Nomination for Old Town House

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Form No. 10-300 (Rev. 10-74) PH0355003 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE DATA SHEET FOR NPS USE ONLY RECEIVED JUN 16 1976 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM DATE ENTERED AUG 1 3 1976 0B :#76000265 SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES -- COMPLETE APPLICABLE SECTIONS 1 NAME HISTORIC Old Town House AND/OR COMMON Town House Town Hall 2 LOCATION STREET & NUMBER Town House Square CITYTOWN Marblehead _NOT FOR PUBLICATION CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 6th STATE - VICINITY OF CODE COUNTY Massachusetts 025 CODE Essex 009 3 CLASSIFICATION CATEGORY DISTRICT XBUILDING(S) STRUCTURE SITE OBJECT OWNERSHIP STATUS PUBLIC XOCCUPIED XPRIVATE _UNOCCUPIED _BOTH _WORK IN PROGRESS PUBLIC ACQUISITION ACCESSIBLE _IN PROCESS X YES: RESTRICTED BEING GONSIDERED." T.7.

_YES:UNRESTRICTED -.0oi: _NO PRESENT USE AGRICULTURE _MUSEUM _COMMERCIAL _PARK XEDUCATIONAL PRIVATE RESIDENCE ENTERTAINMENT _RELIGIOUS XGOVERNMENT _SCIENTIFIC S0n CINDUSTRIAL/OT-_TRANSPORTATION MILITARY _OTHER: OWNER OF PROPERTY NAME Town of Marblehead STREET & NUMBER Abbot -Hal1 CITY. TMarblehead STATE Massachusetts 01945 VICINITY OF LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION Office of the Town Counsel COURTHOUSE. REGISTRY OF DEEDS,ETC. FTown of Marblehead y of-Deeds STREET & NUMBER Abbott Hallreet CITY TOWN Marblehead STATE Massachusetts 01945 REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS TITLE Inventory of the Historic Assets of the Commonwealth Historic American Buildings Survey (MASS-2-6) DATE 1967, 1934 DEPOSITORY FOR Massachusetts Historical Commission SURVEY RECORDS Library of Congress CITYTOWN *FEDERAL *STATECOUNTYLOCAL Boston Washington, D.C.

STATE Massachuesetts DESCRIPTION CONDITION X EXCELLENT _GOOD FAIR _DETERIORATED _RUINS _UNEXPOSED CHECK ONE _UNALTERED X ALTERED CHECK ONE X ORIGINAL SITE MOVED DATE. DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (IF KNOWN) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Description of the property

The Marblehead Town House is located in the actual center of Market Square, the square formed by the intersection of Mugford, State, and Washington Streets. Market Square is - in the southeastern part of Marblehead, the site of the original settlement, and also known as Old Marblehead. The Town Meeting of Marblehead voted, in 1727, to build a Town House, 30' x 50' in the center of the "Square." The Committee established for this purpose was directed to "deal with some workmen. . ." The handsome Georgian design is the product of the skills of local Master Carpenters, and an assumed influence of Nathan Bowen, a member of the building committee, and a noted teacher and author of almanacs. The two-story gabled structure is three bays wide and five bays deep. It is sheathed in four inch clapboards, and the corners are quoined.

Fenestration is six-over-six sash, framed by an architrave, and capped by a projecting, flat, molded pediment. At the attic level of the narrow ends are round windows on center line. The entrances are in the center bay of the narrow gabled sides, (north and south eleva- tions), and are framed by single fluted pilasters and topped by a triangular pediment. The original interior consisted of a half basement, a meeting hall on the first floor, and one or two meeting rooms on the second floor. The first floor was occasionally tempor- arily partitioned for a constable's office, clerk of the Market, or a schoolroom. In 1755 the chimney at the northwest corner was added for a stove. The building was raised 5'4" in 1836 to create a new ground floor which was built with granite from Rockport. This new space was used to house the police and cells.

The second floor was assigned to the John Goodwin Post 82 of the Grand Army of the Re- public as a permanent meeting hall in 1898. This room, with all its GAR accoutrements (flags, furniture, Civil War artifacts, etc.), has been faithfully preserved. When the Police Department moved to new guarters in 1966, the Town appropriated $6,000 for the restoration of the Old Town House. The workwas supervised by the architect, Charles Strickland, and conducted between 1966 and 1968. On the ground floor, the work consisted of installing granite supports and removal of the cells, which were replaced by a branch library and the office of the Harbor Master. A small vestibule on the first floor was removed and the large meeting hall restored. A new ceiling and staircase were installed along with six wooden reproductions of the original candelabras. The second floor was re-painted.

In addition the entire structure was treated with an anti-termite protection and fitted with heat detectors.

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- AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE -- CHECK AND JUSTIFY BELOW -ARCHEOLUGY-PREHISTORIC _COMMUNITY PLANNING ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC _CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE -ECONOMICS ARCHITECTURE _EDUCATION ART -ENGINEERING XCOMMERCE - EXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT -COMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY -LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE _LAW -LITERATURE -MILITARY -MUSIC _PHILOSOPHY *POLITICS/GOVERNMENT _INVENTION -RELIGION SCIENCE -SCULPTURE -SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN _THEATER -TRANSPORTATION -OTHER (SPECIFY) SPECIFIC DATES BUILDER

Statement of significance

/ARCHITECT STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE The Marblehead Town House is significant as the first government building in the town and as the scene of a number of important events in local history. By the early 18th century, Marblehead had grown from a backwater fishing village to one of the most affluent and influential seaports in the colonies. This new wealth and the increasing secularization of government led to the decision of the Town Meeting of 1728: "...That Thare Shall Be a Town Hous Beultt in Said Town This Year . . . on Ye Land Whare the Gale and Cagge Now Stand..." Iocated at the intersection of the three major "hyways": Main Hyway (Washington Street), Way to Ferry (Mugford Street), and Wharf Street (State Street), it was the center of activity in the town and in close proximity to the Salem Ferry, the Wharfs, and the Boston Road.

As the first government building in the Town, it was here that "... the freeholders and other inhabitants of this Town qualified to vote in Town affairs as the law directs: are hereby notified to assemble and convene..." Town matters, such as elections, appointments of Fish Cullers or Jury members, setting the rate, or providing for widows of lost seamen, were settled here. The Town House was later the gathering place to protest the Stamp Act and the Boston Port Bill, and where the citizens signed the anti-tea and non-impor- tation agreements. The Committees of Grievances, Correspondence, and Safety were organized here. The Sons of Liberty also met in the Town House. Delegates were selected here for the Ipswich Convention, and Provincial Congress.

Later townspeople met in this building to approve the Articles of Confederation, Massachusetts Constitution and later the United States Constitution. When the Declaration of Independence was read aloud at the Town House there was a spontaneous celebration, a free oxen dinner and rum punch. After the Battle of Yorktown, the townspeople met here to prepare a circular letter on the need to protect fishing rights in the Peace Treaty. Iocal notables, such as Elbridge Gerry, General John H. Glover, Col. William Iee and James Mugford spoke here. In addition the Town House was host to such dignitaries as Presidents Washington, Adams, Jackson and Munroe, Samuel Adams, John Hancock and the Marquis de Lafayette. As the center for the affairs of the Town, Old Town House, at various times, served as a schoo1, public market, Constable's office and court.

When the Town government was moved to Abbot Hall in 1876, the Old Town House continued to be used for recruitments, protests, celebrations, orations, plays and an election poll. Presently it is used as the headquarters for the Bicentennial celebrations, the Arts Festival and as a polling place.

The rest of the file

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

MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES Lord & Gamage; Marblehead-The Spirit of '76 Lives Here, Chilton:1972. Records of the Marblehead Historical Society Archives of the Town of Marblehead Roads, Samuel; History and Traditions of Marblehead, Marblehead:1879. 10 GEOGRAPHICAL DATA .04 acre ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY _ UTM REFERENCES A[2,9/ 1314,719,8,0 ZONE EASTING 4,710,713,2,01 NORTHING delu VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION ZONE EASTING NORTHING NORTHING :131 -i7Ir': 7eb ming 115: 1197 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 Joseph R.

Orfant, National Register Editor and Virginia Gamage, Chairperson Bicentennial Commission ORGANIZATION DATE Massachusetts Historical Commission June 3, 1976 STREET & NUMBER TELEPHONE 294 Washington Street : 617-727-8470 CITY OR TOWN STATE Boston 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 Préservation 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 -5.%.

STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER SIGNATURE TITLE Eljabira Rure amadon Executive Director, Massachusetts Historical Commission DATE juue 6, 1976 FOR NPS USE ONLY DATE DATE 1/18/76 F.12-16 Aoting KEEPER OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER GPO 892-453 Property Old Jawn Vause state Mass Working Number 616.763589 TECHNICAY Photos Maps Essex CONTROL 23.76 HISTORIAN accppt B. Greavena 7/9h4 ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN Uccept Soldham 1/20/26 ARCHEOLOGIST OTHER HAER Inventory. Review REVIEW UNITCHIEF BRANCH CHIEF 8-11-26 KEEPER National Register Write-up Federal Register Entry 9>-6 Send-back Re-submit United States Department of the Interior National Park Service WASO No. 7 Entered AUG 13 1976 INT:2106 - 74 ONE WAY DO NOT ENTER Old Town House Marblehead, MA 6ssuf Co., maes. Bob Sinclair, Town Photographer 1975 Town of Marblehead, Abbot Hall, Marble- head, MA 01945 Facing west.

Photograph #1 L4 JUN 1 6 1976 DE AUG 13 1976 Bob Sinclair OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHER TOWN OF MARBLEHEAD PAODTOTY OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER DATE TAKEN 1975 torg hartbeart corue 1861-1865 OHN GOODWIN POST 82 G.A.R 1727 TOWN HOUSE Old Town House 1 ssef Co., Masa. Marblehead, MA. Bob Sinclair, Town Photographer 1975 Town of Marblehead, Abbott Hall, Marblehead, MA. 01945 Facing east. Photograph #2 14 JUN 1 6 1976 DoE AUG 13 1976 Bob Sinclair OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHER TOWN OF MARBLEHEAD e.. DATE TAKEN 1975 No.2 - Soutlwent corner PROPETU -i Ui iua IONAL REGISTER ENTER Old Town House Marblehead, MA. basep co, mane Bob Sinclair, Town Photographer 1975 Town of Marblehead, Abbott Hall, Marblehead, MA.

01945 Facing southwest Photograph #344 JUN 1.6.1976 AUG 13 1976 Bob Sinclair OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHER TOWN OF MARBLEHEAD DATE TAKEN 1975 No.1-Southeantcorner PROPENTY OF THE MATIONAL REGISTER Old Town House Marblehead, Ma. Essu/ Co. masa. Samuel Chamberlain 1962 Town of Marblehead, Abbott Hall, Marblehead, MA. 01945 Facing southwest Photograph #4 44 JUN 1 6 1976 AUG 13 1976 DoG Photognynh ly Sa muel Chambelain marblehead @.1967 PROPERTY OF TIZ NATIONAL REGISTER ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER Date Entered STATE MASSACHUSETTS AUG 13 1976 Name Location Old Town House Lovel1 Locks and Canals Historie District Marblehead Essex County Lowe11 Middlesex County Also Notified Hon. Edward M. Kennedy Hon. Edvard W. Brooke Hon. Michael J.Harrington Hon. Paul Tsongas Reglonal Direetor, North Atlantie Region PR MMott/row 8/16/76 State Hietorle Preservation Officer Mee. Elizabeth R.

Amadon Executive Direetor Massachusetts Historical Connission 294 Washington Street Boston, Massachusetts 02108 INT: 2950-75 4 MICHÄEL j. HARRINGTON 6TH DISTRICT, MASSACHUSETTS COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WASHINGTON, D.C. 20515 WASHINGTON OFFICE: (202) 225-8020 DISTRICT OFFICES: POST OFFICE BUILDING SALE, MASSACHUSETTS 01970 (617) 745-5800 POST OFFICE BUILDING LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS 01901 (617) 599-7105 August 16, 1976 Department of the Interior National Park Service Dr. William Murtagh Keeper of the National Register 11 L Street N.W. Washington, D. C. Dear Dr. Murtagh, I am writing in response to a constituent request concerning the placement of the Old Town House in Marblehead, Massachusetts, on the National Register of Historic Landmarks.

A member of my staff has been in touch with your office in Washington and was informed that the matter was in review having been received for consideration on June 16th. I urge you to hasten the final desicion on this matter. The 1727 Marblehead Town House dates back even earlier than Boston's Faneuil Hall. It was here that the Son's of Liberty met and here where our men gathered for the Boston Tea Party and Bunker Hill. The top floor houses a Civil War Museum. The history associated with this extraordinary building is great and makes it a significant historical landmark, especially in light of our nation's Bicentennial I feel it more than qualifies to be on the National Register listing. Any effort to accelerate such a move would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your cooperation on this matter. Sincerely yours, (ulue ) Hugt Michael J.

Harrington MJH:pmc AUG 2 3 1976 Honorable Michae1 J. Harrington House of Representatives Washington, D.C. Dear Mr. Harrington: am pleased to acknowledge your inguiry on behalt of one o rour constituents concerning the nonination of the O1d Tow House in Marblehead, Massachusetts, to the liational Register of Historie Places. We appreciate your interest in this matter and will provide you a reply at the earliest opportunity. Sincerely yours, (Sgd.) Gary Everhardt Gary Everhardt Director bec: IS (2)) w/c of inc. FNP:EDezendorf:for CRB:pJw:8/23/76 134-PB Es s ey Branton /30 Skinner Nevringos or Mustegle Roques 8/30 Whuerehss, AUG 3 1 1976 Tonorable lltchne House of Represe Nashington, DC, Je Haaring batives Deda Mr. B arington: In response to your August 16 letter, ve are plessed to inforn you that the 028 Toune Houne in Marbleben entered in the 1 sachusette Satsionn. Reglate August 9, 1976.

It ve cán be of any furthes Appreccate your lnterenti sa bletorleprescvatio e Stacerely yours, /Sgd/ Jerry D. Rogers Acting Associate Dizector bec: Mrs. Elizabeth Re Amadon Executive Director Massachusetts Historical Comnission 294 Washington Street Boston, Massachusetts 02108) w/c of ine. Reglonal Director, North Atlantic) Director's Reading File -PH FNP: JSkinner:cbj:8-30-76 I-Curry) IS) IS-D's Chron.

XBASIC FILE RETAINED IN PR) ARCHITBCTURAL, STYLE: Geogian architect/m.builder: landscapegarden designer: interior decorator: ETHNIC GROUP: NAMES: (label role per sonal appropriate date) events engineer: artist/artisan: builder/contractor: George arshingtm, fehn Adama, Andrew Jacksn, famen monise, Samuel Adams, John Hancock, Lafayette - cinitons institutional DATES: DATE OF CONSTRUCTION (Specific date ox 1/4 of century): /728 DATE (S) OF "MAJOR" ALTERATIONS: /83% HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT DATE (S) : 1728-present SOURCE.

(OF NOMINATION) PRIVATE OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY: ACREAGE: (to nearest tenth of an acre) STATE LOCAL GOV"T MUNICIPAL COUNTY COMMENTS: (include architectural information here) HASS (MN55-26), 7934 deserictorv fiame , clepbon de 2'B otrie, rctangulan jibled crogst identiceh Nthe and sosedumenan senenanes, yfea win pere tea ftand torpaed lay postianont elneulan windbe, oni seod patt cp guoin, mudilinot comia; building raised 5'4" in 1836 to o creat a nas ground flon; whied coms buithngf qrabita y restred, 1946 -1968. Gengeano Town's SIGNIFICANCE:(maximum two sentences) 'geermment bullingjen Manble Kuad, Xle Bed Fowr Howne na tha primcipil metig place yos hose involoed in Revolutimay activitis; mnerthe sit af ratfication afor the Arridas l Confedactin, Yhi Mossachusett Constitutim, ande the U.5.

Constitation; Sorntet in Yha He Old Toun thel hes housed physisel cunten asifemprtcata toun Focas pornt oaaety of actiitro end las comtmes present as an inpustant anth actioe samusais anter NR Data Sheet DATE: Revlewer 7/9/76 INITIALS: 06 DOE /AUG 13 1976 NAME AS IT APPEARS IN FEDERAL REGISTER: Old Town House OTHER NAMES: Iown House: (Secun Ha ll #ABS)9 LOCATION: STREET & NUMBER CITY.TOWN Town House Square Marblehead CONGRESSIUNAL DISTRICT 6th - VICINITY OF STATE Massachusetts 025 COUNTY Essex code 009 OWNER OF PROPERTY: (Circle) STATE LOCAL GOV'T MUNICIPAL COUNTY OTHER FEDERAL (AGENCY NAME) : ADMINISTRATOR(underline) NPS REGION: (CIRCLE) N.ATLANTIC MID ATLANTIC SOUTHEAST MIDWEST SOUTHWEST ROCKY MOUNTAIN WEST PACIFIC NORTHWEST FEATURES: CONDITION - INTERIOR EXTERIOR ENVIRONS - Substantially intact-1 Substantially intact-2 Substantially intact-3 - unknown - 4 unknown.-5 _ unknown -6 not antiicable- _not applicable - 8 _ Not applicable-9 not intect -Interioz, exterior, environs not intact-O LEXCELLENT _DETERIORATED _UNALTERED _GOOD -RUINS LALTERED FAIR _UNEXPOSED -Reconstructed LORIGINAL SITE _MOVED _Unknown _Unexcavater _Excavated ACCESS - Yes-restricted historic distriet?

Yes-unrestricted No access Unknown YES WITHIN NATIONAL REGISIER HISTORIC DISTRICT? IF YES,. NAME: YES NO WITHIN NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK? IF YES, NAME: YES ADAPTIVE USE: YES NO Saved ? YES NO FUNCTION(S): (use vocabulary words) then- town mesting; padlice otatiin; school; market now- community cinter; poolling polace HABS SIGNIFICANCE: -ARCHEOLUGY-PREMISTORIC -ARCHEOLOGY.HISTORIC -AGRICULTURE LARCHITECTURE -ART _COMMERCE -COMMUNICATIONS Claims "first" -CONSERVATION ECONOMICS _EDUCATION _ENGINEERING _EXPLORATION. -INDUSTRY _INVENTION LAMCANA/PIECTLC _LITERATURE -MILITARY -MUSIC _PHILOSOPHY OEMES GOVERNWENT NO "e oldest? YES finst gout building in toan NO _RELIGION _SCIENCE -SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN -TRANSPORTATION -OTHER (SPECIFY) -entertainment _health - recreacion -settlement -socio/cultural _urban & commun planning "only" YES NO DAILY EXE! 3 ITEM D.

22.4:0 AUG 31 0 Neir Essef TTown House in register Old Town House has been MARBLÈHEAD- The John Hancock and Marquis Lafayette. It served accepted for inclusion in the variously as a school, public National Register of market, constable's office! 'Historical Places by the and court. When the town Massachusetts Historical goverament was moved to Commission, according to Abbot Hall in 1876, the Old State secretary Paul Guzzi, Town House continued to be who chairs the commission. used for recruitments, Located in Town House protests, celebrations, Square, it was the first orations, plays and as an government building in the election polling place. town and the scene of many In 1966, the town ap- important events in local propriated $5,000 for its i history. restoration.

The work was The building was voted for subsequently supervised by: consturction at the Town architect Charles Meeting of 1728. Through the Strickland. was tran- years, the Town House was sicrmed into a branch host to such dignitaries as library and office ior lhe Presidents George harbormaster. The entire Washingion, John Adams, structure was treated with Andrew Jackson and James antitermite protection and Munroe and Samuel Adams, fitled with heat detectors.