Nomination for South Congregational Church

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 APR 5 1976 DATE ENTERED APR 301976 SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES -- COMPLETE APPLICABLE SECTIONS 1 NAME HISTORIC South Congregational Church AND/OR COMMON Same LOCATION STREET & NUMBER 45 Maple Stgget CITY. TOWN Springfield STATE Massachusetts - VICINITY OF CODE 025 NOT FOR PUBLICATION CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT Second COUNTY Hampden CODE 013 3 CLASSIFICATION CATEGORY -DISTRICT X BUILDING(S) _STRUCTURE .SITE _OBJECT OWNERSHIP _PUBLIC XPRIVATE _BOTH PUBLIC ACQUISITION -IN PROCESS -BEING CONSIDERED STATUS XOCCUPIED _UNOCCUPIED _WORK IN PROGRESS.

ACCESSIBLE X.YES: RESTRICTED -YES: UNRESTRICTED -NO PRESENT USE -AGRICULTURE _MUSEUM _COMMERCIAL _PARK _EDUCATIONAL _PRIVATE RESIDENCE -ENTERTAINMENT X_RELIGIOUS -GOVERNMENT SCIENTIFIC _INDUSTRIAL _TRANSPORTATION _MILITARY _OTHER: OWNER OF PROPERTY NAME South Congregational Church STREET & NUMBER 45 Maple Street CITY. TOWN Springfield VICINITY OF 5 LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION STATE Massachusetts 01105 COURTHOUSE. REGISTRY OF DEEDS, ETC. Hampden County Registry of Deeds STREET & NUMBER Elm Street CITY.

TOWN Springfield, REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS STATE Massachusetts TITLE Inventory of the Historic Assets of the Commonwealth DATE 1976 DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS CITY, TOWN _FEDERAL X STATE COUNTY LOCAL Massachusetts Historical Commission Boston STATE Massachusetts 02108 7 DESCRIPTION CONDITION X_EXCELLENT -GOOD _FAIR _DETERIORATED -RUINS UNEXPOSED CHECK ONE _UNALTERED X ALTERED CHECK ONE XORIGINAL SITE _MOVED DATE. DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (IF KNOWN) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Description of the property

The South Congregational Church is situated high atop the First Eastern Connecticut River Terrace at the curve in Maple Street on the corner of High Street. Its prominent site enables the church to be visible for a considerable distance southward. The South Congregational Church was designed by William Potter and dedicated on February 24, 1875. The building measures 136 feet by 77 feet, and constructed of Longmeadow sandstone on a foundation of Monson granite. The elaborate trimmings include ornamen- tal columns of polished Aberdeen granite, window tracery of terra cotta, and beltings of yellow Ohio sandstone. The apse fronts on Maple Street and has a high conically-shaped roof which is cut off by the transept's ridge roof. The original structure terminated in a chapel with small gables.

At the southwest corner of the church at the intersection of High and Maple Streets is the 120-foot tower which serves as the principal entrance to the church. Another entrance, at the northwest corner, was originally a small, hip-roofed replica of the tower entrance. This section was subsequently enlarged, given a crenellated, flat roof, and provided with two doorways. The tower is also relieved and richly ornamented by numerous windows, openings and arches with granite pillars, carved capitals of yellow stone, and boldly carved yellow belting. The tower contains a bel- fry, below which is a gable on both the east and west facades. There are nine arched windows in the apse, 15 feet in height, and five in the chapel's High Street gable. The rose windows located in the transept's gable are each 26 feet in diameter and bordered by two rings of alternating dark and light voussoirs.

Origin- ally the polychromatic slate roofs of the nave, transept, chapel and tower were fin- ished with iron cresting. In the late 1940's a large parish house was added to the eastern end of the church. Primarily constructed of brick, it is faced with Longmeadow sandstone which had been quarried at the same time as that used in the church. The stone was acquired when the First Baptist Church at the corner of State and Spring Streets was demolished. Within the past year a small brick plaza has been constructed in front of the church on Maple Street.

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

SIGNIFICANCE PERIOD -PREHISTORIC -1400-1499 -1500-1599 _1600-1699 -1700-1799 X1800-1899 -1900- ARCHEOLOGY-PREHISTORIC ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC AGRICULTURE X ARCHITECTURE ART _COMMERCE _COMMUNICATIONS AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE -- CHECK AND JUSTIFY BELOW _COMMUNITY PLANNING _LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE _CONSERVATION -LAW _ECONOMICS - LITERATURE _EDUCATION _MILITARY -ENGINEERING -MUSIC _EXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT _PHILOSOPHY LINDUSTRY _POLITICS/GOVERNMENT LINVENTION XRELIGION _SCIENCE _SCULPTURE -SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN _THEATER _TRANSPORTATION _OTHER (SPECIFY) SPECIFIC DATES BUILDER

Statement of significance

/ARCHITECT 1875 STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE William Potter The South Congregational Church is significant as an outstanding example of High Victor- ian Gothic architecture in Springfield and for its associations with a number of prom- inent citizens in the city. The church was designed by William Potter and built by Norcross and Brothers of Worces- ter. William Potter had recently completed his training in his brother Edward's New York architectural office. Edward was a specialist in ecclesiastical design and worked with the Ruskinian mode of the Gothic Revival. William's first commission, the Chan- cellor Green Library at Princeton in 1872, reflects the direct influence of his bro- ther's work. Another of William Potter's early works, the South Congregational Church, was built the year Potter became U.S. Supervising Architect.

In this capacity he designed several large post office buildings and customs houses, and during the next twenty years he designed many churches in New York City and several other buildings at Princeton College. South Congregational Church has been described by Henry Russell Hitchcock as "one of the finest examples of the High Victorian Gothic in America." The Springfield City Directory of 1873-1874 stated that the church was "indeed a rather bold departure from ordinary models, being much like an amphitheater and entirely unlike any other may have an unobstructedview of the pulpit. The building is further distinguished by its carved capitals which represent elements in nature, such as at the tower en- trance where Spring is represented by the tulip, Autumn by wheat, Summer by the sweet- briar, and Winter by the holly.

This drawing from nature rather than from more conven- tional forms illustrates the influence of the pre-Raphaelite theory upon late nineteenth century architecture. The South Congregational Church was aided in its building drive by four prominent Springfield citizens. George and Charles Merriam, the brothers who published Webster's Dictionary, contributed $15,000, while Daniel Wesson, head of Smith and Wesson, the nationally known munitions works, gave $10,000. Another important contributor was Daniel Harris, purchaser of the Howe bridge truss patent and president of the firm which constructed railroad bridges throughout the northeastern and midwestern states. Samuel G. Buckingham was offered the pastorate of the South Congregational Church when the society formed in 1842. Desiring to remain at his Milbury, Connecticut post, he declined and his brother-in-law Noah Porter was appointed.

In 1847 Reverend Porter became a professor at Yale and Dr. Buckingham accepted the pastorate which was then at a small, recently-built church on Bliss Street. Dr. Buckingham spearheaded the continued

The rest of the file

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

MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES Fortieth Anniversary of South Congregational Church, Springfield. 1883. Hitchcock, Henry-Russell. Springfield Architecture, 1800-1900. 1934. Springfield City Directory, 1873-74 and 1874-75. 10 GEOGRAPHICAL DATA ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY one acre UTM REFERENCES 46 63 A[1,8] 16|9,9/8,2,0 ZONE EASTING [4,6|6,217, 4, 0 NORTHING VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION EASTING NORTHING JORTHINC -LULLILULILILIL 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 Edmund Lonergan, Research Assistant Massachusetts Historical Commission STREET & NUMBER 294 Washington Street CITY OR TOWN Boston March 24, 1976 TELEPHONE 617-727-8470 STATE Massachusetts 12 STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER CERTIFICATION THE EVALUATED SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS PROPERTY WITHIN THE STATE IS: NATIONAL - STATE_ LOCAL X 02108 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 Eljabeet Piued Amacon.

Executive Director, Massachusetts Historical Commission 3/26/76 FOR NPS USE ONLY I HEREBY CERTIFY T HAT THISPROPEPTY I9ING HISTOPIC PRESERVATION DATE DATE 4/20/86 -3016 KEEPER OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER GPO 888-445 Form No. 1D-300a (kev. 10-74) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENTOF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY RECEIVED DATE ENTERED APR 5 1976 APR 301976 CONTINUATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER 8 PAGE 21 #8: drive which resulted in the present edifice on Maple and High Streets. During his forty-seven years of service at the South Congregational Church, Buckingham became widely known for his many ecclesiastical publications and had a Springfield junior high school named for him in 1890 in tribute to his long-standing concern for quality education in local schools. Philip Moxom succeeded Dr. Buckingham as pastor in 1894.

He was also a prolific writer on church matters and served as University Preacher at Harvard between 1894 and 1897. Reverend Moxom was a nationally known advocate of peace movements and he served as a delegate to several international peace congresses. A well-rounded com- munity leader, Moxom was president of the Appalachian Mountain Club for two years and published a book on Robert Browning's poetry. James Gordon Gilkey was named as Reverend Moxom's successor in 1917, a position he hela for thirty-eight years. Continuing the tradition of the other leaders of South Church, Gilkey taught at Amherst and Springfield Colleges and published eighteen books on religious life and daily living.

Reverend Gilkey's other interest was music, and he 195 STATESTREET TEMPLE 22 STREET 38 48 South Congregational Church SPRINGFIELD: South Congregational Church Springfield Planning Department Map 1" = 100' 1975 40 STREET RECEIVED APR 5 1976 NATIONAL' REGISTER 82 208 212 238 UNION 247 249 177 182 189 88 Property South Congregational Church State Massachusetts TECHNICAL Photos _2 Maps Working Number 4.5.76.2946 Ikithing incarrect Fine! 76000245 Hampden CONTROL em 4.6.16 HISTORIAN Accept Ruttenbaun 4/19/76 ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN Saclst debovéh 4.13.76 ARCHEOLOGIST OTHER HAER Inventory - Review REVIEW UNIT CHIEF Cole 4.20.76 BRANCH CHIEF National Register Write-up Federal Register Entry 6-1-76 Send-back Re-submit Entered United States Department of the Interior National Park Service WASO No.

7 KEEPER Hemo 4.307 APR 30 1976 IN T:2106 - 74 South Congregational Church Springfield, MA Kathleen Morehead, photographer January 1976 Morehead Photography, 37 Old Acre Road, Springfield, MA Fan n Co. West facade. APR 5 1976 Photograph #1 a/ 2 NPS # 4/30/76 PROPERTY OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER South Congregational Church Springfield, MA Kathleen Morehead, photographer January 1976 Morehead Photography, 37 Old Acre Road, Springfield, MA Hampel ~ C. South facade, showing addition of 1940's. Photograph #2a2 NDS # 4/30/76 APR 5 1976 PROPERTY OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER PAUL GUZZI Socrotany of the Commonwealth The Commonwealch of Massachusetts ffice of the Secretary Massachusells Historical Commission 291 Hashington Sireet Boston, Massachuselts 02108 (617)727-8470 March 30, 1976 Mr. Charles Herrington Registration National Register National Park Service Department of the Interior Washington, D.C.

20240 Dear Charles: Enclosed please find three nominations for the following properties: 1. Newton, Woodland Railroad Station, Newton Highlands Railroad Station, Newton Centre Railroad Station and Baggage and Express Building 2. Shirley, Shirley Shaker Village 3. Springfield, South Congregational Church These properties have been voted eligible 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 Massachusetts Historical Commission PLW/mw Enclosures ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER MASSACHUSETTS STATE HFR 30 075 Date Entered Name The Stone Building Superior Courthouse and Bartlett Mall The Follen Coumunity Church Sands, Hiram, House Lexington Green Historic Mistrict South Congregatioral Church Paine, Tinothy louse Bartlett-Russel1-Hedge House Location Lexington Middlesex County Newburyport Essex County Lexington Middlesex County Canbridge Hiddlesex County Lezington Middlesex County Springfield Hampden County Worcester Worcester County Plymouth Plymouth County 5/4/76 U Also Notified U - Hon- Hoa: Edward M: Keoocdy "Hon. Paul Isongas ¿ Hon. Michael J. Harrington zlion. Ihonas P. O'Neill, JI. *lion. Edward P. Boland Hon. Joseph D. Early Hon. Gerry E. Studds Regional Director, North Atlantic Region State Historic Preservation Officer Mra. Elizabeth R.

Amadon Executive Director Massachusetts Hlistorical Conmission 294 Washington Street Boston, Massachusetts 02108 INT: 2950-75 PUBLICATION DATA SHEET State: County/indep. city City/vicinity PRIMARY TITLE (Secondary Title) Address/location Statement of signif- icance includ:ng cons- truction date, altera- tion date, present use, and style. IA 106 I07 I08 MASSACHUSETTS hampden county Springfield SOUTH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH I09 I10 45 Maple St. 1875 High Victorian Gothic church built by William potter; parish house added, 1940's; still in use. Statement of signif- icance including im- portant peoples names; include key words for search of events and areas of significance.

Other surveys, include number of habs or haer drawings Ownership/agency Date of entry Areas of Significance (circle those which apply to property) I11 Considered one of the country's finest examples of this architectural style. #c #I I12 I13 Indexing Items - CE - CE CE CE CE CE CE Private.. (4-30-76) 1. historic archeology 2.prehistoric archeology 3. agriculture (4 architecture 5. art 6. commerce 7. communication 8. conservation 9. economics 10. education 11. engineering 12. exploration 13. industry 14. invention 15. landscape architecture 16. law 17. literature 18. military 19. music 20. philosophy 21. politics/government religion 23. science 24. social/humanitarian 25. transportation 26, entertainme: 27. health 28. recreation 29. settlement 30. social/cultura 31.

urban and community planning Potter, William Bueki LJCF South congregational Church, MA: a CF Mh NATIONAL REGISTER DATA SHEET IE as it appears on federal register: 2 OTHER NAMES: South Congregational Church OCATION street & number Jeity / town vicinity of 45 Maple St. Springfield statel MA ate of entry 4-30-76) 6)NPS RÉGION: North Atlantic county code: 013 OW JPRIVATE COSTATE MUNICIPAL COCOUNTY OMULTIPLE OFEDERAL (agency name) EXISTING SURVEYS CHABS CHAER ONHI 10) FUNDED? OYES )CONGRESS. DISTRICT 2nd 12)SOURCE of NOMINATION CONDITION Xexcellent Dgood Ofair O deteriorated Xaltered Oruins Dunaltered Ounexposed Oreconstructed Cunexcavated Dexcavated 8ACCESS XYES-Restricted [YES -Unrestricted - No Access @ AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE : DENGINEERING-11 CARCHEOLOGY - prehistoric-2 - COMMERCE-6 CENTERTAINMENT-26 -ARCHEOLOGY-historic-1 - COMMUNICATIONS-7 DEXPLORATION -12 | AGRICULTURE -3.

EIRCHITECTURE-4 - CONSERVATION - 8 - HEALTH - 27 - ECONOMICS-9 C INDUSTRY - 13 - ART-5 - EDUCATION-10| C INVENTION -14 Xoriginal site )features: Omoved «XSUBSTANTIALLY INTACT-1 2 ONOT INTACT-O Ounknown SOUNKNOWN-4 IN CNOT APPLICABLE -7 -Unknown - LANDSCAPE ARCH.- 15 C LAW - 16 - LITERATURE - 17 C MILITARY - 18 - MUSIC- 19 - PHILOSOPHY-20 (19) ADAPTIVE USE DYES SAVED? [YES - POLITICS / GOVT.^ 21 -RECREATION-28 C RELIGION-22 -SETTLEMENT-29 - SCIENCE- 23| CURBAN PLANNING-31 'oldest' O - SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN-24| D OTHER (SPECIFY) - SOCIAL / CULTURAL- 30 'only' D - TRANSPORTATION - 25 J. county Hampden 8ADMINISTRATOR: XSTATE CFEDERAL if state who prepared form? ACREAGE 1 OLOCAL -PRIVATE ORGANIZATION *SUBSTANTIALLY INTACT-2 2 OSUBSTANTIALLY INTACT - 3 2C NOT INTACT-O CONOT INTACT - O WOUNKNOWN-5 >XUNKNOWN-6 MO NOT APPLICABLE-8 O NOT APPLICABLE - S IS PROPERTY A HISTORIC DISTRICT?

Dyes Xno OCLAIMS: explain 'first'O Bfunetions WHEN HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT: CHURCH CURRENTLY: CHURCH architectural style(s) HIGH VICTORIAN GOTHIC landscape architect / garden designer: @dates of initial construction: 1875 major alterations: 1940's - Parish house historic events: ETHNIC GROUP ASSOCIATION irchiteet: Willam @master builder: engineer: Potter S) interior decorator: artist: artisan: builder/contractor.

norcross and Brothers NAMES PERSONAL: give role & date EVENTS: INSTITUTIONAL: MNATIONAL REGISTER WRITE-UP GUT SANDSTONE, GRANITE POUNDATION; I STORY, L-SHAPED, CROSS-GABLED ROOF SECHONS, EXTERIOE, CHIMNEY, OFF-CENTER DOUBLE-DOOR ENTRANCE IN COMPOUND POINTED-ARCHED RECESS WITH COLQNETTES AND BICHROMAMC VOUSSOIRSiIN BasE OR 120I rOWER WITH FOLLATED ROUNDELS, TUD OPEN WORK BELFRY, EI ARCADE AND STEEP HHPPED ROOM; MASSIVE APSIDAL FRONT WITH TWINADODR SIDE VESTIBULE, PROMUNENT GABLE END ROSE WINDOWS, SMAUL GABIZO SIDE PROJECTIONSA BUTTRESSES, LANCETS, WINDOW QUOINS; PARIH HOUSE ADDED, 1140s. EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF HIGH VICTORIAN GOTHC DESIENED BY PROMINENT ARCHITECT, WILLIAM POITER, JUST PRIOK TO BECOMING VIS SUPZRVISING ARCHITECT. geoff daro.8.23 |IF ADDITIONAL SPACE NEEDED, NUMBER & PUT ON REVERSE