Nomination for US Customhouse

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

S NI un DBF71080089 (#0006378 Form 10-300 (July 1969) 5. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM (Type all entries - complete applicable sections) STATE: Mass. COUNTY: Essex FOR NPS USE ONLY ENTRY NUMBER 7/225.0002 DATE 2bf1 NAME COMMON: u. s.

Custom House AND/ OR HISTORIC: CELSEY NOLVN LOCATION STREET AND NUMBER: 25 Water Street CITY OR TOWN: Newburyport (Congressional District #6) 01950 STATE Massachusetts CLASSIFICATION CATEGORY (Check One) L District Site Building Structure CODE 25 COUNTY: Essex CODE 009 OWNERSHIP STATUS Object X Public Private Both Public Acquisition: - In Process Being Considered Occupied * Unoccupied - Preservation work in progress ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC Yes: Restricted Unrestricted No PRESENT USE (Check One or More as Appropriate) Agricultural Government Commercial Industrial Educational Military Entertainment Museum OWNER OF PROPERTY OWNER'S NAME: Newburyport Redevelopment Authority Park Private Residence Religious Scientific Transportation X] Other (Specify) vacant - Comments t9see f9stored STATE: STREET AND NUMBER: 55 Pleasant Street CITY OR TOWN: Newburyport 01950 LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION COURTHOUSE, REGISTRY OF DEEDS, ETC: South Registry District of Essex County STREET AND NUMBER: Mass.

STATE: Massachusetts CODE 25 Essex COUNTY: CITY OR TOWN: Salem STATE Massachusetts CODE 25 REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS TITLE OF SURVEY: Inventory of the Historic Assets DATE OF SURVEY: 1969 - Federal * State DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS: Massachusetts Historical Commission, Office of the Secretary STREET AND NUMBER: State House CITY OR TOWN: Boston ISTATE: Massachusetts ] County - Local 7/2.25.0002 ENTRY NUMBER CODE 25 7/25171 FOR NPS USE ONLY DESCRIPTION (Check One) *] Deteriorated - Excellent CONDITION Good (Check.One) Fair Ruins - Altered X Unaltered DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (if known) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Description of the property

- Moved - Unexposed (Check One) * Origiral Site The U. S. Custom House in Newburyport is located on a deep, narrow lot on the fringe of the city's central business district and in sight of the Merrimack River and the Newburyport Harbor. As is usual with mest small buildings of the Neo-Classical style, the Custom House is almost without exterior embellishment. The two-story (plus basement) rectangular building has regular ashlar walls of gray granite; the corner pilasters are dressed granite blocks laid up as quoins. A simple fúscan entablature extends around the building, surmounted by an unornamented pediment at each of the two gable ends. The low-pitched roof is broken only by four central chimneys with cor- beled caps; a short span of metal roof-cresting connects the chimneys. The main facade of the Custom House is three bays wide.

To emphasize the axis, Mills has projected the middle bay slightly from the wall and has permitted this projection to run through the entablature. This creates a pavillion at the center of which is a one story entrance porch. Two unfluted columns, composed of elements of both the Doric and Tuscan orders, support an entablature which repeats on a smaller scale that of the main building. Unadorned rectangular panels, recessed in tro stages, are centered between the first and second story windows of the flanking bays. The interior of the Custom House is constructed of granite and brick with prominent arches and a vaulted vestibule. Though structurally sound, the Newburyport Custom House has been allowed to deteriorate and requires extensive restoration. There are no basic faci- lities such as heating, plumbing or electrical fixtures.

Doors and windows either are missing or are in dilapidated condition. The Newburyport Histor- ical Commission proposes to restore the building and improve the site after which the Newburyport Maritime Society hopes to use the Custom House as a maritime museum reflecting the importance of the particular building, and the

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

significance of the city as a port in the 18-th and 19-th centuries. RECEIVED G/ FED 25 1971 NATIONAL REGISTER U7IT 6TT18 m - Z 4 un SIGNIFICANCE PERIOD (Check One or More as Appropriate) - Pre-Columbian! - 16th Century 15th Century 17th Century - 18th Century [* 19th Century SPECIFIC DATE(S) (If Applicable and Known) 1835 - construction AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE (Check One or More as Appropriate) Abor iginal Education - Prehistoric Engineering - Historic Industry - Agriculture Invention Architecture Landscape Art Architecture Commerce - Literature Communications - Military Conservation - Music Political Religion/Phi- losophy Science Sculpture Social/Human- itarian Theater - Transportation - 20th Century - Urban Planning Other (Specify) STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

Statement of significance

The U. S. Custom House built in Newburyport in 1834-35, one of five such port facilities known to be extant in Massachusetts, is one of two buildings in the state designed by Robert Mills, the first architect of international reputation both born and trained in America. Mills supervised the construc- tion of the building himself and, in its austere geometry, it is an excel- lent example of his bold and simple handling of the Neo-Classical forms.

In 1836, Mills was appointed by President Andirew Jackson to a position which the architect later described as "Architect of Public Buildings." In that office he was to use a style similar to that of the Custom House, but on a more monumental scale, in his plans for the Treasury (1836), the Old Post Office (1839) and the Patent Office (1839), the three most important buildings to be constructed in Wasington after the Capitol and the "President's House." Thus linked by its form to these major architectural works, the Newburyport Cus- tom House is, at the same time, directly related in its function to the mari- time history of the famous port in which it stands. Collection of duties on merchandize imported through Newburyport had begun in 1789.

Following the construction of the Custom House, receipts at the port reached a maximum in 1875 and 1876; more than $100,000 was collected each year, largely in duties on sugar and molasses imported from the West Indies by the firm of Bayley and Sons. It is estimated that during its half century career, this firm paid the government, through the Newburyport Custom House, more than $3,000,000 in duties. The firm of Bayley and Sons dissolved in 1877 and after that time the principal revenue of the Custom House was from soft coal from the provinces, occasionally a cargo of molasses or an invoice of tea in bond. The volume of maritimetrade handled through Newburyport declined stead- ily until the cost of maintaining the Custom House exceeded the annual income from duties and the office of collector of customs carried with it little compensation other than its title.

In the summer of 1910, operations at the Custom House were closed. Eventually the old granite building was sold to private owners and, since that time, has been used for various purposes. 19;; TIONAL REGIS

The rest of the file

Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.

MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES Currier, J.J. History of Newburyport, 1764-1905. Newburypory: 1906, vol. I Hamlin, Talbot. Greek Revival Architecture in America. New York: Dover Publications, 1944. Pierson, William H. American Buildings and Their Architects, the Colonial and Neo-Classical Styles. New York: Doubleday and Company, Inc. 1970. Newburyport Daily News. Newburyport, Massachusetts: February 2, 1950; April 3, 1956; February 29, 1968.

471430 347170 0 GEOGRAPHICAL DATA LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE COORDINATES DEFINING A RECTANGLE LOCATING THE PROPERTY CORNER LATITUDE Degrees Minutes Seconds LONGITUDE Degrees Minutes Seconds R LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE COORDINATES DEFINING THE CENTER POINT OF A PROPERTY OF LESS THAN TEN ACRES LATITUDE LONGITUDE Degrees Minutes Seconds Degrees Minutes Seconds 42° 48 44 70 52 08 " NW NE SE " APPROXIMA TE ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY: under one acre ILIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR-COUNTY BOUNDARIES STATE: CODE COUNTY CODE STATE: CODE COUNTY STATE: CODE COUNTY: STATE: CODE COUNTE: FED RECEIVED 19 NATIONAL REGISTER CODE CODE CODE FORM PREPARED BY NAME AND TITLE: ORGANIZATION Anne R, Wardwell, Survey Director ah sarlles Massachusetts Historical Commission STREET AND NUMBER: State House DATE February 10, 1970 CITY OR TOWN: Boston 02133 STATE LIAISON OFFICER CERTIFICATION STATE CODE Massachusetts 25 NATIONAL REGISTER VERIFICATION As the designated State Liaison Officer for the Na- tional Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Public Law 89-665), I hereby nominate this property for inclusion in the National Register and certify that it has been evaluated according to the criteria and procedures set forth by the National Park Service.

The recommended level of significance of this nomination is: National State Local xampolu FX-Novoren Secretary of the Commonwealth Chairman, Massachusetts Historica] Commission I hereby certify that this property is included in the Nationa 1 Register. Cinut A Clannalh Chief, Office of Archeology and Historic Preservation FEB 2 5 1971 Date ATTEST: Lrllisin Keeper of The National Register Date FEB 2 5 1971 Date Eeb, 23, 1971 INS IONS EXHIBIT B N UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM (Type all entries - attach to or enclose with photograph) STATE Mass- COUNTY Essex FOR NPS USE ONLY ENTRY NUMBER DATE 7/2.25.0002/ 2/25/71 NAME COMMON: U.S.

Custom House AND/OR HISTORIC: LOCA TION STREET AND NUMBER: 25 Water Street CITY OR TOWN: Newburyport STATE: CODE COUNTY: 25 Mass - PHOTO REFERENCE PHOTO CREDIT: Essex .Art and Camera 11-17-68 DATE OF PHOTO: NEGATIVE FILED AT: Art and Camera, 37 Pleasant St., Newburyport, 18EI FICATION DESCRIBE VIEW, DIRECTION, ETC. South and West Facades CODE 009 Mass. 01950 110 IL6L 98 TE 1Form 10-301 (Dec. 1968) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES PROPERTY MAP FORM (Type all entries - attach to or enclose with map) STATE Mass. COUNTY Essex FOR NPS USE ONLY ENTRY NUMBER 71.2,25.0002 NOI NAME COMMON: AND/OR HISTORIC: LOCATION STREET AND NUM BER: 25 Water Street CITY OR TOWN: Newburyport STATE: U.S. Custom House 01950 Mass.

CODE COUNTY: 25 Essex MAP REFERENCE SOURCE: U.S.Geological Survey Newburyport West Mass-N.H191 191|110 SCALE: 1:24,000 DATE: 1952 REQUIREMENTS TO BE INCLUDED ON ALL MAPS 1. Property broundaries where required. - 2. North arrow. 3. Latitude and longitude reference. CODE 009 18t EXHIBIT E M SOONONiN- Salisbury First -Cen.. Drivelin - Theater Long Hill -,Cem - ROAD Hope Chape Salisbu BEAGHr ravel Pit Browns Point BOSTON: 151 4742 Location of Old Custom House Latitude 42°.48:14 6869/V SW Longitude 10°.52'-08" (NEWBURYPORT WEST) by- l.r MurWalhons P E M..... ir.l.1.cole 4AG I5o Brssille Ave Newiburyport, Mess. 1 .2I - TI 4741 Checked byi H.Hunter Gendlic Bagineer comnot Mass. 1.28.7L Maplewood Cem Radio Tower (WNBD) Norril d .Rings Island 36 CORPORA BOUNDARY -1, 15 ©Light MERRIMACK- PO Immaculate Conception ¿Library YMCA.

Sewage Disdosal NEWBURYPORT -Jackmnan skh Brown/ Scher 50 127 Oak Hill Cem* Joppa Lbrary Reservoiro MARLBORO Tidal - Water Tank . Gravel Pit First Rarish Bürying Ground 4740 ! PARKER Allen Rock Alle Creek. Rock SALISRI KY STATE RESERY HEAC ON gured Black Lookout Tower XBM12 *Badgers Rock Black BM.Z. Rocks Lünt Rock * 15 12 -RIVER Newbüryport Lightas FLATS U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MAP Newburyport, West, Mass.-N.H. 1952 Scale: 1:24,000 Plumbush Plum 1 Point TGI Os customs House Essex, Mass FEB 2 5 1971 35/1) H30-HR Hon. John 7. X. Davoren Seczetary of the Cosmonvealth Chairuan, Massachusetta Historical Connission Office of the Secretary State House Boston, Massachusetts 02133 Dear Mr. Davozen: le are pleased to inform you that the historic properties listed on the enclosure have been placed on the National Regiater of Historic Places. Senators Edvard N. Kennedy and Edward W.

Brooke and Representative Michael J. Harrington aze being infesned. A leaflet explaining the Natlonal Register is enclosed for each of the property owners. Please withhold any publicity on this until you bave received a carbon copy of the Congressional correspondence. Sincerely yours, (Sigaed). Dizector Enclosuzes Entered in the National Registex FEB 2 5 1971 CC: HR SMarusin:nm 2/25/71 BASIC FILE RETAINED IN HR Properties added to the National Register of Historic Places MASSACHUSETTS : Market Square Historic District u.S. Custons House Essex County, Massachusetts Essex County, Massachusetts J Noruon g/a(") FEB 25 1971 530-ER cc: Director, Northeast Region BASIC FILE RETAINED IN HR 2/25/71 HR SMarusin: mm Mon. Bdvard M. Konnedy United States Senate Maslingcon, D. C.

Doar Senator Kennedy: le are plaased to infoca you that the historie propertles listed on the enclosure have been noninated by the State liaison Officer appointed by the Coveroor for the isplenentation of the National ilutoric Preservation Progran in Maseachusetta and have been entered into the intional legister of Kiatorio Places. Senator Edward W. Brooke and Representative Michael J. laxrington have also been provided with thia infornation. Sy copy of this letter, the state Liaieon Offieer, tion. John F. %. Davoren, Secrotary of the Commonwalth, Chaixnan, Massachusetts Historical Conmission, Office of the Secretary, State Bouse, Boaton, Hassachusetts 02133, has Ilkowise been notified. A leaflet oxplaining the Natfonal Register 1a enclosed. Sinceraly youra, (Signed) Director Enclosures Intered ia the vational Rogister FEB 2 5 1979 cc: Hon. John F. X.

Davoren, Secretary of the Commonweaith, Chairman, Massachusetts Historical Connission, Office of the Secretary, State louse, Boston, Massachusetts 02133 Also notified: Hon. Edward W. Brooke United States Senate Nashinaton, D. C. Hon. Michael J. Harrington llouse of Representatives Washington, D. C. Properties added to the National Register of Eistoric Places MASSACHUSETTS Market Square Historic District D.S. Custons House Essex County, Massachusetts Esses County, Massachusetts Newburyport Maritime Soczety, Inc. Box 306 - Newburyport, Mass. 01950 U.S. CUSTOM HOUSE 1834 July 1, 1976 Dr. William Murtagh Keeper of the National Register National Park Service Interior Department 18th & C Streets Washington, D. C. 20240 Dear Dr.

Murtagh: The Newburyport Custom House which was built in 1o35 and designed Dy kobert MIlls, was restored by the Newburyport Maritime Society in 1971-1974 as a maritime museum and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. We recently re-opened for our second season and have lad nearly a thousand visitors so far. We are often asked uestions about the Custom House and its architect, Robert Mills, some of which we are not able to answer. Therefore, we would appreciate your sending us all the historical and architectural information that is available on the Newburyport Custom House and its architect, Robert Mills. If possible, we would like copies of the architect's drawings, plans, the original use of the various rooms and whatever other information that you may have. Your assistance and help on this project will be grate- fully appreciated. P. S.

Sincerely yours, It Pattercon Ttale 7 H. Patterson Hale, Jr. Restoration Fund Treasurer Enclosed is a copy of our visitors' "Guide to the Custom House Maritime Museum of Newburyport" HPH/m Enc. THE NATIONAL REGISICI Jt iNSTURIC PLACES DATE REC'D vUl 1976 INDIVIDUAL RESPONSE (ATTACHED) INF .2M TIVE MICIAL SENT TLL...M. NE CALL (ATTACHED) DATE ACTION TALEN INITIALS Gaide- to the CUSTOM HOUSE MARITIME MUSEUM of NEWBURYPORT Built 1835 of fireproof granite and masonry in the Classic Revival style char- acteristic of Robert Mills, National Architect of public buildings. Headquarters for collection of custom duties on foreign cargos and registry of newly-built vessels. As foreign trade into Newburyport declined, and shipbuilding slowed to a halt by 1900, the Custom House fell into disuse. Sold by Federal govern- ment in 1913; used for hay storage, as a shoe factory, and finally as a junk shop.

Acquired in 1968by Newburyport Redevelopment Authority as part of the downtown historic renewal district. Listed on National Register of Historic Places; restored by Newburyport Maritime Society 1971-1974 as a museum to preserve and present the maritime heritage of the Merrimack Valley; opened to public lune 29, 1975. FIRST FLOOR PLAN COAST GUARD HALL Mural of waterfront, 1791, when first revenue cutter Massachusetts built, making Newburyport offi- cial birthplace of Coast Guard IHluminated lighthouse lens; line gun and life-saving gear; ship's wheel, engine-room telegraph. 4 STAIRWAY UP SPECIAL EXHIBITS ENTRANCE HALL GALLERY STORE BROWN GALLERY "Shipbuilder's Loft" with half-hull models of ships built on Merri- mack River, 1690 to 1900. Ship- wright's tools (broadaxe, adze, augers), sailmaker's palms, blocks, trunnel-pegged ship's timber.

OFFICE OFFICE OF COLLECTOR OF CUSTOMS 19th-century stove, safe, strong- box, desk, chairs; rum barrels, tea chests. Portraits of sea captain members of Newburyport Marine Society (founded 1772); Society's charter, other memorabilia. 1 BRUSH GALLERY "Captains' Waiting-room" with sea-going gear: seachests and chart chests; maps, quadrants, telescopes, compasses, speaking trumpets, lanterns, spirit and medicine chests. ENTRANCE CUTTER "MASSACHUSETTS" BIRTHPLACL OF U.S. COAST GUARD Take the granite 'hanging staircase' to the SECOND FLOOR Restrooms downstairs. (Guide continued on reverse side.) SECOND FLOOR PLAN MOSELEY GALLERY Our "Far East Hall"of souvenirs collected by local seafarers on worldwide voyages in the 1800s: foreign ship models, Buddhist statues, Bengali figurines, Malayan daggers, Oriental sandals and slip- pers, scrimshaw, giant clam shell.

5 STAIRS- From First Floor 6 BAKER GALLERY Exposed brick walls reveal Archi- tect Robert Mills' style of vaulted construction; bone model, ship- of-the-line, c. 1800. MARQUANDLIBRARY Logbooks, documents of foreign trade and shipbuilding; furniture, paintings, and personal momentos of John P. Marquand, Pulitzer- Prize-winning novelist and histor- ian of loca! eccentric, 'Lord' Tim- othy Dexter. 8 7 BUSHEÉ GALLERY A "Federalist Salon": Colonial portraits; imported and American furniture, locally-made 'tall clock'; swords and relics of Capt. Moses Brown, Revolutionary hero. The CUSTOM HOUSE MARITIME MUSEUM at 25 Water Street, in the restored Federalist business district of downtown Newburyport, Massachusetts is open to the public seven days a week, May 29 through September 6 and on weekends during the Fall months.

HOURS: Monday through Saturday, 11 am to 5 pm; Sundays, 2 pm to 5 pm ADMISSION: Adults, $1.00; aged 12 to 18, 50¢; under 12, free when accompanied by an For group rates and special tours when the Museum 1-617-pup rates anos pecie toe Newherynor earilimes Soce o to tea o e-M buryport, Mass. 01950. U.S. CUSTOM HOUSE /.Kulo H34-PR AUG 2 1976 bcc: Regional Director, North Atlantic Region Director's Reading File LPR w/c FNP:KULCZYCKI:sle:7-26-76 Mr. N. Patterson Hale, Jr. Essef Restoration Fund Treasurer Newburyport Maritime Society, Inc. Box 306 Newburyport, Massachusetts 01950 Dear Ir. Hale: Thank you for your letter concerning the I.S. Custom House, Newhuryport, Massachugetts, which is l1sted in the National Register of Iistoric Places.

Enclosed is a copy of the nominatien forn for the Custom House containing a description of the property, a statement of its significanee, and a brief bibliography.. We have no other information on file related to this property. fi The only nonograph on Robert Mills, 1s Il. M. Plerce Gallagher's "Bobert M111s, 7 Architect of the Washington Monument, 1781-1855," published by the Columbla RETAINED University Press, 1935. In recent years several artieles on Robert MI1ls have been published in the "Journal of the Society of Architectural consult "The Art Index,"a quarterly author and subject index to publleations EHEZER FILE Company of New York, in order to locate these articles. Also, "A Guide to Archives and Manuscripts in the United Stateg" compiled by Phillp M. Hayer, Yale University Press, 1961, may be able to direet you to origina/ papera related to Robert Mills. Mes.

Catha Rambusch at the Coumittee for the Preservation of Architectural Records, 41 East 65th Street, New York, New York 10021, is associated with a project which has begun to gather infor- mation on the location of original architectural drawings, plans etc; she may be of help. We hope this information will be useful to you and ve appreciate your intereat in historie preservation. Sincerely yours, Charles A. Herrington (Sgd.) Wil11am J. Murtagh Keeper of the National Register Enclosure cc: Mrs. Elizabeth R. Amadon, Mass. SHPO w/c