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NPS Form 10-900 (Rev. 10-90) RECEIVED 2280.1024-0018 244 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service MAR 2 6 2010 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 allitems. 1. Name of Property historic name CHARLES R.WILBER SCHOOL other names/site number. SHARON HIGH SCHOOL 2. Location street & number. 75-85 SOUTH MAIN STREEI -_ not for publication city or town. SHARON - vicinity state MASSACHUSEITS . code_MA county_NORFOLK code_021 _ zip code _02067 3. State/Federal Agency Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1986, as amended, I hereby certify that this &homination -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 meets does notmeet the National Register Criteria. I recommend that this property be considered significant - nationally D statewide ocally. ( See continuation sheet for additional comments.) Brona Simm Brona Simon, SHPO January 5, 2010 Date Signature of certifying official/Title 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, hereoy certify that this property is: Ventered 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): oi t Beall sioTo CHARLES R. WILBER SCHOOL. Name of Property 5. Classification Ownership of Property (Check as many boxes as apply) X private -public-local _ public-State - public-Federal NORFOLK, 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 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) EDUCATION/school 1 Number of contributing resources previously listed in the National Register Current Functions (Enter categories from instructions) VACANT Z. Description Architectural Classification (Enter categories from instructions) LATE 19" and EARLY 20" CENTURY REVIVALS: Colonial Revival, Classical Revival Materials (Enter categories from instructions) foundationCONCRETE walls _ BRICK roof_ RUBBER other STONE (granite); CONCRETE; WOOD (trim elements); BRICK (chimneys) Narrative Description (Describe the historic and current condition of the property on one or more continuation sheets.) NPS Form 10-900 (Rev. 10-90) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 7 Page1 OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 Charles R.
Wilber School Sharon (Norfolk), MA NARRATIVE DESCRIPTION Setting The Wilber School is prominently located on a slight rise facing the Town Hall across South Main Street, separated by new construction from the Sharon Historic District centered on Post Office Square to the north. The school, and its new addition, is the only structure located on the block bounded to the north by Station Street, to the east by South Main Street, to the south by Chestnut Street, and to the west by Pleasant Street. The school faces east toward South Main Street, and the facade of the main block is set back approximately 125 feet from the street. The site drops down to the north toward Station Street and toward the intersection with Pleasant Street. There is a berm along the South Main Street sidewalk where the grade rises a few feet. The site is planted with grass to the east and north of the building.
The southwest sector of the site to the rear of the building is level and has a new four-story addition surrounded by paved parking. Landscaping will be installed around the boundaries on Chestnut and Pleasant streets. Some mature trees are located in front of the building, along Station Street, along the north portion of Pleasant Street, and in the northwest sector of the site. New walks are being installed similar to the walks that formerly crossed the front (east) lawn. The Town of Sharon has subdivided the lot, retaining the north end of the block. Exterior The Wilber School is a two-story, red-brick building with a flat roof built in the Colonial Revival and Classical Revival styles. The building, which is approximately T-shaped in plan, was built in two phases. The south wing is the original Wilber School, an elementary school built in 1921- 1922.
(Photo #2) The north wing and shaft of the T were added in 1928-1929 when the school was converted to the Sharon High School. The building is set on a concrete foundation, the red- brick walls rising to a brick parapet, and ornamentation is executed in cast stone and concrete. South Wing - Charles R. Wilber School The original 1922 building (also called the south wing) is a red-brick building designed in the Colonial Revival style. It has a brick watertable, flat arched brick arches, concrete window sills, a simple wood cornice, and a central flush pavilion. (Photos#1, 3) The brick parapet above the cornice is topped by a metal flashing with the dimension of the capstone. At the northwest corner of the building, an exterior brick chimney rises above the parapet. (continued) NPS Form 10-900 (Rev.
10-90) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 7 Page2 OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 Charles R. Wilber School Sharon (Norfolk), MA Concrete steps with cast-iron railings lead up to the main entry framed by concrete Tuscan pilasters, surmounted by a frieze and dentil cornice. A cast-iron railing is set on top of the entry cornice. The three-bay central pavilion is set off by Tuscan pilasters, and a second set of full- height pilasters frames the central bay. A dentil course is carried across the pavilion below the cornice, and bronze or brass letters spelling "Charles R. Wilber School" are placed in the frieze. The original main (east) entrance contains double wood-paneled doors topped by a multilight transom.
(Photo #5) Plain concrete steps at the south entry lead to an entrance framed in a simple brick surround set in a narrow pavilion. A recessed brick panel is set above the door and below the stairhall window. The south doors (installed in 2009) are wood with multilight upper panels The windows on the south wing are typically 12/12 aluminum, double-hung sash; triple-hung multilight sash are located over the east and south entries, and narrow 4/6 sash are set between the pilasters on the facade. The windows are based on the number of lights found in the original wood double-hung windows. The narrow windows are repeated in the same bays at the first-story rear elevation. Some of the basement sash are typical multilight double-hung windows. The basement windows on either side of the main entrance stair are casements.
During the 2009 rehabilitation, changes were made to the basement window openings at the basement story. Auditorium and North Wing The 1928 addition, containing the auditorium wing (the shaft of the T) and the north classroom wing, is also built of red brick and was designed in the Classical Revival style with Colonial Revival details. The auditorium wing projects east from the main block of the building with a bowed facade. (Photo #2) At the east elevation, a central round-arched window at the second story is set in a scalloped surround with paneled pilasters. Projecting from the base of the window is a wood balustraded balcony supported on heavy wooden brackets. The name "Sharon High School" is carved in the frieze above the window. (Photo #6) Echoing the projecting auditorium wing is a smaller projecting pavilion at the north end of the east elevation.
(Photo #4) It has a similar bowed facade, an oversized central window with a projecting wood balcony similar to that on the east auditorium façade, and cast festoons with robust fruit ornament flanking either side of the window. The 1928 addition has a bull-nose concrete watertable, a narrow concrete stringcourse above the second-story windows, a concrete cornice, ornate cast-stone swags and hood molds over the round windows in the auditorium, brick flat-arched window openings with cast-stone keystones, and concrete spandrel panels below the second-story windows. The corners of the east elevation (continued) NPS Form 10-900 (Rev. 10-90) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 1 Page 3 OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 Charles R.
Wilber School Sharon (Norfolk), MA of the auditorium wing and of the north pavilion are enlivened by brick quoins. The brick parapet is topped by metal flashing the same dimension as the former capstone. Copper grills formerly used for ventilation are set in the concrete panels below the first- and second-story windows of the north wing. The main entrance on the north wing is recessed behind lonic columns supporting a heavy entablature and broken pediment. Carved ornament of fruit and flowers hang down from the ogee, and an urn is centered in the pediment. Cast-iron light standards similar to the former standards sit on a low concrete wall at the steps in front of the entrance. The entrance doors are wood double French doors, with full-length sidelights and a transom. An oval motif with a scrolled surround is set into the transom.
(Photo # 7) The north wood doors with multilight upper panels are based on the original drawings. Fire egress doors on the south and north elevations of the auditorium wing were replaced prior to the 1990s. These were replaced in 2009 with new doors including a multilight transom, based on historic photographs. The auditorium windows contain 30/24, wood, double-hung sash at the second story and 24/18 at the first story. Below the watertable are pairs of single four-light sash. Above the oversized second-story windows are multilight round windows. (Photo #8) The windows on the north wing are typically 20/20 double-hung replacement aluminum sash. A round multilight window with a hopper sash is located above the main entrance. Smaller multilight sash are located at the north elevation of the north wing and at the south bay of the west elevation.
The roofs on all sections of the building are flat, edged with brick parapets topped by metal flashing matching the dimension of the former capstone. Interior The north and south wings each have a central double-loaded corridor. The floors of the north and south wings do not line up. Original metal pan stairs remain in the north and south stairhalls at either end of the building. The former gymnasium space below the auditorium has been subdivided into residential units and offices. Within the former entrance lobby to Sharon High School, at the west entrance in the north wing, steps lead up to the main first-floor level. The walls have molded panels, and compound pilasters articulate the corners. There are large mirrors on the north wall, and the south wall has glass display cases inset in the wall.
Throughout the building, some original classroom doors have been retained and fixed closed in the corridors and new fire rated doors were installed in 2009 for unit entrance doors. The existing locker doors have had the paint removed and were reinstalled in the corridors of the north wing. (continued) NPS Form 10-900 (Rev. 10-90) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 7 Page 4 OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 Charles R. Wilber School Sharon (Norfolk), MA Walls inside the units (which were formerly classrooms) have been built to create suitable living spaces. The auditorium is a large two-story space with the stage to the east and a balcony at the rear (west). (Photo #11) It is entered from under the balcony and the floor slopes down to the east.
All of the seats and the wooden floor have been removed. Stairs leading to the balcony are located in the northwest and southwest corners. The paneled proscenium arch is outlined with rope molding, and framed by fluted pilasters. The skirt at the stage has molded panels. (Photo #10) A simple cornice molding, chair rail, and picture rail run around the room. The oversized windows are set in molded frames surmounted by a frieze and detailed cornice, which is topped by oval windows framed in rope molding tied with a bow at the base. There is a simple ceiling molding. Applied acoustic tiles on the ceiling have been removed and there is no evidence of a more detailed design that appeared in the original 1928 drawings. (Photo #9) The entrance doors from the corridor have been replaced with fire-rated doors.
New Addition A new, four-story, brick addition connects to the center of the west elevation. Built in 2009, it is T-shaped in plan with a flat roof. A metal-and-glass-clad connector links the new addition to the west elevation of the former school. The new lobby is located at the connector between the new and the existing sections of the building. The new addition projects to the west from the center of the rear elevation of the existing building. The addition is sheathed in red brick for three stories. The fourth story and the corners are built of cement-fiber panels. Three rounded brick bays project from the addition on each of the north and south ends of the T, and one is centered in the Pleasant Street elevation. The windows of the addition are aluminum with 1/1 sash.
Archaeological Description While no pre-Contact period Native American resources are known on the Wilber School property, sites may exist. One Native site is known in the general area (within one mile). Environmental characteristics of the property prior to historic landuse generally represent locational criteria (slope, soil drainage, proximity to wetlands) that are favorable for the presence of Native sites. The school occupies a slight rise with level to moderately sloping topography. Soil types on the property are classified as urban land where 75% or more of the land is covered with impervious surfaces such as buildings, pavement, industrial parks, and railroad yards. While natural soil characteristics are difficult to determine in urban land areas, the surficial geology of the area indicates that well-drained sand and gravel deposits are common.
The nominated property is located well over 1,000 feet from the nearest wetlands, a locational characteristic that (continued) NPS Form 10-900 (Rev. 10-90) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 7 Page5 OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 Charles R. Wilber School Sharon (Norfolk), MA reduces the overall Native site sensitivity for this location. Given the above information, construction of the Wilber School (1921-1922), North Wing (1928-1929), New Wing (2009), parking facilities, and prior (pre-1921) development of the parcel, a low potential exists for locating pre-Contact period Native American resources on the nominated property. Any Native American resources that might have been present on the property were destroyed by extensive historic landuse of the lot.
A moderate potential exists for locating historic archaeological resources on the Wilber School property. While several early 20" century or earlier houses, barns, and outbuildings were present on the property prior to construction of the Wilber School (1921-1922), most were destroyed during school construction. The 1888 Atlas and 1916 Sanborn Insurance Map illustrate a large house facing south on S. Main Street within the block formed by South Main, Station, South Pleasant, and Chestnut Streets. The large house was later converted to a hotel (Sharon Inn); then, at a later date, it was either demolished or removed from the property. Structural evidence of the large house/hotel may survive in the area between South Main Street and the north wing of the Wilber School.
By 1916, at the rear of the lot, a single house faced north on South Pleasant Street, and a shed was located at the interior of the lot. Structural remains of the single house may survive in the grassy area north of the school; however, the shed was likely destroyed during construction of the new wing (2009). By 1921, the site plan for construction of the Wilber School showed two houses, a barn, two summer houses, and an abandoned foundation at the southwest corner of the lot. One of the houses may be the single house that faced north on South Pleasant Street discussed above. Structural evidence of the buildings shown on the 1921 site plan may survive; however, none are extant above ground today. Archaeological evidence of occupational-related features (trash pits, privies, wells) may also survive on the nominated property. (end) CHARLES R. WILBER SCHOOL Name of Property 8.
Statement of Signiticance Applicable National Register Criteria (Mark "x" in one or more boxes for the criteria qualifying the property for National Register listing.) X A Property is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history. - B Property is associated with the lives of persons significant in our past. X C Property embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction or represents the work of a master, or possesses high artistic values, or represents a significant and distinguishable entity whose components lack individual distinction. - D Property has yielded, or is likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history. Criteria Considerations (Mark "x" in all the boxes that apply.) Property is: _A owned by religious institution or used for religious purposes.
_ B removed from its original location. _ C a birthplace or grave. _ D a cemetery. _E a reconstructed building, object, or structure. _ F a commemorative property. -G less than 50 years of age or achieved significance within the past 50 years. Narrative Statement of Significance