The Larches


  • Address: 22 Larch Rd
  • Travel Genus: Sight
  • Sight Category: Building

Built around 1808, The Larches was the mansion of the last important Cambridge estate to be subdivided for suburban development. The Larches was originally used as a summer home. In 1915, the grounds were subdivided and the Gray House and its ell were moved to their present locations, 22 and 36 Larch Road respectively. At the time of the 1915 move, iterations on 22 Larch Road were carried out by the architect Alexander Wadsworth Longfellow Jr.

The low hip roof and delicate cornice with fretted dentils and mutules, lightened by a pattern of drilled holes is characteristic of its early 19th century date. The entrance has a graceful elliptical fan light and sidelights, and is set within a porch supported by light fluted columns with papyrus leaf capitals. The surface ornamentation implies that the designer was still compiling ornamentation in the Georgian manner.

The interior of The Larches constitutes the best surviving Federal period work in Cambridge. A graceful flight of stairs rises in a semi-circle. Doors throughout the structure are capped by delicate friezes of molded plaster. The woodwork is light and elegant in scale, throughout.

The Larches is now the home of the composer Randall Thompson. It was originally built for Jonathan Hastings in 1808, and was later finished in 1810 by William Gray of Salem for his home. - MACRIS inventory record, 1964


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The Larches
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Timeline

Y/M/D Person Association Description Composition Food Event
Y/M/D Person Association Description Composition Food Event
1808/00/00 The Larches is built for Jonathan Hastings in 1808.
1810/00/00 The Larches is finished in 1810 by William Gray of Salem for his home.
1915/00/00 Alexander Wadsworth Longfellow Jr Architect Gray House and its ell are moved to their present locations, 22 and 36 Larch Road respectively, 22 Larch Road is renovated by Alexander Wadsworth Longfellow Jr.
1964/00/00 Home of Harvard Professor of Music and composer Randall Thompson.

Data »

Particulars for The Larches:
Area of Significance Architecture
Criteria Architecture-Engineering
Sight Category Building
Historic Use Camp
Architectural Style Georgian Architecture
Attribute Moved property
Owner Private



US National Registry of Historic Places Data »

Accurate at time of registration:

PLACE DETAILS
Registry Name:
Registry Address:
Registry Number: 82001956
Resource Type:
Owner: Private
Architect: Longfellow,Alexander Wadsworth,Jr.
Architectural Style: Georgian
CULTURAL DETAILS
Level of Significance: State
Area of Significance: Architecture
Applicable Criteria: Architecture-Engineering
Criteria Consideration: Moved property
Period of Significance: 1800-1824
Significant Year: c 1808
Historic Function: Domestic
Historic Sub-Function: Camp
Current Function: Domestic
Current Sub-Function: Single dwelling

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