Jonathan Green House Explained

Jonathan Green House
Location:63 Perkins St., Stoneham, Massachusetts
Coordinates:42.4669°N -71.0806°W
Built:1720
Architecture:Georgian, Colonial Vernacular
Added:April 13, 1984
Mpsub:Stoneham MRA
Refnum:84002627

The Jonathan Green House is a historic first period Colonial American house, built c. 1700[1] –1720.[2] It is located at 63 Perkins Street, Stoneham, Massachusetts. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. It is one of the oldest structures in Stoneham, and one of only two structures in Stoneham preserving a nearly intact early eighteenth century form.

Construction history

When originally constructed, the house would have been located near the seventeenth century borders of Charlestown and Malden, Massachusetts, in what is now Stoneham. It was a single cell: a single room of two structural bays, plus an end chimney bay with the primary entrance and staircase located in front of the chimney stack. The area to the east of the chimney was used as a stable.[3] Currently, the main block is two and a half stories high, five bays wide, and one room deep, with a central chimney. The centered entrance was framed by simple pilasters and topped by a modest entablature (no longer extant). Single story ells project from the northeast and northwest corners.

Later history

Home to several generations of the Green family throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, its most notable resident was Capt. Jonathan Green, a prominent citizen of Stoneham, who served as town clerk and treasurer, and represented the town at a Constitutional Convention[4] to consider a constitution reported in the summer of 1787 by the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.[5]

In 1825 and 1826 the house served as the Stoneham school house.[6] In 1853 following the annexation of land in Stoneham to become the Melrose Highlands, this house and several others near the town line were granted the privilege of sending children occupants to school within the town of Melrose.[7]

See also

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Book: Dean. Brief History. 12.
  2. Web site: National Park Service.
  3. Book: Dean. Stoneham. 341.
  4. Book: Elliot. Debates . 179.
  5. Web site: NRHP nomination for Jonathan Green House. Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 2014-01-25.
  6. Book: Stevens. History of Stoneham. 323.
  7. Web site: 1853 Chap. 0045. An Act To Set Off A Part Of The Town Of Stoneham And Annex The Same To The Town Of Melrose . 1853 . Commonwealth of Massachusetts . 2452/95992 . free.