Nomination for Quaker Meetinghouse

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Form No. 10-300 (Rev. 10-74) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE DATA SHEET. FOR NPS USE ONLY NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM RECEIVED MAY 2 6 1976 DATE ENTERED AUG 17 1976 2 3 4 SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES -- COMPLETE APPLICABLE SECTIONS NAME HISTORIC Quaker Meeting House AND/OR COMMON Same LOCATION STREET & NUMBER Maple Street Cemetery CITY.

TOWN Adams STATE - VICINITY OF CODE 025 NOT FOR PUBLICATION CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT First COUNTY Berkshire CODE 003 Massachusetts CLASSIFICATION CATEGORY -DISTRICT XBUILDING(S) _STRUCTURE _SITE _OBJECT OWNERSHIP XPUBLIC PRIVATE .BOTH PUBLIC ACQUISITION IN PROCESS _BEING CONSIDERED STATUS _OCCUPIED _UNOCCUPIED X WORK IN PROGRESS ACCESSIBLE X YES: RESTRICTED 2YES: UNRESTRICTED _NO PRESENT USE -AGRICULTURE MUSEUM _COMMERCIAL PARK XEDUCATIONAL _PRIVATE RESIDENCE _ENTERTAINMENT & RELIGIOUS _GOVERNMENT -SCIENTIFIC _INDUSTRIAL _TRANSPORTATION MILITARY OTHER: OWNER OF PROPERTY NAME Town of Adams STREET & NUMBER Town Hall, Park Street CITY. TOWN Adams VICINITY OF LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION STATE Massachusetts 01220 COURTHOUSE. REGISTRY OF DEEDS, ETC. Northern Berkshire Registry of Deeds STREET & NUMBER Town Hall, Park Street CITY.

TOWN STATE Massachusetts 01220 Adams REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS TITLE Historic American Buildings Survey (MASS-2-44) Inventory of the Historic Assets of the Commonwealth DATE 1934 (HABS) 1967 X FEDERAL XSTATE COUNTY LOCAL DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS CITY. TOWN Library of Congress Massachusetts Historical Commission Washington, DC Boston STATE Massachusetts 02108 DESCRIPTION CONDITION _EXCELLENT _GOOD XFAIR _DETERIORATED RUINS _UNEXPOSED CHECK ONE _UNALTERED XALTERED CHECK ONE XORIGINAL SITE _MOVED DATE. DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (IF KNOWN) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Description of the property

The Quaker Meeting House is located within the Maple Street Cemetery in the western part of the town of Adams. According to town records, it was constructed sometime between 1781 and 1784. The simple two-story clapboard building measures 36% feet by 28% feet and has a ridge roof and brick chimney on the west end. The facade (south) facing Maple Street has double doors for separate entry by men and women. On either side of the doors are single windows with twelve-over-twelve lights and wooden shutters. Directly above these windows are corresponding windows on the second floor, these having nine lights. The frame of the Meeting House is mostly oak and original, but the exterior clapboards have been replaced over the centuries. Photographs taken c. 1900, c. 1955, and c. 1970 indicate that replacement has been an ongoing process.

Judging from the type of clap- boards (butt-joined) and nails used, it is likely that some portions date from the mid to late 19th century, while the remainder are of mixed recent dates. The roof is slate and appears to date from the late 19th century or early 20th century. The original roof was probably covered with wood shingles. The foundation of the Meeting House was of field stone and existing evidence indicates that it was shallow, as there is no basement or excavated area beneath the structure. Some time in the 1930's, however, the remains of the stone foundation were removed and a concrete foundation poured around the structure. , The interior of the building has been essentially untouched, and the interior wooden sur- faces show no major deterioration after 200 years. The plan of the Meeting House is divided for separation of men and women.

On the first floor the division consists of eight feet of fixed partition with a door near the main entrances and elsewhere of movable paneled sections, one hinged at top and four sliding up. The dividing wall on the second floor consists of one-inch wide pine boards fixed in position. The first floor is nine feet high and the second floor is eight feet. The total area on both floors for men is ten square feet more than for women. Seating con- sists of rows of benches. There is one fireplace on each floor, located on the west (women's) side. There is no evidence of the use of paint on the building.

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

SIGNIFICANCE PERIOD -PREHISTORIC -1400-1499 -1500-1599 -1600-1699 X 1700-1799 -1800-1899 -1900- ARCHEOLUGY-PREHISTORIC ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC AGRICULTURE *ARCHITECTURE ART _COMMERCE _COMMUNICATIONS AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE -- CHECK AND JUSTIFY BELOW _COMMUNITY PLANNING _LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE _CONSERVATION -LAW _ECONOMICS -LITERATURE -EDUCATION MILITARY LENGINEERING -MUSIC -EXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT _PHILOSOPHY _INDUSTRY _POLITICS/GOVERNMENT -INVENTION X RELIGION _SCIENCE _SCULPTURE -SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN THEATER -TRANSPORTATION -OTHER(SPECIFY) SPECIFIC DATES 1781-1784 STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE BUILDER

Statement of significance

/ARCHITECT The Quaker Meeting House in Adams is significant as one of the few remaining examples of eighteenth century Friends meeting house architecture and is important for its associa- tions with the early settlement and history of Adams. The town of Adams (originally East Hoosuc) was settled soon after 1769 by a group of Quakers, most of whom were from Smithfield, Rhode Island and nearby Dartmouth, Massachu- The Friends soon owned nearly all the farms in the valley. They worshipped for a time in their homes, usually in that of Isaac Killey, and in the early 1780's built the present meeting house.

The adjacent cemetery was used by the Friends for a considerable period before the Meeting House was built, and not until 1797 was the land formally deeded by Isaac Killey, John and Patience Lapham, John Russell and James Lapham, to John Lapham and John Wells who held it for a brief period before turning it over to the So- ciety of Friends. The Quaker Meeting House was constructed so that men and women could hold separate meet- ings. There were two outer doors for separate entrances and movable partitions allowed for privacy during the separate meetings. In the religious service the partitions were raised. Women sat on the left (west) side where they received the benefit of the fire- place. On the elevated seats were seated visiting preachers and leaders, including Hannah Hoxie, a talented preacher who occupied the high seat on the women's side for many years.

Since there were no evening meetings, there was no provision for lighting the building. On Sundays, when there were two services, those coming from a distance brought their lunch and stayed to both services. The highway past the Meeting House was originally an Indian trail, known as the Pontoosuck Path, which connected with the Mohawk Trail in the north part of the valley. It is now appropriately called Friend Street. One of the early settlers on this road was David An- thony, whose family occupied a prominent place in the town and whose great-grandaughter Susan B. Anthony became a national and world-wide figure. A famous suffragist, Susan B. Anthony no doubt developed her concern for temperance and freedom for women from her Quaker heritage. The Friends worshipped in the Adams Quaker Meeting House until they moved to western New York.

The Meeting House is now under the care of the Adams Society of Friends Descendants and serves as their annual meeting place. It is owned by the town which also cares for the burial ground in front of the Meeting House where the pioneer Friends rest in their unmarked graves. The architectural significance of the Quaker Meeting House lies in its virtually unal- tered and well-preserved interior which continues to illustrate a people and way of life important in the history of Adams.

The rest of the file

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

MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES Barlow, Edwin I. Architectural report on the Quaker Meeting House. Adams, 1934. Dewey, Rev. Chester. History of the County of Berkshire. Adams, 1829. Hart, David M. Architectural report on the Quaker Meeting House. Boston, 1975. Holland, Joseph Gilbert. History of Western Massachusetts. Springfield: Samuel Bowles & Company, 1855. Spear, W.F. History of North Adams, 1749-1885. Idaho: Clearwater Publishers, 1974 10 GEOGRAPHICAL DATA ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY _ less than one acre UTM REFERENCES AL118/ 6/5,3/617,01 ZONE EASTING 14,7/2,0/9,0,01 NORTHING VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION Ll.Lud BL EASTiNd NORTHING NORTHING HLuuIlu LIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNTY BOUNDARIES STATE CODE COUNTY CODE STATE CODE COUNTY CODE 11 FORM PREPARED BY NAME / TITLE Judy D.

Dobbs, National Register Editor ORGANIZATION Massachusetts Historical Commission STREET & NUMBER 294 Washington Street CITY OR TOWN DATE May 17, 1976 TELEPHONE 617-727-8470 STATE Boston Massachusetts 02108 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 STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER SIGNATURE TITLE Eljabet Rua Amadon Executive Director, Massachusetts Historical Commission DATE 5/18/76 FOR NPS USE ONLY I HEREE I CERTIFY TUATTHS TPATY B INCLUOEO IN THE MATONAL REGISTEA ACtLefbIRECTOR, ATTEST DATE ACHEOLOGY AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION DATE 8.17.26 TIL KEEPER OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER L- GPO 892.453 Property State Massachusetts TECHNICAL Photos _ Maps Quaker Meetinghouse Working Number 5.26.76.3488 FORMER DETERMINATION 76000236 Bershire CONTROL oK 5.26.76 HISTORIAN accept B.

Grosvena 7/1/76 ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN SOlahen 1/8/26 ARCHEOLOGIST OTHER HAER Inventory Review REVIEW UNIT CHIEF BRANCH CHIEF 8 16/76 KEEPER Hun 8 - 17 76 AUG I7 1976 National Register Write-up Federal Register Entry 10-5-26 Send-back Re-submit Entered INT:2106-74 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service WASO No. 7 PENTY OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER NPS Number 5/2/25 12t20 fu- nu mite. Zerki: , 212. LoC. i CPETTPCRLACIDH OE LRATATO SRIEEE PAUL GUZZI Secrotary of the Commonwealth The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Office of the Secretary Massachuselts Historical Commission 291 Mashinglon Street Boston, Massachuselts 02108 (617) 727-8470 May 19, 1976 Mr. Charles Herrington, Chief Registration National Register National Park Service US Department of the Interior Washington, D.C.

20240 Dear Charles: Enclosed please find nomination forms for the following properties: 1. Adams, Quaker Meeting House 2. Iancaster, Lancaster Industrial School for Girls 3. Lynnfield, Meeting House Common District 4. Weston, Reverend Samuel Woodward House The Quaker Meeting House in Adams was determined eligible by the Secretary of the Interior on February 5, 1976. Therefore, the photographs and other material used in making that determination are already in your office and should be incorporated with the enclosed material which has the required USGS map and signature of the State Historic Preservation Officer. The other properties were reviewed by the Massachusetts Historical Commission (State Review Board) and have been signed by the State Historic Preservation Officer, Elizabeth R. Amadon. Sincerely yours, Pat Patricia I.

Weslowski Survey Director 1B11910 RECEIVED MAY 2 6 1976 PIW/mw Enclosures 1E0 NATIONAL. REGISTE' ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER STATE Date Entered MASSACHUSETTS AUG 1 7 1976 Name Location Quaker Meetinghouse Adams Berkshire County Also Notified Hon. Edward M. Kennedy Hon, Edward W. Brooke Hon, Si1vio 0. Conte Regional Director, North Atlantie Region PR MMott/row State Historic Preservation Officer Mes. Elizabeth R. Amadon Executive Director Massachusetts Historical Commission 294 Washington Street Boston, Massachusetts 02108 8/19/76 INT: 2950-75 "'!NIIMYPRI**U / Aqegod sea 1010 Tuma8 j0 ay10 'pIes -Ham pue asnoy t soo omoy buneow, Now eoriii Nowschp town rouse eccepied es U.S. lancimark") Old! -i Towo hosse, Loüt in 1727, bas been componying the anmoucement notes that mand Tor incieion in the National locai botabies Clerinke Gerry, Gen.

John fet of tistorie Piaces, it wis an- peced tuesday bs aui Guzzi, chairman 11. Glover, Col. William Lee, James fhe MassachuseitsPasforical Com- Mogford and others spoke there. The Board of Selecimen mei there before Ab- boi ilatwas built in 1876. wici history m the siruciure ac- Adans? 9L61 8 M NI Data Sheet DATE: Reviewer 1/1/74 INTTIALS: BG NR DOE AUG 17 1976 NAME AS IT APPEARS IN FEDERAL PEGISTER: Quaker Mecting house OTHER NANES: LOCATION: STREET & NUMBER Maple Stret Eemetery, CITY.

TOWN CONGRESSIUMAL DISTRICT / St Tolams STATE - VICINITY OF 025 Maoscchusetts OWNER OF PROPERTY: (Circle) OTHER FEDERAL (AGENCY NAME) : ADMINISTRATOR(underline) Oo FEATURES: INTERIOR - Substantially intact-1 - unknown - 4 - not applicable - 7 CONDITION - -EXCELLENT -GOOD LFAIR EXTERIOP ENVIRONS _Substantially intact-2 - Substantially intact-3 - unknown.-> _unknown -6 _ not applicable - 8 -.Not applicable-9 -Interio=, exterior, environs not intact-o _DETERIORATED _UNALTERED RUINS LALTERED _UNEXPOSED -Reconstructed LORIGINAL SITE _MOVED _Unknown _Unexcavater _Excavated ACCESS - Unknown historic district? WITHIN NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT? IF YES, NAME: NO WITHIN NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK? IF YES, NAME: YES NO ADAPTIVE USE: YES NO Saved ?

YES NO FUNCTION (S): (use vocabulary words) then- mectinghouse now- mectinghouse (used anmusly) SIGNIFICANCE: ARCHEOLUGY-PREHISTORIC -ARCHEOLOGY HISTORIC GRICULTURI ZARCHITECTURE 4 ART -COMMERCE _COMMUNICATIONS Claims "first" YES _CONSERVATION -ECONOMICS -EDUCATION _ENGINEERING -EXPLORATION _INDUSTRY _INVENTION NO -LANDSCAPE ARCH'TECTURE _LAW/Gov't/politics -LITERATURE LMILITARY _MUSIC _PHILOSOPHY -POLITICS/GOVERNMENT "oldest'?

YES NO CHELIGION -_SCIENCE -SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN -TRANSPORTATION _OTHER (SPECIFY) -entertainment _health _recreation Lsettlement -socio/cultural _urban & commun planning "only" YES NO ARCHITECTURAL STYLE: Vunacular Zuaknr exampl architect/m.builder: landscape/garden designer: interior decorator: engineer: artist/artisan: builder/contractor: ETHNIC GROUP: Quaker NAMES: personal (label role appropriate date) events institutional DATES: DATE OF CONSTRUCTION (Specific date or 1/4 of century): /181-1784 DATE (S) OF "MAJOR" ALTERATIONS: HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT DATE (S) : SOURCE: (OF NOMINATION) PRIVATE STATE LOCAL GOV"T MUNICIPAL COUNTY OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY: ACREAGE: (to nearest tenth of an acre) .1-,9 COMMENTS: (include architectural information here) HABS (MASS-2-44), 1934 2½ stnies, dypaigthali frame, clapboadeg, rectangular, gabled nug, Y-rad chie ly, endlanca in appenet enty dy snen car ssmu, enteria ciclurls yeesenk eldte ay, 19305 replacemont, f stre fundation oit omcut replaced.

vernacula. SIGNIFICANCE:(maximum two sentences) He awaker Matrptewon is closely amoocialed with the settement of vernacular Adama Coriginelly Eest Hovoue grenchinan umportant doant example y earl Quate architccture artich tas rounuived in nearly snaltered iconditien.