Exterior wall fabric ;.lood Clapboard Other features House faces south with Lot size: .--E. k- M- L...

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1 'I 4"';0. - ~~ ~./ '. FORM B - BUILDING MASSACHUSETTSHISTORICALCOMMISSION OffiC'Qnf tha ~A~1"p.bl.T'V_ ~tatp. House. Roston 1. Town Marlborough In Area no. Form no. Address 340 Bigelow Street Name Abraham Howe Homestead 2. Present use Residence Present owner f.~r. Charles F. Lefebvr 3. Description: 2t Story Center Chimney Date 1720 Source Pub. Local Histories Style Colonial 4. Map. Draw sketch of building location in relation to nearest cross streets and other buildings. Indicate Architect None Exterior wall fabric ;.lood Clapboard Outbuildings (describe) None Other features House faces south with typical nine ",itidm'l facade, i t:..is well maintained. Altered Date ned.--e. k- M- L... o 0 0 STR -ElZ.T (over) Moved Date Lot size: One acre or less Over one acre X Approximate frontage 200 Feet Approximate distance of building from street 30 Feet 6. Recorded by Ernes t Ginne tti Organization Harlborough Historical Commission Date 9/18/78

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3 INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Community Property Marlborough Abraham Howe House Massachusetts Historical Commission 80 Boylston Street Boston, Massachusetts Area(s) AM Form No. 38 Additional infonnation by Anne Forbes, consultant to Marlborough Historical Commission, 5/11/95: ASSESSOR'S # acres. PHOTO #95-11: 15 ARCHITECfURAL DESCRIPTION The Abraham Howe house, although it may have been enlarged during the eighteenth century, is one of the most well-preserved examples of a large, 2 1I2-story, two-room-deep farmhouse of the Colonial period in Marlborough. It has the typical five-bay, center-entry facade and massive center chimney that were the predominant arrangement of the period. Still standing on its fieldstone foundation, it retains clapboard siding and much of its eighteenth-century detail. The windows on the main house are 6-over-9-sash, with flat surrounds. (Those on the large two-story west wing are 6-over-6-sash). Other detailing includes a wide bed molding under the front cornice, a sill board, and cornerboards. The main entry has an eight-panel door with a later surround that probably dates to the early nineteenth century-with 2/3-length sidelights, narrow pilasters, and a high, flat, shallow-pitched pediment. A second entry in the two-bay east gable end has similar sidelights, and a wide, flat surround with corner blocks, indicating an update during the early Greek Revival period, possibly ca The door here in this side is covered with a vertical-board storm door. A photo of ca (Bigelow) shows that the east gable-end once had a full-length porch. mstorical NARRATIVE, cont. According to local tradition, this house, or at least the first part of it, was built in 1720 for Abraham Howe, grandson of original Marlborough settler Abraham Howe. Like the other heads of households in the Robin Hill district, he was a farmer. He also served as a Selectman in 1745, 1753, 1757, and may have been the Abraham Howe who was Selectman in Since a later Abraham Howe is shown as the owner on the map of 1803, it is likely that the house descended through the family via Abraham and Rachel's son, Asa (b. 1733), who married Rachel Goddard in 1762, and thence to their son, Abraham, who was born in That Abraham married Elizabeth Wetherbee in If this was the line of descent, then future deed research may prove that all the land from at least this house north to the corner of Robin Hill and Berlin Roads was originally part of this farm. The map of 1803, for instance, shows the second Abraham here, his sister, Lucy (wife of Archelaus Howe), on the site of 468 Bigelow Street, and probably another sister, Abigail, (wife of Benjamin Howe), at 551 Bigelow Street. (See Form #39). The land associated with this house also included considerable acreage on the east side of Bigelow Street, where the little "Howe's Pond", named for members of this family, is located. In the early nineteenth century, the later Abraham Howe, known as "Captain" Howe, was the leader of the West Company, one of three infantry companies organized in Marlborough around the time of the War of Like many of his Robin Hill neighbors, he was also an original member of the West Church. Among Abraham and Elizabeth's many children was Samuel Howe, father of shoemanufacturer S.H. Howe. (Cont.)

4 INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Community Property Massachusetts Historical Commission 80 Boylston Street Boston, Massachusetts Marlborough Area(s) AM Abraham Howe House Form No. 39 HISTORICAL NARRATIVE, cont. The next owner of this house was Abraham and Elizabeth's son, Charles Howe, who apparently inherited the property after his father's death in He was born in 1810, and married Lucy Rice in He may have been the Charles Howe who was the town postmaster for a while in the 1850's, and/or served a term as Selectman in 1855, and as state Senator in By 1875, the house was owned by L.A. Howe. This was apparently Lewis Alvin Howe, son of Silas, who grew up in the Robin Hill district on the Eber Howe farm at 615 Berlin Road. (See Form #4). He is also shown as the owner of the farm just north of this one at that time. By 1900, the owner was S.W. Lincoln. ADDITIONAL BIBLIOGRAPHY. Maps and atlases: 1803, 1830, 1835, 1856/7, 1875, 1889, Marlboro vital records Marlboro directories and tax valuations. Bigelow, James. "Photographs and Descriptions of Some Old Houses in Marlborough." [X] Recommended for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. If checked, a completed National Register Criteria Statement form is attached.

5 7. Original owner (if known) Abraham Howe ( Original use_f_a_m -.J{ _ Subsequent uses (if any) and dates Residence Themes (check as many as applicable) ~, "1, I! Aboriginal Agricultural Architectural The Arts Commerce Communication Community development _x_ x Conservation Education Exploration! settlement Industry Military Political Recreation Religion Science! invention Social! humanitarian Transportation 9. Historical significance (include explanation of themes checked above) ( \ Je must keep in mind. that there,,,ere tho Howe families in Harlbol'ougt prior to 1660, this Abraham HOYlewas the descendant of the Abraham Hmve originally from Roxbury and had large land holdings in Lancaster, Harlborough and Koxbury. This Abraham Howe was born l1arch 21, 1698 and married. Rachael Rice Nay 24, 1724 and they had 8 children. There is no record. of his death, or very little information regarding his life. This house is a fine example of this type inside and out. 10. Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records, early maps, etc.) Historical Reminiscences of Marlborough, Ella Bigelow, Marl., History of Harlborough Hass., Charles Hudson, Boston 1862.

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7 .... -;,:, ",..,. r 9'_'. "FORM B - BUILDING ~.lassachusettshistoricalcommission Office of the Secretary, State House, Boston 1. Town Marlborough In Area no. Form no. $ ---"""-:r;-'- ~~'J..,,:. 2. Photo (3x3 11 or 3x5") Staple to left side of form -: Ph~to number _ Address 551 Bigelow Street Name Beny Howe Present use Residence Present owner. Mr. Samuel Field 3. Description: 1 3 /4 story 3/4 Cape Date 4th Otr. 18th Century Source Pub. Local Histories Style Colonial 4. Map. Draw sketch of building location ~q~ in relation to nearest cross streets and other buildings. Indicate north. /' ~JesrItTZ- N Architect Exterior wall fabric Wood Clapboard outbuildings (describe) None Left Other features 1t story ell. North 1t story ell East Altered Date Moved Date _ 5. Lot size: One acre or less, Over one acre_x Approximate frontage 150 ft Approximate distance of building from street 20 ft. O"NOTWRITE IN THIS SPACE 6. Recorded by Ernest Ginnetti' BSGSQuadrant Rt CEI\JED Organization -Marl. Hist. Gomm. MHCPhoto no AR D~e Feb. 20, 1974 X' I- J q/. /.

8 ...../0<,.; 7. Originalowner (ifknown) Wi~~iam C A~len Originaluse Farm Subsequentuses (ifany) and dates 8. Themes (checkas many as applicable) Aboriginal Agricultural Architectural The Arts Commerce Communication Community development x x Conservation Education Exploration/ settlement Industry Military.Political Recreation' Relig'ion' '. Science/.,' invention,. S00lal/.".: ~-,'~ humamtartan Transportation 9. Historicalsignificance(includeexplanationofthemes checked above)-".:,'" "Did you never hear of a pebble-stone house?u asked-can o1.d gentleman. "Then go up to the Robin Hil~ district and see the p;ctl,lresque little old home of the Aliens, long ago." Wi~liam C. Allen was a farmer and after the death of his wife, Elizabeth Loring, from the old loring homestead near Williams lake, he married Mrs. Emiline Jenks of Cumberland, R. I. By Elizabeth he had Sophia, (m. A. K. Graves, ch. Harry,) John (m. Amy Walcott, nine children. 1, Fred W.~ m. Amelia Sumpter; he was Master WorlQnan and Chaplain, A. O. U. W, and a member'of the Masonic Lodge, three children, Abbie, Marjory, and Amy.) Edward E. chairman License Commissioners since 1901, P. M. Masonic Lodge, a member of h Houghton,R. A. Chapter, Trinity Com. K. T. and a Zealous worker in the Second parish church. William A. Allen, a prosperous merchant of the firm of'boynton & Allen director of the First National Bank, trustee of the Marlborough Savings Bank, a member of the Masonic:Lodge, Houghton R. A. Chapter and a popular club member; m. Emma Corey, 'gr~nddaughter of Thomas Corey, one child, John G. 4, Walter,L., Registrar of Voters 1895 to 1904, Free Mason, Odd Fellow, Secretary.~ion~Cltib. 5, Mary L. (m, William H. Osgood of Peabody, Mass. Tax,9o~lecto~::and.Clerk of. Comittees, President Common Council in 190iand~90217'~~e Mason and member of Houghton Chapter, R. A. M.) Elizabe:th~ rii.~f dwin Warren, two children, Arthur and Lottie.). Charlotte, -(m -,,Hor~1iio::COok~ two children Charles Allen, ex-councilman, Alderman, Water/Commi~_sion:e_r, one of the organizers of the Co-operative Bank "in._18~o~.and dl.re'oc$torsince, member of Masonic Lodge. and Oommand ez-y, '.,... '.. -- '.."~"O;::,.:':,...~.:... _."..:.-. ~.. ".. ".. " 10. Bibliographyand/or references (suchas localhistories,deeds, assessor'srecords, early maps, etc.j. Homestead names taken from Oct. 24, 1803 map of Marlborough by Silas Holm&n Histories Surveyor. Which includes the town of Hudson. taken from Historical Reminisces of Mqrlborough by Ella Bigelow,1910.

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11 INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Community Property Marlborough Benjamin Howe House Massachusetts Historical Commission 80 Boylston Street Boston, Massachusetts Area(s) AM Form No. 39

12 INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Massachusetts Historical Commission 80 Boylston Street Boston, Massachusetts Community Marlborough Area(s) AM Property Benjamin Howe House Form No. 39 Additional information by Anne Forbes, consultant to Marlborough Historical Commission, 5/11/95: ASSESSOR'S # 26-17; 1.15 acres. PHOTO #95-11: 13 ARCHITECfURAL DESCRIPTION An architectural inspection should confirm that 551 Bigelow Street, locally known as the "eat's paw house", is still a "pebble-stone" house. Today it is clapboarded, and a well-preserved example of what is probably an early Federal period, late-eighteenth-century 1 1I2-story cottage. Its facade is an assymetrical four bays, with an entry typical of the Greek Revival period from ca to 1850; it has full-length sidelights and a flat surround. (The door is covered by a vertical-board storm door.) The 6-over-9-sash windows are more consistent with a date near the turn of the nineteenth century. A historic photograph, in fact (see Bigelow 267), shows that until the early part of this century there were small "half-" or "eyebrow" windows" on the facade, just under the eaves. One chimney remains behind the roof ridge. A long garage ell extends to the south from the main house. HISTORICAL NARRATIVE, cont. It is commonly understood, and the architectural evidence indicates, that this little house was built in the latter part of the eighteenth century. If this is the case, before it appears on maps as belonging to W.e. Allen, it is shown under two other names, Benjamin How(e) in 1803, and E. Brigham in 1830 and (In the latter case, the name is on a house on the opposite side of Berlin Road.) The Benjamin Howe who would have been alive during the period of this house's construction, Benjamin Howe II ( ), was a descendant, not of Abraham Howe, like most of his Howe family neighbors in Robin Hill, but of the John Howe family. However, he married a member of the Abraham Howe line, Abigail Howe, daughter of Asa Howe. (The land on which this house was built may have come from her family. Abigail's sister, Lucy, married Archelaus Howe, and they settled on the next farm south on Bigelow Street, in a house located at 428 Bigelow, and their younger brother, Abraham, evidently inherited the family homestead at 340 Bigelow Street [see Form #38]).) Like many Robin Hill residents, Benjamin Howe was an original member of the West Church. Further research will be necessary to determine the identity of "E. Brigham". By 1856, however, the house and farm were the property of William C. Allen. (See 1974 inventory form). By 1875 they belonged to Richard Whitaker, who had come to Marlborough from England in 1845 to work on the Eber Howe farm. (See Form #4). He died in 1895, and his heirs owned it for several years afterward. BIBLIOGRAPHY, cont. Maps and atlases: 1803, 1830, 1835, , 1875, 1889, Marlboro vital records Marlboro directories and tax valuations. Marlborough Historical Society: House Files. [X] Recommended for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. If checked, a completed National Register Criteria Statement form is attached.