Nomination for Phipps Street Burying Ground

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

4B3 = 329560 PH0006726Zn19N Zn19 N 4693400 Form 10-300 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STATE: (Rev.

6-72) NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Massachusetts COUNTY: NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM Suffolk FORNPS USE ONLY ENTRY DATE (Type all entries complete applicable sections) MAY 15 1974 NAME C OMMON: Phipps Street Burying Ground AND/OR HISTORIC: 1) RECEIVED APR 21074 ON STREET AND NUMBER: Phipps Street CITY OR TOWN: Beston (Charlestown) NATIONAL REGISTER CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT: 8th CODE COUNTY: CODE Massachusetts CLASSIFICATION 025 Suffolk 025 CATEGORY OWNERSHIP STATUS (Check One) X District Site Building Structure - - Object X Public Private Both Public Acquisition: In Process Being Considered C Occupied Unoccupied Preservation work in progresr ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC Yes: * Restricted Unrestricted No PRESENT USE (Check One or More as Appropriate) Agricultural Commercial Educational Entertainment Government Industrial Military Museum Park Private Residence Religious Scientific Transportation * Other (Specity) cemetery - Comments OWNER OF PROPERTY OWNER'S NAME: CTty of Boston - Department of Parks and Recreation STREET AND NUMBER: City Hall CITY OR TOWN: STATE: CODE Boston LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION COURTHOUSE, REGISTRY OF DEEDS, ETC: Registry of Deeds STREET AND NUMBER: Suffolk County Court House CITY OR TOWN: Boston Massachusetts 025 Massachusetts Suffolk STATE Massachusetts CODE 025 REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS TITLE OF SURVEY: Inventory of Historic Assets of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts DATE OF SURVEY: X State - County DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS: Massachusetts Historical Commission (617) 727-8470 STREET AND NUMBER: 40 Beacon Street CITY OR TOWN: STATE: MAY 1 5 1974 Boston Massachusetts CODE 025 STATE- COUNTY: ENTRY NUMBER FOR NPS USE ONLY DESCRIPTION (Check One) Deteriorated Excellent CONDITION - Good (Check One) *Fair Ruins - Unexposed (Check One) X Altered - Unaltered Moved [X Original Site DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (if known) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Description of the property

The Phipps Street Burying Ground is roughly a square-shaped plot which covers a small mound in the vicinity of Rutherford Avenue, Miller Street, and Phipps Street. to the west, an estuary of the Charles River which led up to the former Middlesex Canal. This land has since been filled, and the land uses have been radically altered. A variety of fencing including a recent post and rail wooden fence, brick with cement posts and iron gates encloses the burying ground. Brick and gravel pathways laid out originally are irregularly placed throughout the ground and are named for prominant Charlestown families. Fortunately, the pathways have not been sub- stantially altered and are merely overgrown or covered by silt. A few mature trees are located along the borders.

The layout of the graves here is unusual and unlike any other of the 17th century burying grounds in Boston; instead of extended rows (curved or straight), graves of one family are grouped in small rec- tangular plots irregularly placed over the mound. Approximately at the crest of the mound is the John Harvard Monument, the most outstanding feature of the cemetery; it is a granite obelisk placed on a small pedestal and has a commemorative plaque attached. Among the gravestones, predominantly of 17th, 18th, and early 19th century date and largely slate or local stone, are several small stone tombs. LE RECÊIVEO APR 2 1974 NATIONAL REGIS : Z - LJ

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)1630 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 Other (Specify) STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

Statement of significance

The significance of the Phipps Street Burying Ground lies in its early establishment in the town of Charlestown in 1630, its association with John Harvard, and the numerous examples of 17th, 18th, and early 19th century funerary sculpture--gravestones and tombs. When Charlestown was founded in 1630, the nucleus of the settlement was located at City Square, and it gradually spread over Town Hill (see separate National Register of Historic Places listing) which was laid out by Thomas Graves in 1631. It is unusual that the Burying Ground was located at such a distance from the settlement; likewise the distinctive arrangement of graves in rectangular family plots is unusual. The earliest grave marker dates from 1642 and bears the name of Maud Russell.

Several more from the next two decades still exist, although the bulk of stones, some brownstone and some red sandstone, date from the last half of the 18th century. Many headstones are known to have been carved by a local Charlestown family, the Lamsons. It is most significant that the grave markers and tombstones dating prior to April 1775 are the only pre-Revolutionary artifacts remaining in Charles- town. The holocaust started by the British immediately following the Battle of Bunker Hill destroyed all buildings leaving only the Town Hill street layout and major arterial roads (present Main Street and Chelsea Street) as evidence of the colonial town. It has been determined (although not proven) that the grave marker of Charlestown's most illustrious citizen was lost during the British occupation.

To commemorate the burying place of John Harvard, whose library of 300 volumes was donated to start a college at Cambridge after his death in 1638, graduates of the college erected a granite obelisk in 1828. Inscribed on the fifteen foot shaft is "In piam et perpetuam memoriam" as well as a descriptive bronze plaque. Other notable persons buried at Phipps Street include Nathaniel Gorham, a signer of the Constitution and president of the Continental Congress, Thomas Beecher, and countless other Charlestown residents. Pathways through the cemetery bear names of the more illustrious families--Frothingham, Hurd, Harvard, Phipps, Russell. The Phipps Street Burying Ground, like other early 17th century cemeteries, has been identified as a chronical in stone. However this chronical is not only of local history, but also illustrates three centuries of funerary art.

The designs and epitaphs carved in local

The rest of the file

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

MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES 1. Real Property Department-Engineering Division, City of Boston, Map # K 17, 1908. 2. Ellis, George E., Bacon's Dictionary of Boston, Boston: Houghton, Mifflin & Co., 1886. 3. Frothingham, Richard Jr., History of Charlestown, Boston: Little, Brown & Co., 1845. 4. Hunnewel1, James - A Century of Town Life, Boston: Little, Brown & Co., 1888.

10.GEOGRAPHICAL DATA LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE COORDINATES DEFINING A RECTANGLE LOCATING THE PROPERTY LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE COORDINATES DEFINING THE CENTER POINT OF A PHOPERTY CORNER LATITUDE Degrees Minutes Seconds LONGITUDE Degrees Minutes Seconds R OF LESS THAN TEN ÁCRES LATITUDE LONGITUDE Degrees Minutes Seconds Degrees Minutes Seconds NW - NE SE 42 22 34.192 71 04 05.361 SW APPROXIMATE ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY: 1.76 ILIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNI* SOUNPARLES STATE: CODE COUNTY CODE STATE: CODE COUNTY: RECEIVED APR 21974 CODE STATE: CODE COUNTY: CODE 10 STATE: CODE COUNTY: NATIONAL REGISTER CODE FORM PREPARED BY NAME AND TITLE: Elizabeth Amadon, Survey Director ORGANIZATION by Boston Landmarks Commission Massachusetts Historical Commission (617) 717-8470 STREET AND NUMBER: 40 Beacon Street CITY OR TOWN: Boston STATE Massachusetts STATE LIAISON OFFICER CERTIFICATION February, 1974 CODE 025 NATIONAL REGISTER VERIFICATION As the designated State Liaison Officer for the Na- tional Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Public Law 89-665), I hereby nominate this properfy 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.

Therecommended rel of significance of this nomination is: Name Tutix Dorsen Honorable John F.X.Davoren Secretary of the Commonwealth Title Chairman, Massachisetts Historical Commission Date 3/29/74 I hereby certify that this property is included in the Nationa1 Register. 1103 ARwarteuse Director, Office of Archeology and Historic Preservation Date 5/15/14 97T01 ATTST Date CanMline t Keeper of The National Regjfter 5.8.24 GP0 931-894 - Form 10-300a (July 1969) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM (Continuation Sheet) STATE Massachusetts COUNTY Suffolk FOR NPS USE ONLY ENTRY NUMBER MAY 1 5 1974 Phipps Street Burying Ground Charlestown MA DATE (Number all entries) 8. Significance cont'd. stones and slate by native craftsmen were of British origin but reflect the changing theological doctrines.

Early stones are distinguished by winged death's heads, cherubs and other images which speak of the Puritan concern for salvation of the soul after a brief terrestial life. The post-revolutionary stones tend to be more rectangular and slim in shape and have serene symbols--urns, willow boughs, lyres--of neoclassical inspiration. The artistic idioms which reflected the new nation's political relationship with the earliest democracy, Greece, carried over to funerary art, although the contemporary religions of the late 18th and early 19th century, intellectual theologies of Methodism and Unitarianism, are not neoclassical. The folk art seen in the gravestone carving is a vital and public record of New England's and, specifically, Boston's citizens and their contemporary theological and artistic attitudes. 9. Bibliography con'd. 5.

Parks & Recreation Department, City of Boston, unpublished ms., neo., authored by Carol Bratley. 1) 10 8 9 RECÊIVED APR 2 1974 NATIONAL REGISTER 11 GP O 921-724 WORKING NUMBER ronwr byps theet Bett Gerte me 4,2.74,50° TECH REVIEW PHOTOS_3 MAPS 2 COVIROL, REVICarker typed pheto pern Suffolk 74000907 2/4 14 Athesuse OK Than HISTORZAN I am much more reluctant about ward. Stones are The other . 2 they Sulomitled. Aque with important, but.... conterene Wifi lue ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN | like the, "occupied" Status - does this qualify osinchesion m NR. Narvard seens to fe onl samous personage. onference Hutanse 44/74 ARCHEOLOGIST REVIEW UNIT CHIEF qualifies for age. Cole 412-74 BRANCH CHIEF What a discetious setting, bat sackere qualifg an efception.

Auant Fungh KEEPER 318774 National Register Write-up 5/24 rederal Register entry Sune 4, 1414 Send-back Re-submit Entered MAY 1 5 1974 INT: 1538-73 PLEASE RETURN THIS FORM WILEN THE PROPERTY IS RESUBMITTED NAME OF PROPERTY hepps street Dirzeng sseund, 1laso. 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. Äcreage. 11. Form Prepared By. 12. Certification. Photographic Coveradlekse, us Please send as preto erm bos asezeral typed typed Map Coverage. Please use a map bearing an identified system of coordinates, .

preferably an original USGS, which allows us to check latitude-longitude. Other. Clarification or correction of the above items must be made prior to the initíation of our professional review Correction of these technical errors does not necessarily insure that the nomination will then satisfy the National Register criteria in full. Thankyou for your attention to the above ttems checked, Slanko, SIGNED: PROPERTY OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER NPS Number 5/5/24 Title: ypp st aying purme suffink Co. SE NW NPS Number 5/15/28 mtzo: Yhipps /t. Barying Sae duffack cu, mas. Loo. Aneal pren o bayen; gupefansa PROPERTY OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER NPS Number 5/15/74 mePhipp ft. Buzing grown e Suffiek Co, Mass Loc. Vren I starmme umument PROPERTY OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER Form No.

10-301a (7/72) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM (Type all entries-attach to or enclosewith photograph) #1 STATE massochusetts COUNT Suffolk FOR NPS USE ONLY EATRYNUMBER MAY DATE Z - COMMON: Phipps Street Burying Ground AND/OR HISTORIC: Same LOCA TION STREET AND NUMBER: CITY OR TOWN: STATE: Beston (Charlestown) CODE COUNTY: Massachusetts 025 Suffotk PHOTO REFERENCE PHOTO CREDIT: DATE OF PHOTO: NEGATIVE FILED AT: Beston REdevelopment Authority -1974 1/10 OFNED APR 2 19T NATIONAL REGISTER IDENTIFICATIO DESCRIBE VIEW, DIRECTION, ETC. Boston kedevetopmert Authority View of Burying Ground from South East (miller Street) looking north west. CODE 025. * U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1973-729-152/1446 I Form No. 10-301 Rev.

7-72 UNITED STATAT 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 151074 DATE Z NAME COMMON: Phipps Street Burying Ground AND/OR HISTORIC: Same LOCATION STREET AND NUM BER: Phipps Street CITY OR TOWN: Boston (Charlestown) STATE: CODE 025 COUNTY: Massachusetts MAP REFERENCE SOURCE: Suffolk North 7.5' Series Boston South Quadrangle U.S.G.S. SCALE:]"=24,0Q0' DATE: 1971 REQUIREMENTS TO BE INCLUDED ON ALL MAPS 1. Property broundaries where required. 2. North arrow. 3. Latitude and longitude reference. 20 CODE 025 18119 RECEiVEÜ APP 2.0 NATIONAL REGISTER * U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1973-729-148/1441 3-1 Form No. 10-301 Rev.

7-12 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 MAY 1 5 1074 DATE - NAME COMMON: Phipps Street Burying Ground AND/OR HISTORIC: same LOCATION STREET AND NUM BER: Phipps Street CITY OR TOWN: Boston (Charlestown) STATE: Massachusetts MAP REFERENCE SOURCE: Boston RedevelopmentAuthority SCALE: ]"=100' DATE:1962 REQUIREMENTS TO BE INCLUDED ON ALL MAPS 1. Property broundaries where required. 2. North arrow. 3. Latitude and longitude reference. CODE 025 COUNTY: SuffoTk STI9IID RECENEB APR 2 1974 NATIONAL REGISTET (81T2 CODE 025 * U.S.

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1973-729-148/1441 3-1 294 38,430 10,388 22,655 DUNSTABLE STREE 43,/70 16,500 8 FREIGHT TERMINAL (FRONT) 664,931 8 &M FREIGHT TERMINAL 280 RUTHERIOPO 210 15," STA L5TL0 REGISTER NATIONAL APR 2 ATBI 19I TR (ZIT PHIPPS STREET BURYING GROUND Boston (Charlestown), Massachusetts Scale: 1"=100' 29,445 1130?3 STACE! 9936 PHIPPS 2E00 19%: 3280 2600 PHIPPS STREET CEMETERY 76,746 5828 239 8902 2100 1875 2606 MILLER '2 45,726 5037 5442 1624 1527 5535 2319 9750 19gy 186 18- 3645 AWPENC 9763 1556 12,370 2080 BENEDI 3/20 EPLACIDA AAVE LMEATAE John F. X. Daroren Pecretary of the Commonvealth March 28, 1974 The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Office of the Pecretary Massachusetts Histonical Commission 40 Beacon Street Boston, Massachuselts 02108 71/1817 127-8470 RECENED 1!0, 12 National Register National Park Service 18th and C Streets Washington,D.C.

20240 NATIONAL REGISTER special notice Attention: Charles Herrington,Chief of Register CERTIFIED MAIL Dear Charles: Enclosed are three National Register submissions for the following properties: 1. Boston, Suffolk County, King's Chapel Burying Ground 2. 3. Phipp's Street Burying Ground , Dorchester North Burying Ground These have been declared eligible for submission by the Massachusetts Histor- ical Commission, the State Review Board, and have been signed by Secretary of the Commonwealth John F.X.Davoren, Chairman of the Massachusetts Historical Commission and designated the State Liason Officer. Please note that the properties covered by these submissions are to be included in our 1975 apportionment warrant. Therefore, we would appreciate your process- ing these nominations promptly. Please let us know if any other information is needed.

Sincerely, Betly Elizabeth Amadon State Survey Director Masaachusetts Historical Commission ERA/ma enclosures ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER STATE MASSACHUSETTS SMAY 15 1974 Date Entered Name PhippeStreet Burying Ground Location, Boston (Charlestown) Suffolk County Also Notified Mon: Evardl Rennedy lon. Thomas P. 0"Ne111, Jr. Regional Director,North Atlantie Region State Historle Preservation Officer Hon. John T.X. Davezen Secretary of the Cosmonwealth Chainan, Massachusetts Historieal Cormiesion 40 Beacon Street PR MMOTT: p1 5/15/7on, Massachusette 02108