Nomination for Old County Courthouse

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Form 10-300 (July 1969) PH0026476 ND UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STATE: NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Mass. COUNTY: NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM Plymouth FOR NPS USE ONLY ENTRY NUMBER DATE (Type all entries - complete applicable sections) FEB 23 1972 2. NAME C OMMON: Old County Court fouse AND/ OR HISTORIC: Plymouth Old County Courthouse, LOCATION STREET AND NUMBER: Corner of Leyden and Market Streets CITY OR TOWN: Old Town House CongDistcict 12 RECEIVEn SEP 8 1971 Plymouth STATE CODE COUNTY: NATIONAL Mass. 25 Plymouth REGISTER 3.

CLASSIFICATION CATEGORY OWNERSHIP STATUS (Check One) District Site Building Structure X Object Public Private Both Public Acquisition: - In Process Being Considered X Occupied Unoccupied - Preservation work in progress CODE 023 ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC Yes: X 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: Town of Plymouth STREET AND NUMBER: Park Private Residence Religious Scientific Transportation - Comments - Other (Specify) Mass. Town Hall CITY OR TOWN: Plymouth LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION COURTHOUSE, REGISTRY OF DEEDS, ETC: Plymouth County Registry of Deeds STREET AND NUMBER: STATE: Mass. CODE -025 North Pussell Street CITY OR TOWN: STATE Plymouth Plymouth Mass.

CODE 025 REPRESENTATION IN EXIST ING SURVEYS TITLE OF SURVEY: Inventory of the historic assets of the Commonwealth DATE OF SURVEY: 1968 - Federal [t State - County Local DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS: Massachusetts Historical Commission, Office of the Secretary STREET AND NUMBER: State House CITY OR TOWN: Boston STATE: Mass. CODE 025 FFB 23 1972 STATE: COUNTY: ENTRY NUMBER DATE FOR NPS USE ONLY DESCRIPTION (Check One) Deteriorated LX Excellent CONDITION Good (Check One) Fair - Ruins - Unexposed (Check One) * Altered - Unaltered Moved X) Original Site DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (if known) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Description of the property

The Old County Court House stands on Town Square in Plymouth at the intersection of Leyden and Market Streets. The present building was con- structed in 1749, replacing a Court House built in 1670 as an addition to a still earlier "country house." Evidence indicates that the 1670 Court House one room, 30 by 40 feet, with a vaulted ceiling. Local historians theorize that this vaulted ceiling and the roof of the Court House were incorporated into the 1749 structure. Extenisve work has been done to restore the Old County Court House to its 1749 appearance. As it now stands, the building is a two-story frame structure. The east side of the building has a high brick foundation while the south side and part of the west side have a low foundation of granite. The front (north) facade of the Old Court House, which faces Town Square, is a common five bay type.

Ihe fenestration is regular, with four windows in the first story and five in the second. The windows are twelve over twelve restorations, with simple lintels and sills. The doorway, placed in the center of the main facade, is topped by a six pane rectangular light, and a simple shelf entablature. The gable ends of the Old County Court House are identical. Each story has three windows, treated in the same manner as those of the front facade. These gable ends, like the north elevation, are clapboarded, and are ; finished with end boards and a boxed cornice. 4 simple raking cornice rises to the ridgepole on either gable. 4 chimney interrupts the pitched roof at the east end. The roof at present is paper shingled; it is hoped that these shingles will be replaced by cedar shakes. Was - Z - C Z

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

SIGNIFICANCE PERIOD (Check One or More as Appropriate) Pre-Columbian! J 15th Century 16th Century 17th Century 18th Century 19th Century - 20th Century 'SPECIFIC DATE(S) (If Applicable and Known) 1749 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 Urban Planning x Other (Specify) government STATEMENT OF SiGNIFICANCE

Statement of significance

The Old County Court House, built in Plymouth in 1749, is one of the oldest local government buildings extant in the United States. The Court House stands on a site which has been publicly owned since 1620 and which has served as a colonial capitol, county court house, probate court, The first "country house" on this site may have been built as early as 1637 and was at one time occupied by Captain Thomas Willet, the first mayor of New York City under British rule. In 1670, the General Court of Plymouth Colony ordered an addition to the "country house" for the use of the magistrates of the Court. One of the last actions of the General Court (1686) was to provide for the use of the lower rooms of the "country house" by the court of the newly formed Plymouth County.

The Town of Plymouth arranged for the use of the Court House between court sessions and, in 1698, local farmers opened a market at the eastern end of the building. Though the Willet house was dismantled in 1698, the Court House addition remained in use until 1749 when the present building on the site was con- structed. This building was designed by Peter Oliver of Middleboro, who was then a judge of the Court of Common Pleas. Coueto dommen Local historians theorize that the vaulted ceiling and roof of the 1670 structure were incorporated into the new Court House. Again the county and town shared the building, with the courtroom on the second floor, tøwn offices on the first floor and the market in the basement and at the eastern end of the building.

The Town of Plymouth did not become sole owner of the property until 1821, after another building was constructed to house the Plymouth County Court. Rooms in the Old County Court House have been used for a grammar school for boys, a dame school for girls, the public library and church services by Catholic, Baptist, Epsicopalian, Unitarian, Congregational and other denom- inations. Nearly every town department has had its office in this building at some time. The public market continued in the basement until 1859, when the Plymouth police and fire departments took over this space. With the aid of a HUD grant, Plymouth has recently restored the Old County Court House to its 1749 appearance. The second floor courtroom will be open to visitors and a museum of town history is being created on the first floor.

The rest of the file

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

MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES Hurd, D. Hamilton, History of Plymouth County, Philaddphia, J.W. Lewis & Co. 1884. Records of Plymouth County Court, 1686-1860. Plymouth, Mass, (On file Pilgrim Hall, Plymouth) Briggs, Roasg I., "Court Houses of Plymouth County." unpublished manuscript on file Pilgrim Hall, Plymouth, Mass. 10.

GEOGRAPHICAL DATA LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE COORDINATES DEFINING A RECTANGLE LOCATING THE PROPERTY CORNER LATITUDE Degrees Minutes Seconds 0 R LONGITUDE Degrees Minutes Seconds LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE COORDINA TES DEFINING THE CENTER POINT OF A PROPERTY OF LESS THAN TEN ACRES LATITUDE Degrees Minutes Seconds LONGITUDE Degrees Minutes Seconds NW " 41 57 19 70 NE SE " " SW APPROXIMATE ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY: less than t acre ILIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNTY BOUNDARIES STATE: CODE COUNTY " 39 53 CODE STATE: CODE COUNTY: CODE STATE: CODE COUNTY: CODE STATE: CODE COUNTY: CODE DATE August 27, 1971 STATE 2. FORM PREPARED BY NAME AND TITLE: Anne R.

Wardwell, Survey Director ORGANIZATION Massachusetts Historical Commission STREET AND NUMBER: State House CITY OR TOWN: Boston STATE LIAISON OFFICER CERTIFICAIION CODE MaSNATIONAL REGISTER VERIFICATION 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 Nationa1 Park Service. The recommended level of significance of this nomination is: National I hereby certify that this property is included in the Nationa1 Register. âmnt à Conualle Chief, Office of Archeology and Historic Preservation Date FEB 23 1972 Nal prat.

(Dante Commonwealth and Chairman, Massachusetts Historical Title Commission Date ATTEST: Villa jigl Keeper of ThegYational Registe JAN July 27, 1971 Date TIONS 19 36204 UIM Ket 5960 Plymanth Mass: RECEIPI Hopre Md Gunly Caust Aeusesan DATE OF RECEIPT 9/8/11 YES NO NUMBER DATA PAGE PHOTO (S) - nogood PHUIO DESCRIPTION (S) 7 MAP (S) MAP DESCRIPTION (S) LOGGED ACKNOWLEDGE RESUBMIT 9/8/71 121 10/8/7102 REVIEW Gi TaOk colo phot enacceptable. Send TIO REGISTER NUMBER: FEB 231972 OTTERWISE.... Olay. HISTORIAN means 11/8/71 Sales 425/22 ARCHEOLOGIST ARCHITECT Why must retocationnts use "old brich?" Ot chanben 1-8-72 ASST.

KEEPER KEEPER WRITER/EDITOR (12] $maruau 1/6/11 ERl 2-23 CHIEF, OAHP EDITORIAL PROCESSING, EDITOR 1/17/72 Federal Register Intry 4472 Annual Edition Entry Logged FEB 231972 Card FEB 231972 COMMENIS: b+w phot egwested pe phome 5/15/72 nem WORKING NUMBER 9.8.11.6 CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT: 13 PLEASE RETURN THIS FORM WHEN THE PROPERTY IS RESUBMITTED. DATE:-8-23 NAME OF PROPERTY county The attached National Register Inventory-Nomination form is being returned to your office for clarification of the information indicated below. 1. Name. 2. Location. . 3. Classification. 4. Owner of Property- 5. Location of Legal Description. _ 6. Representation in Existing Surveys. 7. Description. 8. Statement of Significance. 9. Bibliography. 10. Geographical Data. a. Longitude and Latitude Coordinates. b. Ácreage.. 11. Forn Prepared By. 12. Certification. Photographic Coverage.

white pAoo Map Coverage. lanpatude: We eitatade Cther. cola phate not scaptble. Mued black cosdirates bitter map, one which stawe the Clarification or correction of the above items must be made prior to the: initiation of our professional review. Correction of these technical errors does not necessarily insure that the nomination will then satisfy National Register criteria in full. Thank you for your attention to the above items checked. SIGNED: Plymouth, Mass. Old Town House. deyden + Market Sts. MPS Number- Feb 23,1972 ritze: Ald Courtiy Counthouse Hlymrouths ded conting Cust Hmss-Dd Sown Hrnee Ioc. Plmoill, Massachusettas I2.*W. facades. Photo: Stide-Mass.

Histonicas Commission MHC- CS.71.670 PROPERTY OF T.E HATIONN Cliff AP7 DRD Grat 78 Little Pond 83 MORTON Hathaway Point Billington Sea Çranberry Bog Fanbpris9o Begt Channel Goase Point Tidat (ilem OUTH otton Fiat Lighto PLYMOUTH HARBOR Plymouth_Rock ® Coles Hill 41º 57'19" 70°39'53½" 1warson Plly Arms Hokse Pond) M6 Pleasda Sch Holmes Point Tida PLYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS OLD COUNTY COURTHOUSE U.S.G.S. PLYMOUTH, MASS. Scale: 1:24,000 1962 80 Lout Pond 6,00- O1o3° Fiat Poverty '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 Plymouth FOR NPS USE ONLY ENTRY NUMBER DATE FEB 23 1972 NAME COMMON: Old County Court House AND/OR HISTORIC: Plymouth O1d County Court House, Old Town House LOCATION STREET AND NUM BER: Corner of Leyden and Market Streets CITY OR TOWN: Plymouth STATE: CODE 25 COUNTY: Mass. MAP REFERENCE SOURCE: Pl ymouth U.S.G.S. Plymouth, Mass. SCALE: 1:24,000 DATE: 1962 REQUIREMENTS TO BE INCLUDED ON ALL MAPS 1. Froperty broundaries where required. 2. North arrow. 3. Latitude and longitude reference. CODE 23 Plymouth, Mase. ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER STATE MEGOR CHUSTTUS Date Entered FEB 2 3 1972 Name Merrell Tavorn Northborough Town.Hall Pirst baptist Church Old county Court fouse Trinity Rectory St.

Luke's Episcopel Church Crominshiel& Houso First Univezsaliet Church Griswold (Major Joseph) Houso Location South Iee Ferkshire County Northhorough Morceater County Focton Suftolk County Piynouth Plynouth County Eeston Suffolk County Tanesborough Borkehira County Boston Suffclk County Provincetown Barnstable County Bucklond Frarklin County Also Notified Hon. Edward M. Kennedy Hon. Idward w. Brooke Hon. Silvio o. Conte Fon. Hazolá D. Donohue Hon. Thonas P. O10ill, Js. Hon. Hascings Koith Director, Northeast Region HR NRowland: mm 2/16/72 State Ltaison Officcr lon. John F. X. Davoren Sccretery of the Conmonwealth Chairman, Masnachuoctts fistorical Corminsion Offiae of the Secrotary Statc House Boston, Massechusetts 02133 Mass H34-HR APR 4 1972 Hx, Allen D.

Russell 26 North Street Plymouth, Massachussetts 02360 Dear Mr, Russell: Thank you for your recent letter concerning the entry of the 01d County Courshouse in Plymouth, Massachusetts, to the Natlenal Regiater of Iliatorle Placea. We are pleased to infors you that thia historle property was entered on the National Begister on February 23, le very much apprecfate your thoughtfulness in sending us Part I of your historical study of the bullding, whieh constitutes a valuable addition to our records. le will be glad to receive the other parts as they are complated. We apprectate your interest la the Mational Register progras. Sineerely youzrs, William J. Murtagh (Sga.) Wi11ian J. Murtagh Keeper of che National Register CC: Hon. John E. X.

Davoren, Secretary of the Conmonwealth, Chairman, Massachusetts Historical Comission, Office of the Secretary, State House, Boston, Massachusetts 02133 w/cy inc Director, Northeast Region I - Mr. Winge HR - w/cy inc FBSarles:rls 3/27/72 BASIC FILES RETAINED IN HR 26 North St-, Plymouth, Mass.02360 Sept. 30 1972 Mr. William J. Murtagh Keeper of the National Archives U. S. Department of the Interior National Park Service Washington D. C. 20240 Dear Sir, Pleace find herowith a copy of Port III of the 1749 Court House in flymouth,Mass. Ihin completes the story to date, though we still find additional itemo of interest,but of no groat import. Did you receive a copy of Part II, plus the two additional pages, which I mailea Aug.? I have not heará as yet. Yours respectiully QUlu Russell Chmn. 1749 Court House Comm- FEB 8 1973 Plymauta Coustry, mpa. #34+PHH 1x.

Allen I, Eussell: 26 Herth Street Massachusetts 02360 Dear Mr. Husse11: After long delay, due in part to an estended i1lness, I an acinowi- edging receipt of part III of your very interesting teport en the 1749 Court Eouse in Plymouth. Although we all enjoyed rending 1t, because of the natuze of the National Regtater and ite zelatlonahip eo the states, ve felt that the Massaclusette Historlcal Comtesion vould be batter able te ue the aaterial and to make it more avaf?- ahle to researchera and hiatorians. Therefore ve have taken the 1berty of sending all three parts to llou. John T.*. Devoren, Massschusetts State Iiatoon Dfficer. My apologtes fer the long delay, but I have just returned fren a prelonged bout with nonenucleeste. Thank you fer your interest 1n histerte preservacion and fer alloving us to read your research papers. Sincerely youre, Mary C.

Means, listorian Bevien Unit Natlesal Itegdater Hon. Jolin T.X. Davoren, Secretary of the Commonvealth, Chairman, Massachusetts Historical Conaission, 40 Beacon Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02133 w/cy Inc Director, Northeast Regien w/cy ine LI - Mr. Winge PHR - w/cy inc HMEANS:50-p 2/7/73 BASIC FILE RETAINED IN PIR 26 North Street Plymouth, Mass- 02360 Feb. 22 1973 Mary C, Means, Historian Review Unit, National Register Dept. of Int. National Park Service Washington D. C. 20240 Dear Ms Means I am glad to hear that you have recovered from an unhappy illness and hope you will not be so situated again. I was however a bit downcast to receive your letter of February 8th telling me that you had sent all three parts of my history of the 1749 Court House in Plymouth Mass., to Hon. John F. X.

Davoren, for several reasons- First;He already has all three parts.I think no one will ever again do the research that I did over a span of some four years, which not only included looking up every known original source, but also daily attendance and study at and of the building as the work went on. Of course some of what was discovered can never be discovered again, since it is no longer there, which is why I took photographs of every- thing as we went along.For that reason I made up several copies of the history and deposited them in,1 thought,appropriate places.

Second, it comes to mind that in one of the folders, The National Historic Landmarks (red) folder that the National Register had been expanded to include plases State, regional and Historic Sites, and in the National Register of Historic Places (green), that records photographs, measured drawings and written data were deposited in the Library of Congress.I feel a bit deflated. Third there is an error in part II, page 8.The lady who did all the typing reached the miadle of page eight and then turned two pages of my manuscript-- and proceeded from there.As a result the words starting the paragraph half way down page ,"The last vote proves---" makes no sense for the lest vote was on the page she turned without typing it.I have prepared a new page o and a page 8A, to take the place of the original page 8 and was just about to mail it to you and ask you to make the change over.

Now I don't know where to send it. Please excuse my typing.I had a small operation on my nose this morning, am wearing a lafge bandage on it which keeps my glasses about an inche away from my eyes which makes it difficult to see the key board, and I have to see it as I never leared to type properly. Respectfully yours CcC X.122 sucll FEB 271973 134-PHR lir. Allen Do Ruesel1 26 lorth Street Plynouti, Massachusetts 02360 Dear Ir. Russel1: I regret tiat our decision te send your three-part histery of the 1749 Courthouse in Plynouth to the State Ilataon Offleer disturbed you. I explaiued, ve do not lave the facilitles nor ta it the purpose of our agency to safntain detailed records. The bibllography section of a nonination fora vill give an iuterasted researcher excellent leada to nore detalled sourees.

The Massachusetts Histerical Connlasien, on the other hand, has much more need for such complete researeh. This vaa our reasen for depes- Iting youz study with the state agency. You ahould not be disappeinted in the library of Congress. If you 1eok closely you w111 see that the records of the llistorie American Buildings Survey aze kept there. These are coapiled by the profesalonal staff of the Survey and nust he in a standard fornat to be acceptable by them and by the Library of Congress. .A.I.S, has not survayed the Courthouse, but you could urite to them in care of the lational Park Service, Departsent of the Interior, Vashington, D.C. 20240, Perhaps they vould consider a professional survey. If that veze the case, your research saterial vould certainly faterest then.

ofaice and ses otes Eorade faeonezes, 2%, bure oy voud und aeae Sincerely yours, Maxy C- Neans Review Unit Nattonal Regieter cc: . toicai comaitoston, 40 Seacon Striet, Soston Nas, Chusette, 9235 clug- the Director, Northeast Region w/ey inc LI - MI. Winge [PHR - w/cy inc MMEANS:50-P 2/26/73 BASIC FILE RETAINED IN PHE