbox - rear view (Wheeler)........................................... 22 Figure 5 Beaton-Heywood House had saltbox form, window pediments .................................... 23 Figure 6 James Barrett Jr. House 612 Barrett's Mill Rd ............................................................... 24 Figure 7 Barrett Farm Site Plan .................................................................................................... 28 Figure 8 Elevation - 19th Century Appearance (F.C. Detwiller Composite view 2007)............. 29 Figure 9 South Elevation – Existing Conditions........................................................................... 30 Figure 10 East Elevation – Existing Conditions........................................................................... 31 Figure 11 North Elevation – Existing Conditions ........................................................................ 32 Figure 12 West Elevation – Existing Conditions.......................................................................... 33 Figure 13 Basement Layout.......................................................................................................... 34 Figure 14 First Floor Plan............................................................................................................. 35 Figure 15 Second Floor Plan......................................................................................................... 36 Figure 16 Attic Plan...................................................................................................................... 37 Figure 17 Barrett Farm Elevation ca. 1705-1768 ......................................................................... 51 Figure 18 Barrett Farm Floor Plan ca. 1705-1768........................................................................ 51 Figure 19 Barrett Farm Elevation ca. 1768-1808 ........................................................................