Nomination for South Lancaster Engine House

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 P#0355313 DATA SHEET FOR NPS USE ONLY RECEIVEO JUL 6 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM DATE ENTERED 1976 OCT 2 2 1976 SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES - COMPLETE APPLICABLE SECTIONS 1 NAME HISTORIC **South Lancaster Engine House W AND/OR COMMON outh lancaster Fire Station 2 LOCATION STREET & NUMBER 283 South Main Street _NOT FOR PUBLICATION CITY.TOWN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT South Lancaster - VICINITY OF and t STATE Massachusetts CODE COUNTY 025 Worcester 3 CLASSIFICATION CODE 027 CATEGORY _DISTRICT *BUILDING(S) _STRUCTURE _SITE -OBJECT OWNERSHIP XPUBLIC PRIVATE PUBLIC ACQUISITION _IN PROCESS _BEING CONSIDERED STATUS X OCCUPIED _UNOCCUPIED _WORK IN PROGRESS ACCESSIBLE XYES: RESTRICTED - YES: UNRESTRICTED -NO PRESENT USE AGRICULTURE -MUSEUM _COMMERCIAL _PARK _EDUCATIONAL -PRIVATE RESIDENCE _ENTERTAINMENT _RELIGIOUS GOVERNMENT _SCIENTIFIC _INDUSTRIAL - TRANSPORTATION _MILITARY XOTHERFire static 4 OWNER OF PROPERTY NAME Town of Lancaster TREET & NUMBEF Town Hal: CITY.

TOW Lancaster STATE Massachusetts 01523 - VICINITY OF 5 LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION COURTHOUSE REGISTRY OF DEEDS,ETC. Town Treasurer STREET & NUMBER Town Hall CITY, TOWN Lancaster STATE Massachusetts REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS TITLE Inventory of the Assets of the Commonwealth DATE 1994 DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS Massachusetts Historical Commission CITY. TOWN Boston _FEDERAL ZSTATE COUNTY LOCAL STATE Massachusetts 71DESCRIPTION CONDITION X EXCELLENT -GOOD -FAIR -DETERIORATED -RUINS _UNEXPOSED CHECK ONE _UNALTERED X ALTERED CHECK ONE XORIGINAL SITE _MOVED DATE DESCRIBETHE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (IF KNOWN)PHYSICAL APPEARANCE The South Lancaster Engine House stands on Main Street, in the center of South Lan- aster, on one-halt acre ot land. Immediately to the south, separated from the fire- louse by a tall hedge, is a triangular shaped green, samue.

Ward Park, formed by the intersection of Main Street and Bolton Road. Across the street from the engine house, is the campus of Atlantic Union College. The fire station is two stories high with a hipped roof. The facade is three bays wide and the side elevations are three bays deep. The wall surface is clapboard with corner- boards except for a continuous shingled belt in an imbricated pattern, between the first and second floors. The belt flares out slightly at its bottom where it meets a built-up molding. The cornice is supported by slender, curving brackets set close together. Fenestration is paired sash windows with two lights over one, except for the center bays of the facade and elevations. On the first floor of the facade are two bays with new overhead doors. The center bay of the second floor has three round arched windows.

The bay extends above the cornice to form a base for the bell tower. The roof of the bay curves inward and is topped by an open four-sided bell housing. The housing is topped by a curving hipped roof. On the side elevations, the second floor center bay extends beyond the cornice line to create a shed roof are Iour square windows. Cornerboards and horizontal band moldings are used to set off the center bays. The first floor interior consists of a large open area for two engines and work space. To the rear are two rooms and the stairs to the second floor. The second floor is an open hall. a a to hesn arnd foo.

8 SIGNIFICANCE PERIOD -PREHISTORIC -1400-1499 -1500- 1599 -1600-1699 -1700-1799 X 1800-1899 -1900- ARCHEOLOGY-PREHISTORIC ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC _AGRICULTURE ARCHITECTURE -ART -COMMERCE -COMMUNICATIONS AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE -- CHECK AND JUSTIFY BELOW XCOMMUNITY PLANNING -LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE _CONSERVATION LAW -ECONOMICS -LITERATURE _EDUCATION -MILITARY _ENGINEERING _EXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT -MUSIC _PHILOSOPHY _INDUSTRY POLITICS/GOVERNMENT _INVENTION _RELIGION SCIENCE SCULPTURE -SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN _THEATER -TRANSPORTATION -OTHER (SPECIFY) SPECIFIC 1888 STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

Statement of significance

BUILDER/ARCHITECT C.A. Woodruff The South Lancaster Engine House was built by the town in 1888, and is significant as the earliest fire station in the area still being used for its original purpose. Little is known of the Fire Department before 1887. At Town Meeting of 1829, 13 fire wards were chosen. By 1848 a Fire Department Organization was formed. For a forty-year period, between 1838 and 1877, the only Fire Department expense was in 1848 when $49.75 was spent for fire hooks and ladders. In 1877, however, a committee recommended the purchase of a "Halls Improved Fire Engine," the formation of an engine company, that a reservoir be built between the Bulfinch Church and Town Hall, and that a place be built for safe keeping of the new engine. At the Town Meeting of June 18, 1887, it was decided that $3,500 would be expended to build a station for the Fire Department in South Lancaster.

Three persons were nominated to the building committee, John E. Thayer, Henry F. Hosmer, and Carter J. Lewis. Construction began in 1887, and was completed in March of 1888. Expenditures were $45 tor the architect Mr. C.A. Woodruff, $2,000 for the construction to Mr. C. H. Harris, and $1,445 to H.F. Hosmer for finish work. Since the building was completed, it has been in continuous use as a fire station. The only change has been the re- placement of the original swinging doors with overhead doors. Some townspeople remember when there used to be an engine on one side and two horse- or man-drawn wagons on the other, one of which was a sleigh. There was, too, a bell in the tower that had a most frightening sound.

The rest of the file

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

MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES Farnsworth, Phyllis; "The South Lancaster Engine House,"Clinton Daily Item, November 23, 1974. Selectman's Records, Volume 7, 10 GEOGRAPHICAL DATA ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY * acre UTM REFERENCES A|19/ |2/7/9/1/610/ |417/002/21710/ ZONE EASTING NORTHING VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION ®ZÓNE NORTHING NORTHING LLLJLILu LIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNTY BOUNDARIES STATE CODE COUNTY CODE STATE CODE COUNTY CODE 11FORM PREPARED BY Lancaster Historical Commission JOGANZAR. Orfant, National Register Editor and Phyllis A. Fararworth, .

Chairperson Massachusetts Historical Commission June 24, 1976 STREET & NUMBER TELEPHONE 294 Washington Street 617-727-8470 CITY OR TOWN STATE Boston Massachusetts 12 STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER CERTIFICATION THE EVALUATED SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS PROPERTY WITHIN THE STATE IS: NATIONAL - STATE- LOCALX 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 setforth by the National Park Service.

STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER SIGNATURE Clichier RudAmason TITLE sxecutive pireetor, Massachusetts Hlistorical commission DATE 60/28/76 FOR NPS USE ONLY I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS PROPERT S INCLUDED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER LDIRECTOR eCMRCHEOLOG DATE ATTEST DATE 10/22/26 1021/16 KEEPER OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER GPO 892.453 Property Sauth fancaster Engine Wance state Macs. Working Number 7.6, 76.3203 TECHNICAL Photos - 2 Maps 76000307 Worcester CONTROL OK 7.76 HISTORIAN Accest 3. Gravena 7/13/4 ARCHITECTURAL HIS Tepoch 10.2-76 ARCHEOLOGIST OTHER HAER Inventory - Review REVIEW UNIT CHIEF QCCEp 10-12-76 CBRANCH CHIEF - KEEPER won 10/20/74 OCT 2% 19/6 Entered INT:2106 - 74 National Register Write-up Federal Register Entry 12-7-76 Send-back Re-submit United States Department of the Interior National Park Service WASO No.

7 LANCASTER FIRE DEPORTMENT South Lancaster Engine House Lancaster, MA. Worcenta eo. Ed Hopfman 1974 Clinton Daily Item 156 Church Street Clinton, MA. 01510 Looking west Photograph #1 OCT 2 2 1976 PROPERTY OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER sasa Lauth dancaater Engine Hauce 283 South Main Street South Lancaster, Mass. November 1975 Phatogapher: @2Hoofmann Lancaster, Mass. South Lancaster Engine House Lancaster, MA. Worcerte Wendell Bartlett 1975 Lancaster Historical Commission Lancaster, MA. 01523 Looking northeast Photograph #2 JUL 6 1976 OCT * 2 1976 sL6 hore, 228a Soutd Lancaster Engine House (rear) 283 South Main Street pronaTY OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER CRACCAN PAUL GUZZI Socretary of the Commonwealth June 28, 1976 The Commonwvealih of Massachusetts Ofice of the Secretary Massachuselts Historical Commission 294 Mashinglon Ireet Boston, Massachusells 02108 (617)727-8470 6 Mr.

Charles Herrington, Registrar National Register National Park Service Department of the Interior Washington, D.C. 20240 RECEIVED JUL 6 NATIONAL REGISTER -7 197 Dear Charles: To Enclosed please find National Register nomination forms for the following four properties: 1. Lancaster, South Lancaster Engine House 2. Lexington, Simonds Tavern 3. Haverhill, Washington Street Shoe District 4. Northampton, The Manse 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 Reed Amadon. Sincerely yours, Pat Patricia L.

Weslowski Survey Director PLW/mw Enclosures ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER STATE MASSACHUSETTS OGT 2% 10/5 Date Entered Name Location Ixemont Nail Factory District South Lancaster Engine House Town Hall Wareham Plymouch County South Lancaster Worcester County Lakeville Plymouth County Also Notified Hon. Edward M. Kennedy Hon. Edward W. Brooke Hon. Gerry E. Studds Hon. Robert F. Drinan, Jr. Hon. Margaret M. Heckler Regional Director, North Atlantic Region /880 Mmott/row 11/3/76 State Ilistoric Preservation Off1cer Mrs. Elizabeth R. Amadon Executive Mirector Massachusetts Ilistorical Cormission 294 Washington Street Boston, Massachusetts 02108 INT: 2950-75 Mass: ON DAILY ITEM ON, MA.

00 71 New England Newaclp incaster engine nouse entered to register of historic places South Lancaster Engine State Sécretary Paul Guzzi Interior The only change has been the Lancaster, nominated for Chairman of the Commission, Built by the Townof Lancaster replacement" of the original" n in the National Register c has been informed" by Gary in1888, it is significant as the swinging doors. toric with overhead Places by the Everhardt; Director of the earliest fire station in the area doors. e chusetts Historical, National, Park, Service_in the still being used for its original. Some townspeopleremember sion, has been accepted,. United States Department of the purpose. when there used to be an engine sxd 6,* Ls/td 3006 Sur 00o History on one side and two horse-or-man Little is known of thé Fire drawn wagons on the other, one Department before 1887.

At town meeting _ 1829, :of which was a sleigh. There was, thirteen fire **too, a bell in the tower that had a wards were chosen. By 1848 most frightening sound. .252 Fire Department Organization The firehouse stands on oné-: was formed. For a 40 year period; half acre of land on Main Street in between 1838 and 1877, the only the center of South Lancaster. Fire Department expense was in 1848 when $49,75 was spent for Immediately to the South,, separated from the fire station by fire hooks and ladders. In 1877, a tall hedge, it is triangular however, a committee recom- shaped green, Samuel Ward mended the purchase of a "Halls Park, formed by the intersection Improved Fire Engine," the of Main street and Bolton Road. formation of an engine company. Across the street from the engine and that a reservoir be built between the Bulfinch Church and house, is the campus of Atlantic Union College.

Town Hall. It also recommended The fire station is two stories that a place be built for safe- high with a hipped roof. .The keeping of the hew engine* facade is three bays wide and the At the town meeting of June 18, side elevations are_three bays 1887; it was decided that $3,500 deep. The fifst floor. interior would be expended to build a consists of a large open area for station for the Fire Department two engines and work space. To in South Lancaster Three per- the rear are two rooms and thei sons: were nominated to the stairs to the second floor. The: committee, John E building Henry F. Hosmer and second floor is an open hall Thayer, Elizabeth Reed Carter J." Lewis. Construction Amadon, Executive. Secretary began in 1887 and was completed Massachusetts of the Historical in March of 1888. Expenditures Commission, praised the efforts were $45 for the architect, Mr.

made by the Lancaster Historical C.A. - Woodruff, $2,000 for the Commission, and said the local construction to Mr. C.H. Harris members played an important and $1,445 to H.F. Hosmer for part in the decision to have the finish work. Since the building Engine House placed in the was completed, it has been in National Register continuous use as a fire station. Places. NR Data Sheet DATE: 1/13/16 Revlewer INITIALS: BC NR DOE COT 22 NAME AS IT APPEARS IN FEDERAL PEGISTER: South Lancaster Engine House OTHER NANES: South Lancaster Fire Station LOCATION: STREET & NUMBER 283 S. Main Street cITY.

ToWN 5, Lancaster CONGRESSIUNAL DISTRICT STATE Massachusetts - VICINITY OF 025 COUNTY Worcester OWNER OF PROPERTY: (Circle) PRIVATE STATE LOCAL GOV'T ADMINISTRATOR (underline) FEDERAL (AGENCY NAME) : NPS REGION: (CIRCLE)N.ATLANTIC MID ATLANTIC SOUTHWEST ROCKY MOUNTAIN 2nd code 027 MUNICIPAL COUNTY OTHER SOUTHEAST MIDWEST WEST PACIFIC NORTHWEST FEATURES: INTERIOR L Substantially intact-1 - unknown - 4 - not applicable - 7 EXTERIOR ENVIRONS Substantially intact-2 K Substantially intact-3 _ unknown. - unknown -6 _ not applicable - 8 - Not applicakle-9 -Interioi, exterior, environs not intact-0 CONDITION - KEXCELLENT _GOOD _FAIR _DETERIORATED UNALTERE LORIGINAL SITE RUINS ALTERE! _MOVED _UNEXPOSED -Reconstructed _Unexcavaten -Unknown -Excavated ACCESS - ,Yes-restricted Yes-unrestricted No access Unknown historic district? YES NO WITHIN NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT?

IF YES, NAME: WITHIN NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK? IF YES, NAME: YES YES NO NO ADAPTIVE USE: YES NO Saved? YES NO FUNCTION (S): (use vocabulary words) then- fine otatin now- fire statio SIGNIFICANCE: _ARCHEOLUGY-PREHISTORIC _ARCHEOLOGY.HISTORIC AGRICULTUR ARCHITECTURI _COMMERCE _COMMUNICATIONS Claims "first" YES _CONSERVATION _ECONOMICS _EDUCATION ENINERING _EXPLORATION _INDUSTRY LINVENTION NO - LANDSCAPE ARCH'TECTURE -RELIGION _LAW/Gov't/politics _SCIENCE -LITERATURE _MILITARY SOCIALHUMANITARIAN _MUSIC -PHILOSOPHY _POLITICS/GOVERNMENT _TRANSPORTATION _OTHER (SPECIFY) "e oldest" (XES) -entertainment _health - recreation -settlement _socío/cultura Curban & commu planning "only" XES NO oldest aua fine station still used for its original parjonse (stme) ARCHITECTURAL STYLE: Eastele eements QuceN Anue (z) architect/m.builder: C.A.

woodinyff landscape/garden designer: interior decorator: engineer: artist/artisan: builder/contractor: C.H.

Harsis ETHNIC GROUP: NAMES: (label role appropriate date) personal events institutional DATES: DATE OF CONSTRUCTION (Specific date or 1/4 of century): 1887-1888 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) 15 COMMENTS: (include architectural information here) deooription fhame, clapbianding, ond imbricated akingling, 2to stries, rectanpalan, Lipped sag, am simmera m side eluatins, "" front entances nigimally had swinging dons ahict have been repolaced by overtead doos, 3 round archist windowes in center bay, eenter bay above cornic to Urmed Jlared based d opex belfay, side doos, bracketed cornice; 1st cnito langei engise anta bay, eenta bgncbted comice; i5'otry citerin dividud anea with a back.

soms and atairway, Did stry is an open tall. SIGNIFICANCE:(maximum two sentences) She Sowth Fancasta Engine c ethits Easttate elements, was built to aese the municipal fire despastement ahict axs foned in 1848g Eto in ule auás ccreicot fire otation stll used for its siginal ourpose. NATIONAL REGISTER DATA SHEET NAME as it appears on federal register: 2) OTHER NAMES South Lancaster Engine House South Lancaster Fire Station OCATION street & number ) date of entry 10-22-76 6)NPS REGION: county code 027 283 S. Main St. OWNER -PRIVATI OSTAT EXISTING SURVEY city/ town South Lancaster iPLE OJI (agency name) UNDED JYES CONGRESS.

DISTRICT vicinity of state MA ounty Worcester ADMINISTR North atlantic 12SOURCE of NOMINA1 ONAL REGISTER CONDITION Xexcellent Ogood Ofair O deteriorated Oruinsi Ounexposed Qunexcavated Xaltered Xoriginal site (17)features: Ounaltered Omoved Dreconstructed Dunknown Dexeavated SACCESS XVES-Restricted DYES -Unrestricted - No Access AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE : CENGINEERING -11 DARCHEOLOGY - prehistoric -2| -COMMERCE -6 CENTERTAINMENT-26 -ARCHEOLOGY-historic-1 - COMMUNICATIONS - 7 CEXPLORATION -12 CAGRICULTURE-3 - CONSERVATION - 8 CHEALTH-27 XARCHITECTURE - ECONOMICS- 9 C INDUSTRY - 13 CART-5 - EDUCATION-10 C INVENTION -14 - Unknown - LANDSCAPE ARCH.- 15 - LAW-16 - LITERATURE - 17 - MILITARY- 18 - MUSIC - 19| - PHILOSOPHY -20 19ADAPTIVE USE DYESX XSUBSTANTIALLY 2 ONOT INTACT-O WOUNKNOWN-4 2O NOT APPLICABLE -7 SAVED?

.5 SHPO «XSUBSTANI ACT-2 EO NOT INTACT - O WOUNKNOWN-5 EONOT INTACT - O SX INKNOWN-6 DO NOT APPLICABLE-8 IS PROPERTY A HISTORIC DISTRIC QCLAIMS: : explain first'O - 9 - POLITICS/GOVT. 21 ORECREAT C RELIGION- 22 -SETTLEMENT-29) - SCIENCE - 23 JURBAN *-SOCIAL/HUMANITARIANE24OTHER (SPECIFY) - SOCIAL / CULTURAL-30 - TRANSPORTATION-25 dates of initial construction: 1888 major alterations : historic events: 'oldest'x fire ttation mi zrea still m use as such.

'only' D (2) functions WHEN HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT: FIRE STATION CURRENTLY: FIRE STATION architectural style(s): Eclectic @landseape architect / garden designer: () interior decorator: ETHNIC GROUP ASSOCIATION @architeet: master builder: @engineer: artist: @artisan: )builder/contractor: NAMES give role & date PERSONAL: EVENTS : INSTITUTIONAL: NATIONAL REGISTER WRITE-UP Frame, Clapboarding, shingling; 2/2stories, rectangular, hipped roof with shed wall dor- mer, paired front vehicular entrances, front center tower with flared cap and dowed open belfry, bracketed cornice, frared imbricated belteourse. Eclectic. 01dest fire statión in the area still being used for its original purpose.' ST dare_i|1|18 FADDITIONAL SPACE NEEDED, NUMBER & PUT ON REVERSE RRONE