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NPS Form 10-900 (Rev. 10-90) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Registration Form OMB No. 1024-0018 MAR - 7 2002 378 NATONALRE & EDUCATION egister of Historic Places Registration Form (National Register Bulletin 16A). 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 Groton Leatherboard Company other names/site number_ 2. Location street & number. 6 West Main Street - not for publication city or town.
Groton - vicinity state Massachusetts code _MA county_ Middlesex code_017 _ zip code_02721 3. State/Federal Agency Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1986, as amended, I hereby certify that this f nomination J 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 4 meets - does not meet the National Register Criteria. I recommend that this property be considered significan ] nationally - statewide Dlocally. (- See continuation sheet for additional comments.
Brona Simon DsHro March 5, 2002 Signature of certifying official/Title Brona Simon, Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer Massachusetts Historical Commission 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: M 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): Date of Action Elsan1/t. Beall Groton Leatherboard C lame of Propert 5.
Classification wnership of Propert Check as many boxes as apply x private - public-local - public-State - public-Federal Middlesex, MA County and State (Check only one box) _ building(s) xdistrict _ site _ structure _object Number of Resources within Property (Do not include previously listed resources in the count.) Contributing 7 Noncontributing 1 building sites _ structures objects Total Name of related multiple property listing (Enter "N/A" if property is not part of a multiple property listing.) n/a 6. Function or Use Historic Functions (Enter categories from instructions) Industry/manufacturing facility 7 1 Number of contributing resources previously listed in the National Register Current Functions (Enter categories from instructions) Vacant/not in use Z.
Description Architectural Classification (Enter categories from instructions) Materials (Enter categories from instructions) foundation Brick/Stone/Concrete walls Brick/Asphalt Metal/Synthetic/Fiberglass Tar and Gravel roof other Narrative Description (Describe the historic and current condition of the property on one or more continuation sheets.) (8-86) Form 10-900-a United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet OMB Approval No.
1024-0018 Section Number 7 Page 1 Greton Leatherboard Company Groton, (Middlesex) Massachusetts Narrative Description The mill complex of the former Groton Leatherboard Company at 6 West Main Street in Groton Massachusetts consists of a 1915 red brick mill and several interconnected red brick additions including buildings erected in 1926, 1928 and 1936 front parking area accessed by a driveway from West Main Street and located between the Squannacook River and the abandoned line and spur of the Boston and Maine Railroad. The drive way passes along a downward slope near the 8' bank at the eastern boundary through a passage in the mill to a flat, wide, open mill yard. All mill buildings are modestly detailed, red-brick, utilitarian edifices representative of early 20" century industrial architecture. Most consist of plank and timber construction.
Some concrete-on-steel-beam, plank-on-steel-beam and rod-truss construction also exists. Detail is substantially limited to fenestration with radiating voussoirs above flat or segmental-arched openings and flush, poured-concrete sills; narrow, shallow corbeling along the cornice line of some buildings and double-leafed entries comprised of wooden doors with 6 or 9-pane lights as uppermost panels. Doors often are set beneath multi-light, double-row transoms. Buildings generally have composite, tar and gravel roofs. Interiors of the mill buildings typically consist of painted, 12"-to 18"-thick brick walls, concrete floors in the basement and/or first floor and wooden flooring on the upper level. Finishes in the office space include wall to wall carpeting, gypsum wall board partitions and acoustical tile ceilings. The oldest sections form the northwest corner of the complex.
The small, flat-roofed, 1-story, 1 x 2-bay, rectangular, red brick Motor House (1918, Building No. 3) has double-leafed, wood panel doors with 6-pane lights set in a segmental- arched opening with radiating voussoirs on its north elevation. The 2-bay, east elevation has a segmental-arched, paneled- wood door with 9-pane light and 6/6, double-hung sash, wooden window. The 3-bay west elevation has similarly-detailed two, 6/6, double-hung sash, wooden windows centered by a paneled wood door with 9-pane light. The south elevation remains a blank brick wall. The motor house stands in front the 20 x 8-bay, 2-story plus raised basement, shallow pitch-roofed, rectangular main mill (Building No. 1), designed in 1915 by Ira W. Jones of Milton, New Hampshire. The roofline of the factory has projecting eaves supported by 22" ancons.
The east slope of the roof is interrupted by a frame, 23' x 84'x 4' clerestory with continuous, 6-light, rectangular, wooden windows which has collapsed. Not original to the building, this monitor was added between 1938 and 1955 replacing six, earlier, 5' x 8' individual skylights (removed in 2001 as part of a certified rehabilitation). The original, asymmetrical, 8-bay north elevation was partially modified on the east end by a 1955 addition (demolished in 2001 as part of a certified rehabilitation). The plane of the facade has been returned to its original location. The fourth and eighth bays from the west end contain double-leafed, paneled, wooden doors with 4-pane lights. Other bays have 10/10, double-hung sash, wooden windows.
An original, open loading dock raised on posts above 10 of the 12, 10-light, hopper-sash, wooden, basement windows along the north elevation was apparently altered over time before being completely removed before 1955. (continued) (P-65orm 10-900-a United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 Section Number 7 Page 2 Groten Leatherboard Company Groton, (Middlesex) Massachusetts Narrative Description The altered east end of the north elevation of Building 1 included a flat-roofed, rectangular, 3 x 2-bay, approximately 16.5 x 30.3' addition (now demolished) devised by the firm of Jenks & Ballou of Providence, Rhode Island. Projecting 16.5' feet forward of the plane of the facade of Building No.
1, it expanded the north end of the original, rectangular, 6 x 3-bay office above the north end of the one-story, 1915 engine room. The facade of the now-removed office area included double-leafed, 10-light french doors sheltered by a flat hood supported by open brackets beneath a double-row, 12-light, straight transom. The remaining 2 bays have 10/10, rectangular, double-hung sash, wooden windows with flat concrete sills. Removal of the portion of the office space projecting beyond the plane of the facade on the main mill was allowed in approval of Part 2 of the Historic Preservation Certification Application for rehabilitation of the property.
Detailing at the roofline on the 1955 office area matched the shallow, corbeled cornice of the east and south elevations where original office space was also expanded to the rear (south) in 1933 as a flat-roofed, second story over the original, 1- story, shallow-pitch roofed boiler room. As a result, this accreted construction follows the slope of the lot to stand 1-story above grade on the north end, but rises to 2-stories on the south elevation. The original doorway on the 1915 office can be seen on the east elevation as a bricked opening below a segmental arch in the third bay from the north. Five of the remaining six bays on the east elevation have peculiar, 5/10, double-hung sash, wooden windows in segmental-arched openings. The sixth has a 2/4, double-hung sash, wooden window. The three, segmental-arched windows on the north end of the basement level have 10-light hopper sash.
The single bay south elevation includes a large opening introduced at ground level. It has been in-filled with plywood to accommodate a single, flush-panel, metal door to the Boiler Room. It sits beneath a single 10/10, double-hung sash, wooden window in a segmental-arch opening. A small, rectangular, metal, industrial-sash window with concrete sill has been added to the west between levels. The 20-bay, west elevation of the 1915 Main Mill (Building No. 1) is denoted by wooden fenestration of segmental-arched, 15/15, double-hung sash on the first floor, 10/10 windows on the second floor and seven 10-light, hopper-sash windows in the raised basement. All are detailed with radiating voussoirs and flush, poured-concrete sills. As on the north elevation, wide eaves are supported by 22" long consoles.
In 1926, the southernmost three bays, originally one-story high with three 10/10 double-hung sash, were raised to two stories with full-sized windows added to the second floor. The south elevation of Building No.1 was modified several times after the 1-story section was raised to meet the second floor of Building No. 2. Additional changes were made as an original, adjacent but freestanding, single, pitched-roofed dry house (not extant) was first supplemented by a second (not extant) before both were replaced with the addition of attached and adjoining Buildings 5 and 6 in 1936. A parapet was added to the roofline of the south elevation and one window bay was lost from the second floor.
A double-leafed door and 2 ½ window bays have been removed on the first floor leaving exposed an asymmetrical elevation of six 10/10 double-hung sash, segmental-arch windows on the second floor, two 15/15, double-hung sash on the first floor and a 15-light industrial sash window in a partially blocked original opening at the easternmost bay where the newer construction joins. Building No. 2 (1926) is a 2-story, 108' x 64' addition, 9 bays on the north elevation and 6 bays on the south elevation with a first-story drive through passage. This wing connects the original mill with a 2-story, rectangular Dryer and Storage (continued) NS5orm 10-900- United States Department of the Interlor Natlonal Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet OMB Approval No.
1024-0018 Section Number 7 Page 3 Groton Leatherbeard Company Groton, (Middllesex) Massachusetts Narrative Description (Building No. 7, 1928) adjacent to the railroad tracks. Designed by engineers Cole and Kimball of Boston, Massachusetts, he flat-roofed connecting mill also has two nearly-collapsed frame, 20' x 54' x 4' clerestories. Not original to the building hey were added between 1938 and 1955 to the shallow-pitched roof denoted on all sides by a shallow, corbeled cornice The 9-bay, north elevation of Building No. 2 has regularly-spaced, metal, industrial-sash windows set in segmental-arched openings with radiating voussoirs and concrete sills. Fenestration consists of 30-light sash on the first floor and 24-light sash on the second floor. Each window has an 8-pane, pivoting section.
Openings in the westernmost three bays of the first floor are shortened and house similar, 15-pane, metal industrial sash. The easternmost two bays at ground level are occupied by an approximately 15'-wide, 12' high, fire-walled, drive-through passage with double-leafed, 8-panel wooden doors on both north and south openings. A 2-story, 2 x 1-bay, approximately 18' x 11' stair tower at the northwest end of Building No. 2 at its juncture with Building No. 1 was also constructed in 1926. It consists of corbeled topped, recessed bays between piers. The entry is comprised of double-leafed, paneled wooden doors, each with elongated, upper panels of double row, 6-light sash set beneath a double row, 10-light transom of metal industrial sash.
Illumination to the upper level of the stair tower is provided only on the east elevation by 15-pane, metal industrial sash each including an 8-pane, pivoting section. A walkway to the entry is defined by a low concrete wall which sheltered it from a coal pile and coal trestle which occupied the area to the north between Buildings 2 and 4. A similar concrete retaining wall surmounted by a metal pipe rail forms an L-shape running west off the southeast corner or Building No. 4. It represents part of the north side of the former coal pocket. The five-bay east elevation of Building No. 2 meets the rise in grade at its second story to stand only one story high behind an 8' x 69' x 4', concrete loading platform along the rail line. Each bay is denoted by a segmental-arched opening with a triple row of radiating voussoirs.
Access to the dock is provided at the center and end bays by double-leafed, paneled wood doors, each similar to entry in the stair tower, has paired, elongated upper panels of double row, 6-light sash. Between the doors are short, window bays with 12-pane, industrial sash including an 8-pane, pivoting section and a concrete sill. The south elevation of Building No. 2 was altered when Buildings 5 and 6 were built in 1936. The 6-bay section which remains exposed is identical to the opposite bays on the north elevation. Regularly-spaced windows of metal industrial sash with 8-pane, pivoting sections are set in segmental-arched openings with radiating voussoirs and concrete sills. Windows have 30-pane sash on the first floor and 24-pane sash on the second floor. The drive through passage emerges at ground level in the easternmost two bays.
The 1928, rectangular, 2-story, 20 x 4-bay Storage and Dryer Building No. 7, designed by Cole and Kimball of Boston replaced an earlier, long, rectangular, frame dryer building. Similarly detailed to Building No. 2, the east elevation of Building No. 7 along the rail line includes 5, double-leafed, 6-panel, wooden doors as loading docks in the second, sixth, tenth, fourteenth and eighteenth bays from the north end. Doorway and window openings are segmentally-arched with triple rows of radiating voussoirs and concrete sills. Fenestration consists of 12-pane, metal, industrial sash. Windows on (continued) (P-B650rm 10-900-a Untted States Department of the Interior Natiomal Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section Number 7 Page OMB Approval No.
1024-0018 Groton Leatherboard Company Groton, (Middlesex) Massachusetts Narrative Description the main level have an 8-pane, pivoting section. Except for the northernmost bay that has been in-filled with brick, basement openings are fitted with fixed sash. The single bay in the north elevation of Building No. 7 consists of a loading dock identical detailed to those along the east elevation, but opening onto the platform of Building No. 2.. The 4-bay south elevation of Building No. 7, originally demarcated on each level by four 12-pane, metal, industrial, fixed- sash windows set in segmental-arched openings with radiating voussoirs and concrete sills. It has been altered to include two loading dock sized openings. Both are boarded with plywood. Another loading dock sheltered by a flat roof is located in the northwest corner of the 22-bay west elevation of Building No. 7.
Originally limited to the northernmost three bays, it has been lengthened two bays where original openings have been bricked. The concrete platform is accessed by a sliding, double-leafed, angled-plank, wooden door in the northernmost bay. It is sheltered by a wooden canopy supported by chains tied to the elevation wall and is closed on the south end by a brick wall. The elevator tower, detailed to match the cornice on the east elevation, projects above the roofline of the northwest corner of the building. The west elevation roofline is simpler than that on the east. Lacking a shallow, corbeled cornice, it is denoted only by a simple metal cap. Fenestration consists of 12-pane, industrial sash with an 8-pane, pivoting section set in segmental-arched openings with radiating voussoirs and concrete sills.
A planned doorway in the eleventh bay from the south end but never installed, remains evidenced by a segmental arch patterned on the wall. A former double-leafed doorway in the second bay from the south end has been bricked-in and replaced by a single, metal door. Other modifications in openings have been made over time. Windows on both levels in the twelfth bay from the south have been altered to create a loading dock on the top floor (now boarded). Flat brick arches and ghost lines in the brick work in the lowest section of the wall reflect other changes over time. Attached to the south of Building No 1 are Buildings 5 and 6. Both were built in 1936 as an addition designed by K. F. Kimball. Building No. 5 is a 201' x 63', 2-story, flat-roofed, dryer, machine and finishing building. The roofline has a 3-part, molded board cornice and a low-profile two-course corbeled cornice.
The second floor of the 20-bay, east elevation has 24-pane, rectangular, industrial sash windows with a 4/4-pane, pivoting, center section and concrete sill beneath a flat arch with radiating voussoirs. Similarly detailed windows on the first floor have 30-pane, rectangular, fixed, industrial sash windows with a 5/5, pivoting sections. The second and nineteenth bays on the east elevation have entries comprised of double-leafed, paneled wood doors, each with 9-pane rectangular lights, surmounted by a double-row, 14- light straight transom beneath flat arch with radiating voussoirs. Double-leafed, three-panel, wooden doors access a concrete loading dock at the elevator tower in the southeast corner.
On the 5-bay south elevation of Building 5, a post-1955, open, shed-roofed, metal and corrugated fiberglass canopy covers a loading dock leading to a modern, multi-paneled, wooden, overhead door and a paneled wood pedestrian door. Fenestration repeats the pattern and detailing of the east elevation. On the west elevation, the identically fenestrated and detailed second floor of Building 5 rises above the contiguous, 1- story, 2 x 20-bay, shallow-pitched, shed-roofed, repair shop, Building No. 6, standing on poured-concrete piers above the (continued) (8--65orm 10-900-a United States Department of the Interlor Natlonal Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section Number 7 Page 5 OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 Greton Leatherbeard Company Groton, (Middlesex) Massachusetts Narrative Description tail race.
Fenestration on the 20-bay, west elevation consists of 24-pane, rectangular, metal, industrial sash with a 4/4, pivoting center section. The northernmost bay is occupied by a wooden door with glazed, rectangular, upper panel beneath 1 shed-roofed, metal canopy. It stands above a similar door accessed by an interior stairwell. Both lead to exterior iron latforms, the higher one including stairs, reaching to the island created by the tail race. The south elevation of Building 5 includes an oversized doorway infilled with plywood and a single, 24-pane, rectangular, fixed, industrial sash window with a 4/4, pivoting, center section and concrete sill. A row of outbuildings on the site included two identical, 1-story, 32' x 32' x 8', free-standing, frame, open-fronted sheds, Buildings No. 9 and 10 (c.
1930; demolished in 2001 as part of a certified rehabilitation), aligned less than fifty feet south of Building 6. A similar, 1-story, 44'x 15'x 8', free-standing, nearly-level shed-roofed, frame shed (Building No. 11, c. 1930, demolished in 2001 as part of a certified rehabilitation) stood approximately 19' south of Building 10. An 8'-diameter, above-grade penstock runs along the west elevation of Building No. 1 to enter the basement level of the mill in the second bay north of the southwest corner. On the interior, the penstock makes two, 90-degree elbow turns into the turbine in the wheel pit. The tail race runs under Building No. 5 supported by concrete piers on the west. Millwork has been removed, but the General Electric Generator remains in the motor house and will be left on display.
Archaeological Description While no ancient Native American sites are recorded on the Groton Leatherboard Company property or in the general area (within one mile), sites may be present. Environmental characteristics of the nominated area indicate the presence of several locational criteria (slope, soil drainage, distance to wetlands) that are favorable indicators for many types of ancient sites. The property was probably well drained prior to historic industrial development that altered natural soil types. The mill site also occupies a level terrace bordering the Squannacook River along its western boundary. The Squannacook River drains southeasterly approximately 1.5 miles to its confluence with the Nashua River. The latter river then drains northerly to the Merrimack River. Extensive Native American settlement has been documented along most of the Merrimack River and its tributaries.
In spite of the favorable locational criteria listed above, however, the potential for locating ancient Native American sites on the Groton Leatherboard Company property is low. Over 200 years of intensive industrial development on the relatively small lot (8.7 acres) would have destroyed any ancient resources located on the property. A high potential exists for locating historic archaeological resources on the nominated property, however, much of it remains to be documented. The Groton Leatherboard Company mill site has been occupied since at least 1765, possibly as early as 1744. The mill privilege was originally known as Tarbell's Mills and included a saw mill, dye house, wool carding mill and grist mill variously located on both sides of the river. The mills were gone by the mid-19" century.
Additional historical research combined with archaeological survey and excavation may locate the exact sites of these mills and (continued) (8-50rm 10-900-a Unfted States Department of the Interlor National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet section Number 7 Page 6 oMB Approval No. 1024-0018 Greten Leatherbeard Company Groton, (Middlesex) Massachusetts Narrative Description determine whether structural evidence related to mill buildings and water-power resources survive. A frame strawboard mill was built at the site of the Tarbell saw and grist mill in ca. 1875. Structural evidence of that mill, destroyed by fire ir 1914, and related mill canals may also survive. Leatherboard was manufactured in the strawboard mill soon after 1875 After the 1914 fire, leatherboard manufacture resumed in 1916 at the extant Building No.
1 Main Mill, presumably built on the site of the strawboard mill. Structural evidence of water-power related resources may be an important potential resource type on the nominated property. The existing mill complex abuts an extant dam on the Squannacook River and a tail-race extends from the present main mill building. Structural evidence of earlier dams may exist on the nominated property, possibly near or incorporated into the existing dam. The existing tailrace may also be related to 19" century mill buildings no longer extant. Archaeological evidence of mill canals and wheel pits related to earlier mills might also survive buried on the nominated property. (end) Groton Leatherboard Co Name of Property 8. Statement of Significance