Nomination for Merrell Tavern

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

un Form 10-300 (July 1969) PH0005860 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE HB NO UTN STATE: Mass. COUNTY: NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM (Type all entries - complete applicable sections) Berkshire FOR NPS USE ONLY ENTRY NUMBER JAN DATE 10M2 NAME C OMMON: FEB 2 3 1972 Meriell Tavern AND/ OR HISTORIC: LOCATION STREET AND NUMBER: S.sideRoute 102, approximately 600 feet east of the intersection of Willow St.

South Lee {South) STATE Massachusetts CLASSIFICATION CATEGORY (Check One) District Site Building Structure CODE 025 COUNTY: Berkshire CODE 003 OWNERSHIP Object Public Private Both Public Acquisition: - In Process Being Considered STATUS * 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 X Museum OWNER OF PROPERTY OWNER'S NAME: STREET AND NUMBER: Park Private Residence Religious Scientific Transportation - Comments - Other (Specify) Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities Mass - STATE: 141 Cambridge Street CiTY OR TOWN: Boston ISTATE: Mass.

LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION COURTHOUSE, REGISTRY OF DEEDS, ETC: Berkshire Middle District Registry of Deeds STREET AND NUMBER: CODE 025 CITY OR TOWN: STATE Berkshire COUNTY: Pittsfield Mass. CODE 025 REPRESENTATION IN EXIST ING SURVEYS TITLE OF SURVEY: Historic American Buildings Survey DATE OF SURVEY: 1945 DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS: HABS, National Park Service STREET AND NUMBER: 801 19th Street, N.W. CITY OR TOWN: X Federal State - County - Local ENTRY NUMBER Washington ISTATE: D. C. DATE FOR NPS USE ONLY DESCRIPTION (Check One) CONDITION Excllont % codma) D Pal ODanoiorand Oucod omgyrespoad [X Unaltered - Moved * Origiral Site DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (if knowri) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Description of the property

Original: Iwo-story Federal style brick house with rear kitchen wing; hip roof on front section of building. Built ca. 1812. Tavern bar of ca. 1815, with wooden grille, survives intact. Present: Iwo-story porch and wooden third story (ballroom) added ca. 1838. Front section of building has pitch roof. Added portions of building have details transitional between Federal and Greek Revival styles. Very few twentieth century alterations except for overpainting of early interior paints and graining, and removal of early wallpapers. Condition: The building requires structural repair and stabilization, including extensive work in the gable-end walls of the third story. In order to be displayed to the public on a regular basis, the building requires restoration of its early paints and wallpapers except in the rooms where the early paints have not been overpainted during modern times.

1S NI RUCTIONS *grm 10-300g Jury 1969) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM (Continuation Sheet) (Number all entries) LEE, SOUTH, THE MERRELL TAVERN 6. Representation in existing surveys Berkshire County Survey of historia places 1970 Local Berkshire County Historical Society 113 East Housatonic Street Pittsfield, Massachusetts 025 STATE Mass. COUNTY Berkshire FOR NPS USE ONLY ENTRY NUMBER DATE -

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) ca. AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE (Check One or More as Appropriate) Abor iginal - Education Prehistoric - Engineering - Historic.. : - Industty - Agriculture Invention * Architecture Landscape Art Architecture Commerce - Literature Communications [X Military Conservation Music 1812 U Political Religion/Phi. losophy Science Sculpture Social/Human- itarian Theater Transportation - Urban Planning Other (Specify) STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

Statement of significance

The original portions of the structuee were built as a house by Major General Joseph Whiton, Commander of the troops of the Western Massachusetts militia in the War of 1812. It was one of the first fine brick houses in the region, its details based on the Federal-period designs of Asher Benjamin. Its facade has the large windows and smooth planar brick walls, in Flemish bond, which the new fashion required. From 1815 until 1918 the building was owned by the Merrell family and by the Davises, who were heirs of the Merrells by marriage. The Merrells used it as a tavern from the beginning and their original tavern bar is perfectly preserved. The tavern thrived on the stagecoach travel between Springfield and Albany. The addition of a two-story porch and third-story containing ballroom and small sleeping rooms about 1838 gave the building something of the grand and institutional character.

of the new hotels which were everywhere replacing the old taverns. From that time on, it was called a hotel._ It is thus particularly valuable since it exemplifies in one building a fine house, a tavern of the old type that resembles a house, andaaehotel of a form specifically fashionable for the purpose. The early painted oak graining has survived in the bar-room, where there is also an early Franklin stove. The ballroom and small sleeping rooms still show their original paints and, in places, painted floor decoration. The decline of the hotel's trade after 1850 has caused the architectural features to remain almost completely unchanged.

The rest of the file

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

MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES Berkshire County Middle District Registry of Deeds and Probate, Pittsfield, Mass. Field, David D. ed. A History of the County of Berkshire, Massachusetts. Pittsfield, 1829. Hyde, Rev. C.M. and Alexander. The Centennial Celebration and Centennial History of the Town of Lee, Massachusetts. Springfield, 1878. 10 GEOGRAPHICAL DATA LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE COORDINATES DEFINING A RECTANGLE LOCATING THE PROPERTY R CORNER LATITUDE Degrees Minutes Seconds LONGITUDE Degrees Minutes Seconds NW LATITUDE Degrees.

Minutes 42 ° 16 - LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE COORDINATES DEFINING THE CENTER POINTOF A PROPERTY OF LESS THAN TEN ACRES LONGITUDE Minutes 17 NE Seconds 37 Degrees 73 Seconds 00 " SE 20ays riias SW APPROXIMATE ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY: c..l acres ILIST 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: Abbott Lowell Cummings, Director ORGANIZATION Soc. for the Preservation of New England Antiquities.- STREET AND NUMBER: 141 Cambridge Street 200.- CITY OR TOWN: ISTATE DATE August. 26, 1971 CODE Boston STATE LIAISON OFFICER CERTIFICATION Mass.

NATIONAL REGISTER VERIFICATION 25 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 Nationa1 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: Nationa1 State Local I hereby certify that this property is included in the Nationa1 Register. unert a anmal Chief.

Office of Archeolosy and Historic Preservation FEB 23 1972 Date Name ontser Secrétary of the Commonwealth & Massachusetts Historical Commission Title ATTEST: Date March 18, 1971 Date Wrlleani A Keeper of The National Registe JAN 2 0 1972 U C 10 N S Merreel Tavern PROPERTY RECEIPT DATE OF RECEIPT 4/14/72 DATA PAGE 8/B1/71 PHOTO (S) PHOTO DESCRIP (S) MAP (S) MAP DESCRIPTION (S) LOGGED ACKNOWLEDGE RESUBMIT 8/31/5 YES NO NUMBER Bershite STATE Mass REGISTER NUMBER FEB 2 3 1972 REVIEW HISTORIAN ARCHEOLOGIST ARCHITECT ASST. KEEPER KEEPER ENTRY CHIEF, OAHP EDITORIAL PROCESSING, EDITOR Obray, 1/2/7, Sales 16/12 JMarusin 12/29/71 Chambes OK 12-29-71 lon 1/20/72 Ele 2-23 ED 1/5/12 Date Federal Register Entry Annual Edition Entry FEB 231972 Logged Card FEB 23 1972 ./4172 WORKING NUMBER 8.3/717 COMMENTS : CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT: NPS Number. 7eh.

23,1972 1st10: Merell Danern ron Burkolie Caresty, Mue Mersell Varern front facade, viemel frow the Dorth 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) T Max 14 STATE Mass. COUNTY Berkshire FOR NPS USE ENTRY NUMBER NOI NAME COMMON: AND/OR HISTORIC: LOCATION STREET AND NUMBER: Route 102 CITY OR TOWN: Merrell Tavern STATE: Lee (South) CODE 025 COUNTY: Mass- Berkshire PHOTO REFERENCE PHOTO CrEDISociety for the Preservation of New England Antiquities DATE OF PHOTO: August, 1969 VEGATIVE FILED AT: Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities IDENTIFICATION DESCRIBE VIEW, DIRECTION, ETC. Merrell Tavern front facade, viewed from the north PROPER 'Form 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 Berkshire FOR NPS USE ONLY ENTRY NWEB® 2 DATE 1972 2. 3 NAME COMMON: Merrell Tavern AND/OR HISTORIC: LOCATION STREET AND NUM BER: Route 102 CITY OR TOWN: Lee (South) STATE: Massachusetts MAP REFERENCE SOURCE: USGS Stockbridge, Mass. SCALE: 1:24,000 DATE: 1959 REQUIREMENTS TO BE INCLUDED ON ALL MAPS 1. Froperty broundaries where required. 2. North arrow. 3. Latitude and longitude reference. CODE 025 COUNTY: Berkshire CODE 3 "STOCKERIDGE L 1103/ 8 FAIRVIEWTE 0019 OI0s/ 871 Wate -HOUSATON -850 RIVER Beartowon Burgoyne Brook 17'30" +583 South Lee Cem. Gravel STREET 359 PHeo 898X 20 & INTERSTATE 90 1.2 MI. TO U.S.

- 4681 ROAD 900 ARE BEARTOWN 42° l6'31" 73° 17'00 STATE Town : Lee, Massachusetts Title: Merrell Tavern U.S.G.S. Stockbridge, Mass. Date: 1959 4580 40 300 7000 FEET KILOMETER ARDS D. C. 20242 BLE ON REQUEST IMILE MASS QUADRANGLE LOCATION 4679000m N. 42°15' iN. O C-1968 644000m E.73°15' Heavy-duty Medium-duty Interstate Route ROAD CLASSIFICATION Light-duty Unimproved dirt U.S. Route 6368 |1 NW (MONTEREY) State Route STOCKBRIDGE, MASS. N4215 - W7315/7.5 146 1959 AMS 6368 IV.SE-SERIES V814 HETITO CPLACIDANI SEA LIPATATD Johen T. X. Davoren Pecretary of the Commonwealih The Commonvealth of Massachusetts Ofice of the Secretary Seate House, Boston 02133 August 27, 1971 The Office of Archeology and Historic Preservation National Park Service 801 19th Street, N.W. Washington, D. C. 20006 Attention: Mrs.

Sally Marusin REGISTERED MAIL Dear Sirs, Enclosed are National Register submissions for: Rotch Counting House, New Bedford Old Third District Court House, New Bedford Ioammi Baldwin Mansion, Woburn Twin Lights, Thacher's Island Old African Meetinghouse, Boston Merrell Tavern, Lee Pelham Town Hall Complex, Pelham These have been declared eligible for submission by the Kaaaachusetts 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, Qihnid W. Htale fu Richard W. Hale, Jx.

Acting Chairman RWH: aw Massachusetts Historical Commission 406 5 0 1971 ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER STATE MASSACHUSENS DateEntered FEB 2 3 1972 Name Merrel1 Tavern Morthborough Town-Hal1 Piest Baptist Church 0ld County Court House Trinity Rectory St. Luke'sEpiscopal Church Crowinshield House Pirst Universalist Church Location South Lee Berkshire County Northbozough Worcester County Boston Suffolk County Piymouth Plymouth County Boston Suffolk County Lanesbozough Berkehire County Boston Suffolk County Provincetow Bamnstable County Buckland Franklin County Grisvold (Major Joseph) House Also Notified Hon. Edward M. Kennedy Hon. Sdward w. Brooke Hon. Silvio o. Conte Hon. Hazold D, Donohue Hon. Thomas P. O'Neill, Jr. Hon. Hastings Keith Director, Northeast Region HR NRowland:mm 2/16/72 State Lialson Officer Hon. John F. X.

Daveren Secretary of the Conmonwealth Chaizman, Massachusetts Historical Conmiseion offiae of the Secretary State House Boston, Massechusetts 02133