Loading...
2017-BACK MEETING MINUTES A-C - CAPTAIN CHARLES LEONARD HOUSE - PPRO MASTER PLAN 2004 v®y�' Captain;Charles Leonard House Agawam, Massachusetts Preservation Master Plan PHASE 1; Prepared October 28, 2004 by Martha Lyon Landscape Architectwe, LLC Introduction The Captain Charles Leonard house Iles along the east side of Main Street at the northern end of the Agawam Center Historic District. Renowned Boston and Philadelphia architect Asher Benjamin is credited;with the design of the house,which is known as wam's finest Federal style building. The original'parcel consisted of 25 acres and the house,completed in 1805 1807,served as the settlement's fourth tavern. Today, the house sits on approximately one and one-half acres,surrounded by mature sugar maple trees. Managed by a non-profit Board of Trustees, it functions as a multi-family residential property as well as a community center for the City; Over the.past 70 years, the Leonard House has benefited from many preservation efforts. In 1938 the building underwent a major restoration, and.in 1975,the house earned status on the National Register of Historic Places. in 1998,the trustees restored the Pine:Room and in 002 repaired and painted the many shutters; Having completed most of the house renovations, the Trustees turnery to the grounds; in 2003, ordering the removal of several dead.trees. In 2004 the Trustees received a grant from the City of m's Community Preservation Act Committee to prepare this Preservation Master Plan for the grounds,aiming to make the landscape as historic, memorable and functional as the house it surrounds. It is the Trustees' hope that landscape improvements can coincide with Plans to celebrate the Leonard House Sesquicentennial, in April and May of 2005. Goal Tlae Trustees'goal for the project is to create a master plan for restoring the landscape of the Captain. Charles Leonard House to be more historically authentic and reflective of 1805/'1807,the date of building's construction. Program The Trustees developed the following program of modifications;additions and improvements to be included in the Preservation Master Ilan; LO ` c.rr • Upgrade the look of the house from the street, including placing clearer sign($) listing the phone number. Maintain the sire of the existing parking area. • Create an outdoor space - and possibly a landscape focal point- for holding activities outside. ■ Consider converting the garage into recital office space, supplanting the residential tenants now occupying apartments in the upstairs of the main house; •, Modify the plantings around the base of the house so that its Federal style details are visible. Captains Charles Leonard Howe Page 1 Preservation Master Plan at £ 4 ' pp � s X F i C ' SAW i vpow .w 4 A v, 601c p � at 1Y u r ".. t}'�'�^"ti.ry-�" q"s .' Landscape Assessment EXISTIM"') CONDITIONS The Captain Charles Leonard house lies along the east side of Main Street at the northern encf of the Agawam Center Historic I.:1k ict. Renowned owned Boston and Lilad 1phia architect Asher Be j rain is credited with the design ref"the house,which is brown as a •am's finest 1°ederal s =le building. The original parcel consisted of 25 egret; and the house, completed in 1805,served as: the settlerrrent"s fourth tavern. `(,,Kia%,, the hawse sirs on approximately one and one half acres,surrounded by artarttre Sager maple trees. It functions as a multi-family residential ential properg, i £ell as a community center fart the Ci ^ °mm ,Massadimvm F--"--- PRESERVATIONT M rda Lr)n Land Landwmpe Archik mire,LIC • Maintain the existing Garden Club plot,seeking approval from the Garden Club for any changes in location and/or plantings. • Modify the chain link fences on the east and south sides of the property,introducing a more historically-appropriate, maintenance-friendly substitution. Consider in this modification,the need to push snow to the east(rear)of the parking area. • Where possible,retain the plantings original to and/or typical of the early 19'century, such as lilacs, • Retain the existing (or introduce new)plantings of American Holly, used during the holidays for house decorations. • Retain existing/introduce new perennial plantings and other flowers to add color to the landscape. Landscape Hutory The following is a chronology of the NtAbo*,I� historical development of the Leonard House landscape-a visual record of how the Zuw&Nu landscape has evolved and changed from the *02iQr' time of its establishment in 1805/1807 Or through 2004. Together with the program ZA (above) and assessment(below),it Provides a basis for design of modifications, additions, and improvements. 1790. Captain Charles Leonard purchased A C I—L A& Mm 41L 25-acres on the east side of Main Street near Agaqvam in 1831. The house at 663 Main is Wx&d 14unoccu, the town common. Leonard was born in pied."' Source: J.Lathrop. 1764 and attended Harvard University. He became a farmer and in 1789 married Mary Remington. Serving in the local militia, he 4k was elevated to the rank of Captain, tz F, Agawam was part of West Springfield at this BP owe' time. 1805/1807. Leonard constructed a tavern, Pti ED s.to V4 I`Vq ,Agawam's fourth, on the western end of his LI '.!TOWN H-A property,or g -rear farm." Prominent U : 11 -1 u Boston and Philadelphia architect Asher I CLI" go. "A Benjamin, proponent of the Federal and A*-' Greek Revival styles,is believed to have designed the house, The tavern was one of t o he first stops n the Hartford to Boston IW�- Jo stage run. The"stage door"on the south 'Tt fade served as the entry for men and Agatoam in 1894. GeoW Fvu4er is mted as the waff of 663 women riding on the stage. It is likely that Main Stwt- Source. L.I Richards. Captain Charles Uo=d House Page 2 Nsmiation Master Plan the early landscape surrounding the house contained few details. A few deciduous trees may have provided shade for the house,but it likely did not contain foundation plantings or other ornamental gardens. t819-1938.Leonard's brothers sold the house upon his death to Lewis Warriner. After Warriner, nine other individuals owned or, occupied the house: Rev. Reuben Hazen, Daniel Austin,Kasson Freeman,George Fowler,Jessie Bowley, Dr.Carpenter,Nelson J.,ewis,Edwin T. V, Davis, and W.W. Davis. George Fowler's family E owned the house for 56 years, and at one point it F10 At became known as the"George Fowler Place." A The spare landscape ld*remained through the mid part of the 19'century. Ornamental shrubs, such as hydrangea,may have been introduced after 1950,but they-were likely minimally used. The L.WTd Haase,c I goo, The Landwape surrounding the Site plans,prepared in 1934 as part of the house lacks ornament don. IUW COUAM of dw Capwn Historic American Buildings Survey showed a Leonard House. walkway leading from the house petpendicnlar to the sidewalk along Main Street,and double plantings of trees along the street. W E 1938. Mrs. Minerva). Davis purchased the property,restored the main portion, remodeled the ell,and deeded it to the Captain Charles a Leonard House Corporation. As part of the remodeling prqject,foundation plantings, D HVISwe including rhododendrons,yews and hollys,were likely introduced. Any original plantings in the ............ near vicinity of the house were likely removed to make way for construction. SUTCH MAP SHOWNG LOCATION 1975. The Captain Charles Leonard House earned Site plan of the Leonard House prepared in 1934 as Part of status on the National Register of Historic Places, the His wric Anwtican Buililiap Suwq. Source- Liter an of 4, The Leonard House in 1934 as Photographed b Haskell as The Leonard House tobacco barn aim OwtvraPhed by part of the Histork American Buildings Survey(HABS)- Huskell in 1934 as part of the Historic American Source: b6m qf angrns- Buildings Sumo(HABS). Source., ljbwn of Congress. Captain(lada Leonard House Ne 3 PTesmution Master Plan .... .. µ ..: taaa•: 77w Lmnard House c. 1950. Subuibanstyk fmnd&ian The Leonard House in 1988. The foundation Plantings, plantingsountl the&vftetff of the building. Source instaalied after 1938,wmaim Source: Louis,(>d Captain OLM16 Leonard H el a,Sam Older Hontesof the Lower Connectrat Valley. Today,the landscape surrounding the Leonard House reflects the simplicity of the early 19'century and the ornamentation of the mid 20'. In the mid 1900s, a large parking lot was added to the east side of the house, creating a large expanse of bituminous asphalt where the barns once stood.. The foundation plantings continued to,grow and quickly became out of scale with the house, covering the windows and much of its grand style Federal details. New walks,made of an array of historic and contemporary materials further modernized the landscape. The few remaining references to the early 19'century are two lilac shrubs and several mature sugar maple trees. Landscape Assessment. Context&Vim�s • Strong edges line parts of the west and south and entire southeast boundaries of the property. On the west,two mature street trees provide separation between the house and street,and on the south, a row of hemlocks divides the property from the neighboring resident. A raw of arbor vitae planted along the southeast edge provides a dense screen between the property and abutting school parking lot(this screen will improve as the arbor vitae,currently quite young,mature) • Martially strong edges appear along portions of the west,south and east boundaries. Several street trees along Main Street have perished,creating a gaping hole at the southwest edge of the prop chainlink fence,covered with invasive plants(bittersweet and Japanese kaotweed), lines part of the south and all of the east edges. These provide only modest divisions,; • The weakest edge lines the northern property boundary,ry,between the Leonard House and adjacent bank parkins;lot. A few shade trees remain along this line,but for the most part,open views are possible to and from the bank. • Pleasing views of the house are possible from Main Street(looking east),the north side(looking south),and south side(looking north). In particular, the intricate Federal style details appear on the west and south facades, further enhancing tKe vim. From each of the vantage paints,viewers can peer through mature sugar maple trees to the Douse, and the trees help ground the house in the landscape. • The view of the rear of the house from the parking last is poor. Asphalt paving lies nearly at the foundation edge,creating a harsh setting for the house and arir unappealing set of entryways, Captain Charles Leonard House Page 4 Pre_4e"Fation Master Plan k ,.�..��......... .....T I' E _ s . r-a..,.._._.. ...�...._�....—..—.—.._ter-,.,, Nola Li "Dust M Somom HAWIA I Apt r e: 1"-59 Landscape,Assessment CONTEXT&VIEWS View to Preserve111:11:11:1e to Pr e Edge t�Enhance View toE1�aarlcer Edge to Improve; FAIN CHARLES I ONARD HOUaL Agawafti, PRESERVATION ASTER PLAN e,LUC El r. n Swann --------------------- w HouW i t. ,., Landscape Assessment ACCESS & +CIRCULATION 0 0#0 0*i Pedestrian Route Vehicular Route Entrance to F louse/Garage Sign AIN CHARLFS LEONARD HOUSE Agawam,Masmhumu PRESERVATION MASTER PLANEl Marda Lyon pe Ambseaum IIG !RAW M rI R � + � i • r + HUM ; . ScHom Appmminxft w r Sale.. f",-54V Landscape Assessment UTILMES Landscape Lighting 0* * overhead Utility Line CAPTAIN CHARLES L EONA iD HOUSE I tawma,Ma-%a&u1CW PRESERVATION MASTER PLAN Martha Lyon imuUmpe AreWwmre,11C ( j .M fy pp Y® mom GAFMW VOROM M ct V 5a Landscape Assessment PLANTS Historically Accurate Plant Historical Inaccurate Plant CAPTAN CH,A,RL LFONARD HOUSE A wam,Munchum PRESERVATION MASTER PLAN .gym uc Drculatior,&Awes • The vehicular rotate to and through the parking lot is clearly marked,as are the parkin spaces, Handicapped panting is well organized,well designated,and in good position with the house. A clipped hedge sepamtes the parking lot from the north lawn,providing some screen between cars and gatherings of people. Lack of trees in the parking lot makes the area hot during the summer months.- • Pedestrian circulation is not as well articulated. While the entries to the house are clearly marked and the paths/ramps meet handicapped code,lack of a circulation hierarchy makes pedestrian circulation confusing and.conflict-ridden. No clear separation exists between entrances for visitors attending community events and tenants of the house. No pathway exists to take pedestrians walking along Main Street to the house. The handicapped ramp lies along the north side of the building, malting it susceptible to ice build-up from lack of direct sunlight. No pathways exist to lead visitors from the house to other feature areas in the landscape,,such as the Garden Club plot, seating area behind the garage,and north lawn • The Leonard blouse has notsel-ected a consistent palette of materials for vehicular and pedestrian circulation,and those in place are not compatiblewith the historic character of the house and property, Concrete and Bluestone(both mortared and dr td cover different walkways, Bituminous covers the driveway and parking area. • Two signs mark the Leonard House from the street- a blade sign attached to a light pole,and a free-standing sign on the front lawn to the northwest of the house. The location, materials and design of these signs make theta hard to read,and visitors have difficulty finding the house. Utilities' * Landscape lighting provides only partial lumirtation to the Leonard House;landscape, Two low streetlight style lights line the driveway,,providing area lighting to front of the house. A large flood lights a portion of the parking area from its northwest coaxer. Several sconces mark the entry doors. Much of the landscape is dark,lit by ambient street lighting only. Overhead utility lines lead to the hoarse from two points along Main Street,providing clutter to the northwest and southwest corners of the property. Brats • Seventeen maple trees, most of theta mature, provide edges to the property and cast shade:over the landscape. The trees are appropriate to the historical character of house and fill the property with color in the fall. Because maples dominate the tree population, the property runs the risk of losing' most of its shade if a maple-afflicting disease were to attack the trees. • Two lilacs remain,possibly from the property's earliest days. • Many mid;to late-l. d'century era,shrubs have been planted around the foundation of the house, covering its foundation and adding a contemporary,suburban look to the property. Specifically, clipped yews,hollies,and rhododendrons prevail. • Invasive plants,including Japanese Kiiotweed and Japanese Bittersweet,grow along the chainlink fence along the south property edge. These extremely aggressive plants spread easily,crowding out more desirable plants: Captain ChaAes Leonard House Page 5 Nesetvation Master Plan • Two small garden plots lie near the west(Garden Club plot)and west of the garage- Neither appears to be utilized for gatherings,despite their welcoming benches and ornamental plants. Awmnient Summary The Leonard House landscape's strong st fcatures include the views of the house from the west north and south sides,the mature maple trees,and clear vehicular circulation and entrances to the house. To improve on these features, the preservation master plan should incorporate the followit-q modifications,additions,and enhancements-, • Stronger edge treatments on the north and east boundaries,and portions of the west and south property lines; • Clearer views of the Federal style details of the house; • Better-defined entrances and pedestrian ways, including a separation of entries for visitors and temnts; • An historically-compatible palette of materials for walks and pavements; • More visible,historically appropriate,signs; • Improved landscape lighting and historically appropriate fixtures; • Concealed or consolidated overhead utility lines; • Historicall"pproptiate plantings(trees,shrubs, herbaceous perennials) including a diversity of species, and • An outdoor gathering space, separated from the vehicular ways,connected clearly to the house. BiMiography maps 183 1. Agawam,J. Lathrop,August; 1831. c. 1855.Title and author unknowi-t. 1870/1983. "Information on 1870 map found in the Atlas of i4ampden County,Massachusetts.* Compiled by Marilyn and R.J. Curry,Agawam Historical Association, 1983, 1894. Town of Agawam,L.J. Richards&Co., Springfield, A. 1912. Title and author unknown, Books LaFrancis, Edith,Agawarn, Massachuse I_ wri of Agawam,Massachusetts, 1980. �M ATpwn History. To Louis, Raymond, Raymond Cad,&Alfred Rorbert Casella,Some Old Homes of the Lower Connecticut alley. Agawam Town of Agawarn, 1988. Other Docuatents Historical Records Survey,Division of Professional and Service Projects,Works Progress Administration,Ln-ventor j Town C tyArc fives of MassachusettslJo. 7, tl)pden County o_ _ap" _ VqJ. 1,,Agawam. Boston: The Historical Records Survey, 1941. Captain Charles Leonard How Page 6 Ne�srnxrtim Master Plan "'Leonard House Delights Travelers Through Decades." Agawam—Ad-v&xfiagr-News,November 27, 2003. Town of Agawam,L5.t AtInivrrsam 1885,1950. Town of Agawam,A XLwam Massachusettsfiver the Span f A Cen 1855-1955,June 1955. United States LAbrary of Q)rtgress, Historic American Buildings Survey, HABS MA,2-50, 1934. Captain Chatle-5 LeonaTd How Page 7 Preu"don Master Plan '' m"N . S A t 0 N A c h 27-E. Sir 1k Oil field g NIL histitu f t, t-�u.American 6 A -41 ''74 7 47 0 2- 9 7:.4 CONSULTANTS: ,.Ryvtn Hellwig, PF 224B Mli��ch Srea,N 'rth MA 010 0 aftioto#,tIt If H.tphone- 413� 584 4594......... . fax: 41 3: 584 45 93 I &up IIIt, 11 11 if s r7-it- Z_ X, 4- 0> A A-t ino ,tJ Tr mas Smith House .iz'- 'Lc0p, I r-,L �7 tabflization PIA111 ts 5 Wes treet 2 1 North r_x jL f A)*awflni i S I_T)q owne4 by.0 AS,'P Agawam ffistorlical 'ASSOC.x 5 1P0 Bo D Z Agawath AL 0 1 v Frioor Plans Inv Zia 0 KIEE111 GEU I L t'. - ]EUevati ns.I 99 .. ......... L=.=A FTTrff 00 13 V__1_ REVISIONS,' Corrmien 15 4�4 LA L E,\//-H Z+ ____WX 7r I!4g ]A'4 SJA am frM Fik D,;t,,,. I 112-312004 4" iv CA tRoo Dr=* TP,I SMIX Q t aecke B14 S.,MNt& _X4 4" Z mom xheet rlumbe�,Ta tf 4,.