Quincy, Mass. Historical and Architectural Survey

76 Bicknell Street (Prior-Tinkham House)

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Germantown, on the eastern shore of the Town River, was originally called Shed's Neck. It was one of the first planned industrial developments in the country and its present name dates from around 1750 when German craftsmen were brought here to manufacture glass and other commodities. Eight industries were planned and operated by Joseph Palmer and Richard Cranch and the town laid out on paper in named squares like a European community. The early industrial development faltered after a few years and it wasn't until the 1830's that a prosperous fishing community developed when a group of fishermen migrated from the outer Cape Cod. Some whaling voyages departed from Germantown shores in the 1840's and in 1856 the maritime character of the village was further enhanced by the establishment of the Sailors Snug Harbor, a retirement home for active seamen. Meanwhile, Michael Hodgkinson, one of those who had come from the Cape, started buying up land and developed a sizeable well-known dairy farm which passed through the Hodgkinson family until operations ceased in 1948.

In 1832 the land at 76 Bicknell Street was jointly owned by Captain Charles A. Brown of 42 Bicknell Street and his next door neighbor at 52 Bicknell Stree, Captain Elisha Holmes. Both men were principals in the development of the fishing community in the 1830's. By 1836 the property included a double residence and Holmes sold his share to Brown who by 1848 had sold both halves of the property to Hiram Prior, the captain of the whaling vessel Ontario. Jeremiah Tinkham. a Boston undertaker. bought the east half from Prior in 1893.

BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES
Assessors Records.
Bartlett, Martha Maude. "Ancient and Modern Germantown". Quincy Patriot Ledger, January 7, 1937, p. B-8.
"Germantown Heritage Days" Program. September 24, 25, 26, 1976.
H. Hobart Holly. Quincy Historical Society.
H. Hobart Holly, ed. Quincy: 350 Years, 1974, p. 51-52.

ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:
It is hard to believe that the Prior-Tinkham House was once a simple Federal residence; the awkward additions and the siding of the original wood walls with with aluminum bas deprived tbe bouse of its architectural integrity and identity. By the early 1900s, the house had a two story porch added to the front. It is illustrated in "Germantaown Heritage Days", Program September 24, 25, 26, 1876. It is interesting to note that the end treatment of the porch with its vertical board ending in a sawtooth design can be seen today at 52 Bicknell Street on its one story front porch. This two story porch has since been filled in so that it is an integral part of the house. The residence is set on a granite foundation and has a plain ridge roof pierced by one chimney. The fenestration has also been changed, from six over six to two over two. It is located on historic Bicknell Street.

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