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NPS Form 10-900 (Rev. 10-90) OMB No. 1024-0018 RECEIVED 2280 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service JAN 2 4 2002 National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NAT. REGISTER OF HISTORI! NATIONAL PARK SER 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_OLD LYNN HIGH SCHOOL other names/site number_Independent Industrial Shoemaking School 2. Location street & number_50 High Street city or townLynn _ not for publication - vicinity state_MASSACHUSETTS _ code_MA countyEssex _code 009zip code 01901 3. State/Federal Agency Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1986, as amended, I hereby certify that this 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 Emeets D does not meet the National Register Criteria.
1 recommend that this property be considered significant - nationally - statewide E locally. (- See continuation sheet for additional comments.) Brona Sumn DSHPO Jamuary ", 2002 Signature of certifying official/Title Brona Simon Date Massachusetts Historical Commission, Deputy 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 I, hereby certify that this property is: tentered 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): let gigetufe of the Keeper At. Beall 3/6/02 _Old Lynn High School Name of Property 5. Classification Ownership of Property (Check as many boxes as apply) - private X public-local -public-State - public-Federal -Essex County, MA County and State (Check only one box) x building(s) - district - Site - structure - object Number of Resources within Property (Do not include previously listed resources in the count.) Contributing 1 Noncontributing 0 Name of related multiple property listing (Enter "N/A" if property is not part of a multiple property listing.) NA building _ sites _ structures _ objects Total 1 0 Number of contributing resources previously listed in the National Register _N/A 6.
Function or Use Historic Functions (Enter categories from instructions) EDUCATION: school JNDUSTRY: manufacturing COMMERCE/TRADE: business Current Functions (Enter categories from instructions) VACANT / NOT IN USE Z. Description Architectural Classification (Enter categories from instructions) LATE VICTORIAN: Italianate Materials (Enter categories from instructions) foundation_BRICK & STONE - granite wallsWOOD - shingles roof_ASPHALT other _ Narrative Description (Describe the historic and current condition of the property on one or more continuation sheets.) OBM Approval No. 1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet 1 Section number .
Page Old Lynn High School Lynn (Essex), MA The Old Lynn High School, located at 50 High Street (MHC #479), is a two-story Italianate school house presumed to be designed by well-known Boston architect Gridley J. F. Bryant in 1850. The wood-frame schoolhouse is located in the southern section of the City of Lynn, east of the institutional center of Lynn Common, the Court House, and the Lynn City Hall. The topography is varied and from the .68-acre school parcel there is a prospect down the hill to the southwest towards City Hall and up the hill in a northerly direction to the Lookout Tower atop High Rock. The residential neighborhood surrounding McGloin Square, on which the Old Lynn High School is situated, is predominately late 19th and early 20th century two- and three-story dwellings.
McGloin Square is formed by the intersection of the north-south route High Street and the east-west route of Liberty Street, which becomes Essex Street east of the Square. The school is on the southwest corner of High Street and Liberty Street. West of the school lot, on the opposite side of Liberty Street, is the National Register listed (1986) Lynn English High School. East of the school is the only surviving example of shoe workers' housing located in this area, the Trask House (1837) at 42 High Street. The Old Lynn High School, although vacant, retains a significant amount of its historic fabric and context in a neighborhood surrounded by listed and eligible properties relating to Lynn and its educational and industrial heritage. The Old Lynn High School lot slopes from the north-east corner south-westerly, falling approximately twelve feet.
To the west and south of the building, ledge rock protrudes. An irregular-coursed fieldstone wall borders the property along Liberty Street. A late 19*-century photograph shows that a wooden picket fence, which no longer is extant, had been constructed on top of the stone wall. On the west side of the building the lot is covered with asphalt pavement extending from the school's foundation to a chain link fence bordering the adjacent properties. Much of the lot has given way to invasive vegetation. The Old Lynn High School is a two-story, eight-bay, wood-framed school house. The spacing of the eight bays are arranged in two groups; one group of five evenly spaced bays and a second group of three evenly spaced bays. This arrangement indicates a three-bay addition to the northeastern end of the original five-bay structure.
The Italianate schoolhouse, which is a side- gabled block with the ridge parallel to Liberty Street, is an approximately 45 foot by 95 foot rectangular building. It rests on a cut granite block foundation with structural brick supporting the western end of the southeast elevation and forming a raised basement wall, to accommodate the slope of the land. Original clapboards and corner quoins have been covered with weathered shingles that display a ten-inch exposure. The School retains Italianate architectural elaboration of the second-story round-headed six-over-six windows with hooded moldings that spring from tabs, and pedimented gables with a simple frieze and cornice. A wide frieze board wrapping around the entire building marks the transition from the wall surfaces to the boxed cornice. (continued) OBM Approval No.
1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet 2 Section number - Page - Old Lynn High School Lynn (Essex), MA Currently the building and site suffer from years of vacancy, neglect, and attempted arson. First-story and basement openings have been boarded over with plywood panels to prevent vandalism. The two principal elevations face High and Liberty streets with the main facade and primary school entrance facing Liberty St. This northwest facade is supported by a cut granite coursed foundation which has been painted a sandstone beige color. As on all elevations the wood shingles cover clapboards and corner quoins, which are important features of the historic building.
The first-story windows, which had six-over-six double-hung sash, are boarded over with plywood panels and retain the simple, flat casings with two small brackets supporting each window sill. An air conditioning unit protrudes from the plywood in the west end bay. The school's front entrance, located in the fourth bay from the west end of the eight-bay façade, is a single-paneled door topped with a boarded-over transom light. A concrete stoop with an iron pipe railing projects in front of the doorway. The second-story windows display the Italianate detailing of round-headed windows with hooded moldings and bracketed sills. Some of the second-story windows retain the six-over-six sash with thin, ogee shaped muntins. A wide, plain frieze board tops the façade to make the transition from the side wall to the roof.
Atop the low-pitched roof, located midway along the ridge line, is a small shed dormer, complete with a four-light window. Also on the ridge-line are a small brick chimney, and remnants of two square metal ventilators. (photo #1 and #4) The northeast elevation with its pedimented gable end faces High Street. There are four window openings, now boarded over, cut into the coursed granite foundation and corresponding to the paired windows above. The first-story windows are grouped in two pairs of two windows with bracketed sills and a bracketed console or hood over each pair. The second-story windows have round-headed openings with hooded arch bracketed moldings and bracketed sills. Similar to the first-story windows, the four second-story windows also are grouped into two pairs of two. (photo #6) The double-hung first and second-story sash have been replaced with plywood panels.
A wide frieze and raking cornice defines the pediment of this gable end elevation. The simple molding has deteriorated significantly due to water infiltration. Two window openings, now boarded over in the pediment, intrude into the raking cornice. A section of the raking crown molding has deteriorated and is missing. (photo #1 and #5) The southeast elevation is identical in fenestration to the northwest elevation. The eight bays are clustered in the same pattern displaying the original five bays on the southwestern-most side of the elevation and the three bays of the addition on the northeastern-most part of this rear elevation. The entrance door, also located in the fourth bay from the original end of the building, (continued) OBM Approval No.
1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet 7 Section number Page Old Lynn High School Lynn (Essex), MA has a plywood door covering the entrance vestibule. A recessed transom light is within the simple molded surround. Dilapidated concrete steps with a pipe railing lead to this entrance. A double-leaf paneled and once glazed set of doors was installed in the end bay closest to High Street, however this entrance too is boarded over and the wood steps leading to the entrance are dilapidated. The doors on this rear elevation would have provided access to the school yard behind and on the west side of the schoolhouse.
Windows display the same configuration as the main facade with either double-hung, six-over-six light sash or plywood panels set in plain casings on the first-story level and round headed hooded moldings capping second- story windows. All window openings have sills with two small decorative brackets. Due to the topography, the foundation on this elevation is structural stone under the eastern end and structural brick on top of cut stone under the three bays at the southwestern end of this elevation. The brick foundation is coincident with the topography that slopes away from the building and provides for a walk-in basement through double-leaf doors in the third bay from the southwest end. (photos #2 and #3) The southwest end elevation has had the most architectural changes.
This pediment gable end is 3 ½ stories due to the raised basement of brick with three boarded up window openings, and a single door opening. The first story has four openings of which three have plywood panels in place of double hung windows and the fourth has a contemporary plain door. This door was inserted into an original window opening to allow egress to the steel fire escape, which starts on the ground at the west corner of the building, climbs to a landing at the first story, continues up one-half story to a landing, then continues up to a landing at the second-story where a second contemporary door has be installed in the window opening near the south corner of the building. The remaining three second-story windows have double-hung six-over-six windows set in frames with round-headed, hooded moldings, with a plywood panel in the arched opening over the double-hung sash.
A wide frieze and raking cornice define the pediment gable. A single centered window opening punctuates the pediment. A large, heavily corroded, metal hopper is attached to the west corner of this elevation and is associated with the building's use as a vocation shop. A fire burned a six-foot wide swath up two stories, destroying the wood shingle siding and charring the original wood clapboard underneath. The Old Lynn High School interior has been altered in several development stages. The first- story room configuration was changed substantially when the building was reused for small businesses. Newer room partitions obscure the early educational classroom plan. Remnants of the pressed metal ceilings and egg-and-dart metal cornice molding can be seen throughout the first story above dropped ceilings (parts of which have caved in) and in the entrance hall and (continued) OBM Approval No.
1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet 4 Section number - Page - Old Lynn High School Lynn (Essex), MA primary staircase space. (photo #9) Some tongue and groove paneled wainscoting remains on exterior walls of the first story rooms. The front-to-back circulation bay also has been altered with a hall that jogs around the elevator that is accessed from this hall that links the front and rear entrances. The front entrance lobby retains the wide staircase running along the front wall in front of the window of the fifth bay or end bay of the original building. Although much of the staircase has deteriorated the wide steps and the newel remain. The second-floor plan displays the use and circulation of the eight-bay schoolhouse after 1876.
Front and back classroom spaces flank the center circulation space to which the large front staircase leads. The second-story circulation bay is narrower than the first-story space. The elevator that is in this circulation area exits into the large front northwest classroom on the second floor. Tongue and groove wainscoting wraps around exterior walls and lines the staircase and hall walls that were part of the late 19*-century configuration. The classroom spaces on each side of the circulation bay vary in size. The classrooms on the west end of the building are two bays deep and extend in length four bays of the original block. (photo #10) The three-bay addition forms the long wall of the classroom on the east side of the circulation bay. (photo #8) Plaster walls appear to have a light pink color under the green overcoat.
The second-story interior window frames of the original block vary from those of the 1876 addition. The earlier frames are bolder, with wide molding framing the window sash and the arched hood in line with the inside edge of the window frame thus topping the window sash only. Arched frames surrounding the windows of the 1876 addition are a continuous narrower frame surrounding the sash and arch above. Four-paneled interior doors are large in size and help to identify early spaces distinctive from smaller doors and openings that were used in the reconfiguration for offfice space. (photo #7) The large second-story rear classroom has a full-length blackboard on the interior long wall. Since it construction in 1850-51 the Old Lynn High School has undergone many changes.
The earliest depiction of the school in an 1851 lithograph of the northwest and northeast elevations shows a five-bay structure with Italianate features such as pediment gable ends, round-headed windows with hooded moldings, quoins, cupola, and chimneys. A later photograph of the building, taken from the northeast, shows the clapboard siding, quoins, hooded windows, and an enclosed entrance porch. Currently, the original clapboards and quoins are hidden under the newer shingle siding. A three-bay addition was added onto the northeast end of the school in 1876, using the same architectural features and details. A photograph from this period shows the building as described but with the cupola and one brick chimney missing. Skylights, or roof scuttles, also are shown in the photograph. Prior to 1977, the extant wood shingle siding, fire (continued) OBM Approval No.
1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet 5 Section number - Page Old Lynn High School Lynn (Essex), MA escape and associated doors on the southwest elevation, and the shed dormer were added. It is clear from the current conditions that the exterior of the Old Lynn High School could easily be brought back to its original glory. Archaeological Description While no ancient Native American sites are recorded on the high school property, sites may be present. Two sites are recorded in the general area (within one mile), including one site located on High Rock near the nominated property. In general, however, the potential for locating significant sites, either ancient Native American or historic on the school property is low.
Environmental characteristics of the property do not generally represent favorable locational criteria for most types of Native sites. The property slopes from northeast to southwest dropping approximately twelve feet. Soils in the area may have been well drained prior to historic development, however, ledge is also common in the area with exposed outcrops west and south of the school building. Rock Shelter type sites have not been identified on the property. The property is also located well over 1000 feet from the nearest wetlands. Construction of the school, which has a basement, utilities and asphalt paving west of the building would also impact any ancient resources that might have been present on the relatively small (0.68 acre) lot. The school property was owned by the City of Lynn before the school was constructed.
No historic land use has been identified on the property prior to school construction. (end) Old Lynn High School Name of Property 8. Statement of Significance