23 Chickatawbut Street

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No. 4414 23 Chickawtawbut Street, photograph August, 2004.


No. 16277 23 Chickatawbut Street, photograph December 23, 2016.

Date of construction: circa 1855

Macris offers a date of circa 1840, but it appears not to have existed until after 1850. 

Owners from maps:

1850 no house on map

1858 C. Hunt

1874 N. Holbrook

1884 Nathan Holbrook

1889 Nathan Holbrook

1894 Nathan Holbrook

1898 Hrs. Nathan Holbrook

1904 Hrs. Nathan Holbrook

1910 Hrs. Nathan Holbrook

1918 Hrs. Nathan Holbrook

1933 Kath. V. Kelly

The following is from the 1978 survey form for Neponset, Boston Landmarks Commission.

Estimated 1840

Grand scale Greek Revival 5 Bay House; pedimented central pavilion with recessed 2nd floor window; 2 ionic columns support entrance porch, 9 columns supporting side Dorchester, siding obliterates wide frieze and corner pilasters, etc. with addition to rear.  House set on granite foundation on terrace.  Once one of the grandest houses of its period in Dorchester, the house’s significance has diminished somewhat because of the siding and alterations.

Now, due to the stripping off of the siding, we can see more of the detail underneath. The photo with siding is from 2004, and the photo with siding removed is from December 2016.  The columns are particularly noticeable against the unpainted house.

Joseph & Elena Leonido bought this house in 1949.  The barn at the rear of the property burned down in 1950.  They sided the house and shortened the windows in the 1950s.

The following are selected notes from the summary of the recent  neighborhood meeting regarding the property.

Ted Ahern, a local developer, has recently purchased the property at 23 Chickatawbut Street.  Over the years it has been used as a single family, two-family, three-family and rooming house.  It is currently a legal 3-family.  It sits on a lot that is approximately 20,000 square feet.

Mr. Ahern’s proposal is to retain the original structure of the house and remove the non-conforming additions that were added to the rear.  These additions do not contribute to the character of the building.  He plans to restore the exterior of the building to its original appearance.  When complete, the building will have two condominium units, each with 3 bedrooms and two parking spaces in the rear.

In the rear of the lot, Mr. Ahern proposes to construct a new building, which will house 4 condominium townhouse units.  The architect has attempted to call out the characteristics of a carriage house typical to the period.  Three of the units will have 3 bedrooms, and one will have 2 bedrooms and a nursery/office.  All will have 2 parking spaces.

Mr. Ahern also plans to retain as many of the numerous mature trees on the property as possible and clean up the landscaping. 

Postscript

The renovation replaced the original columns, significantly changing the appearance of the building.

Deed

May 15, 1873 from Charles Hunt to Nathan Holbrook 1158.79

lot 7 1/2 acre and 34 rods releasing rights of dower and homestead for his wife

March 31, 1846 from Caleb Wilson to Charles Hunt 163.163  

no mention of building

Feb. 17, 1846 from Apollos Clapp to Caleb Wilson  162.131

Skills

Posted on

August 8, 2020