Nomination for First Church of Christ, Congregational

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

N Form 10-300 (Dec.

1968) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM (Type all entries - complete applicable sections) PH0015954 72000/35 STATE: Massachusetts COUNTY: Hampden FOR NPS USE ONLY ENTRY NUMBER FEB I 19{2 NAME COMMON: First Church of Christ, Congregational AND/ OR HISTORIC: (Fourth) First Church Congregational LOCATION Congressional Distriet 2 STREET AND NUMBER: 50 Elm Street CITY OR TOWN: Springtield STATE (Corner of Elm Street and Court Square Avenue) CODE 025 COUNTY: Massachusetts CLASSIFICATION CATEGORY (Check One) Hampden CODE 013 OWNERSHIP STATUS District Site Building Structure Public Private Both Public Acquisition: In Process Being Considered Object Occupied Unoccupied Preservation work in progress ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC Yes: Restricted Unrestricted No: PRESENT USE (Check One or More as Appropriate) Agricultural Commercial Educational Entertainment Government Industrial Military Muse um Park Prívate Residence Religious Scientific Transportation Other (Specify) Comments OWNER OF PROPERTY OWNERS NAME: First Church of Christ, Congregational in Springfield STREET AND NUMBER: same as above CITY OR TOWN: STATE: CODE LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION COURTHOUSÉ, REGISTRY OF DEEDS.

ÉTC: Registry of Deeds, Hampden County Courthouse STREET AND NUMBER: CITY OR TOWN: STATE CODE 025 Springfield APPROXIMATE ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY: REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS TITLE OF SURVEY: Massachusetts approximately one half acre Mass. Historical Commission Inventory- Plymouth SATE QF SURVEY: RECÊNEMasgy fon surveristoria) Commission NOV 22 197FET690 NUMBER: Office of the Secretary, State House, NATIONCATY OR TOWN: STATE: REGIS Boston State X County CODE Mass. 02133 Massachusetts COUNTY: Hampden ENTRY NUMBER FEB FOR NPS USE ONLY DESCRIPTION CONDITION INTEGRITY Original Site DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (if khown) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Description of the property

The fourth building of the First Church of Christ, Congregational, in Springfield was built in 1819 by Isaac Damon. The main façade faces east and overlooks a common. Flanking and facing this wooden church, yet separated from it by narrow streets are some of the most imposing public structures in the city. These are the Hampden County Courthouse, designed by Henry Hobson Richardson and erected in 1872-3, and a civic complex built in the classical style in the early 20th century. The design of the Church is simpler and more classic than the English Baroque style used by Damon in his earlier Northampton church (destroyed 1878). The style is à country builder's interpretation of the transition between the late Federal and early Greek Revival styles. The building contains the same components as the numerous New England meetinghouses built during this period.

A rectangular mass with pitched roof houses the auditorium. The giant Doric portico, carrying the same roof pitch as the auditorium, serves as a focal point for the entrance. The tower, which partially projects from the auditorium, rises from the platform of the portico through its roof. It is supported, in part, by the roof of the auditorium and terminates in a three-stage spire. Although alterations to the auditorium have been made a various times, the basic proportions of the room have not been disturbed and little change has been made in the components most important to the character of the church. The gallery, which is supported by graceful Ionic columns, still runs along three sides of the chamber. The original coved ceiling remains in place, though its curves have been shortened and decorative detail (Adamesque) added in the twentieth century.

In the 1870s a brick Parish House was added to the rear of the Church. This Venetian Gothic structure was altered in the mid-twentieth century, but fortunately a few original architectural details remain. 2 = TA L5LTE RECEiVED NUV 22 1971 NATIONA REGIS ETT ITN 1OI 1D 00 un M Z C -

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 18th Century 19th Century 20th Century SPECIFIC DATE(S) (If Applicable and Known) AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE (Check One or More as Appropriate) Aboriginal Education Prehistoric Engineering Historic U Industry Agriculture Invention Art Landscape Commerce Architecture Communications Literature Conservation Military Music 1819 Political Religion/Phi- losophy Science Sculpture Social/Human- itarian Theater Transportation Urban Planning Other (Specify) Architecture STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

Statement of significance

(Include Personages, Dates, Events, Etc.) The First Church of Christ, Congregational, completed in Springfield in 1819, is the earliest extant church by Isaac Damon and is probably his second church design. The first design, possibly done in cooperation with Asher Benjamin, was that for the "Old Church" in Northampton, built in 1812 and destroyed by fire in 1878. During the years between the construction of the Northampton and the Springfield churches, Damon was responsible for the erection of a number of secular structures in the western Connecticut River Valley. According to his obituary (Hampshire Gazette, August 4, 1904), Damon built a courthouse and town hall in Northampton, a courthouse and jail in Lenox, factories in Athol and various bridges across the Connecticut River. The Northampton church was very much in the ornate English Baroque style.

By comparison, Damon's Springfield church is much simpler and seems to set the pattern of church design he was to follow throughout most of his career. Elements used in the First Church continue to appear in Damon's later church buildings. For example, he uses spire stages derived from the Wren- Gibbs idiom. He employs the rusticated tower and arch in the Congregational Church in Blandford (1822) and the Old East Congregational Meetinghouse in Ware (built in 1826; burned to the foundations in 1925). The First Church of Christ is the fourth meetinghouse built by the First Parish. Organized in 1637, the First Parish is thought to be the oldest continuing body of worship in Western Massachusetts. This Church has been certified a Massachusetts Historic Landmark. AT5LL10 RECEIVED. Nuv 22 1971 NATION! REGIS i T TI TOL1 9.

The rest of the file

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

MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES Hampshire Gazette, August 4, 1904. Sinnott, Edmund W., Meetinghouse and Church in Early New England, New York, MeGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc., 1963. GEOGRAPHICAL DATA LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE COORDINATES DEFINING A RECTANGLE LOCATING THE PROPERTY LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE COORDINATES 0 R DEFINING THE CENTER POINT OF A PROPERTY OF LESS THAN ONE ACRE CORNER LATITUDE Degrees Minutes Seconds LONGITUDE Degrees Minutes Seconds LATITUDE LONGITUDE NW Degroos Minutes Seconds Degrees 06' 03 72° Minutes Seconds 42 NE 35 23 SE SW LIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNTY BOUNDARIES STATE: CODE COUNTY CODE STATE: CODE COUNTY: CODE STATE: CODE COUNTY: CODE STATE: CODE COUNTY: CODE FORM PREPARED BY NAME AND TITLE: Anne R.

Wardwell, Survey Director ORGANIZATION Massachusetts Historical Commission STREET AND NUMBER: DATE July 27, 1971 Office of the Secretary, State House CITY OR TOWN: STATE Boston 12. STATE LIAISON OFFICER CERTIFICATION Massachusetts NATIONAL REGISTER VERIFICATION CODE 025 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 Name Hat.X. Lonose Secretary of the Commonwealth and Chairman, Massachusetts Historical Commission I herebv certify that this property is included in the Nationa l Register.

dunt a Carmach Chiet, Office of Archeology and HistoricVteservation/ FEB 1 1972 RECÊNED Date Tuv 22 1971 ATTEST: NATIONA! GIST Date July 27, 1971 Date Ull Keeper of The National Register JAN 2 8 1972 TIN - M3 Mtant . B2364-7 5-29-1970 NPS Number. Springfield 50 Elm St. First chusch of Christ, Congregationel May, 1970 submitted by Neil M.

Day teh 1, 1972 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 Hampden FOR NPS USE ONLY ENTRY NUMBER FEB NAME COMMON: First Church of Christ, Congregational AND/OR HISTORIC: (Fourth) First Church Congregat ional LOCA TION STREET AND NUMBER: 50 Elm Street (corner of Elm Street and Court Square Avenue) CITY OR TOWN: Springfield STATE: CODE COUNTY: 025 Massachusetts Hampden PHOTO REFERENCE PHOTO CREDIT: Percy E. Bassett Studios DATE OF PHOTO: May, 1970 NEGATIVE FILED AT: Percy E. Bassett Studios, 144 White Street, Springtield, MA IDENTIFICATION DESCRIBE VIEW, DIRECTION, ETC.

exterior-main façade EIVED Nuv 22 1971 REGIS NATIONAL DATE 1972 CODE 013 00 Fgrm, 1$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 Hampden FOR NPS USE ONLY ENTRY NUMBER FEB DATE 1972 Z - U NAME LOCATION STREET AND NUM BER: 50 Elm Street CITY OR TOWN: Springfield MON:Firsc. (houh FirstChuro Congregational (corner of Elm Street and Court Square Avenue) STATE: CODE COUNTY: 025 Massachusetts MAP REFERENCE SOURCE: Hampden U. S. G. S. Springfield, South, Mass. - Conn. SCALE: 1 : 24,000 DATE: 1958 REQUIREMENTS TO BE INCLUDED ON ALL MAPS 1. Property broundaries where required. 2. North arrow. 3. Latitude and longitude reference. * RECEIVEN NUy 22 1971 NATIONA REGIST TOL!

16 CODE 013 LEIVILINI UF IME INELKIUN ¡EOLOGICAL SURVEY 697000mmE.A =) HOLYOREE 1.7NG. :U.S. 204000 FEET (CONN.) Van H 5,4 MI. TO U.S. 20 f 35' ABBE Brightwond SWOHT. SPRINGEIELD, High Scl End OWEL Playgrounde Emily B Carew Plaxgrau High Sch Sch Mehorail Square 20A 63 Pynchon To lbran dio/Park High Sch Hooker BcnPs YARMORY >cIry N Springfiel Playgrounc 42°06'03"3 72º55/231 ST SPRINGT ET Playgrousd BOUNDARY_ Howard'S - Sch Drive-in Dreater Our Lady ofN South End Waiker 1 Mayground Playg (EXPOSITION GROUNDS WASHEELD Sewag Island Disposa SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSEITS Ihe First Church of Christ, Congregational Che Fourth First Congregational Church of Christ) U.S.G.S. Springfteld, South, Maos.3Conn.

Scale: 1:24,000 1958 REGISTE NATIONA' RECEIVED T6 8 STATE OF MASSACH DEPARTMENT OF PUBLI (SPRINGFIELD NOP: ok Grove VeKnizho 2nd Bay AMDRICAN INTEIN RINGFIELD Porest Park Porter Lake SPRINGFIELIS Lonemendow ERMINGTON ene TEA ABEANE AVETEM John F. X. Davoren Secretary of the Commonwoealth The Commonvealch of Massachusets Office of the Pecretary Plate Hlouse, Boston 02133 November 11, 1971 The Office of Archeology and Historic Preservation National Park Service 801 19th Street, N.W. washington, D. C.

20006 Attention: Miss Mary Means CERTIFIED MAIL Dear Sirs, Enclosed are National Register submissions fox: First Church of Christ, Congregational, Springfield, Massachusetts First Universalist Church, Provincetown, Massachusetts These have been declared eligible for submission by the Kaasachusetts 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, Gichndl W. Hale fu 5/ Richard W. Hale, Jr. Acting Chairman Massachusetts Historical Commission NUV 22 1971 NATIONAL REGIST E/T green X.R.

ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER STATE MASSACHUSIRTB Date Entered FEB 1 1972 Name Location Pirst chuzch of Chrtst, Congregational Hanpden County Courthouse Springfleld Mamgden County Springfield Hampéen County Also Notified Hon. Bdvard M. Kennedy Fon, Edward E. Broake Ron. Edvard P. Boland Directox, Northeast Region HR NRowland:mm 1/31/72 State Iiaison Of£icez Jobn B. X. Davoren Seczetary of the Cormonwaaleh Chaiman, Massachsaetts Historical Cossinston offico of the Secretary State Bouse Boston, Massachusetes 02133 NOTIFICATION OF GRANT-IN-AID ACTION 1. STATE APPLICATION IDENTIFIER 74070490 3. GRANTOR: a. Federal agency Department of the Interior b. Organizational unit National Park Service c. Administering office - (1) Name Division of Grants (2) Address - Street or P.O. Box 18th and C Streets, NW. 4. FEDERAL AGENCY GRANT IDENTIFIER: 2.

(Reserved for use by State central information reception agency) City Washington State D.C. Zip Code 20240 a. Code b. Titie First Church of Christ, Congregational 25-75-00299-00 (Court Square Historic District) Development c. Purpose Project work will involve reroofing of the structure. Do N. Uve This Spoc 5. GRANTEE: a. Name Massachusetts Mrs. Elizabeth R. Amadon, Exec. Dir., MA Historical Commission b. Address - Street or P.O. Box City 40 Beacon Street Boston State Massachusetts Zip Code 02108 6. GRANTEE TYPE (Check only the single most applicable box) a. State _b. Inter- state c. County d. City e. School district f. Special unit g. Community action h. Sponsored organization i. Other 7. APPLICATION RECEIPT DATE 8. ACTION DATE Year Month Day Yeor Month 75 12 23 76 2 11. TYPE OF ACTION (Check as many bozes as apply to this action) o. New b. Continuation c.

Supplemental grant grant grant (identify agency in item 16) Day 19 d. Change in existing grant ('' dureise in (2) Durriase in duration 8. EFFECTIVE STARTING DATE Year. Menth 76 2 Doy /19 10. ENDING DATE Yeor Month 79 | 2 Day (3) Cancellation (4) Increase($) (5) Decrease($) [x 12.AMOUNT OF CONTRIBUTION-S a. Federal- (1) basic (2) Supplementol $ 1,200 13. CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ( if none, clarify in item 16) 14. AUTHORIZATION a. Federal Budget Accounts b. Public Lows b. State $3,100* a. Program Number 15.904 c. Local d. Gther b. Supplemental Program Number 10-58-1040-0-1-405 PL Title 89 Sec. 665 c. U.S. Code 16 U.S.C. 470 15. FACILITY LOCATION: (For facility gront uctions only) a. City 50 Elm Street, Springfield P 16. REMARKS PL Title Sec. PL Title Sec. 1b.

Couny Hampden CD 2 *First Church of Christ, Congregational Prepared by Division of Grants 523(139)-5054 STANDARD FORM 24 June 1970 Bureau of the Budget Circular A-98 240-101