Nomination for North Easton Railroad Station

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

SHOIDAHLNE PH0006050 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE HB No uTm Form 10-300 (July 1969) STATE: Massachusetts COUNTY: NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM Bristol FOR NPS USE ONLY ENTRY NUMBER DATE (Type all entries - complete applicable sections) NAME COMMON: North Easton Railroad Station AND/ OR HISTORIC: Old Colony Railroad Station LOCATION STREET AND NUMBER: Off Oliver Street on railroad right-of-way. CITY OR TOWN: Congressional District No.

10 North Easton STATE Massachusetts CLASSIFICATION CATEGORY (Check One) District Site CODE 025 COUNTY: Bristolo OWNERSHIP Building - Structure Object Public Private Both Public Acquisition: In Process Being Considered RECEVED JAT 51972 NATIONAL CODE 005 REGIS/ E STATUS ACEESSIBLE LTTTOTO THE PUBLIC Occupied Yes: Restricted Unoccupied Unrestricted X) Preservation work in progress No PRESENT USE (Check One or More as Appropriate) Agricultural Commercial Educational Entertainment Government Industrial Military Museum Park Private Residence Religious Scientific Transportation - Other (Specify) - Comments OWNER OF PROPERTY OWNER'S NAME: Easton Historical Society STREET AND NUMBER: CITY OR TOWN: STATE: Easton LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION COURTHOUSE, REGISTRY OF DEEDS, ETC: Bristol County Registry of Deeds STREET AND NUMBER: Massachusetts CODE 025 Massachusetts Bristol CITY OR TOWN: STATE Taunton Massachusetts CODE 025 REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS TITLE OF SURVEY: 1.

Inventory of Historic Assets of the Commonwealth DATE OF SURVEY: 1971 - Federal X State County DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS: Massachusetts Historical Commission, Office of the Secretary STREET AND NUMBÉR: State House CITY OR TOWN: STATE: Local Boston, Massachusetts CODE 025 STATE: COUNTY: ENTRY NUMBER FOR NPS USE ONLY DESCRIPTION (Check One) Deteriorated Excellent CONDITION X Good - Fair Ruins (Check One) - Unexposed (Check One) Altered X Unaltered - Moved Original Site DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (if known) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Description of the property

The North Easton Railroad Station, designed by H.H. Ríchardson, was commissioned in November, 1881. The rectangular building of rock-faced Braggsville granite is set on a low foundation of Longmeadow (red) sandstone; a broad course of the same sandstone encircles the entire building about halfway up the exterior walls. The station is covered by a bellcast hip roof. The upper slope of the roof on the west side is broken by two symmetrically placed dormers of five windows each. The lower slope of the roof creates a deep overhang on all sides of the building. This overhang is supported by large brackets contructed of heavy beams and placed in pairs. The wall posts terminate in a stone corbel. A port-cochere or carriage porch is centered on the east facade of the station and it, too, is covered with a bellcast hip roof.

Patterns of fenestration on the east and west facades of the station are quite similar. Two wide arches are placed symmetrically on each facade. These arches contain windows which are the main source of light for the station. The architect has also placed a double window outside the arches at the north and south end of each facade. These double windows are divided by vertical stone mullions. All windows not contained in arches have surrounds of red sandstone set flush with the walls. The side surrounds of these windows resemble quoining and the lintels are formed by the sandstone course noted above. The south side of the station contains a single window in the middle of the wall. A wide, centrally located door is the only break in the opposite (north) facade. Exterior details of the station include examples of Richardson's decorative animal figures.

These are characteristic of the buildings which the architect super- vised most closely. In Austin Hall at Harvard (February, 1881), for example, dragon and wild boar heads are carved in the exposed beams of the law library. Here in the North Easton Station, Richardson uses boar and lion heads. Two boar heads, carved in the supporting beams, face each other under the junction of the overhang of the carriage porch and the main roof. More boar heads are carved in the wooden lintels of the windows under the arches on the same (east) facade, two heads to an arch. Finally, lion heads are carved in the armrests of the outside benches set against the west facade of the station. The interior of the station is divided into two waiting rooms, with ticket office in the center and a small baggage room at the northern end of the building.

The main entrance to the station is on the east facade, centered under the carriage porch between the two arches. The entrance opens onto a hallway connecting the two waiting rooms. On the west (track) side of the station a bay window centered on the wall marks the location of the ticket office. A door under each arch on this facade gives access to the platform from the waiting rooms. KECEIVEL 312 JAN NATIONAL REGISTE 118 1LIT9 M CONTINUATION SHEET -- National Register Nomination, North Easton Railroad Station 6. (2) Title: Historic American Buildings Survey, Mass-663 Date: 1959-60 (Federal) Depository: Library of Congress, Washington, D. C. LIDY RECÊVED JAN 5 1972 NATIONAL REGISTE. 191

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

SIGNIFICANCE PERIOD (Check One or More as Appropriate) Pre-Columbian| 15th Century - 16th Century 17th Century SPECIFIC DATE(S) (If Applicable and Known) 1881 AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE (Check One or More as Appropriate) Abor iginal Education Prehistoric Engineering Historic Industry Agriculture Invention X Architecture Landscape Art Architecture Commerce Literature Communications Military - Conservation Music X 18th Century 19th Century U 20th Century Political Religion/Phi. losophy Science Sculpture Social/Human- itarian Theater Transportation Urban Planning Other (Specify) STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

Statement of significance

The Old Colony Railroad Station in North Easton is the best remaining example of the small stations designed by H. H. Richardson in his distinctive American or Richardsonian Romanesque style. Professor Henry Russell Hitcheock considers Richardson's Auburndale station of 1881 "the best he ever built."_ However, that station is no longer extant. In discussing the North Easton station, he states that " to that at Auburndale,e the only other small station really comparable in quality F.L. Ames, who was Richardson's friend and patron, commissioned this station in 1881 and gave it to the Old Colony line (later the New York, New Haven and Hartford), in which members of the Ames family were principal stockholders. The Ames family built a fortune from the profits of the Shovel Works, which Oliver Ames founded at Easton in 1803.

The first shovels were made by hand and taken to market in Boston in a one-horse wagon. The Shovel Works grew steadily and in the mid-century boom brought by the discovery of gold in California and Australia and by the vast increase in railroad building became the world's largest shovel factory. Following Oliver Ames' death in 1863, the family business was carried on by his sons Oakes, Oliver Jr., and F. L. The Old Colony Station was the fourth in a series of five buildings which Richardson designed for the Ames family: the Ames Free Library (1877), Ames Memorial Hall (1879), the Ames Gate Lodge (1880), the Old Colony Station (1881), and the Ames Gardener's Cottage (1884). Mrs. Eleanor R. Ames describes Richardson's work in North Easton as a "...

unique case of a family sponsoring an outstanding architect in the development of a small town, resulting in a major cntt,bytion to the nation's architecture in general and in the town's own environ- -Henry Russell Hitcheock, The Architecture of H. H. Richardson and His Times (Cambridge: M.I. T. Press, 1936), p.224. Ibid., p.226. 3Mrs. Eleanor R. Ames, Form B, Inventóry of North Easton, Massa- chusetts Historical Commission. RECEiVED C JAN 5 NATIONAL REGISTE 87 9.

The rest of the file

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

MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES Hitcheock, Henry Russell, The Architecture of H. H. Richardson and His Times (Cambridge: M.I. T. Press, 1936). Van Rensselaer, Mariana Griswold, Henry Hobson Richardson and His Works (New York: Dover Publications, Inc., 1969). 0. GEOGRAPHICAL DATA LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE COORDINATES DEFINING A RECTANGLE LOCATING THE PROPERTY 0 R GORNER LATITUDE Degrees Minutes Seconds LONGITUDE Degrees Minutes Seconds Degrees LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE COORDINATES DEFINING THE CENTER POINT OF A PROPERTY OF LESS THAN TEN ACRES LATITUDE Minutes LONGITUDE Seconds Degrees Minutes Seconds NW NE 42 04 11 71 SE SW APPROXIMATE ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY: less than one acre LIST ALL STATÉSI AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNTY BOUNDARIES STATE: CODE COUNTY 06 14 STATE!

RECEIVED JAN 5 1972 CODE CODE COUNTY: CODE STATEO CODE NATIONAL REGISTER COUNTY: CODE STATE: CODE COUNTY: CODE FORM PREPARED BY NAME AND TITLE: Anne Wardwell, Survey Director, Massachusetts Historical Commission ORGANIZATION DATE July 27, 1971 STREET AND NUMBER: Office of the Secretary, State House, CITY OR TOWN: Boston 12. STATE LIAISON OFFICER CERTIFICATION STATE CODE 025 Massachusetts 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 X Local X I hereby certify that this property is included in the Nationa1 Register. Aohert Me.

Utly Chief, Office of Archeology and Historic Pfeservation Date 4/11/22 Name Secretary of Commonwealth and Chairman, Massachusetts Historical Title Commission ATTEST: Ulluet 1Mutt July 27, 1971 Date Date APR 1 1 1972 GP 0 901.087 S T RCTNS JATD RECEIPI 1/5/12 DATA PAGE ,PHOTO (S) PHOTO DESCRIPTION (S) MAP - (S) MAP DESCRIPTION (S) LOGGED ACKNOWLEDGE RESUBMIT 1/5/12 REVIEN MISTORIAN Narth Faston Ralroad AUNBER REGISTER: 1972 NATIONAL REGISTE Mass Tich oe $/15/72 jls Qhing. meaps 3/15/12 Saules /olii ARCHEOLOGIST ARCILITECT ASST. KEEPER KEEPER IRITER/EDITOR Chats nat wery cleav. Chansler 3-15-72 oK tule 3/23/22 ein 3/27 3/21/3 DITORIAN PROCESSING, EDITOR HABBS, 1959-60 ederal Registry Entry. 5-2-22. ogged APR 1 I 1972 Card OLMENTS: Annual Iditlon Entty APR 1.1 1972 WORKING NUMBER -: 1.5, ,58 Cong.

dist # 10 Easton 276 Publie Liakeny Rail Road station View of west and south fueudes. 68.63 NPS I11 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 Massachusetts COUNTY Bristol FOR NPS USE ONLY ENTRY NUMBER Z NAME COMMON: AND/ORGISTORIC: LOCATION North Easton Railroad Station Old Colony Railroad Station STREET AND NUMBER: Off Oliver Street on railroad right-of-way CITY OR TOWN: North Easton STATE: CODE 025 COUN TY: Massachusetts Bristol PHOTO REFERENCE PHOTO CREDIT: Bradford Paul, Massachusetts Historical Commission DATE OF PHOTO: 1968 NEGATIVE FILED AT: Office of the Secretary, Massachusetts Historical Commission, / State House, Boston. IDENTIF ICATION DESCRIBE VIEW, DIRECTION, ETC. View of west and south facades.

1972 NATIONAL REGIST PROF Form 10-301 (July 1969) 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 Massachusetts COUNTY Bristol FOR NPS USE ONLY ENTRY NUMBER U Z - NAME COMMON: North Easton Railroad Station AND/OR HISTORIC: Old Colony Railroad Station LOCATION STREET AND NUM BER: Off Oliver Street on railroad right-ot-way CITY OR TOWN: North Easton STATE: CODE COUNTY: 025 Massachusetts MAP REFERENCE SOURCE: U. S. G. S.: Brockton, Mass. SCALE: 1 : 24,000 DATE: 1963 REQUIREMENTS TO BE INCLUDED ON ALL MAPS 1. Property broundaries where required. 2. North arrow. 3. Latitude and longitude reference.

Bristol 2 ILCENED J4M IATIONA': REGIST DATE CODE 005 Pond INCOL:- Blacki U Stoughton Junction H NORFOLK ELC JAN 5 NATIONAL REGISTE 1963 relrose Brockton Heights NORTH EASTON RAILROAD STATION U.S.G.S.: Brockton, Mass. Scale: 1 : 24,000 2 -- Washington Cem 126 71:06'14" na (North Easton" 42041 chester Bigney CORPORATE Pond Winters- Corner °Daley Corner Daley Gray BOUNDARY Brooki. INTERCHA Stonehel ¡Marshali- Stontno if Corners 120 Potcd Easton Cemetery Hum TAU (Cemy BYook Queset Ioly Cross 18 Seminars 1091 Station Morse: Corner : BM 116 Sankend"Gravel Pit Morse Pond: REENO :South Eastorg S N and Graver EastonN Cem entral Cemi Morris Corner*= N7- -DEPO Cynthia Park Easton Center:l? RÙRCHASE. tondale Coweeset Manleys Corner WALNUT. SNE LIBRTATO TR John F. X.

Davoren Secretary of the Commonrvealch The Commonvealth of Massachusetts Office of the Seorelary Prate House, Boston 02133 December 14, 1971 The Office of Archeology and Historic Preservation National Park Service 801 19th Street, N.W. Washington, D. C. 20006 Attention:W/s////a///yMah/ws/in Miss Mary Means REGISTERED MAIL Dear Sirs, Enclosed are National Register submissions for: Pilgrim Hall, Plymouth, Massachusetts Railroad Station, North Easton, Massachusetts GT 00 JAN KECEIVED 5 1972 NATIONA REGIS LgT These have been declared eligible for submission by the Kassachusetts Historical Commission, the State Review Board, and have been signed by Secretary of the Commonwealth, John F. X. Davoren, Chairman, Massachusetts Historical Commission and designated the State Liaison Officer. Sincerely yours, RWH: aw Sichned W. Hale fu Richard W. Hale, Jr.

Acting Chairman Massachusetts Historical Commission 4/5/72 NRowland: mm 4 ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER STATE MASSACHTISENTS APR 1 1 1972 Date Entered Name Worth Eaaton Railzoad Station P1lgrim Hal1 Rocky HI11 Heetinghouse and Parsonage French Cable Statien Isaac Davis Frail Location Worth Baston Bristol Ceunty Plymouth Plynouth County Amesbury Essex County Orleans Barnstable County Acton, Concord Middleses County Also Notified Hon. Edward M. Kennedy Hon, Diward W. Brooke Hon, Margaret H. Heckler Bon. Hastings Keith ion, Micheol 3, Sarriogton Hon. Robert P. Drinan Director, Northeast Region State Liaiaon Officer Bon. Joln I. &. Davozen Secretary of the Comomoalth Chaizan, Massachusette Iiatorical Conmission Office of tha Seczetary State Eouse Boston, Massachusetts 02133 CABIA John F. X.

Davoren Secretary of the Commonrvealth The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Office of the Secretary Massachuselts Histonical Commission -3-Fog-Street Boston, Mass. 02108 40 Beacon St. jnllall RECEiVED OCT 24 1972 NATIONAL REGISTER October $, 1972 6 Keeper of the National Register Office of Archeology & Historic Preservation Room 3209 11o0 L Street, N.W. Washington, D. C. 20005 Attention: Ms. Betsy Archambeault Dear Betsy, Herewith submitted is the National Register form for the North Easton Historic District (Mass., Bristol County). We urge that immediate attention be given this district. Sorry to do this to you. The area office of HUD informs us that a preservation grant for the H. H. Richardson, Ames Memorial Hall is being held pending acceptance of the District by the Office of Archeology.

A "streetscape" photo, which tells little about the district, is being printed, and will be sent as soon as possible. It was good to see you in Providence. Expect that in many ways you and Sally hate to be back at your desks. The work load must be terrific! /aw Sincerely, Quuz Anne R. Wardwell Survey Director Massachusetts Historical Commission N S NORTH EASTON RAILROAD STATION (25- 74-00082-00). Easton, Bristol Co. Private ownership (Easton Historical Society). The best example of small stations designed by H. H. Richardson, 1881, in his distinctive Richardson Romanesque style. Restoration, including sanding and painting of exterior. $2,500.00.