Nomination for West Schoolhouse

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Form No. 10-300 (Rev.

10-74) PH0121525 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE DATA SHEET FOR NPS USE ONLY RECEIVEO APR 7 1975 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM APR 2 4 1975 2 3 DATE ENTERED SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES -- COMPLETE APPLICABLE SECTIONS NAME HISTORIC West Schoolhouse AND/OR COMMON Dennis Schoolhouse LOCATION STREET & NUMBER Nobscusset Road at Whig Street CITY, TOWN Dennis STATE - VICINITY OF CODE 025 NOT FOR PUBLICATION CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT -12th COUNTY Barnstable Massachusetts CLASSIFICATION CODE 001 CATEGORY DISTRICT X_BUILDING(S) _STRUCTURE _SITE _OBJECT OWNERSHIP X PUBLIC PRIVATE _BOTH PUBLIC ACQUISITION _IN PROCESS BEING CONSIDERED STATUS -OCCUPIED A_UNOCCUPIED WORK IN PROGRESS ACCESSIBLE XYES: RESTRICTÉD YES: UNRESTRICTED _NO PRESENT USE AGRICULTURE X MUSEUM (soon) _COMMERCIAL PARK XEDUCATIONAL _PRIVATE RESIDENCE ENTERTAINMENT _RELIGIOUS -GOVERNMENT _SCIENTIFIC INDUSTRIAL TRANSPORTATION LMILITARY -OTHER: OWNER OF PROPERTY NAME Town of Dennis STREET & NUMBER Dennis Town Hall CITY.

TOWN Dennis - VICINITY OF LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION Massachusetts 02638 COURTHOUSE REGISTRY OF DEEDS, ETC. Barnstable County Courthouse STREET & NUMBER Main Street CITY, TOWN Barnstable STATE Massachusetts REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS TITLE Inventory of the Historic Assets of the Commonwealth DATE 1975 FEDERAL XSTATE COUNTY _LOCAL DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECOrDS Massachusetts Historical Commission CITY, TOWN Boston STATE Massachusetts 7 DESCRIPTION CONDITION _EXCELLENT _GOOD 4 FAIR _DETERIORATED RUINS CHECK ONE -UNALTERED A ALTERED -UNEXPOSED DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (IF KNOWN) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Description of the property

CHECK ONE ORIGINAL SITE IMOVED DATEFeb. 1974 The West Schoolhouse, built c. 1770-1775 by N. Stone, is a one story, one room, shingled structure. In February, 1974, it was moved from its original site in a residential area just south of Route 6A(Main Street) and west of the Dennis cemetery. The former site had been bought by a condominium developer, who was either going to demolish the building or move it to Harwich to be used as a bar. Because of action by interested citizens of Dennis, the Town acquired the property and had the structure moved onto the grounds of the Josiah Dennis Manse (in the National Register), also owned by the Town. The school building is situated about 75 feet from the Josiah Dennis Manse, and although the build- ings are not related historically, they are compatible architecturally. The exterior of the schoolhouse is very simple.

The south facade has plain cornerboards and a centered entrance approached by three temporary wooden steps. Iwo windows with plain trim flank either side of the entrance. The north elevation has five windows and the east and west gable ends have two windows. The windows, boarded up at present for protection, have 12/12 sash. The building sits on a concrete foundation, and has a non-original shingled ridge roof. The interior reveals the original hip roof contruction and rare "dragoned beam corners". The hip roof, once hidden by a ceiling, is now open to the ridge. A ridge roof was constructed over the hip roof at some unknown date, but the original hip structure and sheathing were not destroyed. Each of the four corners of the building are braced with "dragon beam"-construction, peculiar to the area.

Plans exist to restore the schoolhouse for use as an educational museum and resource for the town's children.

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

SIGNIFICANCE PERIOD PREHISTORIC -1400-1499 -1500-1599 1600-1699 X1700-1799 X 1800-1899 -1900- ARCHEOLOGY-PREHISTORIC ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC AGRICULTURE SARCHITECTURE -ART _COMMERCE -COMMUNICATIONS AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE -- CHECK AND JUSTIFY BELOW __COMMUNITY PLANNING -LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE _CONSERVATION LLAW _ECONOMICS XEDUCATION _LITERATURE MILITARY -ENGINEERING _MUSIC _EXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT _PHILOSOPHY INDUSTRY POLITICS/GOVERNMENT _INVENTION _RELIGION _SCIENCE _SCULPTURE SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN -THEATER -TRANSPORTATION -OTHER (SPECIFY) SPECIFIC DATES c. 1770-75 STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE BUILDER

Statement of significance

/ARCHITECT The West Schoolhouse, the oldest school in Dennis, was built c. 1770-75. It was used as a one room school house until 1867, when all the one room district schoolhouses were closed and a new two story consolidated school in the center of town was opened. The West school has been significant as an educational resource for the children of Dennis, and is significant as an example of local building initiative and ingenuity. The school was built by N. Stone, son of the Rev. Nathan Stone, the second Minister in the Parish. N. Stone was an able builder, having served his appren- ticeship in Boston, and undertook a great deal of contruction in the Dennis area. The school, financed by a group of men who held shares in it, sat on land that once belonged to Thomas Howes, one of the three first settlers to come to the area in 1639.

In 1867, when the building was closed as a school, it became the property of the owner of the land it stood on. He sold it to a neighbor, who used it as a barn;itiwas later used as an antique shop. It was moved in 1974 because it was threatened,and is now being restored as an educat- ional museum. The contruction of the school is particularly noteworthy. The hip roof covered by a later ridge roof, and the.dragonbeambracing contruction,make the building significant from an architectural viewpoint.

The rest of the file

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

MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES Deyo, Simeon I., History of Barstable County, 1890 Dennis Historical Society records 10 GEOGRAPHICAL DATA ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY UTM REFERENCES ALgl ZONE LD 0 1214101 EASTING 14,612,11389 NORTHING VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION LiliLu less than one acre BL.J CD EASTINGNORTH NORTHING LILL JuleLu LIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNTY BOUNDARIES STATE CODE COUNTY CODE STATE CODE COUNTY CODE FORM PREPARED BY NAME /TITLE Christine Boulding, Assistant Survey Director ORGANIZATION Massachusetts Historical Commission STREET & NUMBER 40 Beacon Street CITY OR TOWN DATE March 1975 TELEPHONE 617-727-8470 Massachusetts 02108 Boston 12 STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER CERTIFICATION THE EVALUATED SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS PROPERTY WITHIN THE STATE IS: NATIONAL - STATE _ LOCAL As the designated State Historic Preservation Officer for the National 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 National Park Service.

FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE Chiabieh R. Amadon TITLE FOR NPS USE ONLY Mass. State Historic Preservation Officer I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS PROPERTY IS INCLUDED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF ARCHFOLØGY ATTEST: DATE Manch 27,1975 DATE DATE 4/24/75 APR 2 3 1975 NAME OF PROPERTY STATEMA The attached NationalRegister Inventory-Nomination formis being returned to your office for clarification of the information indicated below. PLEASE RETURN THIS FORM WHEN THE NOMINATION IS RESUBMITTED. 7 Description: TED FEB 2 0 1975 MASS. HIST. COMM 8 Statement of Significance: 9 10 Bibliography: Geographical Data -- Acreage: UTM Reference(s) : Verbal Boundary Description: 12 Certification: Photographic Coverage: Map Coverage: other: As per telephone conversation w/ Belly Amadon, please nominale schoolhouse individually as it was moved on to Denis Manse propeity.

Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to Kate Cole on the National Register staff,telephone (202) 523-5483 Thank you for your attention to the above items. Chalwatun Date: 2-13-75 Chiet, Branch of Registration INT :2105 - United States Department of the Interior- National Park Service WASO No. 8 Propert West Schoalfouse state Mascachuetts Working Number 4,7,25, 652 TECHNICAY Photos- tead f sigmfaana rat crecked Maps - Lcalled State: it's local Barnstable CONTROL OK 4,14.75 HISTORIAN Accept E. Emitk 4-21-15 ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN Not very happy about this tut._ SLCEPT ARCHEOLOGIST OTHER HAER Inventory- Review REVIEW UNIT CHIEF Accun Cole 4-21-75 BRANCH CHIEF Huçe 4-2275 KEEPER National Register Write-up Federal Register Entry 10-3-75 Send-back Re-submit United States Department of the Interior National Park Service WASO No.

7 APR 2 3 1975 Entered APR 34 1975 INT:2106 - 74 Form No. 10-301a (Pev. 10-7+) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY RECEIVED APR 7 1975 DATE ENTERED APR 24 1975 SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES ENCLOSE WITH PHOTOGRAPH 1 2 3 4 NAME HISTORIC West Schoolhouse AND/OR COMMON Dennis Schoolhouse LOCATION CITY. TOWN Dennis -VICINITY OF PHOTO REFERENCE PHOTO CREDIT Dennis Historical Commission NEGATIVE FILED AT same COUNTY Barnstable STATE MA DATE OF PHOTO 1974 IDENTIFICATION DESCRIBE VIEW. DIRECTION, ETC. IF DISTRICT. GIVE BUILDING NAME & STREET PHOTO NO. 3 interior, showing dragon beam construction # |83 PROPERTY OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER Form No. 10-301a (Pev.

10-7+) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY RECEIVED APR 7 1975 DATE ENTERED SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES ENCLOSE WITH PHOTOGRAPH APR 2 4 1975 1 2 3 4 NAME HISTORIC West Schoolhouse AND/OR COMMON Dennis Schoolhouse LOCATION CITY. TOWN Dennis -VICINITY OF PHOTO REFERENCE PHOTO CREDIT Dennis Historical Commission NEGATIVE FILED AT same COUNTYBarnstable STATE MA DATE OF PHOTO 1974 IDENTIFICATION DESCRIBE VIEW. DIRECTION. ETC. IF DISTRICT, GIVE BUILDING NAME & STREET PHOTO NO. 2 interior, showing original hip roof # 203 PROPERTY OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER Schi Ont Cor De Form No. 10-301a (Pev.

10-7+) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY RECEIVED APR 7 1975 DATE ENTERED SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES ENCLOSE WITH PHOTOGRAPH APR 2 4 1975 1 2 4 NAME HISTORIC West Schoolhouse AND/OR COMMON Dennis Schoolhouse LOCATION CITY, TOWN Dennis PHOTO REFERENCE PHOTO CREDIT John Read NEGATIVE FILED AT same _VICINITY OF IDENTIFICATION DESCRIBE VIEW. DIRECTION, ETC. IF DISTRICT, GIVE BUILDING NAME & STREET southeast corner *333 COUNTY Barnstable STATE MA DATE OF PHOTO 1973 PHOTO NO. 1 H *333 PROPERTY OF THE NATONAL REGISTER 4. Form No. 10-301 (Rev.

10-74) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES PROPERTY MAP FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY RECEIVED APR7 1975 DATE ENTERED SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES -- ENCLOSE WITH MAP APR 8 4 1975 1 2 3 NAME HISTORIC West Schoolhouse AND/OR COMMON Dennis Schoolhouse LOCATION CITY. TOWN Dennis _VICINITY OF COUNTY Barnstable MAP REFERENCE SOURCE SCALE United States Geological Survey, Dennis, Mass. quadrangle 1:24,000 DATE 1961 REQUIREMENTS TO BE INCLUDED ON ALL MAPS 1. PROPERTY BOUNDARIES 2. NORTH ARROW 3. UTM REFERENCES STATE MA INT: 2986-75 ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER STATEMASSACHISETTS APR 24 1975 Date Entered Name Location West Schoolhouse Dennis Barnstable County Hon. Edward M. Kennedy Hon. Edward w. Brooke Hon. Gerry E.

Studds Regional Director, North Atlantic Region Also Notified State Historic Preservation Officer Mrs. Elizabeth R. Amadon, Executive Director Massachusetts Historical Commission 40 Beacon Street Boston, Massachusetts 02108 PR MMott/cha 4-28-75 MNR Data Sheet DATE: 3/16/77 Reviewer INITIALS: NR DOE April 24, 1975 (4-24-75) NAME AS IT APPEARS IN FEDERAL REGISTER: West Schoolhouse OTHER NAMES: Dennis Schoolhouse, MR sec LOCATION: STREET & NUMBER Nobscusset Rogd at Whig Street CITY.TOWN Dennis VICINITY OF STATE Mass.

CONGRESSIUNAL DISTRICT OWNER OF PROPERTY: (Circle) 12th COUNTY code Barnstable 001 PRIVATE STATE LOCAL GOV'T MUNICIPAL COUNTY OTHER ADMINISTRATOR(underline) FEDERAL (AGENCY NAME) : NPS REGION: (CIRCLE) N.ATLANTIC MID ATLANTIC SOUTHEAST MIDWEST SOUTHWEST ROCKY MOUNTAIN WEST PACIFIC NORTHWEST FEATURES: INTERIOR Substantially intact-1 - unknown - 4 - not applicable - 7 CONDITION - LEXCELLENT VAIR EXTERIOR Substantlally intact-2 ENVIRONS Substantially intact-3 unknown.-5 _ unknown -6 - not applicable - 8 Not applicable-9 _Interioz, exterior, environs not intact-0 _DETERIORATED _UNALTERED _RUINS ALTERED _UNEXPOSED _Reconstructed _OBIGTNAL SITE MOVED -Unknewn _Unexcavated _Excavated ACCESS - Yes-restricted historic district? Yes-unrestricted No access Unknown YES WITHIN NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT? IF YES, NAME: YES ADAPTIVE USE: WITHIN NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK?

IF YES, NAME: YES NO YES NO Saved ? YES NO FUNCTION(S): (use vocabulary words) then- Schoolhouse now- museum, edueational SIGNIFICANCE: _ARCHEULUGY-PREHISTORIC _ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC -AGBICULTURE 4 LARCHITECTURE -ART 10 __COMMERCE COMMUNICATIONS Claims _CONSERVATION -ECONOMICS LEDUCATION LENGINEERINGS _EXPLORATION INDUSTRY _INVENTION -LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE _LAW/Gov't/politics _RELIGION -SCIENCE _LITERATURE _MILITARY _SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN _MUSIC _PHILOSOPHY -POLITICS/GOVERNMENT _TRANSPORTATION _OTHER (SPECIFY) -_entertainment _health _recreation _settlement _socio/cultural _urban & commun planning "first" YES NO ee oldest? YES NO "only» YES NO ARCHITECTURAL STYLE: architect/m.builder: landscape/garden designer: interior decorator: ETHNIC GROUP: engineer: artist/artisan: r builderfeont NAMES: (label role & appropriate date) events personal (1) N.

STONE - BUILT SUDOL institutional DATES: DAnE e Cons-RNeCzO (sgccitlo date oe 21 oe centug): 1770-25 DATE (S) OF "MAJOR" ALTERATIONS: 1974 moved HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT DATE(S) : 1867 - Closed as / Rmm. Sehool. SOURCE. (OF NOMINATION) OTHER PRIVATE STATE LOCAL GOV"T MUNICIPAL COUNTY FEDERAL 'AGENCY: ACREAGE: (to nearest tonth of an ack) leno than / COMMENTS: (include architectural information here) FRAME, SHINGUING, MASONRY FOUNDATION; 1 STORY , RECTANGULAR, EABURD ROOF, FRONM CENTER ENTRANCE WITH TRANSOM; EXPOSED INTERIOR PRAMINGI INCLUDES "DRaGON BEAM" AND MASSIUE KING POST ROOR TRUSSES ; ORIGINAL HIPPED ROOK ZXTENDED TO GABLEO ROOR; RESORATON IN PROGRESSMI OLDEST SCHOOL BUILDING ii DENNIS; RARE "DRAGON BEAM" CORNER FRAMING PECULLDR TO, aREa. SIGNIFICANCE:(maximum two sentences)