BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
1S NI Form 10-300 (July 1969) PH002 6662 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM HB E327250 n19 N 4688790 STATE: Massachusetts COUNTY: Suffolk FOR NPS USE ONLY ENTRY NUMBER (Type all entries- complete applicable sections) APR DATE 2.3 1973 NAME COMMON: John Eliot Square District AND/ OR HISTORIC: LOCATION 9th Congressional District STREET AND NUMBER: John Eliot Square CITY OR TOWN: (Roxbury) Boston STATE Massachusetts 3.
CLASSIFICATION CATEGORY (Check One) District Site Building Structure Object Public Private Both CODE COUNTY: 025 Suffolk CODE .025 OWNERSHIP STATUS Public Acquisition: - In Process Being Considered Occupied X 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 LA Educational Military Entertainment Museum X Park Private Residence Religious Scientific L Transportation ( Other (Specify) Library - Comments OWNER OF PROPERTY OWNER'S NAME: public and private STREET AND NUMBER: RECEIVETT APR 5 1973 NATIONAL REGISTER CITY OR TOWN: (Roxbury) STATE: Massachusetts 6 LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION COURTHOUSE, REGISTRY OF DEEDS, ETC: Registry of Deeds STREET AND NUMBER: Suffolk County Courthouse & Norfolk County Courthouse CITY OR TOWN: 1025 CODE Boston & Dedham Massachusetts 025 REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS TITLE OF SURVEY: 1) Historic American Buildings Survey Mass-558,-557 DATE OF SURVEY: 1939 LX Federal DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS: Library of Congress STREET AND NUMBER: [continued] ] County - Local CITY OR TOWN: Washington STATE: CODE D.
C. Massachusetts Suffolk STATE: COUNTY: ENTRY NUJUE FOR NPS USE ONLY DESCRIPTION CONDITION [X Excellent X Good X] Fair (Check One) (Check One) CX Deteriorated ORUTe Riostkpofed (ChecAPR®)5 1973 - Altered X Unaltered - X Origiral Site DESORIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (if known) PHYSICÅL APPEARANCE INATIONAL John Eliot Square is an irregular shaped district which inctudesmines teen buildings of which two are major historic buildings and seven are, supporting historic structures.They form a unique mixture of bujlding styles from the mid-eighteenth through the nineteenth centuries. The area includes 183 to 149 Roxbury Street, 13 to 25 Putnam including Dudley Elemen- tary School, 3 to 27 Dudley Street, 1 to 20 John Eliot Square, and 58 to 70 Bartlett Street, and the First Church and its grounds. Major Structures 1.
The First Church in Roxbury (1804) is an outstanding example of the Fedeyal Meetinghouse style. The frame two-story church is five bays wide by seven bays deep with a projecting three bay entrance vestibule from which the tower springs. On the entrance, roundheaded side entries and upper story windows flank the central entry surmounted by an elliptical fanlight and upper story Palladian window. Four flush pilasters on the facade spring from rusticated pilasters on the ground floor and support a Targe triangular pediment.. Modillion blocks ornament the cornice of the entire building as well as the pediments. Quoins outline the corners of the rectangular church proper; the windows are framed in plain wooden mouldings. The tower is composed of two square sections, the upper one with louvered penetrations for the belfry, an arcaded octagonal lantern, and a topmost octagonal cupola.
The church is set on the rise at the rear of the triangular landscaped grounds. The present structure remains unchanged from the original except that the steeple was rebuilt in 1954 after its destruction by a hurricane. 24 The Dillaway-Thomas House (c. 1750-54), 183 Roxbury St., i5 a two and a half story gambrel roof clapboard structure of typical modest Georgian style arrangement. Five bays wide and two bays deep, it has an entrance covered by a small rectangular portico supported on slender doric columns. Three pedimented dormers pierce the roof. A small one story enclosed entry projects in the center, of the west side. The house is set back a considerable distance from the street. A one story ell has been added to the rear of the house. A renovation effort in the 1930's completed interior renovatfons. Recently, a fire destroyed the roof.
Supporting Structures Ionic Hall (1800-04), 149 Roxbury Street, a three story Federal brick mansion with a pitched roof and side gables, has a five bay facade with a central portico supported on Ionic columns. A delicately carved Federal cornice with complete return is under the roof which has two front dormers. The house is approached through a granite and puddingstone front wall that is topped by a small wrought-iron fence. In 1874, the third story supposedly was added. Later additions include the one story wings on either side, the right one leading to a separate brick chapel on the grounds. 4. Dudley School Putnam and Dudley Streets, (c. 1873-84), a two story brick schoolhouse with a high mansard roof and peaked dormers. The massive structure has side entrance pavillions on the Dudley St. facade and an ornamental center gable.
Brownstone belt courses and arched lintels, de- tailed brick cornice, and decorative slate roof are typical of the High Victorian Gothic style treatment. [continued] Form 10-300a (July 1969) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM STATE Massachusetts COUNTY Suffolk Boston, Eliot Square District(Continuation Sheet)#1 FOR NPS USE ONLY ENTRY NUMBER APR DATE 2 $ 1973 (Number all entries) 6. Existing Surveys cont!d. 2) Roxbury Highlands Study Date of Survey: 1969 X Local Depository for Survey Records: Boston Architectural Center Newbury Street Boston, Massachusetts Code: 25 7. Description cont'd. 5. Cox Building (c. 1870), 1, 2, 3, John Eliot Sq., 67, 69, 73 Bartlett St., 3, 5 Dudley Street, is an unusual curved block of three stories plus a mansard roof penetrated by windows.
The central curved bays facing the Square are brick with granite sills, lintels, and quoins in the upper floors. On the matched flanking bays on Bartlett and Dudley Streets, brownstone is used for the entire facade as well as for ornamentation. Bracketed triangular pediments top the first floor openings; flat carved brownstone lintels deco- rate the upper windows. A bracketed cornice runs along the block's entire The first floor of the brick portion has been completely remodeled with glazed storefront windows; none of the block's original windows remain. 6. Spooner-Lambert House (c. 1780), 64 Lambert Street. This two story frame house with a hipped roof retains its Federal shape and window and chimney arrangement. An entrance portico with Ionic columns, the gabled side ell, and asphalt shingle wall covering indicate later additions. 7.
Hotel Eliot (1875), 68-70 Bartlett Street, built of brick, this four story , flat-roofed structure presents an asymetrical facade and has richly ornamented surface treatment. Brownstone string courses connect sills and lintels leaving the interstices filled with patterned horizontal brickwork. A corbelled brick cornice tops the building. Generally, windows are elongated rectangles except for pairs of round-headed windows separated by colonnettes on the top story. 8. Garvey House (c. 1870), 20 John Eliot Square, is a massive five story brick building ornamented by brick corner quoins, string courses, and, under the cornice, a corbelled course which incorporates the round- headed top story windows. Flush oblong lintels of mastic finish the other windows.
Above the central entrance in the third story, windows are recessed in three shallow brick arches and are connected by an iron balustrade. The ground floor of the facade has been altered, and the original namez plate has been removed from the top floor although its brick frame remains. 9. Putnam Chapel (1876), First Church grounds, is a one stor trame NECEIVEU building set on a high puddingstone basement. APR5 1973 NATIONAL REGISTER P Z - SIGNIFICANCE PERIOD (Check One or More as Appropriate) - Pre-Columbian / 16th Century 15th Century 17th Century SPECIFIC DATE(S) (It Applicable and Known) C.
1750-1873 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 * 18th Century 19th Century - 20th Century Political: Religion/Phi- losophy - Science. Sculpture [X Social/Human- itarian Theater Transportation 12 ZUrban. Planging orheREeenVe0 APR5 1973 NATIONAL REGISTER STATEM ENT OF SiGNIFICANCE The buildings enclosing John Eliot Square, at the fork of three Roxbury streets, represent a mixture of architectural styles and mixture of resi- dential, religious, civic, and commercialuses. Historically, Eliot Square has been the center of Roxbury since the town's founding in 1630.
The growing settlement formed the parish of The First Church in Roxbury, which has occupied five successive structures on the same site. Chosen as the first minister of the new church, John Eliot, whose name has long been associated with the Square, gained the sobriquet, "Aposfle of the Indians," for his efforts in educating local Indian tribes. The only road to Boston from the inland towns forked at Eliot Square and lead to Cambridge (via Roxbury Street) and to Dedham (via Centre Street). The community developed along these highways with the First Church meetinghouse as a visual focal point. Beyond the Square toward Dudley Square were the original sites of the Roxbury Latin School, founded in 1645 and the oldest educational institution in America in continuous existence.
During the Revolution, the slopes of the Roxbury Highlands, south of the Square, hid patriot troops; at the crest of the hi.ll was Roxbury High Fort. As the 19th century progressed, the HighTands developed from large colonial estates and farmlands into a fashionable residential The Dillaway-Thomas House, built between 1750 and, 1754 by the Reverend Oliver Peabody, pastor of the First Church, was probably not completed by 1762 during the ministry of Peabody's successor, Amos Adams. During the siege of Boston, General John Thomas probably used the house as headquarters of the Continental Army. The rear windows could afford a reasonable view of The property. Nonetheless, the new occupants, one of the nieces and her husband, .Charles K.
Dillaway, were active in church affairs: Dillaway, a teacher at Boston Latin and trustee of Roxbury Latin, was a Deacon and Superintendent of the Sunday School. Between the end of the Dillaway's occupancy in 1903 until 1927, no noteworthy events occurred. In 1927, the house was bought by the City of Boston for land for a new school. The acquisition caused local residents to oppose its demolition. The City responded by funding partial restoration, and the Roxbury Historical Society has maintained it as head- quarters. The site of the First Church (1.) has been continuously used since erection of the first building in 1632 by the congregational parish. John Eliot has been one of its most remarkable ministers. Each of the earlier structures [continued] MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES Memorial History of Boston, 1630-1880, ed. J. Windsor, Boston, 1881.
Drake, Frances S., The Town of Roxbury: Its Memorable Persons and Places, Thwing, W. E., History of the First Church in Roxbury, Massachusetts, Amadon, E. R., Historical Report: Dillaway House, unpublished report for the City of Boston, Public Facilities Department by Architectural Heritage, Inc., March, 1969 Boston Evening Transcript, December 16, 1876. [continued] 10. GEOGRAPHICAL DATA LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE COORDINATES DEFINING A RECTANGLE LOCATING THE PROPERTY R CORNER LATITUDE LONGITUDE NW Dagzos Migu51.04° Dappees Minute3fo.2nd NE 42. 19 .51.04 71 o 05 Degrees 42° LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE COORDINATES DEFINING THE CENTER POINT OF A PROPERTY OF LESS THAN TEN ACRES LONGITUDE Minutes 05* 19.35, LATITUDE Minutes 19' Seconds 47° Degrees 71° Seconds 25" SE 42. 19 .42.80 71 -05 19.35. SW 42- 19 .42.80 71 -05 31.25.
APPROXIMA TE ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY: 9.5 LIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OROINN CODE STATE: CODE COUNTY: STATE: CODE COUNTY: APR 5 NATIONAL REGISTER 1973 CODE CODE STATE: CODE COUNTY: 181 CODE FORM PREPARED BY NAME AND TITLE: Judith McDonough (BRA) for Elizabeth Amadon, State Survey Director ORGANIZATION DATE Massachusetts Historical Commission STREET AND NUMBER: 40 Beacon Streetpme CITY OR TOWN: STATE Boston March, 1973 STATE LIAISON OFFICER CERTIFICATION Massachusetts NATIONAL REGISTER VERIFICATION CODE :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 forthby the National Park Service.
The recommended level of significance of this nomination is: tional State xX Local I hereby certify that this property is included in the Nationa 1 Register. toher Tan Uele Chief, Office of Archeolopy and Historic Preservation Name Secretary of the uut.y ommonwealth and Chairman, Massachusetts Historical Title Commission Date 4/23/13 ATTEST: Kee Date March 30, 1973 Date 4 The National Registe 18 M M - \211/3 Form 10-300a (July 1969) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENTOF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARKECEIVIEE NATIONAL REGISTER QFRHIST@R3C PLACES STATE Massachusetts COUNTY Suffolk NVENTORY - NOMINATION FOR VATIONA Boston, Eliot Square District (Continggtio 5h068) +2 FOR NPS USE ONLY ENTRY NUMBER APR 2 3 1975 DATE (Number all entries) 67 8. Significance cont'd.. served as meetinghouse of the growing Roxbury community. During the siege the fourth church building was used as a signal station.
This structure was replaced by the present edifice in 1803-04, although a contemporary manu- script states that "It was not half worn out. .." Soon after completion, in 1805, the parish voted to end town meetings in the church which necessi- tated construction of a new Town House (presently the site of the Dudley Names of the church's architects, Timothy Palmer and a consultant, William Blaney, are only conjecture. About 1810, the parish became Unitarian, and the former occupants later formed the Eliot Congregational Church. Although the structure underwent several repairs during the 19th century, it remains the oldest frame church building in the city and is an outstanding example of the Federal meetinghouse style.
During the construction of the First Church, the First Religious Society held services in an adjacent home, Ionic Hall(3.), which was built in 1800 but was not completely finished until 1804. Captain Stoddard of Hingham built it for his daughter. The third story allegedly was added during the ownership of Mr. Theodore Otis in 1874. At present the handsome Federal mansion 1s owned by St. James Episcopal Church for use as residence and office. TheDudleySchool(4.) was probably erected by 1873 only five years after Roxbury's annexation to Boston--a move that terminated need for the Old Town House on that site. Architecturally, the school illustrates the High Victorian Gothic style that was a popular fashion for schoolhouses of the 1870's.
Providing a visual terminus at the fork of Dudley and Bartlett Streets, the Cox Building (5.) echoes the curve of the First Church grounds and links the more massive later Victorian structures around Eliot Square. Built in 1870 by George Cox, the building facades were stipulated by deed to be of fireproof material. The central block originally combined residential and retail uses, while the flanking bays were elegant townhouses. The Spooner-Lambert House (6.) was built soon after the Revolution ended by Major John J. Spooner, a Boston merchant. Although obscured by later additions, the characteristics of a modest early Federal dwelling are evident. The Hotel Eliot (7.), built in 1875 from designs by the architect J. H. Besayick, became Roxbury's first, grand apartment house and indicated the trend of multiple-family housing that in later decades became more modest triple-deckers.
Formerly the Norfolk House, the Marcus Garvey House (8.) is a combination of structures which were originally used for hotel purposes witnessing Roxbury as an important route on the inland transportation system. The rear portion was added in 1825 to the original frame hostelry that was demolished in 1853 for the present massive building. Used as a settlement house after its demise as a hotel near the turn of the century, the building now honors Marcus Garvey, a prominent Black publisher and nationalist of the early 20th century and still provides community services to its neighborhood. Visually, the house provides a strong sense of enclosure to Eliot Square. Putnam Chapel (9.), now repository of the old Fellowes Atheneum, was built in 1876. Its horizontal mass and exposed frame construction relate well to the church proper.
Form 10-300a UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (July 1969) NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM STATE Massachusetts COUNTY Suffolk FOR NPS USE ONLY ENTRY NUMBER Boston, Eliot Square District (Continuation Sheet)#3 APR 2 3 19/3 (Number all entries) 9. The Major Bibliographical References cont'd. Roxbury Magazine, published by All Souls Unitarian Church, Roxbury, Massachusetts, 1899. American Architect and Building News, vol. 2, no. 55, January 13, 1877.
1LU2) 11I RECENVED 1973 NATIONAL OI6118 REGISTER Tg DATE PROPERTZlot jaha) Aquare AxatúgeTE Muco WORKING NUMBER 1.5.73,2741 TECH REVIEW Photos 5 Maps 2 CONTROL REVIEW 130008.54 Cm 4 9- 73 HISTORIAN ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN OK SccepF Am 1110/7 Acept13 Accept 4/11/73 ARCHEOLOGIST REVIEW UNIT CHIEF BRANCH CHIEF KEEPER 4/10/23 National Register write-up Federal Register entry_6-5-23 Send-back Re-submit Entered APR 2 3 1973 MASSACHUSETTS BOSTON, JOHN ELIOT SQUARE DiSTRLL FiestCHuecu oF frexBuny NPS Number 123.73 Title: el iit. . ads Squae Lutt Loc. Suffile C, Mis Zust Chuch f Kerkuy PROPERTY OF THE NATONAL MEGISTER NPS Number 4.23.73 Title: Clet, Jls, Square. Custrc 400. Suffelk Co.,Mass Lillamag-Mene Khar 52125 IN EuOT SQUARE DISTRLLT (2) IWAY- THOMAS HOUSE PROPERTY OF THE NATOAL MEGISTER MASSACHUSETTS BOSTON, JOuN EuoT SaunRE (Fonic HalC) NPS Number 4.23,13 m20: Mut, In Squne Nutrut LOC.
Slei CMas- ene dall PROPERTY OF THE NATTOMIL REGIOTER MASSACHUSETTS BOSTON, JONIN ELIOT SQUNPE DIE DUDLEy ScHtoo NPS Number 4,23.73 1*tle: 1:00. Sulelk Dutuct Ius Oidly Schiel PROPERTY OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER I MASSACHUSETTS Borroy, JouN ELoT SQuARE DiSTRIC Cox Builling, MarusGaren ! NPS Number 42373 Title: dliet, Jel, Square luttet Loc.
SulekCe, 3 Cer buldes Marcus Kausy Aall Luglt) PROPERTY OF TIE NATIORAL REGISTER Form 10-301 (July 1969) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR UNITED STATATION NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES PROPERTY MAP FORM (Type all entries - attach to or enclose with map) STATE Massachusetts COUNTY Suffolk FOR NPS USE ONLY ENTRY NUMBER DATE APR 2 3 1973 - = - NAME COMMON: John Eliot Square, Roxbury AND/OR HISTORIC: LOCATION STREET AND NUM BER: CITY OR TOWN: Boston (Roxbury) STATE: Massachusetts CODE 025 COUNTY: MAP REFERENCE SOURCE: USGS 7.5' Series, Boston South Quadrangle SCALE: 1:24,000 DATE: 1956 REQUIREMENTS TO BE INCLUDED ON ALL MAPS 1. Property broundaries where required. 2. North arrow. 3. Latitude and longitude reference.
Suffolk 12 1PP RECENVET NATIONAL REGISTER 219 CODE 025 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) DATE - U NAME COMMON: John Eliot Square, Roxbury AND/OR HISTORIC: LOCATION STREET AND NUM BER: CITY OR TOWN: Boston STATE: (Roxbury) Massachusetts MAP REFERENCE SOURCE: SCALE: DATE: 1:100 1962 REQUIREMENTS TO BE INCLUDED ON ALL MAPS 1. Property broundaries where required. 2. North arrow. 3. Latitude and longitude reference.
STATE Massachusetts COUNTY Suffolk FOR NPS USE ONLY APR7 38031 RECEIVEO APR S NATIONAL REGISTER <V CODE 025 COUNTY: Suffolk CODE 025 Topographic & Planimetric Survey of the City of Boston 3 ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER STATE MASSACHUSETZS Date Entered APR 2 3 1973 Name Wistarishurst Rosbury High Fort Bllot (John) Square Dietrict The Wayaide Inn illatoric District Location Holyoke Hampden County Boston (Rozbury Distriec) Suffolk County Bosten (Roxbury Distzict) Suffolk County Sudbury Middlesex County Also Notified Hon. Edward M. Kennedy lon. Edward W. Brooke Hon. Silvio o. Conte Hon. John Hoakley Hon, Robert Drinan Director, Northeast Region PHR Bon. Jobn F. Z.
Davoren Secretary of the Coumonwealth Chaitman, Massachusetts iistorical Conaission 40 Beacon Street Boston, Massschuoetts 02108 NRowland: pcl 5/7/73 Paul Guzzi Secrelary of the Commonroeathh December 8, 1975 The Commonrvealth of Massachusetts Office of the Secretary Massachuselt, Histonical Commission 294 Washingtop Street Boslon, Massachuselts 02108 XXXXx*XX 727-8470 Mr. Charles Herrington Chief, Registration National Register National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Washington, D.C. 20240 Dear Charles: This is to inform you that the Dudley School, located at the corner of Putnam and Dudley Streets, Boston and part of the John Eliot Square Dis- trict (entered in National Register 4/23/73) was demolished by fire in November, 1975. Please adjust your records to indicate the removal of this building from the district. The boundaries will remain the same. Thankyou.
Sincerely yours, Pot Patricia L. Weslowski Survey Director Massachusetts Historical Commission PLW/mw THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES DATE REC'D DEC 1 0 M/2 INDIVIDUAL RESPONSE (ATTACHED) INFORMATIVE MATERIAL SENT TELEPHONECALL (ATTACHED) DATE ACTION TAKEN INITIALS Advisory Council On Historic Preservation 1522 K Street NW. Washington D.C. 20005 1 NOV 2 1 1978 Mr. Marvin Siflinger Area Manager U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Boston Area Office 15 New Chardon Street Boston, Massachusetts 02114 Dear Mr. Siflinger: On September 20, 1978, the Council received a determination from the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that construction of a mid-rise building, financed in part with HUD Section 8 subsidies, would not adversely affect the John Eliot Square Historic District, Roxbury, Massachusetts, a property included in the National Register of Historic Places. The Executive Director does not object to your determination. A copy of your determination of no adverse effect, along with supporting documentation and this concurrence, should be included in any assessment or statement prepared for this undertaking in compliance with the National Environment Policy Act and should be kept in your records as evidence of your compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 470f, as amended, 90 Stat. 1320). Your continued cooperation is appreciated. Sincerely, gned Myra F.
Harrison Assistant Director Office of Review and Compliance