1 Ashland Street

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No. 11447 1 Ashland Street, photograph January 3, 2011.

Date of construction: 1846

MACRIS BOS.13611

 Henry Reed House

circa 1845

Greek Revival

The following is from the neighborhood description, Boston Landmarks Commission.

The Greek Revival residence at 1 Ashland Street on the corner of Park Street was built c. 1850 and was owned by Woodmans (1850s), Reids (1870s), Prestons (1880s), and Gilrains (1930s).  Although sheathed in asbestos shingles, the Greek Revival 1 Ashland Street retains the distinctive forms of its pedimented, unusually small three bay by one bay main block and extensive rear ell.

During the mid-19th century, 1 Ashland Street was the residence of Henry Reed, a Boston commission merchant. From the 1880s to the 1910s the house was owned by Hattie B. Preston, presumably a member of the Preston family of Clam Point. By 1918, Bernard Gilrain, packer, is listed as this house’s owner. During the 1930s, auto mechanic Harold Simpson resided in the old Henry Reed place, while its owner in the 1950s was seaman Norman Nunn.
The following is from the National Register form for Harrison Square Historic District

Built during the 1840s and 1850s, the first generation of commuter houses possess the three-bay, side hall plan, end gable forms that became popular after ca. 1830. Also represented are the rectangular, center entrance, three bay-by-two bay main blocks associated with the Italianate style. Both types of main blocks, together with original and later rear ells constitute T and L- shaped forms. Indeed, most of the rear ells, with their multiple one and two story components, date to the construction of the main block. In the case of the ca. early 1840s 1 Ashland Street, its rambling, L-shaped rear ell is much larger than its small, pedimented, two bay-by-one bay main block.

Greek Revival houses of considerably more modest scale than the Loring house survive in altered states while retaining their original forms complete with square and rectangular main blocks surmounted by pedimented attics. Less formal than the Loring house is a vinyl-sheathed Greek Revival end house at 7 Everett Street (photo 7). Composed of a two bay by three bay main block and a five bay by two bay rear ell, a verandah with slat work rails and fluted Doric columns wraps around the street gable. Although sheathed in asbestos shingles, the Greek Revival 1 Ashland Street retains the distinctive forms of its pedimented, unusually small three bay by one bay main block and extensive rear ell. Here and there Greek Revival elements have been incorporated into the forms of essentially Italianate residences. For example, 13 Park Street (photo 2) exhibits paneled Doric pilasters at the comers of a main block whose rectangular, horizontal orientation was a preferred Italianate housing form. Additionally, its west elevation’s two-story polygonal bay is typically incorporated into the designs of Italianate houses.

As is the case in most sections of Dorchester, the Carpenter Gothic style is represented in a rather limited manner. At Clam Point this style is confined to the isolated elements of late Federal and Greek Revival houses, including the pointed arch windows of 32 Mill Street’s attic and 1 Ashland Street’s main entrance’s narrow lancet arch side lights. The pitch of 37 Mill Street’s center gable alludes to the steep pitch of Gothic Revival gables

Owners from maps and atlases

1850  possibly Woodman, possibly no house at this location

1858  Woodman

1874  H. R. Reed

1884  H. B. Preston

1889  Hattie B. Preston

1894  Hattie B. Preston

1898  Hattie B. Preston

1904  Hattie B. Preston

1910  Hattie B. Preston

1918  B & C G Gilrain

1933  M. W. & B. W. Nelligan

Deed

June 1, 1871 from George H. Webb to Henry R. Reed 1052.135

May 19, 1864 from George and Lucy A. Woodman to George H. Webb 323.317

land with the buildings thereon

April 26, 1848  from Edward King to Woodman 180.6

lot with the buildings thereon

Jan 10, 1848  from A. A. Frazar to Edward King 177.295

with house and out buildings

May 15, 1845 being the lot of land conveyed by Rachel Robinson to A. A. Frazar

lot 7   159.69

no mention of building

Skills

Posted on

July 20, 2020