Quincy, Mass. Historical and Architectural Survey

33 Spear Street

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Number 33 Spear Street, located at the rear of 35 Spear Street and built in 1890, was part of a large 35,000 square foot plot that belonged for at least seventy years, from before 1857 to after 1923, to the Prescott family. The name "Abram Prescott" appears on the 1857 Walling map, the property being owned jointly by Abram and George W. Prescott in 1876. In 1923 there were three owners, Etta M. and Annie L. Prescott and Alice K. Low.
George W. Prescott was the owner of the George W. Prescott Publishing Co., printers and publishers of The Quincy Patriot-Quincy Daily Ledger. The paper was established in 1837 and had been a daily since 1889. In a true American success story, Prescott had started out as an apprentice on the paper, rose to partnership (Green & Prescott) in 1869 and full ownership in 1894. Prescott, whose residence was at 41-43 Spear Street, was assisted by his daughter Annie L. Prescott who took charge of the publication of the paper after her father's death in 1908. A second sister, Etta, became vice-president of the company. A third sister, Alice, married Russell Cutler Low of Brooklyn, N.Y., Low came from an old publishing family and he joined the paper in 1922, becoming president in 1937.

Spear Street is named for Seth Spear (1801-1888) who, with his wife Elizabeth Bowker, had a homestead and a large farm which extended from Wibird Street (a very short street which branches off the present McGrath Highway to the north from Spear to Washington Streets) to Coddington Street.

BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES
H. F. Walling. "Map of the Town of Quincy", 1857.
Atlas of Norfolk County, Mass, 1876.
Robinson's Atlas of Norfolk County, 1888.
Atlas of the City of Quincy, 1897.
Atlas of the City of Quincy, 1907.
H. Hobart Holly, Quincy Historical Society.
Quincy Patriot Ledger, 100th Anniversary, January 7, 1937, p. C-3.
Quincy Patriot Ledger, Souvenir Edition, 1899, p. 56-57.
"Sprague Genealogy of Old Braintree Families". Microfilm at Quincy Historical Society.

ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:
This simple two story 1890 traditional house is typical of the modest residences built at the end of the century. Their gable end to the street configuration under a ridge roof is a hold over from the simple Italianate style. The small front porch has Queen Anne turned posts and a plain frieze in an attempt to enliven the entrance. It is set on a typical Quincy granite foundation and is walled with asbestos shingles. It is located in the Quincy Center Local Historic District.

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