Nomination for Pierce, Peter, Store

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 DATE ENTERED APR 6 1976 APR 3.01976 SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES -- COMPLETE APPLICABLE SECTIONS 1 NAME HISTORIC Peter Peirce Store AND/OR COMMON Middleborough Police Department 2 LOCATION STREET & NUMBER CITY.

TOWN corner of North Main Street and Jackson St._NOT FOR PUBLICATION CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 3 STATE Middleborough° Massachusetts CLASSIFICATION - VICINITY OF CODI 02' COUNTY Plymoutt 8225 CATEGORY _DISTRICT XBUILDING(S) _STRUCTURE _SITE _OBJECT OWNERSHIP X PUBLIC _PRIVATE _BOTH 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 X GOVERNMENT _SCIENTIFIC _INDUSTRIAL -TRANSPORTATION _MILITARY _OTHER: OWNER OF PROPERTY NAME Town of Middleborough STREET & NUMBER Town Hall CITY. TOWN Middleborough VICINITY OF 5 LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION STATE Massachusetts 02346 COURTHOUSE REGISTRY OF DEEDS, ETC.

STREET & NUMBER Registry of Deeds Russell Street CITY, TOWN Plymouth REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS STATE Massachusetts TITLE Inventory of the Historic Assets of the Commonwealth DATE 1975 DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS CITY. TOWN -FEDERAL X STATE COUNTY _LOCAL Massachusetts Historical Commission Boston STATE Massachusetts 7 DESCRIPTION CONDITION -EXCELLENT X_GOOD -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 Peter Peirce Store is located on the corner of North Main and Jackson Streets in the center of Middleborough. There are few buildings of this period remaining on Main Street, which is the major commercial street in town and contains a few late nineteenth century and many twentieth century buildings. The store is more monumental than other buildings on that section of Main Street, but does not overwhe1m the streetscape in massing or height. The construction date of the building has not been conclusively proven but appears, by stylistic evidence, to have been c. 1825-30. The building is composed of a large two-story rectangular structure, gable end to the street, flanked by two smaller, one and one-half story wings with ridge roofs perpen- dicular to the main block. The gable end of the center part of the building has a monumental two-story tetrastyle portico with Greek Doric columns.

The pediment above the portico contains a segmental fanlight. The center door under the portico is reached by two granite steps, and is flanked by slender fluted pilasters and topped by a plain entablature. A wash drawing executed about 1840 shows the main portion of the building just as it is today- The left wing, however, is portrayed as having two windows flanking a center door, while the right wing is shown as a stables with three wide segmental arched open- ings. When the building was acquired by the town in 1935, the left wing was changed so that four windows flanked the doorway, which remained the same; the right wing was altered into a mirror image of the left wing. Great care was taken in this alteration, and the new windows, 6/6 with a cornice, match the original windows in the main block.

Each of the wings now has a center chimney, and shutters have been added to all of the windows. The interiors of the two wings are modern, and serve as office space for the Middleborough Police Department and' other town offices. The large space in the main block serves as the Fourth District Court rooms, and contains some noteworthy late nine- teenth century wood paneling.

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

SIGNIFICANCE PERIOD -PREHISTORIC ARCHEOLUGY-PREHISTORIC -1400-1499 ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC -1500-1599 AGRICULTURE -1600-1699 ARCHITECTURE _1700-1799 ART -1800-1899 -COMMERCE - 1900- -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 _INVENTION -RELIGION -SCIENCE -SCULPTURE -SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN -THEATER -TRANSPORTATION -OTHER (SPECIFY) SPECIFIC DATES c.1825-30 BUILDER

Statement of significance

/ARCHITECT STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE The 'Peter Peirce Store, a significant architectural focal point in Middleborough, has great historical significance in the development of the community because of its close association with Peter Peirce, a central figure in nineteenth century Middleborough. The Store has retained its integrity of location and design, and is one of the few original commercial buildings still standing in the community.e: Peter Hoar Peirce, who lived from 1788 to 1861, was a leading figure in Middleborough society. By 1810 Peirce was operating a store on the site of the present building but left to fight in the War of 1812. After the war Peirce returned to Middleborough and became involved with many aspects of. life in the community. His store was a large one, and by 1825-30 the present building was constructed to house all his retail func- tions.

Records show that large numbers of customers came from outlying towns to shop at the Peirce store and that Peirce was constantly traveling to Boston to buy goods to keep his store well-stocked. Peirce was a money lender, owned a cotton mill and shovel works, and was elected to serve in the state legislature from 1826 to 1828. He was also a pioneer in bringing the railroad to Middleborough and was appointed from time to time to serve on a three member board of arbitration for the settlement of civil disputes. Because of his many financial interests, Peirce was a wealthy man and owned a great deal of land in Middleborough. The store continued in operation as a retail store under the ownership of the Peirce family until 1901 when the last of Peter's sons, Thomas S. Peirce, died.

The store was then sold to Herbert and Elton Pratt, who continued the same style of retail operation until 1935, when the last surviving Pratt brother died. The store was bought that year by the Town of Middleborough for the sum of $13,000 and was remodelled into offices for the Police Department, the Fourth District Court, and public bathrooms, at a cost of $22,000. The scale, massing and set back of the building have not been altered since it was constructed. It still dominates the streetscape, and the monumental two-story Greek Doric portico contributes significantly to the visual effect of Main Street. It is one of the most architecturally significant buildings in Middleborough and has been main- tained in good condition by the town.

The rest of the file

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

MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES Weston, Thomas, History of the Town of Middleborough "The Middleborough Antiquarian, "November, 1959 10 GEOGRAPHICAL DATA ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY less than one acre UTM REFERENCES A[L 2/ 3147178,0 ZONE EASTING 1613914621 NORTHING VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION ZONE EASTING DULLILIL LI1ILIL NORTHING 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 Christine Boulding, Preservation Planner, ORGANIZATION DATE Massachusetts Historical Commission March 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- 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 set forth by the National Park Service STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER SIGNATURE buck Que Amadon 3/31/76 Executive- Director, Massachusetts Historical Commission FOR NPS USE ONLY 1 HEREBY CERTIFY AT THIS PROPEBIY IS INCUODED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER DIRECTOF OFFICE OF ARCHE ATTEST LOGY AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION DATE 1/30/96 DATE 4.30.26 KEEPER OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER GPO 888-445 PUBLICATION DATA SHEET e 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 I06 I07 I08 MASSACHUSETTS plymouth county Middleborough PIERCE, PETER, STORE I09 I10 N. Main and Jackson Sts. c. 1825--1830 Greek Revival store; altered; present use, police department. Statement of signif- I11 icance including im- portant peoples names; include key words for search of events and areas of significance. Other surveys, include #C number of habs or haer drawings Owner ship/agency #I Date of entry I12 Areas of Significance (circle those which apply to property) I13 Visual focus of Middleborough; built by prominent entrepreneur in town's commerce. Local povernment. (4-30-76) - historic archeology 2. prehistoric archeolog - agriculture 4 architecture 5. art 6 commerc 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 22. religion 23. science 24. social/humanitarian 25. transportation 26. entertainme: 27. health 28. recreation 29. settlement 30. social/cultur 31. urban and community planning Indexing Items d CE g CE CE CE CE CE CE CE Pierce, Peter, Store, MA: aÇF, Property Peirce, Peter Store State Massachusetts TECHNICAL Photos - Maps Dood nomination.

Working Number 4.6.76.3019 Plymouth CONTROL 4,9.16 HISTORIAN Accept E tmith -11-25 ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN Accept 4/14/76 oK Glouih Ravtefluberm ARCHEOLOGIST OTHER HAER Inventory _ Review REVIEW UNIT CHIEF ColE 4.19.76 BRANCH CHIEF tional Register Write-up Federal Register Entry United States ar 6-1-76 Send-back Re-submit Entèred t of the Interior National Park S rvice WASO No. 7 KEEPER Heuy 4.30.21 APR 3 0 1976 INT: 2106-74 Peter Peirce Store, Middleborough, MAP/ymouth Linda Rowley, October 1975 546 Washington Street, Duxbury, MA county, looking northeast at northwest facade photo #1 of 2 APR 6 1976 Date Entered APR 30,1976 N.MAIN $ JACKSOM 'STS.

FROPERTY OF TEE BATONAL REGISTER COURT plymouth County Peter Peirce Store, Middleborough, MA Linda Rowley, October 1975 546 Washington Street, Duxbury, MA looking southeast at northwest facade, detail of portico photo #2 of 2 APR 6 1976 Date Entered ApR 30,1916 PROPERTY OF THE NATONAL REGISTER Regional Director, North Atlantic Region MOTT:2jb 5/4/76 PR 7 ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER STATE MASSACHUSETTS Date Entered APR 301976 Name Peirce, Peter, Store Beleher, Jonathan, Ilouse Pernald, George P., House Albree-lial1-Lawrence, House Snith Alumnae Gynnasium Putnam,. General Iszael, House Di11iagham House Wellesley Iown Hal1 Location Middleborough Plymouth County Randoiph Nexfolk County Medford Middlesex County Medford Middleses County Northampton Hampshize County Danvers Essex County Brevster vieinity Bazastable County Wellesley Notfolk County Also Notified Hon. Bdward M. Kennedy Hon.

Edward W. Brooke Hon. Margazet M. Heekler Hon. James A. Burke lion. Torbert i. MacDonald Hon. Silvio 0. Conte Hon. Mlehael J. Harrington Hon. Gerry 5. Studds State Historie Preservation Offieer Mes. Elizabeth R. Amadon Executive Direetor, Massachusette Historieal Conmiesion 294 Washington Street Boston, Massachusetts 02108 INT: 2950-75 GAZETTE MIDDLEBORO, MASS. W.

5,100 MAY 20 1976 Englant Denrolin Courthouse building wins place in National Historic Sites Register sthe *Petera PeirceStore,Mid- present building, but left to fight in the his store well-stocked, Peirce was' a dleborough, dleborough, nominated for inclusion in War, of 1812, Afterthe war, Peirce money lender, owned a cotton mill and The store continued in operation as a the National Register of Historic Places returned to Middleborough and became shoyel works, and was elected to serve retail store under the ownership of the by the Massachusetts:Historical involved with many aspects of life'in in the State Legislature from 1826 to : Peirce family until 1901 when the last of Commission, has been accepted, State ¡nthe community, His store was a large 1828. He was also a pioneer in bringing Peter's sons, Thomas S. Peiree died.

Secretary Paul Guzzi, Chairman of the one, and by 1825-30, the present bullding the railroad to Middleborough and was . The store was then sold to Herbert and Commision, tras been informed by Gary was constructed to house all his retall appointed from time to time to serve on Elton Pratt whoj continued the same EverhardhDirector,of the Nationa! functions. Records show that -large a three-member Board of Arbitration of retail operation until 1935, when ParkService in the United Stales numbers of customers came from for the settlement of Civil disputes, the last survivingPratt brother died.

Department of the Interior outlying towns to shop 'at the Peirce Because of his many financial in- Now.a.town PoliceStationand Court my House,,the PeteraPeircelStore is a Store And that, Pelrce was constantly terests, Peirce was a wealthy man and The store was bought that year by the town of Middleborough for the sum of traveling to Boston to buy goods to keep towned a great deal of land in Mid- $13,000, and was'remodeled into offices * significant architectural focal point. in for the Police Departinent, the Fourth Middleborough and has great historical Pistrict Courtland public bathrooms at significance in the development of the a cost of $22,000. community because of Its' :close The scale, massing.and set back of association with Peter Peirce a central the building have not been altered since figurein 19th century Middleborough.) it was constructed.

It still dominates The Storê has retained its integrity of the streetscape, and the monumental ilocation and design, and ls, one of the two-story Greek Dorie portico con- few joriginal bulldings still standins," tributes significantly to the visual ef- the community. *. Peter Hoar Peirce, who lived from fect of Main street. It'is one of the most darchitecturally significant buildings in 1788 to 1861was a leading figure in and has been main- Middleborough society, By 1810, Peirce tained in good condition by the town. was operating a store, on the site of the - A wash drawing, executed about 1840, ut shows' the main portion of the building just as it is today. The left wing.

however, is portrayed as having two t windows flanking a center door, while the right wing is shown as stables with three wide segmental arched openings When the building was acquiredby the town in 1935, the left wing was changed so thatlour windows flanked the Middleboro Courthouse and Pollce Station. (Gazette Photo by Charlle Perry) doorway, which remained the same; ...4 (Continnad hank di santion).i" NATIONAL REGISTER DATA SHEET appears on federal register: Peirce, Peter, Store ATION street & number Main and Jackson Sts. 2 OTHER NAMES: Middleborough Police Department vicinity of tate MA county code: 023 ) OWNER OPRIVATE DSTATU IUNICIPAL EXISTING SURVEYS CHABS CHAER ONHI town Middleborou OCOUNTY -MULTIPLE -FEDERAL(agency name) (10) FUNDED? OYES 11CONGRESS.

DISTRICT 10 4-30-76 6NPS REGION: North Atlantic (12)SOURCE of NOMINATION ®CONDITION Dexcellent Agood 'Dfair - deteriorated Aaltered Oruins Ounaltered Ounexposed -reconstructed Ounexcavated Oexcavated ACCESS AYES-Restricted - YES - Unrestricted - No Access I AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE : DENGINEERING-11 CARCHEOLOGY - prehistoric -2v * COMMERCE - 6 -ENTERTAINMENT-26 ARCHEOLOGY- historic-1 - COMMUNICATIONS -7 -EXPLORATION -12 AGRICULTURE -3 - CONSERVATION - 8 -HEALTH-27 N ARCHITECTURE-4 - ECONOMICS- 9 - INDUSTRY - 13 - ART-5 - EDUCATION-10 - INVENTION -14 Doriginal site Omoved Dunknown - Unknown LANDSCAPE ARCH.- 15 LAW - 16 - LITERATURE- 17 - MILITARY- 18 - MUSIC- 19 - PHILOSOPHY-20 17 teatures: OSUBSTANTIALLY INTACT-1 CXNOT INTACT -O WDUNKNOWN-4 ED NOT APPLICABLE-7 (18) ADAPTIVE USE ES ONO SAVED?

DYES - POLITICS / GOVT." 21 -RECREATION -28 - RELIGION- 22 - SETTLEMENT-29 - SCIENCE- 23 -URBAN PLANNING-31 - SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN-24OTHER (SPECIFY) - SOCIAL / CULTURAL-30 - TRANSPORTATION-25 county Plymouth ADMINISTRATOR: TE - FEDERAL if state who prepared form? OLOCAL OPRIVATE ORGANIZATION KSUBSTANTIALLY INTACT-2 2OSUBSTANTIALLY INTACT -3 CNOT INTACT-O OTANOT INTACT - O 3OUNKNOWN-6 JONOT APPLICABLE-8 WO NOT APPLICABLE - 9 IS PROPERTY A HISTORIC DISTRICT? Dyes @CLAIMS: explain "first'O 'oldest' O 'only' D N C.

1825-31830 2) functions WHEN HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT: STORE CURRENTLY: COURTHOUSE, POLICE STATION )architectural style(s): URECK RENIVaL Dlapiscape architect / garden designer: dates of initial constructi major alterations: 1935 historic events: ETHNIC GROUP ASSOCIATION Carchiteet: master builder: gengineer: )interior decorator: artist: artisan: builder/contractor: NAMES give role & date PERSONAL: Peter Hoar Pierce (1788-1861), prominent community leader, merchant, state legislator (1826-28). EVENTS: INSTITUTIONAL: NATIONAL REGISTER WRITE-UR rame, dapboarding; l2aud 2lz story sechions, T-shaped, gabled roof, mlenor chimneys i frout ceuter double-doarentrance with simple architraves, 2-story tetrestyle templeform portico, witt pedument lumette tanstong flankiig side wugs each with center ffend entrances, round-arched openings; alterations. greek Reviial.

towns Architectural focal point and one of, the few remaining original commercial buildings of the town; built for Peter Hoar Peirce, prominent merchant, community leaderowstate legislator (1826-28). viewers initials. _date. IF ADDITIONAL SPACE NEEDED, NUMBER & PUT ON REVERSE