The History of James M. Curleys House - Annotated Bibliography Example

The History of James M. Curley’s House The history of James Curley’s house back to 1915 when the architects laid down its foundation. The house remained under the governor’s ownership until 1956 when he sold it to the Society of Oblate Fathers for Missions Among the Poor for use as a novitiate. However, in 1988, the then proponents sold the house to the City of Boston. The construction of its two rear garages was in 1926. Besides, there were other alterations to the original building including glazing of the sun porch in 1933 and slate shingles’ removal and replacement in 1974. The house stood the test of time for being the primary residence of the governor during his 41 years of tenure. The house construction and completion was in the year 1915, after which it harbored its initial owner until 1956 (Allison and Bulger, 27). The castle has acted as a symbol of the evolution in social, cultural and political presence of the immigrants of the 19th century and their descendants. Most writers and analysts attribute this notion to the perceived original background of its initial owner. Prior to his birth, his parents had migrated to Boston, U.S. in the mid 19th century. The construction of the house rendered its proponent a social elevation from a cottage residence to a bungalow household. Its exterior design became one of its kind in the whole neighborhood; with some people openly questioning the likely budget of the house’s construction and the possible source of the funding. The house’s construction budget was well over $45, 000 then in relation to the proponent’s salary of mere $10, 000. It later came out that the main source of the construction’s funding was from the embezzled public funds otherwise meant for other pro-public investments. Several critics of the house’s owner referred to it as a demonstration house. The main justification for this assertion was the fact that various individuals dully dedicated their time, knowledge and efforts in view of impressing the proponent with their skills and technical might. After the completion, the house remained significant in Boston, catching the attention of various well-known figures and personalities, celebrities and politicians. These individuals visited the house’s occupants occasionally. For many years, the house has held numerous varying memories. There are lives that were lost as well as those that came into being–there were both deaths and births witnessed in the house. Memories of political victories and losses alike still remain within the walls of the house. Moreover, memories of political criticism and public office misappropriation, political resilience, public love and hate still loom on the minds of the public and the politicians alike whenever there is the house image’s exhibition. While the house acted as a residence for many of the proponent’s family, it also acted as political recess for the then Boston mayor. Its historical significance stands against all odds for a possibility of use as a museum by the state. Its topographic setting and the circumstances that surrounded its construction period and initial owner gives it an outstanding ovation and hedge over any other place within the same locality. Besides, the materials with which the architects constructed the house would endure over a long period thereby preserving its intended historical nature. The Architecture Aspects of James M. Curley’s House From an overview description, the house is of a high style, brick, suburban residential building. Features such as multi-paned windows, entre entrance made of double hung and pedimented portico, and asymmetrically set facade substantiate this style. A trimmed hedge defines the lot where the house stands, with two deciduous trees standing just in front of the house and system of shrubs surrounding its perimeter. The topography where the house stands is relatively flat with a rolling grassy lot just next door. The house is of two full stories and an attic story with its main section being 5 bays wide and. Its plane is rectangular, measuring 72’9” in front and rear, and 58’10” wide. The walls at the main section have parapet-end walls. There are two chimneys, one set on the roof at the north-facing end, and another extending from the south-facing end wall. The house also has two main wings; an ell from its rear or its east-facing side and the south-facing wing. Structurally, the wing to the south is not only a full story but has an additional story also set just beneath the pitched gambrel roof. On its part, however, the rear ell is primarily two stories high. The main section of the roof has a gable roof cover articulated by three dormers. The roofing materials has since 1974 changed from slate shingles to asphalt shingles, with the slate shingles only remaining on the dormer windows sides. The architects painted the flashings in copper painting and white paints on the downspouts. The roof in the south wing is of steeply pitched gambrel while that of the rear ell is of a gable roof. As for its wall construction, the house’s foundation is composed of concrete. It is of red brick that the constructors laid on Flemish bonds. The quoin effect of the bricks accentuates the house’s corners. It has a brick walkway and a stair that leads to the front entrance. Windows of the first story have decorative pilasters and sills. A stone stringcourse divides the firsts and the second stories. The building’s shamrock shutters are among its most distinctive and noted features. They are solid wood shutters having two panels of shamrock cutouts. The house has a large dining room well set apart within it. There are also three dormers on the main façade with arched windows and classic pediment surrounds. There is a covered porch, three-bay window, a multi-paned leaded glass window, and a large pediment dormer on the rear elevation. Its end wall chimney has features capped in stones resembling buttress. Further, the north elevation has an enclosed sun porch and a triple window. Finally, there exists a detached car garage made of bricks. The garage, with the capability of holding two cars came into being in 1926 and modified in 1933 to include the glazing sun porch. The house’s lighting system is well lit and balanced. In addition, a colour system matches the lighting system within the hall. One distinctive misconception of the house is the fact that its interior design does not auger with the exterior design. Both designs conflict widely in first hand appearance. While the exterior design of the house may only portray it like any other building in the city suburbs, the interior design reflects on the stature of the actual stature of the presumed occupant owing to its glamor, décor, and setting. Annotated Bibliography Curley, Gertrude. A description of our house and home, dedicated to my grandchild, Leslie Ann Dennis. In this article, the author explores the architectural description of the house. She starts by describing the growth and development path of her grandchild Leslie within the structural chambers of the house with little information about the house into which she lives. In her narration, Gertrude, Governor Curley’s second wife explains the context of the house from the exterior design appearance to the interior composition of the most significant house in Boston yet to undergo conversion to a museum. She starts by dispelling the likely understatement from outsiders with limited access to the interior other than the exterior of the house could accord it. From her statements, it means that the exterior appearance of the house contrasts with its interior that is much appealing and complex. In her description, therefore, she starts by giving the external description of the house as having sidewalks and a flagstone terrace. She asserts that the house also has finely latticed fence composed of hawthorn trees and other shrubs. Not forgetting to mention, there is a rose garden prettily set on the grass lawn overlooking the house. Within the house, according to her description, the house’s lighting system is well lit and balanced with a colour system matching the lighting system within the hall. There is a spiral staircase cycling three times to open up a lead into the upstairs rooms. The staircase may appear support-less but with stable support that extends into the beautifully designed ceilings. She notes that pink marble tiles that extend up the walls line the fireplace. In her narration, Gertrude says that two black doors lead into the center of the great hall. She also supports the fact that there is an existing difference between the interior and the exterior of the house. In her own statements, she asserts that while the exterior design of the house may on portray it like any other building in the city suburbs, a person would be grossly mistaken to make such a conclusion. Boston Landmarks Commission. Report on the Potential Designation of the James Michael Curley House as a Landmark. The report explores a broad context and scope of the Governor Curley’s house. The report starts by giving an exclusive description of the house’s physical and or topographical location in Boston. According to the report, therefore, the house’s address is 350 The Jamaicaway, Jamaica Plain, Ward 19. Its parcel number is 2060. According to the report, the house overlooks the Olmsted to its west and Jamaica pond to its Southwest. The report then proceeds precisely to analyze and describe the house exterior and interior specification. The exterior description includes the external appearance of the house including its landscape management and modification. On the other hand, its interior description encompass the structural designs, furnishing and set-up. Also included in the report is a brief history of the house’s origin including its year of construction as being 1915 and its year of sale by the original proponent as being 1956. The house, according to this part of the report, is today under the ownership of the city of Boston starting 1988. Furthermore, there are plans underway for the building’s relevant use, of which being converted to a museum leads the suggestions. Section three of the report touches on the significance of the house to Curley’s family, the general public, the political class and the government. According to the report, the house is significant for being the primary residence of the proponent during his 41 years of political life. In this regard, the house is significant as well as being a symbol of evolution in social, cultural, political and economic presence and influence of the 19th century U.S. immigrants and their descendants. According to the report, the house’s historical significance hinges on Curley’s decades of political might and presence dating back to 1900s. Historical significance also touches on the circumstances that surrounded its construction in 1915. On the other hand, its architectural significance focusses on the architectural status held by the house during and after its hay days. This significance still puts the house far above others within the same locality. Work Cited Allison, Robert; Bulger, William. James Michael Curley. Commonwealth Editions, 2011. Print. Read More