Quincy, Mass. Historical and Architectural Survey

36 Adams Street

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Boston architect William Chapman was the designer of the house at 36 Adams Street in 1924 for Quincy attorney Jeremiah J. McAnainey and his wife, Clara A. Chapman was well-known in Quincy having previously designed such buildings as the Old Courthouse, 12-24 Coddington Street (1911), the West Quincy Branch of Thomas Crane Public Library, 1240 Furnace Brook Parkway (1921), and the Wollaston Branch of the Thomas Crane Public Library, 41 Beale Street (1922). In the late 1920's Chapman would further design the Quincy Point Junior High School, Edwards Street (1927), the Merrymount School, 4 Agawam Street (1929), and the addition to the Montclair School, 8 Belmont Street (1930). The contractor for 36 Adams Street was W. Grant Freeman of Quincy.

Number 36 Adams Street, built at a cost of $10,000, is on land that had belonged to the Horace Baxter Spear family from at least 1876 to 1923. Spear was in the wholesale leather business in Boston with his brother-in-law Charles Marsh for ten years. Then he apparently decided to take advantage of a considerable financial ability for starting in 1868 he held such posts as cashier of the Granite National Bank, treasurer of the Quincy Savings Bank, cashier of the National Mt. Wollaston Bank and Town Treasurer. His house was just adjacent to this property on Adams street, located where the South Shore Buick sales are now (1986). By 1923 the property at 36 Adams Street was inherited by Lucy Maria Spear (1864-1953), the daughter of Horace Baxter Spear, who sold it to the McAnarneys.

BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES
Assessors Records.
Atlas of Norfolk County, Mass, 1876.
Atlas of the City of Quincy, 1897.
Atlas Of the city Of QUINCY, 1907.
Quincy City Directories, 1915, 1930.
"Sprague Genealogy of Old Braintree Families". Microfilm at Quincy Historical Society.

ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:
A fine Colonial Revival Four Square style 1924 double residence, 36 Adams Street exemplifies a successful conversion from a home to medical offices. Unlike its neighbor, 26 Adams Street, it has retained its architectural integrity for most of the original fabric is intact. The house was designed by the well known and prolific Quincy architect, William Chapman. It has an almost square configuration, a hip roof pierced by ridge roof dormers, and a two story bay window on the side elevation. Its three bay facade is enlivened by a porch supported by square posts and a balustrade. The fenestration is composed of traditional small paned sash windows, regularly positioned; the walling material is wood shingles. Framing the property is an attractive granite retaining wall. It is a fine component of the Quincy Center Local Historic District.

Back