Nomination for Old Central Fire Station

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Form No. 10-300 (Rev.

10-74) PHø365169 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE DATA SHEEU FOR NPS USE ONLY RECEIVED MAY 31 1977 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM DATE ENTERED NOV 2 1977 4 5 SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES -- COMPLETE APPLICABLE SECTIONS NAME HISTORIC Old Central Fire Station AND/OR COMMON Old Central Fire Station LOCATION STREET & NUMBER 66 Allen Street NOT FOR PUBLICATION CITY, TOWN Pittsfield: CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 1st Massachusetts - VICINITY OF STATE CODE COUNTY CODE Massachusetts 025 Berkshire 003 CLASSIFICATION CATEGORY _DISTRICT X.BUILDING(S) STRUCTURE _SITE -OBJECT OWNERSHIP XPUBLIC _PRIVATE _BOTH PUBLIC ACQUISITION _IN PROCESS _BEING CONSIDERED'- STATUS _OCCUPIED XUNOCCUPIED _WORK IN PROGRESS ACCESSIBLE _YES: RESTRICTED - YES: UNRESTRICTED NO* PRESENT USE AGRICULTURE -MUSEUM COMMERCIAL _PARK _EDUCATIONAL -PRIVATE RESIDENCE ENTERTAINMENT _RELIGIOUS _GOVERNMENT -SCIENTIFIC INDUSTRIAL -TRANSPORTATION MILITARY - X OTHER: vacant OWNER OF PROPERTY NAME City of Pittsfield, Paul Brindle, Acting Mayor SREETNI:A City Hall, 70 Allen Street CITY.

TOWN STATE Pittsfield -VIINITY OF LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION Massachusetts 01201 COURTHOUSE. REGISTRY OF DEEDS, ETC. STREET & NUMBER Berkshire County Registry of Dedds (Middle District) 24 Wendell Avenue CITY.TOWN Pittsfield STATE Massachusetts 6 REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS TITLE Inventory of Historic Assets of the Commonwealth DATE 1977 DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS CITY. TOWN FEDERAL XSTATE COUNTYLOCAL Massachusetts Historical Commission Boston STATE Massachusetts Z 0 CONDITION EXCELLENT X 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 Central Fire Station is located in the center of Pittsfield, one block east of North Street, the major commercial area, and just above the Park Square Historic Dis- trict. Just to the north of the Station is the Pittsfield City Hall. The Central Fire Station was constructed in 1895 in a simple Queen Anne style with Richardsonian Romanesque detailing. It is 100' wide, 70' deep and two stories (30') high with a 60' hose tower. The entire building rests on a rusticated granite table with raised beaded joints of colored mortar. The side and rear elevations are plain water struck brick masonry laid in common bond, relieved only by the granite table and segmental arched fenestration. The facade is composed of four bays, defined by the engine bays and the central engaged hose tower. The end bays have full round arches of rusticated granite voussoirs of alternating length.

This arch rises from the granite table. The bays defined by these arches project out from the facade, and the corners are defined by rusticated granite quoins on the first floor only. At the floor line is a table of projecting brick courses supported by alternating brick headers. This is capped by a narrow granite course. The arch contains the engine stall door, topped by a multi-pane light. To the sides of the door, inside the arch, is brick infill and the granite table. The second floors of these two bays have paired windows on individual granite sills. These windows are topped by segmental arches that rise to a shared granite lintel. Above this is a paneled brick parapet wall rising to the roofline of the main structure, from a base of five successively projecting brick courses. The two interior bays flank the central hose tower.

These bays have segmental arched doorways with granite key and horizontal granite lintel. The doors are flanked by single windows and doors. At the floor line is a corbelled table topped by a granite course. The second floor has two paired segmental arched windows, with granite keystones. At the level of the transom, ending at the impost of the arch, thebrick wall projects in a series of courses. At the roofline is a corbelled table. The central, engaged hose tower has rusticated granite quoins extending to the top of the second story window arches of the flanking bays. At this point the quoins are capped by a granite course. The tower continues uninterrupted save for an elongated segmental arched window, with granite sill and lintel on the facade and, above this, on all four sides, an oculus with 4 granite keys and radiating brickvoussoirs.

The tower is capped by a stepped out brick cornice. At the second floor level, on the facade of the tower, is a granite plaque with the inscription "PFD, Central Station, 1895." The original hose tower steeple was removed in the mid-1920's, and the brick tower was increased 9' in height. The interior has been altered successively, but the engine bays retain their original pressed tin ceilings.

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

SIGNIFICANCE PERIOD PREHISTORIC -1400-1499 -1500-1599 -1600-1699 _1700-1799 ×1800-1899 _1900- ARCHEOLOGY-PREHISTORIC -ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC -AGRICULTURE *ARCHITECTURE ART _COMMERCE _COMMUNICATIONS AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE -- CHECK AND JUSTIFY BELOW *COMMUNITY PLANNING -LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE _CONSERVATION LLAW ECONOMICS _LITERATURE EDUCATION _MILITARY -ENGINEERING _MUSIC -EXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT _PHILOSOPHY _INDUSTRY X_POLITICS/GOVERNMENT -INVENTION .RELIGION _SCIENCE SCULPTURE _SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN _THEATER -TRANSPORTATION -OTHER (SPECIFY) SPECIFIC DATES 1895 STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE BUILDER

Statement of significance

/ARCHITECT E.J. Cowel1 The Old Central Fire Station is significant as the oldest existing fire station in Pittsfield and for its architectural styling and scale. Previous to its construction, volunteer companies occupied sites on or near this structure. The firehouse was built in 1895 for the newly organized City Fire Department which was quartered here until 1976. The Central Fire Station was designed by a Pittsfield man, E.J. Cowell, the City Inspector of Buildings. Cowell was a woodworker, designer, artist and amateur photographer. He is also credited with designing many local houses. The fire station is an important part of downtown planning. A mixed professional and commercial use is anticipated.

The rest of the file

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

MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES Boltwood; Edward, History of Pittsfield 1876-1916, Pittsfield: Eagle Printing, 1916. The Berkshire Hills Vol. 4, No. 11, July 1, 1901. City nf Pittsfield Munincipal Register, 1896 Interview with David Cullen, Retired Fire Lieutenant, January 24 & 26, 1977. Gaylord, Ralph F., 1913-1962, A Brief History of the Pittsfield Fire Department. 10 GEOGRAPHICAL DATA ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY_ ½ acre UTM REFERENCES AL1 164 ,317 10,9 EASTING 14.710,9949 NORTHING C ZONE DLL VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION EASTING NORTHING DLulilu LIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNTY BOUNDARIES STATE CODE COUNTY CODE STATE CODE COUNTY CODE FORM PREPARED BY NAME / TITLE Joseph R. Orfant, National Register Editor and ORGANIZATION Massachusetts Historical Commission STREET & NUMBER 294 Washington Street CITY OR TOWN Boston Barbara L.

Barros Pittsfield Planniag Board DATE May 19, 1977 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 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 forthby the National Park Service. STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER SIGNATURE brabih Rud Amadon Executive Director, Massachusetts Histoxical Commi ssiorbaTe 5/26/77 FOR NPS USE ONLY I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS PROPERTY IS INCLUDED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER Ww "OFREEORARCHEOLOGN miuht Shuel Clallo Henyti KEMPUR OE THE GPO 892-453 Columbus Renewal Nº.5y England's Dept.

Store Jubilee Renewal NO.3 West Sr Old Central Fire Station- Downtown Pittsfield Sketch Map 1"~200' Pittsfield, Massachusetts 1977 Berkshire Common North Street South St Old Central Fire Station Pittsfield, MA. Property Sketch Map + Fenn St Dùnham Mall City Hall Police School.S old Towi Hall Allen Si INE 3T&T Old Central Fire Station Park Souare Historic District RECEIVED MAY 31 1977 NATIONAL REGISTER F8 1977 PropertyOed Central Fire Station State Mass Working Number 5, 31. 27.89/ Bershire TECHNICA} Photos CONTROL pl 6.2.22. HISTORIAN Io this to become parl 5, distriet ? commenty planmnt am willnng + stetics/giremment sigrificane is not defended, t accept architectural sgnificance NO V.B.D. ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN Aupt. /Brt2/1/77 ARCHEOLOGIST OTHER HAER Inventory - Review REVIEW UNIT CHIEF ACCEPT LEBOVICH 11/1/77 BRANCH CHIEF Accept 1 Shule sor 11-1-2) C.

Nervingtm KEEPER won "1/2/1) Entered NOV 2 1977 National Register Write-up Federal Register Entry 12.6.22 Send-back Re-submit INT:2106-74 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service WASO No. 7 Old Central Fire Station Pittsfield, MA. 1977 SerkshireCo. Joel Librizzi Pittsfield Planning Board, City Hall Pittsfield, MA. Photo #1063 Looking east towards the facade MAY 31.1977 NOV 2 1977 ERONPERNYY OF THE NATION Old Ce Pttslie 1977 Old Central Fire Station Pittsfield, MA. 1946 Berkshire Co. Berkshire Eagle Pretsfieldn 19 20214 Photo #20/3 Looking east towards the facade MAY 31 1977 NOV 2 1977 Deé PROPERTY OF THE NATIONAL 01d Central Fire Station Pittsfiela, MA. 1977 Joel Librizzi Bertshine Co. Pittsfield Planning Board, City Hall Pittsfield, MA.

MAY 31 1977 Photo #3073 Looking south towards the north elevation NOV 2 1977 DOE RDRTABO WI TINE MATTONA Watinis Old Ceutral Fi Ptsfiela 19 ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER STATE MASSACHUSETTS Date Entered NOV 2 1977 Name Old Central Fire Station Location Pittsfield Berkehire County Also Notified Hon. Edward W. Brooke Hon, Bdward M. Kennedy Hon. Silvio 0. Conte Regional Director, North Atlantic Region 880 Mott/js 11/3/77 State Historie Preservation Officer Mes. Blizabeth R. Amadon Executive Director, Massachusetts Ilistorical Comnission 294 Washington Street Boston, Massschusetts 02108 NATIONAL REGISTER DATA SHEET ONAME as it appears on federal register: 2OTHER NAMES: Old Central Fire Station NÓV 2 county code: 1977 03 -LOCATION street & number city / town vicinity of state county NPS REGION: 66 Allen St.

Pittsfield MA Berkshire NA 7 OWNER CPRIVATE OSTATE XMUNICIPAL OCOUNTY MULTiPLE CFEDERAL (agency name) )ADMINISTRATOR:_ 9) EXISTING SURVEYS CHABS CHAER ONHL (1O) )FUNDED? CYES -NO CONGRESS. DISTRICT Q8 1st (12)SOURCE of NOMINATION XSTATE -FEDERAL if state who prepared form? WITHIN MATIONAL REGISTE IGREABE BIYES:MAME LENO -LOCAL OPRIVATE ORGANIZATION (CONDITION O deteriorated Daltered Doriginal site )teatures: CSUBSTANTIALLY INTACT-1 «OSUBSTANTIALLY INTACT -2 ULJSUBSTANTIALLY INTACT-3 Dexcellent Oruins Dunaltered Omoved OONOT INTACT-O 2C NOT INTACT-O OONOT INTACT - C Ogood Ounexposed Ounexcavated Dexcavated WOUNKNOWN-4 Dfair Dreconstructed Ounknown WJUNKNOWN-5 SOUNKNOWN-6 2O NOT APPLICABLE-7 5O NOT APPLICABLE-8 L ONOT APPLICABLE - 9 BACCESS OYES-Restricted DYES -Unrestricted - No Access - Unknown DADAPTIVE USE OYES OONO SAVED? DYES IS PROPERTY A HISTORIC DISTRICT?

DyesOno 21 AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE : CENGINEERING-11 LANDSCAPE ARCH.- 15 - POLITICS/ GOVT.

21 -RECREATION -28 2OCLAIMS: explain 'first'O CARCHEOLOGY - prehistoric-2 C COMMERCE-6 -ENTERTAINMENT-26 - LAW - 16 C RELIGION- 22 CSETTLEMENT-29 CARCHEOLOGY-historic-1 - COMMUNICATIONS -7 CEXPLORATION -12 - LITERATURE - 17 - SCIENCE- 23 CURBAN PLANNING-31 'oldest' O -AGRICULTURE -3 - CONSERVATION - 8 CHEALTH-27 - - MILITARY - 18 C SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN-24 D OTHER (SPECIFY) - ARCHITECTURE-4 - ECONOMICS- 9 - INDUSTRY- 13| - MUSIC - 19| - SOCIAL / CULTURAL-30| 'only' D - ART-5 - EDUCATION-10| C INVENTION - 14 - PHILOSOPHY - 20 - TRANSPORTATION - 25 23) functions WHEN HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT: CURRENTLY: 6 architectural style(s): @dates of initial construction: major alterations : historic events: ETHNIC GROUP ASSOCIATION @architect: @master builder: engineer: landscape architect / garden designer: S) interior decorator: artist: 33) artisan: @builder/contractor: NAMES give role & date PERSONAL: EVENTS: INSTITUTIONAL: NATIONAL REGISTER WRITE-UP BIF ADDITIONAL SPACE NEEDED.

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