Canton Corner Painters — Canton Corner Historic District

George Comeau's Canton Citizen history column places Canton Corner on Washington Street between Chapman and Randolph streets and says it was the town's second center until development moved south. The Canton Corner Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 9, 2009. Its boundaries run roughly along Washington Street from Pecunit Street to southwest of Dedham Street, and along Pleasant Street from Washington Street to Reservoir Road. According to the nomination, more than 80% of the district's acreage is open space, and the town-owned Roger Williams House estate at 92 Pleasant Street keeps several hundred feet of frontage on Reservoir Pond.

The buildings span a long stretch of time: one house from about 1725, Federal-period dwellings from the early-19th-century village, and late-19th and early-20th-century estate residences, several designed by Canton architect George Walter Capen. The nomination describes most of the Federal houses as two or two-and-a-half stories with five-bay, center-entry fronts. Recorded wall materials are clapboard, shingle, brick and stucco; roofs are slate and asphalt shingle.

In the block group that contains 1466 Washington Street, census estimates show a median build year of 1964, with 18.6% of 564 units dating from 1939 or earlier and 70.6% from before 1980. That area extends past the district, so it mixes the old village with later houses.

Two siding types on one house

The nomination notes several Federal houses, including the 1798 Downes House at 1466 Washington Street, with clapboards on the facade and wood shingles on the other walls. Painted clapboard and stained or painted shingle take different prep and products, so the scope of work should list each elevation.

Trim worth uncovering, not covering

At the 1876 Parish Hall, vinyl siding applied between 1977 and 1982 removed or hid the bracketed cornice, paneled pilasters and molded window hoods. On older houses here, repairing and repainting surviving wood trim keeps detail that is hard to replace.

National Register status without paint review

We found no local historic district commission in Canton, and National Register listing alone does not set paint colors for a private owner. The town's demolition delay bylaw covers significant pre-1940 buildings, which concerns demolition rather than a repaint.

Wooded lots and pond frontage

With so much of the district in open space and trees along Pleasant Street near Pequit Brook, shaded walls may stay damp longer after rain. Mildew washing and a dry forecast before painting matter more on those sides.