Nomination for Puritan House

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Form No. 10-300 (Rev.

10-74) DATA SHEET UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE FOR NPS USE ONLY 1975 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM RECEIVED DATE ENTERED MAY 28.1978 SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES -- COMPLETE APPLICABLE SECTIONS NAME HISTORIC Puritan House (Tappan's Hotel, Atlantic House, Gloucester House, Mason's House) AND/OR COMMON Puritan House (Preferred) 2 LOCATION STREET & NUMBER 3 Washington Street and 2 Main Street CITY,TOWN Gloucester STATE Massachusetts _ VICINITY OF CODE 025 NOT FOR PUBLICATION CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT Sixth COUNTY Essex CODE 009 CLASSIFICATION CATEGORY -DISTRICT XBUILDING(S) STRUCTURE _SITE _OBJECT OWNERSHIP _PUBLIC XPRIVATE _BOTH PUBLIC ACQUISITION _IN PROCESS _BEING CONSIDERED STATUS _OCCUPIED X UNOCCUPIED _WORK IN PROGRESS ACCESSIBLE _YES: RESTRICTED _YES: UNRESTRICTED XNO PRESENT USE -AGRICULTURE _MUSEUM _COMMERCIAL _PARK _EDUCATIONAL _PRIVATE RESIDENCE _ENTERTAINMENT _RELIGIOUS _GOVERNMENT SCIENTIFIC _INDUSTRIAL _TRANSPORTATION _MILITARY X OTHER: Vacant OWNER OF PROPERTY NAME Mr.

Frank Ahearn, Puritan Realty Trust STREET & NUMBER 24 Edgemore Road CITY, TOWN Gloucester VICINITY OF 5 LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION STATE Massachusetts 01930 COURTHOUSE, REGISTRY OF DEEDS;ETC. Essex South County Registry of Deeds STREET & NUMBER Federal Street CITY, TOWN STATE Massachusetts Salem, REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS TITLE Inventory of the Historic Assets of the Commonwealth DATE 1969 DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS Massachusetts Historical Commission CITY, TOWN FEDERAL *STATE _COUNTY LOCAL Boston STATE Massachusetts 7' DESCRIPTION CONDITION _EXCELLENT GOOD X FAIR 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 Puritan House (1810) is located in downtown Gloucester Center at the corner of Main and Washington Streets. Its main facade faces Gloucester Harbor and the rear extension stretches up the hill on Washington Street. The Puritan House is situated near the commercial district, although it is separated from it by a vacant lot and a number of intrusions. The principal section of the building facing Main Street is four stories with a six-bay facade. The building is brick and sits on a granite foundation which is nearly a full story in height. The central doorway on Main Street is arched (originally with fanlight) as is another entryway on Washington Street. The roof of the main section is a hip roof and has two brick chimneys. There are dentils at the eaves. The rear portion of the building (also built in 1810) provides additional hotel rooms and echoes the treatment of the main section.

This part of the building is also brick, but is only three stories. Another addition on the northeast side of the building was built around 1905 and is of wood construction. On the interior, the main lobby is approached by a stairway leading from the Main Street entrance. The most striking feature of the lobby is the winding staircase which goes to the third floor. Just off the lobby on the east side of the building is a room approximately 20 feet by 30 feet which has a nicely appointed marble fireplace. On the Washington Street side of the lobby is another room with two brick fireplaces at either end of the west wall. The floors above are divided into rooms used for lodging in the old inn. Most of the original molding and wainscoting survives and many of the rooms have elegant fireplaces with carved mantels.

At the present time the Puritan House is unoccupied, although preservation work is now in progress. The windows are boarded, but the original shutters are stored. in the attic for future replacement on the facade. Although much work needs to be done on the building, it has been found to be structurally sound, and its reha- bilitation will prove to benefit greatly the downtown area of Gloucester. 6 bul aurs, temoaa tee tly tht de etontura oy gpunde ta t 8

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

SIGNIFICANCE PERIOD PREHISTORIC -1400-1499 -1500-1599 -1600-1699 -1700-1799 X.1800-1899 -1900- ARCHEOLOGY-PREHISTORIC ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC AGRICULTURE XARCHITECTURE ART COMMERCE _COMMUNICATIONS AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE -- CHECK AND JUSTIFY BELOW _COMMUNITY PLANNING -LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE CONSERVATION -LAW _ECONOMICS _LITERATURE LEDUCATION -MILITARY -ENGINEERING -MUSIC _EXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT _PHILOSOPHY INDUSTRY _POLITICS/GOVERNMENT INVENTION _RELIGION _SCIENCE -SCULPTURE _SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN -THEATER -TRANSPORTATION XOTHER (SPECIFY) Hotel SPECIFIC DATES 1810 BUILDER

Statement of significance

/ARCHITECT STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE The Burthan The Puritan House is significant as one of the first brick buildings in Gloucester and as the first hotel in the community. Standing on a prominent spot overlooking Gloucester's inner harbor, the Puritan House (Tappan's Hotel or Atlantic House as it was first known) was certainly the most impressive hotel in the vicinity at the time of its construction. With forty-five rooms for guests, it had the capacity to serve a city ten times the size of the little fishing village of Gloucester. Therefore, its erection was no small source of amazement to the inhabitants there. When the Puritan House was built, there were only two brick structures in town -- a fort-keeper's house at the fort point and an old gunhouse on High Street.

The new four-story hotel became the most significant brick building in the area and a fore- runner of the brick commercial buildings which followed on Main Street. The Puritan House was one of the few buildings to escape a disastrous fire of 1830. The hotel was built by Colonel James Tappan of New Hampshire. Tappan was a school teacher, one of whose students was Daniel Webster. Tappan employed a large force of workers to excavate the foundation, during which a solid ledge was encountered. The task of cutting through this rock brought about such added expense that Tappan was forced to borrow money to complete the venture. In the late nineteenth century the hotel was owned by John Mason, a surveyor of Cape Ann. Both Tappan and Mason served as representatives from the area to the State Legislature. One of the famous occupants of the hotel was Winslow Homer who stayed there in 1873.

In the nineteenth century most of the important social functions of the community were held in the large building.

The rest of the file

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

MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES Babson. History of Gloucester. 1860. Boston Globe. 1890. 10 GEOGRAPHICAL DATA ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY _ -14 UTM REFERENCES AL119 13/613|31010 ZONE EASTING 47.18 L4T7/1r4/7190 NORTHING Lul VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION ZONE EASTING LlILu NORTHING ULLLdLIIL 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, and ORGANIZATION Massachusetts Historical Commission STREET & NUMBER 294 Washington CITY OR TOWN Boston Deidre Henderson and Richard V.

Hunt, Consultants DATE January 13, 1976 TELEPHONE Street 617-727-8470 STATE Massachusetts 02108 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), 1 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 bick Reed Amadon TITLE Executive Director, Massachusetts Historical CommissiorATE Jan.

8, 1976 FOR NPS USE ONLY 1 HEREBY CERTIFY T AT THIS PROPES S INCLUDED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC PRESERVATION DATE 5/28/98 DATE 5198-16 ATTEST AoTIT KEEPER OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER GPO 892-453 Property state Mass. TECHNICAL Photos _ 2 Maps Puritan House (Tappan's Hotel, Atlantic House, Gloucester House, Mason's House) Working Number, 2/. 76, 2378 Bapesna maonected Handeta orssing 13,26 Es5&X DB 76000 244 5.26.76 CONTROL OK-22.76 HISTORIAN ACEPT Liz 21Ap'b ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN ACCEPT Awvne 222714 ARCHEOLOGIST OTHER Inventory - Review REVIEW UNIT CHIEF Acczpi COlE 5-87-76 BRANCH CHIEF To be sehobilitatid National Register Write-up Federal Register Entry 7-6-26 Send-back . Re-submit Entered United States Department of the Interior National Park Service WASO No. 7 KEEPER Hun 5118 .26 MAY 28 1976 INT:2106- 74 127 RESTAURANT Form No. 10-301a (Pev.

10-74) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY RECEIVED JAN 21 1976 28 DATE ENTERED SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES ENCLOSE WITH PHOTOGRAPH NAME HISTORIC Puritan House AND/OR COMMON Same LOCATION CITY. TOWN Gloucester -VICINITY OF PHOTO REFERENCE PHOTO CREDIT Lawrence Maver NEGATIVE FILED AT West Wharf, Gloucester, MA 01930 IDENTIFICATION DESCRIBE VIEW. DIRECTION. ETC. IF DISTRICT. GIVE BUILDING NAME & STREET Iooking northwest at main facade and east elevation. COUNTY Essex STATE DATE OF PHOTO 1975 PHOTO NO Form No. 10-301a (Pev.

10-74) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY JAN 21 RECEIVED MAY DATE ENTERED SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORA TYPE ALL ENTRIES ENCLOSE WITH PHOTOGRAPH NAME HISTORIC Puritan House AND/OR COMMON Puritan House 2 LOCATION CITY. TOWN Gloucester 3 PHOTO REFERENCE PHOTO CREDIT Lawrence Maver _VICINITY OF COUNTY Essex DATE OF PHOTO 1975 NEGATIVE FILED AT West Wharf, Gloucester, MA 01930 IDENTIFICATION DESCRIBE VIEW. DIRECTION, ETC. IF DISTRICT, GIVE BUILDING NAME & STREET PH Facing north, showing facade and west elevation along Washington Street 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 RECEIVEDJAN 21 1976 DATE ENTERED MAY.281976 SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES -- ENCLOSE WITH MAP 2 NAME HISTORIC Puritan House AND/OR COMMON Same LOCATION CITY. TOWN Gloucester VICINITY OF COUNTY Essex STATE MA 3 MAP REFERENCE SOURCE USGS, Gloucester Quadrangle SCALE DATE 4 1:24000 REQUIREMENTS TO BE INCLUDED ON ALL MAPS 1. PROPERTY BOUNDARIES 2. NORTH ARROW 3. UTM REFERENCES 1960 INT: 3464- 75 ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER STATE MASSACHUSETTS Date Entered MAY 2.8 1976 Name Location Quincy, Josiah, House Puritan Nouse Quincy Norfolk County Cloucester Essex County Also Notified Hon. Edward M. Kennedy Hon. Idward W. Brooke Ilon. Janes A. Burke Ilon. Michael J.

Haxrington Regional Director, North Atlantic Region PR MMott/row 6/2/76 State Historie Preservation Officer Mra. Elizabeth R. Amadon Executiva Diractor Massachusetts Historical Conmission 294 Washington Street Eoston, Massachusetts 02108 INT: 2950-75 ANR Data Sheet DATE: 21 Ap 74 Reviewer INITIALS: DOE MAY 2 8 1976 NAME AS IT APPEARS IN FEDERAL REGISTER: PURITAN HOUSE separatd, OTHER NANES Tappan's Hotal, Atlantic Houss, Gloucester House, Mason's LOCATION: Washington St. + 2 Màm St. CITY.

TOWN Bloucestir CONGRESSIUNAL DISTRICT STATE mA VICINITY OF OWNER OF PROPERTY: (circle) PRIVATE COUNTY ESSEX STATE LOCAL GOV'T code 009 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 - _EXCELLENT _GOOD XFAIR EXTERIOR -Substantially intact-2 unknown -5 not applicable - 8 xNoT -Interior; exterior, _DETERIORATED _RUINS _UNEXPOSED _Unexcavated ENVIRONS Substantially intact-3 _ unknown -6 Not applicable-9 environs not intact-0 UNALTEREC ZALTERED -Reconstructed _ORIGINAL SITE _MOVED _Unknown -Excavated ACCESS - Yes-restricted historic district? Yes-unrestricted access Unknown YES ( NO WITHIN NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT?

IF YES, NAME: YES NO WITHIN NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK? IF YES, NAME: YES NO ADAPTIVE USE: YES NO Saved ?

YES NO FUNCTION (S): (use vocabulary words) then- HoTEL now- NONE SIGNIFICANCE: -ARCHEOLUGY-PREHISTORIC ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC AGRICULTURE XARCHITECTURE SCOMMERC -COMMUNICATIONS Claims _CONSERVATION LECONOMICS LEDUCATION _ENGINEERING EXPLORATION _INDUSTRY _INVENTION _LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE _RELIGION _LAW/Gov't/politics _SCIENCE -LITERATURE _MILITARY SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN MUSIC _PHILOSOPHY -POLITICS/GOVERNMENT -TRANSPORTATION OTHER (SPECIFY) _entertainment _health _recreation _settlement _socio/cultural _urban & commun planning "'first2 YES NO eeoldest2 YES Hotel in Glowesstss NO "only" YES NO ARCHITECTURAL STYLE: architect/m.builder: landscape/garden designer: interior decorator: engineer: artist/artisan: builder/contractor: ETHNIC GROUP: NAMES: (label role appropriate date) per sonal Col.

Jantse Tappan-ownsi, builder Jokn Mason, ouner events institutional DATES: DATE OF CONSTRUCTION (Specific date or 1/4 of century): /8/0 DATE (S) OF "MAJOR" AITERATIONS: 1905 addition HISTORICALIY SIGNIFICANT DATE (S) : 18:30 - Survinsd city Füz SOURCE. (OF NOMINATION) PRIVATE OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY: ACREAGE: (to nearest tenth of an acre) STATE LOCAL GOV"T MUNICIPAL COMMENTemishncLude architectural informatlon here) Bridt, commón bond, 4 stoirs main ssction, 3 storizorsas, L shaps. Shallow hipped roos. 3 interios zxd chimnzys brr main Siction, 5-10 sids interior chemnsy in ssan sécteon. : Plain sills + lentils onall windoros. ssar l bays lon - wood addition. One fan-let door u center of soct section and ons on bide . Dentiled savEs- Main Lobby includes winding stauncas? Sids room contains marbls SIGNIFICANCE: (maximum two sentences) Fuzpplacs.

wainocotting (5 guest lp above, mst wi th lats 19i cnteny and sanly 20th cantules.

ARCHITECTURAL STYLE: architectm.builder: landscape/garden designer: interior decorator: engineer: artist/artisan: builder/contractor: ETHNIC GROUP: NAMES: (label role & appropriate date) events 2 personal Col.Janiso - Tappan-ownss, buildas Jokn Mason, ownsr institutional DATES: DATE OF CONSTRUCTION (Specific date or 1/4 of century) : |8/0 DATE (S) OF "MAJOR" ALTERATTONS: 1905 addition HESTORICALY KCNIPZCANAT DATE (S) : 1830 - surwirsd city finz SOURCE: (OF NOMINATION) PRIVATE STATE LOCAL GOV"T MUNICIPAL OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY : ACREAGE: (to nearest tenth of an acre) COUNTY a she (Bricx (Fremcs and fomram bands), 4-stay main tock wilh susty rear ell, hishaped, low hupped roof sections; 3interior end chimneus om main block, numerous chimneus in rear sectim, thund-anched entance on main block, tal simple enhances windnus, denticulated 45 guest rooma.

ernice, winding starcase; ekcellent intrin woodwnrk, srederdl. conmunity's late l9th and eartu. batt ta tot jamas. naupome y gritctales furit trct tridding/ commusity jocal point. Ine nover wae wrun tnuonef the saliest brick buildingh in Olouesotsd. IN weas.ing first hotsl in towon, strring as a commuinity focus into the lats 19t centasy and sarly 2oth centuries.