Commonwealth of Massachusetts Massachusetts Historical Commission 220 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston, Massachusetts

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1 Inventory No: Historic Name: Common Name: Address: HRV.56 Barnard, E. House Blanchard - Bromfield, H. House 12 Old Boston Rd City/Town: Village/Neighborhood: Harvard Harvard Center Local No: 22B-9.01; 256 Year Constructed: C 1800 Architect(s): Architectural Style(s): Use(s): Significance: Area(s): Designation(s): Federal Agricultural; Single Family Dwelling House Agriculture; Archaeology, Historic; Architecture HRV.A: Harvard Common Historic District HRV.O: Harvard Center Historic District Local Historic District (3/27/1975); Nat'l Register District (9/22/1997) The Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC) has converted this paper record to digital format as part of ongoing projects to scan records of the Inventory of Historic Assets of the Commonwealth and National Register of Historic Places nominations for Massachusetts. Efforts are ongoing and not all inventory or National Register records related to this resource may be available in digital format at this time. The MACRIS database and scanned files are highly dynamic; new information is added daily and both database records and related scanned files may be updated as new information is incorporated into MHC files. Users should note that there may be a considerable lag time between the receipt of new or updated records by MHC and the appearance of related information in MACRIS. Users should also note that not all source materials for the MACRIS database are made available as scanned images. Users may consult the records, files and maps available in MHC's public research area at its offices at the State Archives Building, 220 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston, open M-F, 9-5. Users of this digital material acknowledge that they have read and understood the MACRIS Information and Disclaimer ( Data available via the MACRIS web interface, and associated scanned files are for information purposes only. THE ACT OF CHECKING THIS DATABASE AND ASSOCIATED SCANNED FILES DOES NOT SUBSTITUTE FOR COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LOCAL, STATE OR FEDERAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. IF YOU ARE REPRESENTING A DEVELOPER AND/OR A PROPOSED PROJECT THAT WILL REQUIRE A PERMIT, LICENSE OR FUNDING FROM ANY STATE OR FEDERAL AGENCY YOU MUST SUBMIT A PROJECT NOTIFICATION FORM TO MHC FOR MHC'S REVIEW AND COMMENT. You can obtain a copy of a PNF through the MHC web site ( under the subject heading "MHC Forms." Commonwealth of Massachusetts Massachusetts Historical Commission 220 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston, Massachusetts This file was accessed on: Tuesday, December 10, 2013 at 12:03 AM

2 FORM B - BUILDING assessor's # 22B Massachusetts Historical Commission 80 Boylston Street Boston MA usgs quad Ayer Town Place Address area Common form isc» Harvard Common 12 Old Boston Road Historic Name: Barnard? House Use Present residence Original residence of construction: ca Source Style Form reverse Federal ell house Sketch Map Architect Exterior N/A Material: Wall/Trim wood OLD ^ ^ M ^ T - I Roof Foundation asphalt stone Outbuildings garage See rear of form for more detailed description Alterations additions See rear of form for more detailed description. Condition good Recorded by: Claire W. Dempsey Organization: : May 1993 Harvard Historic Commission Moved R 'tl OEIVF D S e t t i n no Acreage village "~ - ^ See rear of form for JUL detailed description MASS. HIST.- COMM.

3 BUILDING FORM ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION This house sits on a large lot at 12 Old Boston Road at its intersection with Oak Hill Road, next to an open lot of conservation land watered by a channelled brook. The lot rises to the east, and the garage on that side of the house has a stone retaining wall. The house is composed of three cumulative masses, the front block of a one-and-a-half story gabled block, a higher rear gabled ell, and a wide gabled block furthest to the rear and off-set to the right. The front portion of the house is arranged in five regular bays, with 6/6 sash on the first floor and 3/3 on the second; its central entry has a simple entablature treatment. Its plan takes the common form of two rooms on either side of the central bay which encloses the entry, stair, and a small room behind them. The rear ell extends the right wall plane, but its ridge is higher than that in the front block, making i t a full two stories in height. The rear ell of two-and-a-half stories is a new addition, sited where a carriage house formerly stood. To the right behind the house is a modern outbuilding, two levels high, with a broad door off center on the street side, small windows on the left. Further behind the house is a large ruin of a barn foundation. HISTORICAL NARRATIVE Owner research and map evidence provide conflicting evidence about the date and ownership of this building. In 1831 the property was labelled "E. Barnard" suggesting ownership by that well-established town family. In 1870 the house was labelled "Mrs. Blanchard," in 1898 "H. Bromfield Estate," suggesting the house and land had been purchased by that prominant family, former owners of the Bromfield Mansion, set back from Massachusetts Avenue, and benefactors of the Bromfield School, constructed nearby in By contrast, owner t i t l e work has identified owners including Lyman Gates, Fairbank, Waters for nearly a century, and Robb. More research will be needed to sort these conflicting contentions. The house contains evidence of early 19th century date, in a form known from other houses in the area, including Joy Cottage at 1 Fairbank Street and the Truffant House at 12 Oak Hill Road. REFERENCES Anderson, Directions of a Town, Nourse, History of Harvard, Essays on Common Area by Sawyer (1952) and Hersey (1936). Notes of Scourgie, HHS. Holman Map of Beers Atlas of ^ Richardson Atlas of x Recommended for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. See NR~~Criteria Statement form for the Harvard Common Area

4 INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Massachusetts Historical Commission 80 Boyleston Street Boston MA Community Address Area Form # Harvard 12 Old Boston Harvard Common

5 i-l FORM B - F o r m no. In A r e a no. BUILDING MASSACHUSETTS HISTORIC/ ^ COMMISSION Office of the Secretary State House.»Mt<i 1. Town Address Name Present use J. jj^j_j \ P r e s e n t owner 3. D e s c r i p t i o n : j? 3 6 Source stvie ot 5_\&uj ** fcunlat Architect in rt-uttiun to neat-eni c r u»» streets and other b u i l d i n g s. Indicate n o r t h. Exterior wall fabric r In jn jo (r ft y rl Outbuildings (describe) ^ f l ^ W Other features *<ltlu f Altered Moved 5. L o t size: 3 < 2. Over one a c r e One acre o r less Approximate frontage j/* 1 Approxim a t e distance of b u i l d i n g f r o m s t r e e t mate Recorded by_ b o NOT W R I T E I N THIS SPACE KJSGS Quadrant Organization KlHC Photo no. (over) ; Q }& HioL C O M

6 7. Original owner (if known) Original use a is r >j Subsequent uses (if any) and dates 8. Themes (check as many as applicable) Aboriginal Agricultural Architectural The Arts Commerce Communication Community development Conservation Education Exploration/ settlement Industry Military Political Recreation Religion Science/ invention Social/ humanitarian Transportation 9. Historical significance (include explanation of themes checked above) 10. Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records, early maps, etc.) t