George Washington Whittemore House, 329 Harvard Street, Cambridge, Middlesex County, MA

Significance: House was originally remarkable for extensive use of exterior papier mache ornament. Front and side eaves of main block, and cupola were trimmed with molded papier mache "gingerbread" mounted on wooden barge boards, until fire from painter's blow-torch in 1931. Cupola retained trim at least as late as 1951 - evidence of durability of material for exterior use when well-maintained. (Exterior papier mache ornament was rather widely used in Boston suburbs c. 1840-55.) In its eclectic design, house was typical of suburban residences built on Dana Hill c. 1850, when formal Greek Revival tradition was yielding to freer Italianate forms and more picturesque massing.
Survey number: HABS MA-881
Building/structure dates: 1850 Initial Construction
Building/structure dates: 1965 Demolished