December 5, 2005

 

MEMORANDUM

 

TO:                  Historic Preservation Commission

 

FROM:            Cindy Kebba, Preservation Planner

 


SUBJECT:       406 and 408 Great Falls Road  

Description:  Single-family detached houses

Land Area:       406 Great Falls Road: 68,358 sf;   408 Great Falls Road: 67,583 sf     

Construction Date:  c. 1940

Owners: 406 Great Falls Road – James J. Wolohan and Scott W. Rogers

              408 Great Falls Road –  Elizabeth W. Nicholson

 

EXHIBITS ENTERED INTO THE HEARING RECORD:

 

1.      By reference, the City of Rockville's adopted design guidelines, amendments, policies on demolition, and technical briefs for historic preservation as provided to the public on the City of Rockville web site under “Historic Rockville.”

2.      By reference, Rockville Environmental Guidelines For the Protection and Enhancement of the City’s Natural Resources, adopted July 1999.

3.      By reference, The Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines for historic preservation.

4.      By reference, Resumes of the Commissioners, as filed with the city clerk, and resumes of the Historic Preservation staff.

5.      Agenda for HDC meeting on November 17, 2005

6.      Mailing list for notification postcards for agenda item 406 Great Falls Road and 408 Great Falls Road for HDC meeting of November 17, 2005.

7.      Staff report dated November 17, 2005 on significance of 406 and 408 Great Falls Road, including recommendations and attachments (MHT Form and criteria checklist.)

8.      Submission by R. Christopher, Goodwin & Associates, Inc. “Architectural Evaluations of 406 and 408 Great Falls Road, Rockville, Montgomery County, Maryland”, submitted October 25, 2005

 

STAFF ANALYSIS:

 

Staff Recommendation:  The Historic Preservation Staff recommends that the HDC find 406 and 408 Great Falls Road eligible for designation as a local historic district.

 

 

Analysis of non-procedural exhibits submitted to the hearing record (Not including by reference exhibits pertaining to Rockville policy or procedure such as agendas, minutes, hearing notifications and staff resume references):

 

·        Staff report dated November 17, 2005 on significance of 406 Great Falls Road and 408 Great Falls Road, including recommendations and attachments (MHT Forms on 406 Great Falls Road and 408 Great Falls Road and criteria checklist.)

The MHT forms were researched using primary sources including site visits, city records and maps, and secondary resources and includes a statement of significance, which is documented or based upon facts. 

 

 

·        Submission by R. Christopher Goodwin & Associates, Inc. “Architectural Evaluations of 406 and 408 Great Falls Road, Rockville, Montgomery County, Maryland” submitted October 25, 2005.

This document was commissioned by the Windsor Design-Build, Inc. and the owners of 406 and 408 Great Falls Road.   R. Goodwin & Associates, Inc. has provided an overview of the development and population growth of Rockville and national trends in suburban expansion as a theme developed by the National Park Service.  It does not address Rockville Heights as a pre-conceived and platted subdivision, or that the lots for 406 and 408 Great Falls Road were platted by this subdivision, or that the houses at 406 and 408 Great Falls Road exemplify what was envisioned for Rockville Heights.  The document does not present information on the Nicholson or Trail families who associated with these properties and who were significant to this part of Rockville.  The document does include a description of each of the properties, including building styles and materials. It concludes that the houses do not retain sufficient architectural integrity to embody the distinctive characteristics of a particular style, period or method of construction. While HDC staff agrees that there have been alterations to each building, staff disagrees with this conclusion and finds that the environmental setting, massing and footprint of each house is intact and each is an example of revival-style architecture in Rockville.

The property owners do not support preserving either of the houses.

   

·        Agenda for HDC meeting November 17, 2005.

·        Mailing list for notification postcards for agenda items 406 Great Falls Road and 408 Great Falls Road for HDC meeting of November 17, 2005.

·        Any correspondence received by the Commission on this case.

 

 

 

 

 

Site and Building Integrity:  

The environmental setting, original massing, and footprint of both 406 Great Falls Road and 408 Great Falls Road are intact.

 

There have been some alterations to the house at 406 Great Falls Road, including the replacement of several windows, most notably the triplets on the first and second floors on the front façade, and the enclosure of the side porch (which is reversible).

 

The original windows have been replaced with vinyl-sash windows at 408 Great Falls Road, but the openings have not been changed.

 

Architectural Significance:

The house at 406 Great Falls Road is a good example of the vernacular Tudor Revival style as it was presented in Rockville in the 1930-1940s.  It has a steeply-pitched gable front entry projection and Tudor-inspired arched doorway that are common to this style. While it does not exhibit high style elements, such as diamond-paned windows and variety of exterior textures, it is quite similar in style to other Rockville examples from this era. 

 

The house at 408 Great Falls Road is a good example of revival-style period architectural design as exemplified by its symmetrical façade, brick veneer wall cladding, and Colonial-inspired frontispiece.

 

Historical, cultural and social significance:

The properties at 406 and 408 Great Falls Road are remnants of the Rockville Heights subdivision.  Rockville Heights was platted in 1890 to include large lots, parks, boulevards, and circles and to be marketed to affluent purchasers and areas were also set aside with smaller lots for moderate-income purchasers.  An economic depression in 1893 had a negative impact on implementation of the plan and, as a result, Rockville Heights was slow to develop. In this regard, it was similar to the platted West End Park subdivision (1890) and to the first subdivision in East Rockville called Reading’s First Addition to Rockville (1888).  There was little pressure to develop this portion of Rockville during the early decades of the 20th century and the area grew slowly.  The area was surrounded by small farms that only later succumbed to development pressures.  Parts of Rockville Heights were later re-subdivided, resulting in the variety of lot sizes, architectural styles and construction dates found there today.  The houses at 406 and 408 Great Falls Road, along with a Colonial Revival across Monument Street (500 Great Falls Road), were built on originally platted lots that still front Great Falls Road, a historically important gateway to the City.  They are significant to explaining the long development history of this western part of the City.

 

Archeological resources: Low potential

The only likely artifacts would be associated with the early/mid-20th century occupancy of the two houses at 406 and 408 Great Falls Road.

 

CITY OF ROCKVILLE

HISTORIC DISTRICT DESIGNATION CRITERIA

 
406/408 Great Falls Road

 

Standing structures and sites, including archeological sites, must be determined to be significant in one or more of the following criteria to be found eligible for designation. (Note: all responses apply to both 406 and 408 Great Falls Road unless otherwise noted):

 

I.  Historical and cultural significance:

 

A.  Is the site of a significant historic event.                                                                   

 

No, this is not the site of a significant event.

 
 
 


B.  Is identified with a person or a group of persons who influenced society.                  

 

Yes, The Nicholsons and Trail families were land owners in this part of Rockville and Montgomery County for generations.  Three generations of the Nicholson family and even more generations of the Trail family remained in the Rockville area and contributed to the expansion and development of the City.

 

C.  Exemplifies the cultural, economic, social, political or historic heritage of the County and its

     communities. (Refer to Rockville Context in Management Plan)

 

The two properties exemplify the social and economic development of western Rockville in the early to mid-20th century.

 

D.  Has character, interest, or value as part of the development, heritage or cultural characteristics of the City, County, State, or Nation.                                                                            

The two properties help to tell the story of the Rockville Heights subdivision development and the late 19th century garden suburb style residential development that was envisioned for this area.

           

II.  Architectural and design significance:

 

  1. Embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period or method of construction.

 

Yes. 406 Great Falls Road does embody distinctive characteristics of the Tudor Revival style, including the asymmetrical façade, steeply pitched side-gable roof, projecting cross gable, and arched-head door.  Although it does lack ornamental detailing that is often found with the Tudor Revival style, such as diamond pane windows, this was not uncommon in Rockville. 

 

408 Great Falls Road does embody distinctive characteristics of the Colonial Revival style, including the symmetrical façade, central door with decorative architrave, brick veneer cladding and two-story massing.  It is also an early example of a garage that is incorporated into the body of the house.

 

 

  1. Represents the work of a master.

 

No.     

                                                                       

C.  Possesses high artistic values.                                                            

 

            No.     

 

D.  Represents a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction.  

 

No.  

 

E.      Represents an established or familiar visual feature of the neighborhood, community or county due to its singular physical characteristic or landscape.

 

            Yes. The large deep lots are vestiges of the 1890 Rockville Heights subdivision. 

 

 

 

III. Structural Integrity:  

 

Not applicable because the site doesn’t meet any of the criteria for significance.

 

"Substantially Altered" (basic shape, original façade plan, windows and doors have been obscured or changed.)

 

Minor alterations (porch removal or enclosure, roof material replacement, siding added over old siding, basic mass and fenestration intact.

 

406 Great Falls Road:  The side porch has been enclosed, but this alteration is considered to be reversible.  Several windows have been replaced with vinyl-sash, including the prominent triplet windows in the main block on both the first and second floors.

 

408 Great Falls Road:  The original windows have been replaced with vinyl-sash windows.  The openings do not appear to have been changed.  The wooden cornice is clad with aluminum sheathing but this is reversible.

Original or near original condition (all changes reversible)

 

 

Outbuildings present and recognizable

 

Original site and setting largely preserved. (Lot size, environmental character, trees, setbacks, streetscape) 

 

The  lots, environmental setting and character, setbacks and streetscape of both 406 Great Falls Road and 408 Great Falls Road are intact.

 

 

If the site is found to meet one or more criteria and possesses sufficient integrity, it is eligible to be recommended to the Mayor and Council as a potential historic district or landmark site.  Determine the level of site significance and list the applicable criteria for the recommendation.

 

IV.  Level of site significance: (Check those that apply)

 

 

 

Local:  Yes

 

State:  No

 

National:  No