Nomination for First Parish Unitarian Church

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Form 10-300 (Rev. 6-72) PH0026336 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STATE: NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Massachusetts COUNTY: NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM Norfolk FOR NPS USE ONLY (Type all entries - complete applicable sections) ENTRY DATE APR 18 1974 1.

NAME C OMMON: First Parish Unitarian Church (use for publication) AND/OR HISTORIC: Church of Christ, Medfield; First Congregational Parish LOCATION TREE1 North Street CITY OR TOWN: Medfield STATE CODE 025 CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT: 10th COUNTY: Norfolk CODE 021 Massachusetts CLASSIFICATION CATEGORY (Check One) District Site OWNERSHIP STATUS Building Structure Object Public Private Both Public Acquisition: In Process Being Considered * 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 Museum [X Park Private Residence Religious Scientific 19 - Transportation orhet(spechy Ofomments OWNER OF PROPERTY OWNER'S NAME: First Parish Unitarian, Medfiela STREET AND NUMBER: North Street CITY OR TOWN: STATE: MAR 22 1974 HATIONAL REGISTER CEnETy -Medtleld LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION COURTHOUSE, REGISTRY OF DEEDS, ETC: Massachusetts CODE 025 Massachusetts Norfolk County Registry of Deeds STREET AND NUMBER: 650 Hiah Street CITY OR TOWN: ISTATE CODE Dedham REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS TITLE OF SURVEY: Inventory of Historic Assets of the Commonwealth DATE OF SURVEY: 1971 - Federal [X State DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS: Massachusetts Historical Commission STREET AND NUMBER: 40 Beacon Street CITY OR TOWN: ISTATE: Boston Massachusetts 025 - County - Local APR Massachusetts CODE 025 STATE COUNTY: ENTRY NUMBER DATE FOR NPS USE ONLY 7.

DESCRIPTION CONDITION Excellent - Good & Fair (Check One) (Check One) - Deteriorated Ruins * Altered - Unaltered DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (if known) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Description of the property

- Moved - Unexposed (Check One) X Original Site The First Parish Unitarian on North Street is situated in a commanding spot, facing what was once the Town Green and is now a commercial district. The white clapboard Greek Revival structure rises above the encroaching : commercial area as one of the few historically significant buildings in the entire downtown area. The church is situated on approximately 1.3 acres of gently sloping sparsely wooded land. The main structure was designed by Captain Joseph Bacon and constructed in 1789, using some materials from the previous meetinghouse of 1706. The entire framing of the church is of unusually heavy 14" hand hewn oak. Both the principal rafters and the tie beams are bowed in a manner similar to those in the Old Ship Church in Hingham, and possibly were part of the materials salvaged from the earlier meetinghouse.

In 1839 the building underwent a major remodeling "so as to render it more adapted to the state of the parish and more conformable to the taste of the present time". While no professional architect was consulted, some of thé alterations reveal a strong similarity to illustrations in Asher Benjamin's popular pattern book, The Practice of Architecture (1833). Major changes included turning the church to face south on the main road, raising the foundation to create a two-story building and allow for a vestry, and adding a Doric hexastyle porch, with a new bell tower and steeple. Three entrance doors on the church front are framed in the Greek Revival manner; this style is also reflected in the anthemion devices and the four corner Doric pilasters with recessed panels. The three-staged bell tower contains the town clock, installed in 1861, with octagonal dials on all four sides.

It is probable that brackets were added at this time at the cornice, in the pediment, and on the clock tower. The present bell was installed in 1868. The original 60' x 45' area of the church was increased in 1915 when a 7' addition was constructed on the rear of the building, containing a round stained glass Tiffany-style window. The last major change occurred to the church when the 1938 hurricane brought down the steeple which was never replaced due to lack of funds. The building has white clapboard siding, a black asphalt shingle roof, and diamond-paned stained glass windows on the main floor (four on the east side, three on the west). These side windows all have inside shutters. Ground floor windows are small pane frosted glass, with stained glass side panels. The main floor contains a vestibule and an auditorium with a smali balcony across the south side.

The vestry and an adjacent room have wainscotting reported to be panelling from the 1789 pews. RECEINED MAR 2 9 1974 NATIONAL REGISTER m m - Z C un Z -

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) 1789 and 1839 AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE (Check One or More as Appropriate) Abor iginal Education * Political - Prehistoric Engineering * Religion/Phi. Historic Industry losophy Agriculture Invention -] Science Architecture Landscape Sculpture Art Architecture Social/Human- Commerce Literature itarian Communications Military Theater Conservation 4 Music ] Transportation X Urban Planning - Other (Specify) STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

Statement of significance

Since the founding of the first meetinghouse in 1653 on this site, the Medfield townspeople have shown unflagging interest in the image of the First Congregational Church (now Unitarian) in their townscape. In 1839 when the church was turned to face south on the main road, and Greek Revival details were added, the townspeople stressed the importance of the church being "an ornament to this village". A main road was also widened and obstructions removed in order to create a clear view of the church. The many remodellings and enhancements that took place from the 18th c. through the 20th c. demonstrate the community's continual concerni for the church as a valuable asset to the town center. Today the church remains the visual focus of the town center, and in the midst of the commercial encroachment, rests as one of the few significant structures, both historically and architecturally.

The first substantial construction of the church in 1789 was a major issue in town meetings from 1786 to 1788, since at that time the Congregational Church in Massachusetts was supported by local taxation. The church of 1789 became the "publick meeting house" in which town meetings continued to be held even after the separation of church and state. After the 1839 remodeling, practically all town meetings were held in the newly created vestry of the church until the Town Hall was completed in 1872. The clock in the tower is still maintained by the town of Medfield. The church experienced a schism in 1828, when certain members withdrew and formed a Second Congregational Society, but the church stayed in the hands of those who remained and the First Parish became Unitarian.

Famed parishioners include Hannah Adams (1775-1831) author of many well known religious histories, and Iowell Mason (1792-1872) who later became the founder of musical instruction in United States public schools. 1) 181119 RECÊÎVEU MAR 2 9 1974 NATIONAL REGISTER

The rest of the file

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

MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES I. Town of Medfield-- Town Meeting Records 2.First Parish Unitarian, Medfield--Records 3. Benjamin,Asher, Practice of Architecture, original 1833, reprint 1917, New York. 4. Lafever, Minard, The Beauties of Modern Architecture,original 1835, reprint 1968, New York. 10.

GEOGRAPHICAL DATA LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE COORDINATES LATITUDE ANE LONGIT-IDE COORDINATES DEFINING A RECTANGLE LOCATING THE PROPERTY DEFINING THE LENTER POINI OF A PAOPERTY CORNER R OF LESS THAN TEN ACRES LATITUDE LONGITUDE LATITUDE LONGITUDE Degrees Minutes Seconds Degrees Minutes Seconds Degrees Minutes Seconds Degrees Minutes Seconds NW NE 42 11 14% 71 18 25 SE SW APPROXIMATE ACREAGE OF NOMINATED ILIST ALL STATES AND COUN TIESROR PROPERTIES OVERLA AING STATE OR COUNF BOUNDARIES STATE: CODE COUNTY CODE STATE: CODE COUNTY: STATE: CODE COUNTY: RECEIVED MAR 2 9 1974 NATIONAL REGISTER CODE CODE STATE: CODE COUNTY: CODE FORM PREPARED BY NAME AND TITLE: Mindy Arbo, for Elizabeth R. Amadon State Survey Director ORGANIZATION DATE Massachusetts Historical Commission March 5, 1974 STREET AND NUMBER: 40 Beacon Street CITY OR TOWN: STATE Boston (617) 727-8470 T2.

STATE LIAISON OFFICER CERTIFICATION Massachusetts 02108 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 c-iteria and procedures set forth by the National Park Service. The recommended level of significance of this nomination is: National State Local NameAororab! ossa Davoren Secretary of the Commonwealth I hereby certify that this property is included in the Nationa1 Register. @Rmorlesen Director, Office of Archeology and Historic Preservation Date 4/18/74 ATTEST: Title Date Chairman, Massachusetts HistorA ical Commission Merch 14,1974 Date Keeper ot waflmutys 4.18.74 * U.S.

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1973-729-147/1442 3-/ M - Z PROPERTE triet Pasich Unitarian ChurahSTArE Mass. WORKING NUMBER 3, 29,74,481 TECH REVIEW PHOTOS MAPS Norfolk CONTROL REVIEW cm 14 OK HISTORZAN I Question music, literature i political significana, but it neets requirements under Aeecue Yty ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN Accept teTuce 4574 ARCHEOLOGIST REVIEW UNIT CHIEF BRANCH CHIEF cole 4-12-74 accept Heiry 4-17-> KEEPER 4/8/34 National Register Write-up 6-?-"4 rederal Register entry June 4,1974 Send-back Re-submit_ Entered APR 1 8 974 INT: 1538-73 um mass. Nestoscal Commisscon FORM 10-301 A (6/72) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM (Type all entries - attach to or en close with photograph) 1. NAME COMMON First Parish Unitarian Church 2.

LOCATION STATE Massachusetts STREET AND NUMBER AND/OR HISTORIC Church of Christ,Medfield. First Congregational Parish NUMERIC CODE (Assigned by NPS) APR 18 COUNTY Norfolk North Street 3. PHOTO REFERENCE PHOTO CREDIT DATE 8LI9I!IO RECEIVED MAR 2 9 1974 NATIONAL REGIST: TOWN Medfield NEGATIVE FILED AT Philip s. Taylor 4. IDENTIFICATION DESCRIBE VIEW, DIRECTION, ETC. March 25, 1973 Facade view of First Parish Unitarian Church facing south on North Street 197 GPO 932-009 PROPERTY OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER Regional Director, North 4/22/74 MMott ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER STATE MASSACHUSLITS Date Entered APR 1 819/4 Name The Grange Dorchester North Iurying Ground Firet Parish Unftarian Church Copp'a I111 Furial Ground holbrook, DI.

énoa, House Winthrop Ludlaing Location Lincoln Miudlesex Coanty loston (Dorchester) Suffoll Couity Nedfield Nortolk County Soaton Suffolk County Milton Morfolk County Boston Suffolk: County Also Notified Hon. Edward M. Kennedy lion. Edward W. Brooke lion. Robert F. Driran Hon. John J. Moakley Hon. Margaret M. ieckler Hon. James à. Surke State listoric Preservation Officer Eon. John F. X. Davoren Secretary of tha Cormonweaith Chafrann, Massachusetts fistorical Coneissien 40 beacon Strect Boston, Massachusetts 02103 SECTION 1-APPI PIENT DATA , AGENCY ACTION II- -CERTIFICATION 978 SECTION OMB Approval No. 29-R0218 FEDERAL ASSISTANCE 1. TYPE PREAPPLICATION OF ACTION APPLICATION (Mark ap- NOTIFICATION OF INTENT (Opt.) poopriale REPORT OF FEDERAL ACTION 4. LEGAL APPLICANT/RECIPIENT 2. APPLI- CANT'S APPLI. CATION Leave Blank a. NUMBER 3. STATE 795 APPLICA- TION -. OAE ot mon da DEAT.

19 78 -. NUMBER 77060882 b. DATE ASSIGNED Year month - day 19 77 07 29 5. FEDERAL EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NO. 046-002-284 8. Applicant Name Commonwealth of Massachusetts b. Organization Unit Massachusetts Historical Commission c. Street/P.O. Box : 294 Washington Street d. City Boston -. County: Suffolk f. State : Massachusetts 8. ZIP Code: h. Contect Person (Name Patricia L. Weslowski, s.H.P.8. 6. PRO. GRAM (From Federal Catalos) .. NUMBER b. TITLE 151994 Historic Preservation & telephone No.) (617) 727-8470 7. TITLE AND DESCRIPTION OF APPLICANT'S PROJECT 8.

TYPE OF APPLICANT/RECIPIENT First Parish Unitarian Church Development Project, A-State -Community Action Agenc B-Interstate - Higher Educational Institutic CSubstata Medfield, Norfolk County District - Indian Tribe -Other (Specifv) D-County Significant architecturally, as 1789 hand-hewn E-City F-School District structural members are extant. ' The Greek Revival G-Special Purpose exterior was added in 1839. The church has always District Enter appropriate letter been maintained as a center of governmental, reli- 9. TYPE OF ASSISTANCE LA A-Basic Grant D-Insurance glous and artistic activity in town center. will ramain a church open to the public. Propert&-oenemental Grant E-Other nter appr riate letter(8) 10. AREA OF PROJECT IMPACT Staim, eor Cities, counties, 12.

TYPE OF APPLICATION A-New C-Revision E-Augmentation BENEFITING B-Renewal D-Continuation Commonwealth of Massachusetts 5.7 million Enter appropriate letter 13. PROPOSED FUNDING 14. CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS OF: 15. TYPE OF CHANGE (For 12c or 12e) A-Increasa Dellars 8. FEDERAL 10,0000 8. APPLICANT b. PROJECT F-Other (Specify): B-Decrease Dollars b. APPLICANT 10,50000 9 10 C-Increase Duration D-Decrease Duration N/A c. STATE .00 16. PROJECT START 17. PROJECT E-Cancellation d. LOCAL .00 DATE Year morth day DURATION 40 nter cppr Months riate letter(: e. OTHER .00 18. ESTIMATED DATE TO Year month day 19. EXISTING FEDERAL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER SUBMITTED f. TOTAL $ 20,5000 1978 06 26 20. FEDERAL AGENCY TO RECEIVE REQUEST (Name, Citv, Stats, ZIP code) Washington D.C. 20240 21. REMARKS ADDED Dept. of the Interior, 22. Heritage Conservation & Recreation Service Yes - No a.

To the best of my knowledge and belief, b. If required by OMB Circular A-95 this application was submitted, pursuant to in. No re- data in this preapplication/apalication are structions therein, to appropriate clearinghouses and all responsas are attached: Response attached THE true and correct, the document has been APPLICANT CERTIFIES duly authorized by the governing bedy ef the applicant and the applicant will comply (1) Office of State Planning THAT - with the attached assurances if the assist- (2) ance is approved. (3) 23. CERTIFYING 8. TYPED NAME AND TITLE REPRE- Patricia L. Weslowski, S.H.P.O b. SIGKATURE SENTATIVE and Acting Executive Director ttc. llesbusti 24. AGENCY NAME Department of the Interior 26. ORGANIZATIONAL UNIT Service 27. ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE Grants Administration Div. c. DATE SIGHED Year morth day 19 78 06 26 25.

APPLICA- Year month day TION RECEIVED 19 78 7 28. FEDERAL APPLICATION IDENTIFICATION 6 Heritage Conservation & Recreation 29. ADDRESS 18th and C Streets NW, Washington, D.C. 20240 31. ACTION TAKEN FUNDING a. AWARDED 10,000 - D. REJECTED 10,500 Year month day 33. ACTION DATE- 19 78 8 23 35. CONTACT TION FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMA- (Name and telephone number) C. RETUTNED FOR AMENDMENT 30. FEDERAL GRANT IDENTIFICATION 25-8901 34. Yesr month day STARTING DATE 19 78 8 1 36. Year month day ENOING DATE 19 80 9 30 37. REMARKS ADDED d. DEFERRED Stephen D. Newman 202 523-5472 D -. WITHDRAWN 38. FEDERAL AGENCY A-95 ACTION 424-101 32. a. FEDERAL .00 b.APPLICANT .00 c. STATE .00 d. LOCAL .00 -. OTHER .00 1. TOTAL $ 20,500 .00 - Yos EXNO a. In taking above action, comments received from Lideredohinsesay restinse induenndet proecsivnd of Paca eio Cs isre 95 D.

FEDERAL AGENCY A-95 OFFICIAL (Name and teiephore no.) it has been or is being made. Same as #35 ST/.NDARD FORM1 424 PACE 1 (10-75) Prescribed by GSA, Federal Management Circular 74-7