Nomination for Essex Company Machine Shop

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

PH0006144 Form 10-300 (July 1969) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE STATE: Massachusetts COUNTY: NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES Essex INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM (Type all entries - complete applicable sections) NAME COMMON: Essex Company Machine Shop AND/OR HISTORIC: FOR NPS USE ONLY ENTRY NUMBER DATE 8I L1ONOV 9 RECEIVET APR 18 1972 1972 3.

LOCATION STREET AND NUMBER: Union Street CITY OR TOWN: Lawrence STATE Massachusetts CLASSIFICATION CATEGORY (Check One) District X] Building Site Structure NATIONAL Congressional Distriot #BEGISTE CODE COUNTY: 025 Essex CODE 009 OWNERSHIP Object Public Private Both Public Acquisition: - In Process Being Considered STATUS ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC * Occupied Yes: Restricted Unoccupied Unresfricted - Preservation work X No in progress PRESENT USE (Check One or More as Appropriate) Agricultural Government Commercial Industrial Educational Military Entertainment Museum Park Private Residence Religious Scientific - Transportation - Other (Specify) - Comments OWNER OF PROPERTY OWNER'S NAME: Everett Mill Properties, Inc.

STREET AND NUMBER: 15 Union Street CITY OR TOWN: Lawrence LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION COURTHOUSE, REGISTRY OF DEEDS, ETC: Essex County Registry of Deeds, STREET AND NUMBER: STATE: Massachusetts CODE 025 Massachusetts CITY OR TOWN: STATE CODE Lawrence REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS Massachusetts 025 2 TITLE OF SURVEY:1. Inventory of Historic Assets of the Commonwealth 2.

Statewide Preservation Plan, 1st Edition [cont.] DATE OF SURVEY: 1970; 1971 DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS: Massachusetts Historical Commission, Archives Museum, Office of the Secretarfg State House CITY OR TOWN: ISTATE: CODE 025 STATE: COUNTY: EN TRY NUMBER Boston Massachusetts DATE FOR NPS USE ONLY DESCRIPTION (Check One) [X Excellent : - Good Fair - Deteriorated Ruins CONDITION (Check One) (Check One) Altered 8 Unaltered - Moved - Unexposed * Original Site DESCRIBE THEPRESENT AND ORIGINAL (if known) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE NThe Essex Company Machine Shop (1846-48) is one of the most impressive and important early industrial buildings remaining in Massachusetts.

Few other factories of its period display such balanced proportions, attractive building materials and effective design detailsy Although somewhat overwhelmed by the close presence of the Everett Company's mammoth brick mill (1909-1910), the machine shop is still able to main- tain its integrity as an independent work of architecture. \Three stories plus basement and attic, it is constructed of ochre colored ashlar fieldstone to produce very handsome wall surfaces. The building is covered by a steep pitched roof interrupted by skylights. Evenly spaced along the front (west) facade are three outside stair- towers. The center tower is two window bays wider than those flanking it. Each tower is topped by a steep pitched roof which extends back to intersect with the main roof of the factory.

Attached to the rear (east) facade are a central stair tower and smaller water closet towers at either side. Wide friezes, stone window lintels and corner quoins provide decorative accents on the structure's walls. The most unusua exterior features of the mill, however, are two circular windows in the gables of the north end and central stair tower, the muntins of which are set in a pattern similar to that produced by lines of longitude and latitude on a world globe M - z Originally the machine shop was erectedby the Essex Company to manufacture tools, mill machinery, water turbines and millwork for the new Lawrence textile factories. For most of its existence, however, it was utilized as a cotton textile mill.

Its original function is still evidenced today by the remaining old foundry, forges, tall chimney and a series of large doors in the rear (east) basement wall at ground level through which heavy machinery and railroad locomotives were once movedn Though proper allowance must be made for slight stylistic differences, the building is nearly identical in configuration to the typical Merrimack Valley textile mills of its time. Today most of these manufactories either are gone or have been altered beyond easy recognition. Herein lies the machine shop's greatest value; it is an extant and practically unaltered historical and architectural document of early industrial America.

- SIGNIFICANCE PERIOD (Check One or More as Appropriate) - Pre-Columbian | 115th Century 16th Century 17th Century SPECIFIC DATE(S) (If Applicable and Known) 1846-48 AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE (Check One or More as Appropriate) Abor iginal Education - Prehistoric Engineering Historic Industry - Agriculture Invention Architecture Landscape Art Architecture Commerce L Literature Communications Military Conservation Music 18th Century X) 19th Century 20th Century L Political Religion/Phi. losophy Science Sculpture Social/Human- itarian Theater Transportation Urban Planning Other (Specify) STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

Statement of significance

The Essex Company Machine Shop is as fine a work of pre-Civil War indus- trial architecture as can be found in the New England region, with an equally notable historic background. It is one of the two oldest mills in the city and one of the few stone mill buildings extant in the Merrimack Valley. This building was one of the first to be inventoried by the New England Textile Mill survey team. VLawrence in 1845 had a population of less than 200 and was a wild and desolate region. Because of the foresight of a few Massachusetts capitalists who appreciated the water power available from harnessing the Merrimack River, the Essex Company was formed to develop that power and a new city was born.

The machine shop had its origins in 1846-48 when the Essex Land and Water Company, a Lawrence land and power owner and distributor, decided to erect a facility to build and repair textile mills of the city. It was in the loft of this structure that a full set of worsted machinery was put together and operated successfully, the first attempt to develop what was later to become a gigantic industry in Lawrence and the basis of the city's economy. After a four year period of service to the Essex Company, the building with its associated foundry and forges passed into the hands of a newly organized and separate corporation, the Lawrence Machine Shop Company. It continued to pertorm its original function but also diversified its product line by adding the manufacture of steam railroad locomotives.

Several of these were used in the Lawrence-Boston and Lowell-Boston runs, while others were employed as far away as the Erie Railroad. Even more significantly, the Hoadley portable steam engine, the McKay sewing machine and the first steam fire engine were invented, built and perfected at the shop. It was at this facility's drafting boards and lathes that many prominent American mechanical engineers and manufacturing executives obtained their basic training. Despite its successes and financial stability, the Lawrenc Machine Shop was adversely affected by the national business depression of 1857 and was forced to close for a period of two years. At this juncture, the buildings were sold for a nominal sum to a newly formed firm, the Everett Mills Corporation. The old machinery was removed and sold.

The buildings were reconstructed internally and fitted up with machinery for the production of colored cotton goods and worsted fabrics. As part of the vast Everett Company complex, it continued operation as a conventional textile mill until 1929, at which time the Everett interests were liqui- dated. Today, under the ownership of the Everett Mill Properties, Inc., the [continued]

The rest of the file

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

MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES Hurd, D. Hamilton, ed. History of Essex County, Massachusetts. 2 vols,, Philadelphia: J. W. Lewis & Co., 1888. (I, pp. 889-90) Lawrence Board of Trade, Brief History of Lawrence, Massachusetts, Its Textile Industries, etc. Lawrence: Rushforth & Donoghue, 1895, pp. 69-71. McKay, Gordon, The Lawrence Machine Shop. Boston: Lawrence Machine Shop, 1854, pp. 1-16. [continued] :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° 42' 28" 71° 09' 10" NW NE " SE SW APPROXIMATE ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY: C.

1 acre 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: Anne Wardwell, Survey Director ORGANIZATION Massachusetts Historical Commission, Office of the Secretary DATE April 30, 1971 STREET AND NUMBER: 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 Nationa1 Register and certify that it has been evaluated according to the criteria and procedures set forth by the Nationa1 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. Aotertira Utlu Chief, Office of Archeology and Historic Preservation Name -.1.N Secretary of the ommonwealth and Chairman, Massachusetts Historical Title Commission Date 115/72 ATTEST: ZONE UTm SL-01-b Date April 6, 1972 Esuy 19:300 JNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIO IATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM (Continuation Sheet) STATE Massachusetts COUNTY Essex FOR NPS USE ONLY ENTRY NUMBER NOV 9 DATE 1972 (Number all entries) Representation in Existing Surveys 3. New England Textile Mill Survey, Historic American Buildings Survey, 11, Washington, D. C., 1971. 8. Significance machine shop accommodates a variety of small industries.

Despite its unglamorous multiple usage and its obscure location behind the huge Everett Company main mill (1909-1910), the building is a valuable legacy from the earliest years of the cotton textile industry in the Merrimack Valley, the seedbed of large scale American manufacturing. 9. Bibliography Sande, Ted, The New England Textile Mill Survey, Selections from the Historic American Buildings Survey, Washin_ton, D. C., 1971. Smith, F. Morton, The Essex Company on the Merrimack at Lawrence. New York: The Newcomen Society, 1947, p. 19.

Essex DATE OF RECEIPT 4-18-72 DATA PAGE PHOTO (S) PHOTO DESCRIPTION (S) MAP (S) MAP DESCRIPTION (S) LOGGED ACKNOWLEDGE RESUBMIT 4-20-72 REVIEW ESSEX COMPANY PROPERIY MACHiNE SHOP YES NO NUMBER STATE MASS REGISTER: NOV 9 1972 Technical Keveew ok 10/2/72 HISTORIAN l aqee with Betrg Sanles 10/4/72 ARCHEOLOGIST ARCHITECI HABS has recorded This unan Re y anyone warto to, Juey con find the ansulo t acn recodo, Atrn poyat to lattfts io ne Elitors-see Cheuben remaito. KEEPER Snti WRITER/EDITOR DIRECTOR, OAHP EDITORIAL PROCESSING, EDITOR vng seng forly ant o put nfo e paup mut 10/41/12 Federal Registry Entry_ |2-5-72 Annual Edition Entry Logged NOV 9 1972 NOV 9 1972 Card COMMENTS: WORKING NUMBER 4-18-72-505 CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT: PS Number _11/9/72 itle: _ ESSEX C0. MAchine Shop. i00. ESSEX, MASS.

SOuthEND AUD SOUthWESt FACADE Esse La View UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE STATE Massachu COUNTY NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM (Type all entries - attach to or enclose with photograph) Essex FOR NPS USE ONI ENTRY NUMBER NOV 9 NAME COMMON: Essex Company Machine Shop AND/OR HISTORIC: LOCA TION STREET AND NUMBER: Union Street CITY OR TOWN: Lawrence STATE: Massachusetts CODE 025 COUN TY: Essex PHOTO REFERENCE PHOTO CREDIT: Massachusetts Historical Commission DATE OF PHOTO: 1967 NEGATIVE FILED AT: Massachusetts Historical Commission, Archives Museum, Office of the Secretary, State House, Boston, MA 02133 IDENTIFICATION DESCRIBE VIEW, DIRECTION, ETC.

southend and southwest facade Form 10-301 7July 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 COUNTY Massachusetts Essex FOR NPS USE ONLY ENTRY NUMBER NOV 9 - = 3. - NAME COMMON: Essex Company Machine Shop AND/OR HISTORIC: LOCATION STREET AND NUM BER: Union Street CITY OR TOWN: Lawrence STATE: Massachusetts MAP REFERENCE SOURCE: U. S. G. S. Lawrence, Mass. SCALE: 1 : 24,000 DATE: 1966 REQUIREMENTS TO BE INCLUDED ON ALL MAPS 1. Property broundaries where required. 2. North arrow. 3. Latitude and longitude reference. CODE 025 COUNTY: Essex CODE 009 i HAVERHIL Brook GIREST 171°07'30" 42*45' Mendom Bare : 4734 Searies Pund igh Sho /*33 2630 000 FEET TMAINE: (MASS.) 4732 PARH 1adso tayground ke Memori.

Hospita 42° Campagnone 42 09° 10 ia Holy Ros Sch Leoz RIVER O'REILLY BRIDGE BOUNDARY Coubty Training Sch MUTSUREALRPORT 4731 CORPORATE BOSTON IFTON'! -42'30" Uoubie.déck Bultwn Rond .4730 1º7 Osgooda +ix Pond 3 Slichael Sch MERRIMACK SI rINGSTON Connall LAWRENCE, MASS. Essex Company Machine Shop USGS Lawrence, Mass. Scale: 1:24,000 1966 (Date) 4729 Sally norma callette John F. X. Davoren Secretary of the Commonwealth The Commonwvealch of Massachiusetts Office of the Secretary Massachusetts Histonical Commission 3 Joy Itneet Boston, Mass. 02108 October 30, 1972 Mr. Jerry Rogers, Director of Registration Office of Archeology and Historic Preservation National Park Service 1100 L Street, NW Washington, D.C.

Dear Jerry, Re: Moval and demolition and changes to be made of National Register properties in Massachusetts The Loammi Baldwin Mansion, Woburn, Middlesex County, has been moved with an OAHP grant to Alfred Street, Woburn. A map indicating coordinates and new location is enclosed. The Barnstable Old Jail, Barnstable, Barnstable County, was moved with and OAHP grant to Route 6A,Barnstable (next east to the Trayser Museum). A map indicating coordinates and new location is enclosed. Foster's Block, 404-406 Main Street, Worcester, Worcester County, has been demolished. Your office is already aware that the Rotch Counting House, 123 Front Street, New Bedford, Bristol County, has also been demolished. Enclosed, too, is an additional photograph of the North Easton Historic District, Easton, Bristol County, which National Register form is in your emergency or "quick" processing file.

Finally, a representative of the owner of the First Universalist Church, Provincetown, Barnstable County, has notified us that the condition of this building has changed from "good" to "fair" Sincerely yours, Quur Anne Wardwell Survey Director AW/p1w encls. ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER STATE MAESACTUSETTS Date Entered NDV 9 1972 Name Mochanics Hall Vessex Conpany Hachine shop The Hadley 2311ø Coapany Rousing Districc Fcrt Faoerix Location Worcester Worcester County Lawrence Esses County Folyoke Harpden Coaaty Fairhaven Ixistol Cocaty : Also Notified Ion. Edward M. Kennedy Ton. Iivara r. Erooke Ton. Mexerd P. Boland ion. Michuel J. itarrington tion. Silvio 0. Conte Bon. Margaret M. Ecckler Dixector, Northeast Region PHR State Liaison Officer ron. Joln Y. X.

Davoren Secretary of the Cormonwealth Chairan, Massachuvette Fistorical Cormission 40 Eencon Strect Eosten, Massachusetts 02108 NRowland:mm 11/13/72