Nomination for Winthrop Building

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Form 10-300 (Rev.

6-72) PH0006700 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE HB NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM STATE: Massachusetts COUNTY: Suffolk FOR NPS USE ONLY ENTRY DATE (Type all entries complete applicable sections) APR_1.8.1974 NAME COMMON: VO - 17 Winthrop Building (use for Publication) 1T18L119 AND/OR HISTORIC: Carter Building RECÊIVED LOCATION APP 3 1974 STREET AND NUMBER: 1-17 Water St.; 276-8 Washington, 4-16 Spring Lane NATIONAL CONGRESSIONAL OISTRICBEGISTER 9th Boston STATE Massachusetts CLASSIFICATION CATEGORY (Check One) District X Site CODE 025 COUNTY: Suffolk CODE 025 99- OWNERSHIP STATUS Building Structure - Object Public Private Both Public Acquisition: - In Process Being Considered Occupied Unoccupied Preservation work in progres- ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC Yes: Restricted Unrestricted No PRESENT USE (Check One or More as Appropriate) Agricultural Government Commercial Industrial Educational Military Entertainment Museum Park Private Residence Religious Scientific Transportation - Other (Specity) - Comments OWNER OF PROPERTY OWNER'S NAME: Arthur Ellison, Winthrop Trust, Co., & Nathan Brezer, Chatham Realty Co.

STREET AND NÜMBER: 7 Water Street CITY OR TOWN: Boston STATE: Massachusetts CODE 025 LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIP TION COURTHOUSE, REGISTRY OF DEEDS, ETC: Registry of Deeds STREET AND NUMBER: Suffolk County Courthouse CITY OR TOWN: STATE Boston Massachusetts CODE 025 REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS TITLE OF SURVEY: Inventory of the HistoricalAssets of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts DATE OF SURVEY: Federal Lt State County DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS: Massachusetts Historical Commission (617) 727-8470 STREET AND NUMBER: 40 Beacon Street CITY OR TOWN: STATE: APR 18 1974 Boston Massachusetts CODE 025 STATE Massachusetts COUNTY: Suffolk ENTRY NUMBER DATE FOR NPS USE ONLY P.

DESCRIPTION X Excellent (Check One) Fair Deteriorated CONDITION - Good (Check One) Ruins X Altered - Unaltered DESCRIBETHEPRESENT AND ORIGINAL (if known) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE - Moved - Unexposed (Check One) X Original Site The Winthrop Building is located on an irregular tract of land bounded by Washington, Water, Devonshire Streets and Spring Lane. The narrow building shape resulted from the widening of Water and Washington Streets. It is 9 stories high, but due to the Slope of the site down towards Devonshire Street, that end has a subbasement (now used as a subway entrance). The Devonshire end is one bay wide, the opposite Washington Street end has two bays, and the longitudinal curved Water Street facade has nine bays. The Spring Lane facade has 11 bays and is not dressed.

The yellow brick and terra cotta building is organized in four primary sections: ground and display level, executive offices, multiple office section, and attic. The ground level is comprised of steel piers with large glazed bays in between. The visual effect of a non-load bearing masonry wall system has been diminished by the addition of recent store fronts (begun in 1938). The water street entrance, located toward the washington street end, is of a monumental neo-classical design inspired by Beaux Arts tradition; the cool light-colored stone contrasts to the rich yellow and brown of the superstructure. The supporting piers are panelled and have elaborate, inventive fluted capitals supporting a continuous entablature which consists of a flat metal architrave and a shallow terra cotta classical cornice.

The 2 floor executive office level makes an abrupt transition: brick courses alternate with narrowly spaced terra cotta courses in a scroll pattern. This horizontal design is broken by pairs of windows in plain terra cotta surrounds that form bays. In the superstructure all windows are uniformly sized and double hung.. A second terra cotta cornice begins the four-story office section, which continues the paired window bay system. However, here, to emphasize verticality, the full length of the bays are enclosed in plain, rect1linear terra cotta surrounds. Within the surrounds indicating floor separations and window divisions are terra cotta panels which have restrained mouldings and roundels on the Water Street facade and elaborate Beaux Arts swag and foliate designs in high relief on the end.

The exception are the lateral window pairs on the Water Street facade; along with plain brick- work at the corners, these unconnected bays create a frame for the central window bays. The attic is separated by a narrow stringcourse of neo-classical design in terra cotta. separate (repeating the lower corner arrangements) and have terra cotta surrounds. A duplicate of the immediately lower stringcourse begins the cornice, which, however, is entirely of copper. Widely spaced brackets with alternative rosettes support the extreme projection of the cornice, which emphasizes the flat roof. Z - SIGNIFICANCE PERIOD (Check One or More as Appropriate) Pre-Columbian!

16th Century 15th Century 17th Century SPECIFIC DATE(S) (It Applicable and Known) 1894 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 Social/Human- itarian Theater Transportation Urban Planning Other (Specify) STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

Statement of significance

The Winthrop Building was designed in 1894 by the firm of Blackall and Newton, who also were architects for several Boston theaters existing 1 e tes or several Bot2e today (Colonial and Wilbur) and the Tremont Temple. Builders were the prominent Boston firm of Woodbury and Leighton. It was the first struc- ture in Boston in which the skeleton system of steel construction was used,and was completely fireproof when built. Noticeable departures from the type of building which had been the prototype in Boston for such a long time include the following. First, the building is essentially a steel structure which consists of a steel frame with brick and terra cotta as a filling or skin. Second, the supporting columns are made of four pieces of steel, the cross section of one of which is like the letter Z, all riveted to a center place.

These columns extend through the walls and are joined rigidly by beams in each story, and are also connected by horizontal trusses on the floors and vertical trusses in the partitions. The result of this construction is that the whole structure is rigid and firm against wind pressure, live or dead loads, or jars from adjoining sites. Third, the interior partitions all consist of a light framework of steel channels, over which is stretched a network of expanded metal lathing. The frame- work is then plastered heavily on each side with cement and dry mortar, forming a solid partition 1 1/2 inches thick. The extreme narrowness of the building on the Devonshire Street end and the lightness of the first and second stories were unavoidable in planning a building of this description on so small a lot.

The name of the building changed in 1899 to acknowledge the location of Governor John Winthrop's last dwelling erected in 1644 on Washington Street, formerly Cornhill Street. To the rear, along Spring Lane, was the ancient Great Spring, a natural spring which attracted Winthrop's colony to the Boston peninsula. A plaque commemorating this spring was erected by the Bostonian Society in 1907 on the Winthrop Building, although it is now missing. 8 RECEÎVEN APR 3 1974 NATIONAL REGISTER =

The rest of the file

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

MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES 1. American Architect and Building News, March, 1930 2. Douts T. Cager, ,A, p.-Century of Boston's Buttdings, Boston: 3. Drake, Samuel, Old Landmarks And Historic Personages of Boston, reprinted by Charles: Tuttle Co., Rutland, Vermont, 9/.

GEOGRAPHICAL DATA LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE COORDINATES DEFINING A RECTANGLE LOCATING THE PROPERTY R CORNER LATITUDE Degrees Minutes Seconds LONGITUDE Degrees Minutes Seconds Degrees LATITUDE AND LONGIT JDE COORDINATES DEFINING THE CENTER POINT OF A PHOPERTY OF LESS THAN IEN ACRES LATITUDE LONGITUDE Minutes Seconds Degrees Minutes Seconds NW NE SE 42 21 26% 71 SW APPROXIMATE ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY: 4716 square feet LAS T ILIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNTY BOUNDARIES STATE: CODE COUNTY 03:W9 29 CODE STATE: CODE COUNTY: STATE: CODE COUNTY: STATE: CODE COUNTY: RECEIVED APR 3 1974 NATIONAL REGISTER CODE CODE CODE FORM PREPARED NAME AND TITLE: ORGANIZATION Elizabeth Amadon, Survey Director by Boston Landmarks Commission Massachusetts Historical Commission December, 1973 STREET AND NUMBER: 40 Beacon Street CITY OR TOWN: STATE Boston Massachusetts CODE 1025 T2.

STATE LIAISON OFFICER CERTIFICATION NATIONAL REGISTER VERIFICATION DIID 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: ational O Name l.Fx Vnumin Honorable John F.X.Davoren Segretary of the Commonwealth Titlehairman,Massachusetts Historical Commission Date 3/22/74 0T301 I hereby certify that this property is included in the Nationa1 Register.

: EM0 I*Uronl ete Director, Oftice of Archeology and Historic Preservation Date 4/18/74 ATTEST: Date ua/lmnt 418.14 lonal Register GP0 931-894 19/330500 4691300 UTM ReF Wm 9-19-75 norm Vithey Building WORKING NUMBER TECH REVIEW PHOTOS 2 MAPS STATB Maos. CONTROL REVIEW tecos phato fasmo, t uyt tomosing sthermas Suffolk 4.4. 14 HISTORIAN ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN ARCHEOLOGIST REVIEW UNIT CHIEF BRANCH CHIEF Accpt. W.R. Luce 4/4/14 Accept Husande 04/5/74 Aceept. End 4/4/74 cole 4-12-74 aur Heu y11724 KEEPER National Register Write-up Federal Register entry 6-7-74 june 4,1914 Send-back. Re-submit_ Entered APR 1 8 1974 INT: 1538-73 WINTHRO LLELLI SECONI FEDERA SAVING FORM 10-301 A (6/72) 1. NAME COMMON Winthrop Building 2.

LOCATION STATE Massachusetts STREET AND NUMBER 1-17 Water Street, 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) 3. PHOTO REFERENCE PHOTO CREDIT Boston Redevelopment Authority 4. IDENTIFICATION DESCRIBE VIEW, DIRECTION, ETC. AND/OR HISTORIC Carter Building COUNTY Suffolk RECEiVED APR 1 11974 DATE NATIONAL REGISTER TETTO 1973 NUMERIC CODE (Assigned by NPS) APR 18 TOWN Boston NEGATIVE FILED AT same View of Winthrop Building from east looking westerly at Water and Devonshire Street facades.

#1 of 2 photos GPO 932-009 PROPERTY OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER #2 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 Winthrop Building AND/OR HISTORIC Carter Building 2. LOCATION STATE Massachusetts STREET AND NUMBER COUNTY Suffolk G 1-17 Water Street, 3. PHOTO REFERENCE PHOTO CREDIT Boston Redevelopment Authority DATE 1973 RECENED APR 1 11974 HATTONAL REGISTER 4. IDENTIFICATION DESCRIBE VIEW, DIRECTION, ETC. NUMERIC CODE (Assigned by NPS) APR 18 1974 TOWN Boston NEGATIVE FILED AT same View of upper stories of Winthrop Building's Washuington Street (west) facade of 2 photos GPO 932-009 PROPERTY OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER Form No. 10-301 Rev.

7-72 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 Massachusetts CSUYTo1k FOR NPS USE ONLY ENTRY NUMBER APR 1 8 1974 DATE Z - NAME COMMON: STORGrCarter AND/OR HISTORIC: aBtër-i0f1ding LOCATION STREET AND NUM BER: 1-17 Water Street, 276-8 Washington Street, Spring Lane & Devonshire St. CITY OR TOWN: Boston STATE: CODE 025 COUNTY: Suffolk CODE 025 Massachusetts MAP REFERENCE SOURCE: U.S.G.S. 7.5' Series, Boston South Quadrangle SCALE: ]"=24,000' DATE: 1970 REQUIREMENTS TO BE INCLUDED ON ALL MAPS 1. Property broundaries where required. 1L8IL19 RECÊVED APRg NATIONAL REGISTER 2. North arrow. 3. Latitude and longitude reference. # U.S.

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1973-729-148/1441 3-1 5880 2234 241 243 3017 2705 3364 15,268 2927252323B 21 SCHOOL 2827 1853 258 260 1713 3798 98 L8 19/15 4868 9 7 53 ST. 635 27 279 239 WATER 376 278 84, HARVARD 2,992 PL 327 325 319315 280 288 290 298 29g 300 30g 1685 303 MM.B.7.A.3TA 310 OLD SOUTH MEETING 8500 HOUSE MILK 4716 SPRING LANE 70/6 24,200 111 115 9/5 WASHINGTON 332 328 2980 334 1671 177) 57R2 8 10 12 14 TMM3S 5/56 5052 IS 1> 192123 41 43 45 49 56,> 90 STREET i948 R61099 3398 9481 153 8 20 2663 1252729 31/3 28 30 36 ° 2799 252 3821 45 830 HAWLEY PL 8b 7394 163 167 171 173 181 183 185 191 1565 HAWLEY 83 4148 6504 4856 58/60 +02D FRANKLIN 62 64 66 68 70 172 74 149 51 53 55 57 86 SNOW 3050 3050 67 69 5964 85 87 89 483/ 12,647 PLACE 4997 ARCH 7005 6573 t8 20 6095 19,294 38 55 59 40 42 FEDERAL BUILDING U.S.

POST OFFICE COURT HOUSE STREET 5 19,55 HAWES 573/ JaIHSNOAEC 48,382 TILIBI 19 RECEiVED APR 3 1974 NATIONAL REGISTER FEDERAL POST SQUARE MONUME ST 7779 811 5800 1214 56/6 113 115 119 22-24 25 CONGRESS 6488 42 44 46 WINTHROP (CARTER) BUILDING 7 Water & 276-8 Washington Streets Boston, Massachusetts Scale: 1"=100' 3. NAME COMMON: Winthrop Building AND/OR HISTORIC: Carter Building LOCATION STREET AND NUM BER: 1-17 Water Street, 276-8 Washington Street CITY OR TOWN: Boston STATE: Massachusetts CODE 025 COUNTY: Suffolk MAP REFERENCE SOURCE: Boston Redevelopment Authority SCALE: 1" = 100' DATE: 1965 REQUIREMENTS TO BE INCLUDED ON ALL MAPS 1. Property broundaries where required. 2. North arrow. 3. Latitude and longitude reference.

181//9 RECEIVED APR31974 NATIONAL REGISTER 10 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) STATE Massachusetts COUNTY Suffolk FOR NPS USE ONLY ENTRY NUMBER APR. 18 DATE Regional Director, North Atlantic Region 4/22/74 MMott PR ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER STATE MASSACHUSETTS Date Entered APR 1 8 1974 Name The Grange Dorchester North Burying Greund Location Piret Parish Unitarian Church Copp'a Htl1 Durtal Ground Holbzook, Dr. Anoa, House WinthroP Building Lincoln Mlddlesex County Boston (Dorchester) Suffolk Couty Medfield Horfelk County Boston Suffolk County Mi1con Dorfolk County Boston Suffolk County Also Notified Hon. Edward M. Kennedy lilon. Edvard W, Brooke Hon. Robert F. Drinan Hon. John J. Moakley Hon, Margaret M.

Heckler Hon. James A, Burke State Historie Preservation Officer Hon. John P. X. Davoren Secretary of tha Connonwealth Chairaan, Massachusetts Historical Commissien 40 Beacen Street Boston, Massachusetts 02108