Quincy, Mass. Historical and Architectural Survey

100 Bicknell Street (Michael Hodgkinson 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 100 Bicknell Street was owned by Captain Charles A. Brown of 42 Bicknell Street who with his next door neighbor at 52 Bicknell Street, Captain Elisha Holmes, were principals in the development of the fishing community in the 1830's. In 1837, Brown sold the property to Michael Hodgkinson, the fisherman turned farmer, who immediately built himself the house that would be the first homestead of the large Hodgkinson farm. The property passed down to another Hodgkinson, William F., in 1867 and remained in the Hodgkinson family until it was sold to Ross E. Prescott, a clerk, in 1919.

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:
The Michael Hodgkinson House has had so many additions, alterations, renovations and modernizations that the original 1837 house and its architectural integrity is buried under aluminum siding, orange slat shutters, fixed metal awnings and a large shed dormer with triple casement windows. Although it exudes a sense or cheerfulness amidst the well tended gardens, one cannot identify the house's original style. There is the possibility that the house began life as a Cape Cod cottage, with the same facade as that or 80 Bicknell Street composed of one window, one door, and two windows. The house's four bay second floor is not typical and rarely found on two story tradional houses; therefore, one can assume that the second floor was an addition, previous to the shed dormer addtion. It is located on historic Bicknell Street.

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