Quincy, Mass. Historical and Architectural Survey
69 Faxon Lane
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
The South Quincy neighborhood is bounded by the MBTA tracks (west), School Street (north), the Quincy Avenue (east) and the Braintree Town Line (south). The old Boston-Plymouth Highway followed two important streets in the area, School and Franklin, and it is on Franklin Street that is found the birthplaces of the two presidents, John Adams and John Quincy Adams, around which tile Adams Birthplace Local Historic District is formed. This was a residential area and the earliest houses were along the old Boston-Plymouth Highway with woods and farmlands stretching behind. Now the major farms in the area, principally those of Charles Francis Adams and Job Faxon, have been subdivided and there is much commercial activity along Quincy Street. Franklin Street, School Street and the beginning of Independence Avenue. A notable feature of South Quincy is the 54-acre Faxon Park, given to the City of Quincy, beginning in 1885, by the Faxon family. A local landmark is Penn's Hill, named for William Penn, an early settler and one of the first benefactors to the Town of Quincy.
This building at 69 Faxon Lane was part of the large Job Faxon farm which he purchased from Thomas Pratt in 1812. The homestead for the farm, now next door at 75 Faxon Lane, was built about 1806. This building is believed to have been the milkhouse for the farm and was
probably built either by Pratt at the same time he built 75 Faxon Lane or by Faxon shortly after he purchased the property. It is said that a small brook was diverted to run under the milkhouse for cooling. It is believed the structure became a residence by the time water was piped in and the shed dormer added in 1925.
ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:
South Quincy has five Cape Cod cottages listed in the inventory of Quincy of
which 69 Faxon Lane is one. Although not originally constructed as a residence, its present form is that of a Cape Cod and hence its listing as such. It was constructed as a milk house at about the same time as the 1806 Pratt-Faxon House at 75 Faxon Lane. Mr. Hobart Holly wrote in November 30, 1979, "A photograph of the 18809 or 1890s of the farm clearly shows the building before its conversion to a residence. It stands 'in its original location.' Its present configuration is that of a Cape Cod cottage with a full length shed dormer and a chimney at the gable end. The fenestration consist of sill over sash windows. The door and window enframement is simple and in keeping with the rural character of the structure. It is a fine reminder of South Quincy's agricultural past.
BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES
H. Hobart Holly. 1974. p. 58.
H. Hobart Holly. Quincy Historical Society.
H. Hobart Holly. "Quincy's Granite Hills Were Golden". Quincy History.
William S. Pattee. History of Old Braintree and Quincy. 1879. p. 166.