Quincy, Mass. Historical and Architectural Survey

203 Quincy Avenue

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 the Adams Birthplace Local Historic District is formed. This was a residential area and many of the homes belonged to those connected with the nearby granite industry. 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.

Number 203 Quincy Avenue is one of the most pleasing sights on a street which is becoming heavily commercialized. It was probably built by Peter Williams, a bootmaker, who was listed as owner in the Atlas of 1876. The making of boots and shoes was Quincy's leading industry in the 1850's with the work allotted by a central manufacturer and performed in the home and workshop. Number 203 Quincy Avenue then stayed in the Williams family for over fifty years, past 1935. Later Williams' were Peter J. Williams, a carpenter/builder and Robert J. Williams, an electrotype finisher.

BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES
H. Hobart Holly. Quincy: 350 Years, 1974, p. 58
H. Hobart Holly. "Quincy's Granite Hills Were Golden". Quincy History. Spring, 1980.

ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:
This interesting cottage is similar to 98 Phipps Street and 30 High School Avenue. They are all Greek Revival houses whose owner wishing to "modernize" their homes, embellished the facedes with Gothic Revival elements; here, he added narrow shaped bargeboards at the eaves and placed window moldings placed over the original Greek Revival lintel and over the entrance. In this case, the Greek Revival character is still the dominant style of the house. One can clearly note the pilasters articulating the corners, the gable with the returns, the entrance with the sidelights and pilasters and a plam entablature. The house is set on typical Quincy granite foundation. It is a picturesqure reminder of the boot and shoe industry in the 19th century in Quincy.

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