Quincy, Mass. Historical and Architectural Survey

11 Avon Way

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
The Hospital Hill/President's Hill/Cranch Hill neighborhood of Quincy is bounded by the MBTA tracks (east), Granite Street-Quarry Street (south), Quarry Street-Common Street (west) and Common Street-Furnace Brook Parkway (north). A key feature of this elite residential area was the extensive Charles Francis Adams Estate which was divided by the 1890's into three great real estate trust controlled properties called President's Hill, President's Hill Annex and Cranch Hill. President's Hill took its name from the Adams family who furnished two Presidents of the United States. Cranch Hill is located on the former homestead of Richard Cranch who, together with Joseph Palmer, is credited with the early industrial development of Germantown. Other features of this area are the smaller estates that lined the south side of Adams Street, the Quincy City Hospital at the top of Cranch Hill and the stone quarries lying to the east of Quarry Street. The close proximity of the Quincy Depot (which served the Old Colony Line to Boston), the City Hall, the street railway. and the city's financial center were major factors in the successful development of this area.

This imposing house at 11 Avon Way was built by Frank W. Crane. and his wife. Jennie M.. about 1902 and the Cranes remained in residence for at least 30 years. Frank W. Crane was a partner in F. H. Crane & Sons, dealers in bay, grain, and flour. With offices at the corner of Saville and Hancock Street, Crane had short walk to work. The Crane house was built on land that in 1897 was the property of the President's Hill Real Estate Trust.

BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES
"A Brief Historical Sketch of the City of Quincy. Mass." Issued by the President's Hill,
President's Hill Annex, and Cranch Hill Real Estate Trusts". c. 1903.
Assessors Records.
Robinson's Atlas of Norfolk County, Mass., 1888.
Atlas of the City of Quincy, 1897.
Atlas of the City of Quincy, 1907.
Atlas of the City of Quincy, 1923.
Rhoads, William B. "The Colonial Revival and American Nationalism". Journal of the Societv of
Architectural Historians 35, no. 4 (December 1976): 239-254

ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:
"From the beginning, the Colonial Revival was inspired by nationalistic sentiment - the desire to have in America an American style distinct from European modes." (Rhoads, page 239). This style which occurred during the first half of the 20th century, evolved out of the Shingle Style of the late 19th century which was already considered an American derived architecture as it was influenced by the early 17th century East Coast shingled houses. The Philadelphia Centennial first awakened interest in our colonial heritage and led architects such as Stanford White to travel throughout New England to study original Georgian and Federal houses. At the onset of the period, residences were rarely historically correct copies but rather free interpretations with details inspired by colonial precedents. Periodicals such as "The American Architect and Building News" published articles on "The Georgian Period" which eventually led to carefully researched copies with more correct details.

This Colonial Revival residence is an attractive example of the style. Its symmetrical facade is dominated by a beautiful portico and porch. The porch fronts the whole facade while the portico protects the entrance. The Georgian details are particularly fine. They include the vase shaped balusters of the porch and the portico (the upper being thinner than the lower ones), the double Doric columns and the urn shaped finials The door was modeled after a Federal example with its elliptical fanlight and long sidelights. The house is set on a granite foundation, as is the porch, and has a steep pitch hip roof pierced by hip dormers, a configuration typical of the 1900. Framing the facade are corner pilasters and a wide cornice board, reminiscent of Greek Revival houses. The house is not a copy, but rather an imaginative interpretation of classic regional architecture. It is an important component on Avon Way. It will be recommended that this property be included in the proposed National Register Hospital Hill/President's Hill/Cranch Hill Historic District.

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