HomeMy WebLinkAboutMACRIS 256 Pleasant StreetMassachusetts Cultural Resource Information System
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Inventory No: YAR.327
Historic Name: Davis, Charles Henry House
Common Name: House of Seven Chimneys, The
Address: 256 Pleasant St
CityfTown: Yanncuth
Village/Neighborhood: South Yarmouth Village: Bass
River,
Local No: 222;
Year Constructed; C 1800
Architectural Styie(s): Colonial; No style;
Architecl(s);
Davis. Charles Henry;
Use(s):
Single Family Dwelling House;
Significance-.
Architecture; Social History;
Area(s):
YAR.H
Designation(s);
Nat'l Register District (05129;1990);
Building Materials:
Wall, Wood; Wood Shingle;
Foundation: Brick; Concrete Unspecified;
Demolished
No
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FORM B - BUILDING rip wf- , a in Area no. Form no.
MASSACKSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION ti �
Office of the Secretary, State House, Boston
Yarmouth �05�
s n
4. Map. Draw sketch of outtai
in relation to nearest cross streets and
other buildings. Indicate north.
Carrie Road L13 11
Private drive
mCt
V-1
j� �
o
Rotary
Taitiex S�xee�
,o
37M-7-77
256 and 256A Pleasant Sirget
t use Private residence
t owner Charles "rohler and Naomi. King
Put together in 1904
Bainbridge Crist
Unique conglomeration
Meet Charles Henry Mavis
Exterior wall fabric jood shingles
Outbuildings (describe)
Other features Concrete and hrink fmindation.
An assortment of window types. Various and
uni lip. Aramerc anri_ ronf1ina-. Thr_PP =ssive
chimneys. One smaller chimney on connecting;
rnnm 'hP+n--rP-P-n-fain mp-i-n _strn3t,tnr_Qg
Altered Date
Moved Y Date
5. Lot size.
One acre or less Over one acre X
Approximate frontage
Approximate distance of building from street
40
a5~ - -
Q6. Recorded by Donald l;lricit
a�
pre y'y Organization Yarmouth Historical
Date- 5 "eptember 1979
7. Original owner (if known) Charles Henry Davis
Original use Private residence
Subsequent uses (if any) and dates
8. Themes (check as many as applicable)
Aboriginal
Conservation
Agricultural
Education
Architectural
X Exploration/
The Arts
settlement
Commerce
Industry
Communication
Military
Community development
_ Political
Recreation
Religion
science/
invention X
Social/
humanitarian X_
Transportation X
9. Historical significance (include explanation of themes checked above)
The history of Charles Henry Davis, b.1865 and that of his "House of Seven Chimneys" A
a well known addition to the legacy left us by previous Bass River historians. The i
house can be dealt with here, but as for the man, a full length bio:�aphy with pages 1
upon pages listing hio accomplishments would be needed to fully comprehend his contribution
to South Yarmouth and the country. His influence in the town and the Cape in general was
such that a 1908 article writes: "I1hen he became convinced of the perfidy of the G.O.P.
to the people and became a leader of the Bull Noose movement, Cape Cod conservative as
it is supposed to be, followed him there". He was capable of commanding respect to a
+ls-wee where men would change their poli
after him. His businesses -in mining and
Highways Association and as a political
uncomparable energies and the idea gener
courage is seen in the 1907 rescue of th
and his compassion in all of his dealing
of Bass River. All who knew him sa-,a a pe
with the fature of the highway system, is
of Americats love affair with the intern
horses, but a fleet of automobiles to go
but played hard also; and these, the mot
ics for him and even name an occasional son
,ngineerinb, as president of the National
obbyist were successful due entirely to his
,ting atmosphere which surrounded him. His
crew of the Schooner Charlotte T. Sibley;
with his numerous employees and the townspeople
,son with definite ideas. He was concerned most
th personal auto safety and with the beginning
1 combustion engine. His stables did not house
with his fleet of boats. He worked hard yes,
x vessel and touring cars, were his playthings.
villa
Enough of him, for his life is self evident; the house is the thing. And.aA thing it is.
It is reflective of the man himself. The house, to say the least, is not what it used to
be. In fact that which is surveyed here is three separate buildinEs. They are surveyed
together, (as perhaps according to the rules of the Massachusetts Historic Commission
they should not be), because they are close enough and although they have separate
owners they are still called, collectively, The House of 'the Seven Chimneys. There are
more addresses than the two on this survey sheet, for the structures which have been
10. ; .tomography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records,
early maps, etc.)
A. Article by Bainbridge Crist, Yarmouth Register, 9/22/77
B. 1907 and 1680 Atlases of Barnstable County, George H.5lalker
C. "The House of Seven Chimneys", C.H.Claudy, reprinted from "House and Garden", 3/25/08
D. Article on C.H.Davis and National Highways, September 1916, Cape Cod !aCazine
14yE*STORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET 1COM mity • l Form No:
MASSACHUSET I'S HI STORI CAL C.-,#U SS I ON s River
Office of the Secretary, F `on Property The house of
7even Chi-,meys
Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below.
separated from, or were adjacent to the main house, are yet to be surveyed.
The history of this house as a whole unit bed in 1904 and carried on throu;;h 1908.
It started with the "Old House" and its born, both dating here on their original site,
to the early 1800's and uhdoubtcdly belon,31ng to one or another of the Matthews family.
71tis "Old House" at_ ?56A pleasant :street appears to , be an origanal Cape t foe and is
pros entlyh otnhed by Charles R..Eohler. To these .structures was moved, first ti:e "tuna
Maria house", so nerved from iris. Captain Henry Plitthetas. Men a faa.m house was Coved.
nearby to the "Stint Iiaria House" as fl6com-iected there, by an entirely new structurc.
.After the house was put to;Other it was reclesi-ned with many out-tandi.n; features and
aspects titioh are listed in tho I -lay, June and July issues of 1 Rou;e and Garden"
ma<yazine, i hey included such thinLz as fire safety, innovative plum. bins,_, a cellar-ta,y
ruyuiin. the ;Thole len,_-tih of the house, (called the South Yarmouth Subway or Bass River
Cubt:ay), and numerous finely appointed rooms for every utilitarian purpose that I-h:.
Davis could think of. in affect there were 36 rooms, 72 closets, 0 baths, 17 front
doors, 15 open firoplacea and 217 windows.
_.fter his death in 10;1 IFr. Da-:ist very e_Ltroc?ina.ry house :-;as bro _en up and note hao
several. ot-,mers in various locationo nearby. The "Old llourc" and its barn, (converted
by Kr. Davis to a studio), are no,., the residence of i,s. Kohler'o sister and'brothea.•-
in--la;;, the Wallaces. Next door at 256 Pleasant Street i".rs. larivoe lives in the farm
house section of the Seven Chinineyz; her doors have no ?--tobo, only brass latches. T o
"ILunt i~iaria House" gran roved Ea.in, perhaps for the third time, for ar, rLimor has it
the house originated on Dantucl_et. in this case the house moved 'sac'_ towards the island,
but only Trade it as far as the Judah pL_er windmill :-:here it site today. -There the
Mood f'-MUly tool, up residence aitih zi:: of the fifteen fireblaceo mentioned above.
A6,.1lmredible man and his incredible house; if you need more, then read more, for the
information is available in most libraries. He was an enigma with, powe,, of an unknovm
kind., who held on with the same energy that the century unfolding before him carried
with -it. His house was also an enigma of the same type. Drain together from
a&e old hou:3es and conversed Frith ex= intense level of modernization The Seven Chi;nnefti
were then separated. His life, ih:i.r, houL-�, to. -other were an instant of grandeur and
o;pulenee to be engttl.fed from the last and present r.Ttd to remain hidden in the vast
void Of mpollocrity.
:gee area form # 22y
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