BlockFrom the form
The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.
NPS Form 10-900 (Rev. 10-90) OMB No. 1024-0018 RE United States Department of the Interior National Park Service JUL I 0 2000 National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NAT. REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES NATIONAL PARK SERVICE This form is for use in nominating or requesting determinations for individual properties and districts. See instructions in How to Complete the National Register of Historic Places Registration Form (National Register Bulletin 16A). Complete each item by marking "x" in the appropriate box or by entering the information requested. If any item does not apply to the property being documented, enter "N/A" for "not applicable." For functions, architectural classification, materials, and areas of significance, enter only categories and subcategories from the instructions. Place additional entries and narrative items on continuation sheets (NPS Form 10-900a).
Use a typewriter, word processor, or computer, to complete all items. 1. Name of Property historic name. West Dennis Graded School other names/site number. Dennis Community Center 2. Location street & number_ 67 School Street -_ not for publication city or town_ Dennis -vicinity state_ Massachusetts _ code_MA countyBarnstable _ code002 _ zip code 02670 3. State/Federal Agency Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1986, as amended, I hereby certify that thisle nomination D request for determination of eligibility meets the documentation standards for registering properties in the National Register of Historic Places and meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60. In my opinion,the property Ameets does not meetthe National Register Criteria.
I recommend that this property be considered significant - nationallv - statewide @ocally. (- See continuation sheet for additional comments.) udin B. MuDonous 73/2000 Signature of certifying official/Title Judith B. McDonough, Executive Director Massachusetts Historical Commission, State Historic Preservation Officer State or Federal agency and bureau In my opinion, the property meets does not meet the National Register criteria. (- See continuation sheet for additional Comments.) Signature of certifying official/Title Date State or Federal agency and bureau 4. National Park Service Certification 1, hereby certify that this property is: l entered in the National Register - See continuation sheet. - determined eligible for the National Register - See continuation sheet.
- determined not eligible for the National Register D removed from the National Register - other (explain): Signature of the Keeper rateich Andues Date of Action 8/24/00 West Dennis Graded School Name of Property 3. Classification Ownership of Property _ private X public-local _public-State _public-Federal Category of Property X building(s) _district site structure object Name of related multiple property listing (enter N/A if property is not part of a multiple property listing) N/A Barnstable County, Massachusetts County and State Number of Resources within Property Contributing 1 Non contributing 1 buildings sites structures objects Total Number of contributing resources previously listed in the National Register N/A 6.
Function or Use Historic Functions (Enter categories from instructions) Education: school Government: meeting hall Current Functions (Enter categories from instructions) Social: meeting hall 7. Description Architectural Classification (Enter categories from instructions) Mid-19th century: Greek Revival Materials (Enter categories from instructions) Foundation: brick, concrete Walls: wood shingle, wood clapboard Roof: wood shingle; asphalt shingle Narrative Description (Describe the historic and current condition of the property on one or more continuation sheets) See Continuation Sheets MPS Form 10-900-e OMB Aaproval Na.
1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number _ / West Dennis Graded School Dennis (Barnstable Co.), MA Page - Narrative Description The 1867 Greek Revival style West Dennis Graded School is a two story, wood frame building with a rectangular plan, a side-gable roof, and a full-length front verandah. The front facade and north elevation are sheathed with wood clapboards while the remaining elevations and the roof are covered with wood shingles. The slightly larger than residential scale, large 8/8 windows, double entrance, and cupola/belfry all distinguish the building as a schoolhouse. Its materials and simplicity of mass and detail are otherwise typical of the historic regional vernacular.
The interior retains many original features especially at the second story where the two-classroom plan survives along with characteristic elements such as blackboards, beadboard wainscoting, and plaster walls and ceilings. The school is located in a pleasant, densely developed residential neighborhood in the village of West Dennis. It faces School Street over a paved semi-circular driveway and a wooden post and rail fence. The building is in fair condition and retains the majority of its character-defining elements which are based on the dual themes of symmetry and simplicity. The West Dennis Graded School remains on its original site at the southwest corner of Pond and School Streets in Dennis, Massachusetts.
Dennis is located mid-way on the Cape Cod peninsula where it is bordered by Cape Cod Bay (N), the Towns of Brewster and Harwich (E), Nantucket Sound (S), and the Town of Yarmouth (W). The town encompasses five village clusters: Dennis Village and East Dennis on Cape Cod Bay, South Dennis on the upper Bass River, and West Dennis and Dennis Port on Nantucket Sound. The village of West Dennis straddles State Route 28 in the southwest corner of the town. The South Dennis Historic District (local district; 5/9/74) is located to the north. Important topographic features in the vicinity of the school include Weir Creek and its associated wetlands immediately to the east, and Kelley's Pond and the large tidal waterway known as Bass River to the west. School Street runs north-south between State Route 28and Lower County Road, both of which are important east-west regional thoroughfares.
The school is located one block south of Route 28 where the majority of the historic commercial and institutional buildings of West Dennis village are concentrated. A small cluster of recent commercial buildings appears immediately south of the school on the site of a former shoe factory and across School Street. The remainder of the neighborhood is residential, with dwellings dating to the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. All are modest in scale, materials, and design, reflecting the historic regional vernacular. The scale, massing, materials, and detail of the school complement its surroundings. The building occupies the northeast corner of a level .93 acre lot where it is set back 40' from School Street and 30' from Pond Street. On the School Street side it is approached by a semi-circular driveway paved in asphalt.
A cement walkway embraces the southern and western sides of the building. Turf, shrubs, and trees appear in the immediate vicinity of the building and around the perimeter of the lot which is also defined by a wooden post and rail fence, painted white. A large paved parking lot that reflects the building's use as a community center in the second half of the 20th century occupies most of the south sideyard and a substantial area behind the building. A grassy municipal playground occupies the rear of the lot, where a social hall, formerly an academy, known as Doric Hall once stood. (continued) MPS Forme 10-900-e (00) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number - Page - OMB Approval Na.
1021-0018 West Dennis Graded School Dennis (Barnstable Co.), MA The wood-frame schoolhouse rises 2 stories from a brick foundation to an overhanging side-gable roof. It consists of a four bay by three bay rectangular main block extended by a two small, one-story, gable-roof wings on the north side A verandah runs along the entire east facade. The main block and verandah are part of the original 1867 construction while the wings were added in 1957 and 1977. The gable roof is covered with wood shingles and crowned by an open cupola/belfry consisting of eight posts with narrow collar moldings rising from a square base to a low hip roof. The cupola is similar to the original element which it replaced at an unknown date. It contains the bell from the contemporary South Dennis Graded School. Narrow stove chimneys have been removed from the gable ends.
A single, narrow, brick chimney now rises along the exterior of north wall, between the main block and wing. It probably dates to ca. 1953 when central heat was installed. The main block is sheathed with wooden clapboards on the east facade and north elevations while cedar shingles appear on the other elevations and the roof. The shingles and northside clapboards are stained gray. All trim is made of wood and painted white. Trim elements include moderately wide cornerboards, a two-part raking entablature and a molded raking cornice with narrow returns, all of which typify late examples of the Greek Revival style. Windows throughout the main block display simple molded frames with projecting heads and contain 8/8 double-hung sash.
Some second story sash appears to be original; the remainder have slightly different muntin profiles but are otherwise identical and appear to date to the period of significance. The east front facade contains two widely spaced entrances in the inner bays and a single window in each of the outer bays. The entrance frames are similar to those of the windows, consisting of molded architraves and projecting caps. They contain six-panel wooden doors equipped with brass hardware. Four windows are evenly spaced across the second story; the outer windows are aligned with those on the first story. A verandah runs across the entire first story. It consists of six slender Tuscan columns rising from a brick deck to a simple entablature and low-pitched hip roof. The brick deck dates to the 1970s.
The rear west elevation contains four evenly spaced, vertically aligned windows at each story with the exception of the inner south bay at the second story which is blank. A wooden fire escape rises along the northern half of this elevation to a second story entrance located just north of center. The fire escape and door appear to date to the 1950s. The second story window was probably removed at the same time. The south side elevation contains three evenly spaced openings that are aligned at the first and second stories. The west bay of the first story contains a recent entrance equipped with a six-panel wooden door. Windows occupy the other two bays. Three windows are located at the second story. A fourth window existed between the central and western windows from ca. 1928 to the 1970s. A smaller window with 6/6 sash occupies the gable.
The western two/thirds of the first story of the north side elevation is covered by the wing. The eastern bay contains a single window. Four window openings are found at the second story with three grouped at the western end. As on the south elevation, the extra window was added ca. 1928 to admit more natural light to a building that lacked electricity until 1934. A smaller window with 6/6 sash occupies the gable. (continued) MPS Forme 10-900-e 13-00 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number - Page - 3 OMB Approvel Na 1024-0018 West Dennis Graded School Dennis (Barnstable Co.), MA North Wing The north wing is a very simple structure that is covered with gray-stained wood shingles and rests on a concrete foundation.
It consists of two small one-story rectangles enclosed by gable roofs with asphalt shingles. One part is attached to the western two/thirds of the north end of the main block. The other extends westward beyond the main block. The first part (1958) contains a small paired window with 6/6 sash in each opening on the east side and three similar windows evenly spaced across the north side. The second section (1970s) contains two windows on the west elevation and none on the north and south sides. Interior The original interior consisted of two large classrooms at each story in the western two-thirds, with stairwells, coatrooms, and other support spaces clustered along the east wall. It was characterized by abundant natural light, high ceilings, plaster walls and ceilings, horizontal beadboard wainscoting, paneled wooden doors, simple wooden window and door casings, and integral blackboards.
Both plan and materials are typical of mid to late- 19th century schoolhouses. Much of the plan and many of the materials remain intact, especially at the second story. At the first story, the two east entries lead into a stairhall and vestibule. The stair rises southerly and westerly in two runs with an intervening, square landing. Steps and risers are both constructed of wood. Wooden rails top solid balusters. Original beadboard wainscoting remains along the upper run. The remainder of the first story is devoted to a single large room. Two rows of three posts each divide the room roughly into thirds and support the upper stories. The lower third of the posts are encased in wood. This room was created in the early-1920s by removing the wall that originally divided it into two classrooms.
In the 1970s, the original plaster ceiling was covered by suspended acoustic tiles with integral fluorescent lighting. The walls were covered with wallboard and modern pine wainscoting. The second story contains two generously proportioned former classrooms on the west side and five smaller rooms on the east side. The classroom spaces have been altered with acoustic tile ceilings, wallboard, and linoleum tile over original wooden floorboards; the south classroom retains original blackboards on the two inner walls. The outer rooms retain original finishes including plaster walls and ceilings, horizontal beadboard wainscoting, and four panel wooden doors. Former cloakrooms are equipped with coat hooks. Summary of Alterations The West Dennis Graded School is a well-preserved example of its period and type.
Most changes occurred in three discrete periods: the early-1920s when town meeting use was accommodated, the early-1950s when it was converted to a community building, and the 1970s when a conscious decision was made to save rather than replace this important community landmark. Alterations are discussed above and summarized below. (continued) NPS Form 10-900-e (3-00) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number - Page - OM& Approvel No. 1024-0016 West Dennis Graded School Dennis (Barnstable Co.), MA Original Appearance Early photographs, maps, and written statements all describe a building very similar to the one that survives today. It consisted of a two story rectangular main block under a side-gable roof and fronted by a full verandah.
Narrow stove chimneys rose through the roof ridge, inside the end walls. The exterior may have been entirely sheathed with wooden clapboards rather than today's combination of clapboards and shingles. Large windows contained 8/8 sash. 1920s Alterations In 1922-23 the West Dennis School was remodeled to serve as a town meeting hall and village polling place in addition to its school use. The most significant change was to the interior of the first story where the wall that separated the two classrooms was removed. Additional windows were added to the second story north and south end walls to provide better light to the classrooms ca. 1928 and electricity was finally installed in 1934. 1950s Alterations In the early-1950s the former West Dennis Graded School was renamed as the Dennis Community Center and once again several changes were made to accommodate the new use.
The most important included the construction of a electric system, and a project to reshingle the roof. At the same time the wooden trim was repainted, and cement added to the north side of the building in 1958. 1970s Alterations More extensive renovations took place in the early-1970s to correct structural and maintenance deficiencies and to bring the building up-to-date. Exterior changes included an addition of a second wing to the north side for handicapped toilet facilities, and a new cedar shingle roof. The replacement of the wooden verandah flooring with a brick deck and the repair of columns was accompanied by window repair and exterior painting. Most importantly, the cupola was reconstructed and a bell from the South Dennis School installed. In 1986 six columns were added to the large first floor meeting room to support the sagging upper story.
(continued) MPS Form 10-800e (3-49 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number _ Page - OME Approvel No. 1024-0018 West Dennis Graded School Dennis (Barnstable Co.), MA 1999 Plans The Town of Dennis has recently received Massachusetts Preservation Projects Fund grant to ensure its continued existence in the 21st century. The proposed work includes stabilization, maintenance, and restoration of original features.
Important exterior items include: - Replace all east, west, south wall siding, and selective replacement on the north wall; - Replace wood shingle roofing; - Repair and paint columns and exterior trim; - Rebuild cupola; - Repair windows and doors; Important interior items include: - Replace suspended acoustical tile ceilings with plaster; - Replace fluorescent lights with drop lights; - Replace knotty pine wainscot with horizontal bead board; - Replace fiberboard walls with plaster; - Remove linoleum flooring where present. Archaeological Description While no prehistoric sites are recorded on the school property, it is possible that sites are present. Fifteen prehistoric sites are recorded in the general area (within one mile).
Environmental characteristics of the area represent several locational attributes (slope, soil drainage, distance to wetlands) that are favorable indicators for many types of prehistoric sites. The school property is located on an excessively drained relatively level landscape formed in glacial outwash deposits. Weir Creek wetlands are located in close proximity (within 1000 feet) of the property. Bass River and Nantucket Sound are also located approximately one-half mile from the school. Given the above information, known prehistoric settlement for the Bass River and mid-Cape locales, the size of the property (.93 acres) and impacts related to school construction, a moderate to high potential exists for the location of prehistoric resources on the school property. A moderate potential exists for locating historic archaeological resources on the school property.
Additional historical research combined with archaeological survey and testing can determine whether structural evidence of outbuildings or occupational related features (trash pits, privies, wells) exist on the property. These resources could be associated with building and grounds use of the structure after its construction as a school in 1867, remodeling to accommodate town meeting and voting in 1922-23 or its conversion to a community center in 1951. Historic land use has not been identified for the property prior to 1867. (end) West Dennis Graded School Name of Property 8. Statement of Significance