Preserving the history of Maynard
Operating as usual
Happy Anniversary to us! March 5th, 1962 was the day that the forming of the Maynard Historical Commission was authorized by town meeting . Thank you to all the past and present members that allow us to carry on. If you're interested in joining us, please reach out.
Maynard's newest house plaque commemorates the 1905 owners, Flora and Wilder Macurda. Wilder was a pharmacist who operated a drugstore on Nason Street.
Want a plaque for YOUR home or business? There is no limit on age or type of property. Download the application here: https://www.townofmaynard-ma.gov/gov/committees/historical-commission/historic-house-plaque-program/
Photos from Maynard Public Library's post
Maynard's most prominent Shingle style building is the former St. George's Episcopal Church on Summer Street. Built in 1895, the building shows several features typical of the Shingle style: hipped roofs, battered (flared) roofs and walls, pyramidal tower, asymmetry -- and of course, shingles covering the walls. After the church closed in 2006, the building was converted to residences.
The Shingle style of architecture became popular in the late 1800s as a reaction to highly ornamented Victorian styles. Some very famous architects designed in the Shingle style, including Henry Hobson Richardson and Frank Lloyd Wright.
What is Maynard’s most prominent Shingle style building? Tune in Monday for the answer!
The Maynard Historical Commission thanks and congratulates the Maynard Sesquicentennial Committee. Huzzah!
Now it's easier to send Maynard Historical Commission a message.
So great when our prominent historical properties are owned by folks who love and share that history.
One of the unexpected pleasures of owning the historic, and iconic, former Union Congregational Church, built by Amory Maynard, is being able to help share the story of the building, the church, and the amazing contributions it made to Maynard through the 165 years it watched over the town.
Today as we celebrate Maynard’s 150 anniversary, we invite everyone to Sanctuary, after the parade, to see the church that Amory built, share some of its history, and show you our vision of how we plan on keeping this historic property an active and integral part of the community. We will also be showcasing many historical pictures and documents from Maynard’s past, some which have only been shown once, at the April time capsule opening on April 18th.
Hope to see you there
Will Doyle
Looking to get more involved in our beautiful town? We have openings for members in the Historical Commission. Message us for details.
This home was built for the private Susan Smith Ladies Boarding School in 1848, when it stood on the other side of the Red Fox Inn. The house was moved to its present location and enlarged around 1890.
There are quite a few surviving buildings that started out as public schools. Can you think of a private home that was first built as a private school?
Did you know that anyone can get a Maynard Historical Commission historical plaque for their home or business? Find the application here: https://www.townofmaynard-ma.gov/gov/committees/historical-commission/historic-house-plaque-program/
Up on Maynard's Hill, overlooking his mill, both Amory and his son Lorenzo built mansions in 1877. This handsome Second Empire style carriage house has been subdivided from Lorenzo's home and is now a double home on its own property. (In the background is the former servants' cottage, under separate ownership.)
There are several former carriage houses around Maynard; some have been attached to the main building to add to the living space. Can you think of a former carriage house which has been subdivided away from its main house and is now a home in its own right?
The oldest still existing house on Concord Street is the Asa Dexter House. It was built between 1830 and 1857 for Asa Dexter Smith (1809-1864), son of Haman Smith, descendant of early Sudbury settler John Smith. The building has been changed quite a bit over the years, adding dormer windows and incorporating the attached carriage house.
Concord Street is one of the most ancient roads in town, used by the Stow Minutemen on their march to the Battle of Lexington and Concord in 1775. But no structures from that time survive. What is the oldest house on Concord Street?
Architect Charles R. Greco designed two Maynard buildings: the St. Bridget's Rectory on Percival Street (1906), and the old Maynard High School/Artspace on Summer Street (1916). Both of these are from fairly early in his career. Fun fact: he also designed the cast iron historical markers issued by the Massachusetts Bay Tercentenary Committee in 1930, like this one in Stow.
Charles R. Greco was a well-known Boston-area architect in the first half of the 20th century. His buildings include Temple Ohabei Shalom in Brookline, the Central Square Post Office in Cambridge, the Middlesex House of Correction in Billerica -- and two buildings in Maynard. What buildings are they?
Besides the Red Brick Schoolhouse on Summer Street, the other 18th-century schoolhouse is the Turnpike School, first erected by the town of Sudbury at the corner of Old Marlboro Road and Parker Street. After Maynard became a town, it was moved farther north on Parker Street, before being sold and moved again to the corner of Acton and Concord Streets to become a private home.
I posted about the Red Brick Schoolhouse (c.1789) on Summer Street back in March. There is another similar vintage schoolhouse in Maynard; where is it?
The Maynard Hotel was on the southeast corner of Summer and Nason Streets; the property is now Memorial Park. It was first dedicated in 1925 and commemorated Maynard's war dead from the Civil War, Spanish-American War, and World War I. More recent conflicts have been added since, and in addition, all town residents who served in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam are listed.
Come to Memorial Park today at 11 am for the service; no parade this year.
This is the Maynard Hotel, built in 1867 and destroyed by fire in 1921. Where was it located and what is there now? (Admittedly, this has nothing to do with Historical Commission markers!)
The oldest thing that has a Maynard Historical Commission marker is the Marble Farm ruin, at the corner of Brown and Acton Streets, on the bike path heading to South Acton. The cellar hole, steps, and stone walls are all that remains of the farmhouse, built around 1700. It was occupied by 7 generations of the same family until 1924, when it was destroyed by fire. Recently the area was rehabilitated and Town Meeting voted to create Maynard's newest park.
What is the oldest thing that has a Maynard Historical Commission marker?
This interpretive panel brought to you by the Maynard Historical Commission, with generous public donations
Join the Maynard Historical Commission and the Maynard Sesquicentennial Committee on Saturday, June 5th at 10:15AM for the dedication of the historical marker for the Maynard Mill at Olsen Plaza, on the corner of Main and Walnut Streets.
The oldest Maynard business still owned and operated by descendants of the founder is Erikson's Ice Cream, established in 1902, at this location since 1937. As demand changed, Erikson's switched from producing milk to distributing it, to producing and selling ice cream. The fourth generation since Hans Eriksen now manages the business, with the fifth generation among its employees!
What is the oldest business in Maynard still owned and operated by descendants of the founder?
Have you noticed the new interpretive panel about the mill? Dedication ceremony June 5!
The Levi Smith House started life as a 1700s farmhouse. In 1816 it became a tavern (eating and drinking establishment and hotel/hostel) and is now back to being a private home. It is one of only a few pre-Revolutionary homes in Maynard.
What private home in Maynard used to be a tavern?
The first church building in what would become Maynard was the Union Congregational Church on Main Street. In 1850, a committee formed to organize a local Sunday School. They elected Amory Maynard as their superintendent -- just 4 years after his arrival in town. Amory and his business partner donated the land on Main Street, and fundraising began for the building. It was dedicated in 1852.
Today, the building houses Sanctuary (a performance venue), The Community School non-profit preschool, and other businesses.
What was the first church building in Assabet Villlage, the area that became Maynard?
Mary Gibson Davis, the mother of Captain Isaac Davis of the Acton Minutemen, grew up on the Gibson Farm on Summer Street. The Gibsons sold the farm in 1828 to Lucius Maynard (an unknown, probably distant, relation of Amory Maynard). After the farmhouse burned down in the 1830s, Lucius built the house that now stands. It is notable for having both a carriage house and barn still existing.
Because of the 100% chance of rain, possibly heavy, I have rescheduled Sunday's Guided Maynard History Tour to TOMORROW, Saturday, 4/24, at 2 pm. Some of the participants cannot make it at the new time, so I have a few openings. If you would like to attend, and can walk 1.5 miles, comment here.
There is a house in Maynard that has a connection to Isaac Davis, the Acton Minuteman Captain who was the first person killed at the North Bridge, April 19, 1775. Where is the house and what is the connection?
Several buildings that started life in secular use, later converted to religious use:
The building that now houses St. Mary's Indian Orthodox Church was built as a coal-fired electricity plant for the Concord, Hudson and Maynard Street Railway. After the streetcar line was discontinued in 1923, the building became the Polish St. Casimir Catholic Church. By 1999 St. Casimir was absorbed into St. Bridget's.
In 1921, Eastern European Jewish immigrants purchased an existing residence on Nason Street in the way of commercial development, moved it to Acton Street, and converted it into the Rodoff Shalom Synagogue. In 1980 the Torah scrolls were walked in procession to Beth Elohim in Acton and the building went back to being a private residence.
Then some residents pointed out others that I had overlooked:
Lori Greenaway Byrne mentioned the St. Stephen's Knanaya Church, whose Main Street building was first built as the Finnish Temperance Society, then was the VFW Post 1812.
Lori also mentioned the First Bible Baptist Church, meeting in the former Italian Social Club on Waltham Street.
David Gavin added that the Church of the Nazarene meets in a former DCU building on Parker Street.
Way to go, local historians!
Maynard, like many other towns, has a number of church buildings that have been converted to other uses. Can you think of an example of the opposite -- a building first built for some other use, later converted into a house of worship? (I can think of two in Maynard!)
The first passenger rail station in Maynard, c.1850, was on the southwest corner of Main and Sudbury Street, where the gas station is now. Some time before 1875 a second station was built on the little triangle where Main Street meets Railroad Avenue. This station was replaced with a larger one (the third!) around 1900, and finally demolished in 1952.
Artemas Whitney had the original station moved to land he owned on High Street and sold the house to Assabet Manufacturing. It housed mill workers, then was auctioned in 1934 with the rest of American Woolen's housing, to the Finnish immigrant Selma Saari. It remained in her family until the 1980s.
If Maynard has a rail-trail, it must have had a railroad line. If Maynard had a railroad line, did it have a passenger station? Where is/was it?
Elizabeth E. Cleary (1855-1918) was born in Stow of Irish immigrant parents. In the 1910 census she is the head of a household of herself, her uncle, her younger brother, and 3 boarders. Catherine E. Williams (1859-?) was widowed before 1900 and lived on Glendale Street with her mother and son. Together Elizabeth and Catherine ran the business Cleary and Williams Dry Goods and Millinery on Main Street, though the business may have existed earlier in another location. Today the building houses the Pleasant Cafe, owned and operated by the same family since 1945.
195 Main Street
Maynard, MA
01754
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