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NPS Form 10-900 (Rev. 10-90) RECEIVED 2280 OMB No. 1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Registration Form 056 282001 AAT RERTTON PAROSOR ERVI PLACE. 1559 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. Immaculate Conception Rectory other names/site number_ 2. Location street & number. 108 Beach Street _ not for publication city or town Revere vicinity state Massachusetts _ code_MA - countySuffolk _ code_025 _ zip code _02151 3. State/Federal Agency Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1986, as amended, I hereby certify that this E nomination - 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 I meets [ does not meet the National Register Criteria.
I recommend that this property be considered significant (- See continuation sheet for additional comments.) DSHPO Signature ofcertifying official/Title Brona Simon, Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer Ac. 26,2001 Massachusetts Historical Commission State or Federal agency and bureau In my opinion, the property - meets - does not meet the National Register criteria. (O 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: W entered in the National Register - See continuation sheet. - determined eligible for the National Register - See continuation sheet.
- determined not eligible for the National Register - removed from the National Register - other (explain): Signatyre of the Keeper atuidk Andulls Date of Action 2/1/02 Immaculate Conception Rectory, Revere Name of Property 3. Classification Ownership of PropertyCategory of Property _ private x building(s) x public-local -district _ public-State _ site -public-Federal structure object ame of related multiple property listin enter N/A if property is not part of a multiple property 6.
Function or Use Historic Functions (Enter categories from instructions) RELIGION: church-related residence Suffolk County, Massachusetts County and State Number of Resources within Property Contributing Non contributing 1 buildings sites structures objects TOTAL Number of contributing resources previously listed in the National Register Current Functions (Enter categories from instructions) SOCIAL: meeting hall RECREATION AND CULTURE: museum (historic exhibits) RECREATION AND CULTURE: auditorium (lecture hall) 7.
Description Architectural Classification (Enter categories from instructions) LATE 19TH CENTURY REVIVALS: Colonial Revival Materials (Enter categories from instructions) Foundation: brick Walls: wood clapboard Roof: slate Narrative Description (Describe the historic and current condition of the property on one or more continuation sheets) See Continuation Sheets United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number- Page _ 1 - Immaculate Conception Rectory Revere (Suffelk), MA Immaculate Conception Rectory, Revere 7. Narrative Description Summary The 1901 Colonial Revival-style Immaculate Conception Rectory is a three-story, wood frame building with a rectangular plan, a hip roof, and a large 2 ½-story rear wing which dates to the original construction.
Exterior walls are sheathed with wood clapboards and trimmed with molded water table, stringcourses, cornice, and narrow cornerboards. The slate-clad roof displays dormers, two interior chimneys, and a front balustrade. The wood-frame construction and Colonial Revival style are typical of the period in Revere The scale identifies it as an institutional residence. The interior retains almost all of its original features including a broad center hall plan with ornate main staircase, fine woodwork, unusual fireplace surrounds, wood floors, plaster walls and ceilings, and some light fixtures. The scale, materials, style, lot size, and setback of the rectory all serve to integrate this private institutional building into the pleasant, densely developed, residential neighborhood that surrounds it. The building is in excellent condition and retains a remarkably high degree of integrity.
All of its important character- defining elements are based on the theme of unostentatious elegance. Setting/Site The former Immaculate Conception Rectory remains on its original site at the northwest corner of Beach and Pleasant Streets immediately north of Boston in the City of Revere, Massachusetts. Revere occupies 6.32 square miles on the Massachusetts Bay coast. The inviting 4.5 mile coast consists of a gently curving, sandy beach. Known as Revere Beach (NR: 1998), it has been a popular recreational area since the mid 19th century. The city's northern boundary is defined by the Pines River, a tidal tributary of the Saugus River, with extensive associated salt marshes. The southern edge is defined by Belle Isle Inlet and Mill Creek. Neighboring towns include Boston (SE), Chelsea (SW), Malden (W), and Saugus (N).
The Rectory faces east to Beach Street, a 17th century roadway that meanders northeasterly from Broadway (State Route 107) to Bell Circle at the intersection of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Parkway (State Route 1A) and American Legion Highway (State Route 60). Broadway and the two parkways are important regional thoroughfares. Beach Street marks the locus of Revere's earliest settlement and the surrounding area has served as the town center ever since. Surviving resources that speak to this role include the Rumney Marsh Burying Ground (1690s; Butler Street), the former Rumney Marsh Meeting House/Church of Christ (1710; 265 Beach Street; NR 1984), the former First Congregational Church (1850/1885; Beach Street @ Central Avenue), the First Baptist Church (1893; Beach Street @ Library Street), and the Revere Public Library (1903; Beach Street @ Library Street).
City Hall (1899) stands one block west of the Rectory at Broadway and Pleasant Streets. Several turn-of-the- century commercial blocks remain on Broadway as well. Side streets are dominated by dwellings that date (continued) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number - 7 Page. 2 - Immaculate Conception Rectory Rovere (Suffolk), MA to the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. They are typically two to three-story, wood-frame structures that exhibit elements of the Federal, Greek Revival, Italianate, Second Empire, Queen Anne, and Colonial Revival styles. Most are altered to some degree, with artificial siding and replacement windows especially common. Lots are generally small, and buildings face the street over uniformly shallow setbacks maintained as turf.
The Rectory was constructed as part of a building complex owned by the Catholic Church. Four buildings on the opposite side (E) of Beach Street remain in church ownership and use. They include the Immaculate Conception Church and Rectory (both 1980s) at the northeast corner of Beach Street and Winthrop Avenue, and a convent (1960s) and church school (1913) at the southeast corner of those roads. An 1893 church and late 19th century rectory/convent were demolished in the second half of the 20th century. The former church site lies immediately north of the Rectory. It is now a municipal playground that is enclosed by a high, metal, picket fence and contains young trees, benches, and playground equipment. These facilities are often used by neighborhood children or mothérs picking up children from the school across the street. The Rectory occupies on a level 20,647 sq. ft.
lot at the northwest corner of Beach and Pleasant Streets. The lot is maintained as turf on those two street sides. On Beach Street, the lawn is set off from the sidewalk by low granite curbing which also defines the short walkway that leads to the main entrance. A decorative metal picket fence that appears to be contemporary with the Rectory building defines the Pleasant Street edge of the property. (photo #2) There are two crabapple trees on the south side of the building and a single rhododendron to the right of the main entrance. Paved parking surrounds the building on the north and west sides. Exterior Description (photos #1 and 2) The wood-frame rectory consists of a square main block and rectangular rear (W) wing. The entire mass measures 74'5" x 41'3". The main block rises 3 ½-stories from a red brick foundation to a hip roof.
The wing is 2 ½-stories under a gable roof with raked molding and cornice returns. Both roofs are slate-clad with copper flashing and are equipped with tin gutters and downspouts. The roof of the main block displays paired dormers on the front and rear slopes (E, W) and single dormers on the side slopes (N, S). The dormers have slate-clad sides, hipped roofs, and 1/1 sash windows. The pair of dormers on the front slope are joined by a recessed copper panel with a raised, gold-tone cross. A skylight crowns the center of the main block roof. Two large interior chimneys with corbeled caps rise through the roof near the front of the building where they serve several fireplaces in front and center rooms. Single hip roof dormers are located on the north and south roof slopes of the rear wing. A small chimney appears immediately west of the dormer on the south slope.
Exterior wall surfaces are treated the same on both main block and wing. Sheathing consists of wood clapboards trimmed with narrow cornerboards, molded watertable, molded beltcourses that encircle the building above first story windows and below third story windows (main block only), and a molded box cornice. The beltcourses incorporate wide frieze boards. Windows are often (continued) United states Department of the Intenor National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number. 7 Page 3 Immaculate Conception Rectory Revere (Suffolk), MA aligned vertically and horizontally. Unless otherwise specified they contain 1/1 double-hung sash, and The front facade (E) consists of a center bay that is framed by gently rounded bays that rise the full height of the building and are surmounted by wooden balustrades with ball finials.
Each of these framing bays contain two windows at each story. These windows are fitted with curved glass. The main entrance occupies the first story of the center bay. It is fronted by an open portico with clusters of three Tuscan columns rising to a flat roof with full cornice and balustrade. The portico is approached by a flight of seven wooden stairs with molded railing and square balusters whose form repeats that of the porch and roof balustrades. Diagonal wood latticework covers the area beneath the portico. The main entrance contains a handsome original door with raised wood panels and a single light of pebbled glass (this may have replaced a leaded light). The door is framed by pilasters as well as a transom and sidelights with leaded glass in a diamond-and-oval pattern. Above the front door at the second story is a three part window headed by a broken scroll pediment.
A similar window, without the pediment, is located above at the third story. The three-bay, north elevation of the main block contains single windows in the outer bays and paired windows in the center bays at the first and second stories. At the third story the paired window is replaced by two single windows reflecting the smaller rooms at that level. At the first story, an extra window appears at the west end. The two story, north elevation of the rear wing is set back from the main block. It contains three windows at the first story and four at the second. A porch covers the eastern two-thirds of the rear wing where it adjoins the main block. This element does not appear on the 1906- 1933 Sanborn atlas. It provides access to a rear entrance into the main block.
The entrance is fronted by a narrow vestibule that contains a paneled wood door with glazed upper panel and is headed by a embellishment of a rooftop balustrade. The porch apron, and railing have been extended westward beyond the rear wall of the rear wing. The entire verandah element now encloses a ramp that is code- compliant for wheelchair access. The south elevation contains four vertically and horizontally aligned windows at all three stories. At the first story, the second window from the west is a large, gently curved bay that is surmounted by a balustrade. It serves the dining room which is the most ornate interior space. The south side of the rear wing is very similar to the north side including the Tuscan porch and main block vestibule. In this case however, the porch retains its original configuration and is approached from the west by a flight of wood stairs.
The first story contains an entrance at the west end and three modern windows that light a refurbished kitchen. Three original windows are spaced across the second story. One bathroom window on the second floor varies from the standard 1/1 sash pattern. Here, the upper sash consists of a large single pane framed by small, rectangular panes, a typical Queen Anne style configuration. (continued) United States Department of the Intenor National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number. 7 Page - 4 Immaculate Conception Rectory -Revere (Suffolk), MA The rear wing is centered on the rear west elevation of the main block, and leaves single bays in the main block exposed on each side. Those bays contain the narrow vestibule/entries previously described at the first story. Single windows appear at the upper stories on the north side.
On the south, the wall is blank. The rear wall of the wing contains a single window in the north bay at the first story, single windows in the north and center bays at the second story, and a single window centered in the attic story which is covered with wood shingles. It is set off by a narrow sawtooth course and a continuation of the entablature. A small, enclosed, brick entry with gable roof is centered on the basement story which is fully exposed here due to a gradual slope in the lot. Interior Description The Immaculate Conception Rectory is built on a double-loaded center hall plan with an unusually wide central passage that opens from the main block to the rear wing. It contains 22 rooms, six bathrooms, one of which is modern, and numerous closets and small storage rooms.
Typical of communal residences, the first story of the main block is devoted largely to public or communal activities including the dining, meeting, and reception rooms. The second, third, and attic stories are dominated by bedrooms. The rear wing contains kitchen and meeting facilities at the first story and bedrooms at the second and attic stories. Typical interior finishes include plaster walls and ceilings, pine and oak floors, dark wood wainscot, raised-field panel doors (seven panels) with original brass hardware, wide, molded window and door frames, and a wide variety of fireplace surrounds. (photo #3) Oak is commonly used in the main block while pine is generally substituted in the wing. Several early sconces and hanging light fixtures with ceiling medallions remain as well. (photo #5) The most elaborate finishes and fittings appear in the public spaces at the first story.
Wall-to-wall carpeting over wood floors is the most common interior change. In a few cases, wood trim has been painted white, and some walls have been covered with textured stucco. No important original fabric appears to have been removed, however, and overall the interior, like the exterior, remains largely intact. One of the most interesting features of the house is its varied and unusual fireplaces. All fireplace surrounds are composed of red brick with ornate terra-cotta accents in varying patterns and have wooden mantels and terra-cotta hearths composed of square tiles.. The terra-cotta elements appear as egg and dart, guillioche, and chevron moldings in various combinations. Brickwork is also imaginative, with some fireplaces having arched lintels, rounded, engaged column-like elements, or recessed brick shelves.
While some surrounds have been painted white, most have been left in their natural state. (photo #4) The front door (E) opens into a small vestibule which contains a window and a door on both of the side walls. Plaster walls are trimmed with three foot high dark-stained oak wainscot that consists of a mop board, two rows of square raised-field panels, and a molded chair rail. Raiséd-field panel doors lead directly from the vestibule into the main front rooms. A larger door, similar to the entrance door with a (continued) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number - 7 Page. 5 Immaculate Conception Rectory -Revere (Suffolk), MA leaded-glass upper light and surrounded by leaded-glass transom and sidelights, leads into the center hall where the same wood wainscoting and other trim continue.
The upper walls are plaster and rise to a narrow cornice at the 10' plaster ceiling. The main staircase rises along the rear half of the south hall wall, and continues upward through all four stories. Risers and treads are wood. The paneled wainscot rises upward along the south stair wall. The north side of the stair displays an open string profile with three turned balusters on each step supporting a heavy molded handrail. At the base of the stair, the railing is anchored by a square, wood-paneled newel post topped by a dentil course and ball finial. A brass and crystal chandelier that appears to post-date 1950 is suspended from an elaborate ceiling medallion that is painted a bronze color. (photos #6-7) The north and south front rooms are similar in size and design, with large curving windows in the front bays.
Here, 3" vertical boards replaced the paneled section in the oak wainscoting. There are shelves on the west walls but no fireplaces. The north room has a door in the west wall that opens into the next room. The dining room is the largest and most ornate room within the rectory. It spans the eastern two-thirds of the south side of the first story. A unique feature of the dining room is the coffered ceiling, with molded wood beams creating a widely spaced grid: A brass chandelier is centered on the ceiling. Paneled wainscoting, like that in the hall, trims the walls. The east wall, with its large brick fireplace flanked by two built-in china cabinets, is a focal point of the room.
The molded brick fireplace surround includes fluted pilasters rising to a mantel with egg and dart molding and a secondary shelf supported by a triple egg and dart molding The cabinets consist of wood drawers surmounted by double-leaf glass doors and a glazed, segmental arch transom. The west wall of this room contains doors to the narrow vestibule on the south-side porch and to a modern kitchen which occupies the rear wing (photos #8-10) The two rear rooms on the north wall lack wainscoting, but continue the window and door surrounds. Between these two rooms and accessed from the center hall, is a mid-20th century elevator with a small wood-lined cab and metal accordion door. A modern bathroom and widened doorways have been inserted into the rear room to permit handicap access.
From this room, the rear door and narrow vestibule lead onto the northside porch that was altered in the 1998 renovation to accommodate a ramp for wheelchairs. The upper stories of the main block are similar to the first.floor but replace paneled wainscoting with vertical boarding. Doors, and door and window surrounds are identical as are plaster walls and ceilings. Several rooms have fireplaces. The one in the south front room has a rich Gillette frame with floral cornerblocks around the opening. Above is a secondary mantel supported by three corbeled rows of egg and dart molding. Both front rooms retain early hanging light fixtures and the one on the north retains a plaster ceiling medallion. The second and third story hallways are almost as wide as the first story hall and are lit by the large, triple windows in the east wall.
The open, fourth story attic space once served as a social room and is decorated by murals that appear to have been done by various artists. They depict scenes including landscapes and fanciful elves in bright colors. The center of the space is well-lit by a (continued) p.04 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number. 7 Page. 6 Immaculate Conception Rectory Revere (Suffolk), MA large, hipped skylight, below which hangs an early light fixture, possibly converted from gas. (photo #11) The dormer windows add additional light. A ladder leads to a trapdoor that gives access to the roof. The corner crawl spaces are partitioned by walls and doors to create storage space.
The rear wing of the house contains a large modern kitchen on the south side and a similarly proportioned meeting space on the north side. A rear stair hall occupies the southwest corner behind the kitchen while a storage room is located to the north behind the meeting room. All but the kitchen have plaster walls and dark-stained beadboard wainscoting. Doors and casings are similar to those found in the main block, but pine generally replaces oak. The rear stair is very similar to the main stair but has somewhat simpler balusters and newel posts, and replaces paneled wainscoting with vertical beadboard. The hall has an exterior doors leading to the south porch. The second and attic stories of the rear wing have double-loaded center halls. Rooms of varying size are found on the second floor, and smaller, closet-like rooms on the third floor shaped by the slope of the roof.
Many of the floors are covered with linoleum. Building Alterations The former Immaculate Conception Rectory remains largely intact, on both exterior and interior, even retaining its early light fixtures. A major rehabilitation effort was undertaken in 1998-1999 with the assistance of a Massachusetts Preservation Projects Fund (MPPF) grant that was awarded to the Revere Society for Cultural and Historic Preservation. The grant provided funds for exterior restoration of the north and south walls. The east and west elevations had been previously restored by the Society as a separate project a few years earlier. Both projects involved scraping old paint, replacing rotted clapboards and trim where appropriate, and repainting the exterior. A secondary project a year later restored original windows, installed exterior storm windows, and provided handicap access.
The only other major change is modernization of the kitchen. No record of this project has been found, but it appears to have occurred within the last thirty years. Archaeological Description While no ancient Native American sites are recorded on the Rectory property, sites may be present. One site is recorded in the general area (within one mile). In general, however, the potential for locating ancient Native American resources on the property is low. Environmental characteristics of the parcel are not well suited for most types of Native sites. The Rectory occupies a level to moderately sloping site that may have been well drained prior to historic development. Wetlands, however, are not located within 1000 feet of the Rectory, a factor that adversely affects the prehistoric sensitivity of this location.
Given the above information, the small size of the nominated property (20,547 square feet) and impacts related to construction of the Rectory and parochial house, a low potential exists for locating ancient Native American resources on the property. (continued) P600 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet 7 Section number Page Immaculate Conception Rectory Revere (Suffolk), MA A high potential exists for locating historic archaeological resources on the nominated property. The Rectory property was originally purchased by the church parish in 1889 to build a parochial residence. That building was moved across the street in 1897 and the Rectory building constructed in 1901. Structural evidence of the parochial residence and outbuildings may survive on the Rectory property.
Evidence of utilities including water, sewage, gas and electric lines that serviced the parochial residence may also survive. (end) Immaculate Conception Rectory, Revere Name of Property 8. Statement of Significance