Nomination for Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox 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 NOV DATE ENTERED 1 1976 APR 1 3 1977 ** SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES -- COMPLETE APPLICABLE SECTIONS NAME HISTORIC Holy Trinity Hellenic Orthodox Church AND/OR COMMON LOCATION STREET & NUMBER Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church (prefered) Lewis Street CITY, TOWN Lowell STATE - VICINITY OF CODE 025 _NOT FOR PUBLICATION CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 5th Massachusetts COUNTY Middlesex CODE 017 Massachusetts CLASSIFICATION CATEGORY *DISTRICT BUILDING(S) _STRUCTURE _SITE _OBJECT OWNERSHIP * PUBLIC _PRIVATE _BOTH PUBLIC ACQUISITION -IN PROCESS _BEING CONSIDERED STATUS XOCCUPIED _UNOCCUPIED -WORK IN PROGRESS ACCESSIBLE XYES: RESTRICTED - YES: UNRESTRICTED -NO., =1:9/1 PRESENT USE AGRICULTURE MUSEUM -COMMECIAL _PARK -EDUCATIONAL -PRIVATE RESIDENCE _ENTERTAINMENT X RELIGIOUS _GOVERNMENT SCIENTIFIC _INDUSTRIAL _TRANSPORTATION -LMILITARY-: _OTHER: OWNER OF PROPERTY Holy Trinity Hellenic Orthodox Church NAME President, Board of Directors STREET & NUMBER Lewis Street CITY.

TOWN Lowel1 STATE Massachusetts 01852 -VICINITY OF 5 LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION COURTHOUSE. REGISTRY OF DEEDS,ETC. Middlesex County Registry of Deeds, North District STREET & NUMBER Gorham Street CITY. TOWN Lowell REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS TiTLe Inventory of the Historic Assets of the Cormonwealth STATE Massachusetts 21:00925 DATE 1975 DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS Massachusetts Historical Commission CITY. TOWN _FEDERAL XSTATE COUNTY LOCAL Boston STATE Massachusetts DESCRIPTION CONDITION XEXCELLENT _GOOD -FAIR _DETERIORATED _RUINS _UNEXPOSED CHECK ONE UNALTERED *ALTERED CHECK ONE XORIGINAL SITE _MOVED DATE. DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (IF KNOWN) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Description of the property

Holy Trinity Church is sited at the corner of Lewis and Jefferson Streets in the "Acre" neighborhood of Lowell. The Greek Orthodox church's urban location is reinforced by its siting on the lot. The church is built contiguous to the sidewalks of Lewis and Jefferson Streets. It is surrounded on three sides by North Common Village (1937-1940). The first public housing project in Massachusetts, the village is composed of 2 story multi-unit buildings sited amidst ample green space inspired by the "Greenbelt" move- ment of that period. To the west of the church, across Jefferson Street, is Western Canal (1830) (NR 1976; Locks and Canals Historic District). On the other side of the canal is Suffolk Street and facing Holy Trinity, across the streets and canal, is St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church (organized 1830; this structure constructed c. 1853), the first Catholic church in Lowell.

The streets and canal banks were recent targets of a "Mode1 Cities" financed beautification program; this entailed intensive and com- patible plantings, lighting and walkways. The plan of the church is a Greek cross with ridge roofs. The load bearing walls are built of yellow-toned brick. Above the crossing of the nave is a gilded dome set on a 16 sided base and drum of the same yellow-toned brick. In each of the 16 sections of the drum is a round arched window, with dripstone molding. Atop the dome is a gilded cross. The facade faces southeast onto Lewis Street. It is composed of two square bell towers joined by a round arched bridge. Above the bridge is a triangular pediment with a Greek cross atop its apex. The towers are divided into three stages by two limestone string courses. One is at an implied first floor/second floor line; the other is at the impost of the arch.

In the second stage of the towers are rectangular windows with brick jackarch lintels. Atop each of the towers is an octagonal enclosed bell cupola. The cupolas have Byzantine columns at the corners. The columns support round arches which in turn support ridged, gilded domes. The towers and bridge create a deeply recessed, round arched space, which houses the entrance to the narthex. This space is framed by three stage buttresses. Filling this space, at the ground level, is a pedi- mented porch with a round arch, set on square Byzantine columns and pilasters. This entrance porch echoes the forms of the larger space inwhich it is situated. The side elevations are simple brick planes with the same string courses as the facade. On the elevations, where the cross projects, are tri-partite long round arched windows.

The entire structure rises from a 4' base of projecting courses of brick capped by a limestone watertable. The interior space is dominated by the dome. The simple finishing of the walls is orna- mented by symbolic mural decoration in Renaissance style. These murals were executed by the German artist G. Rinkelin. The altar is screened by an elaborate ikonostasion. Suspended from the dome is a large crystal chandelier. Above the narthex is a choirloft. In 1940 a fire damaged the northern end of the interior. 1935 witnessed the first pews and organ to be installed in the church. The original pews were replaced. in 1951. A renovation of the interior was undertaken. in 1965;the murals were repaired and the icons were regilded.

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

SIGNIFICANCE PERIOD _PREHISTORIC -1400-1499 -1500-1599 -1600-1699 -1700-1799 *1900-1899 -1900- ARCHEOLUGY-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 XEXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT _MUSIC _PHILOSOPHY _INDUSTRY _POLITICS/GOVERNMENT LINVENTION XRELIGION SCIENCE _SCULPTURE X.SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN -THEATER -TRANSPORTATION _OTHER (SPECIFY) - SPECIFIC DATES 1906 BUILDER

Statement of significance

/ARCHITECT Henry I. Rourke STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE The Holy Irinity Church is significant as the first structure built to house Greek Orthodox worship in the United States and for the central role it played in the develop- ment of the Greek community in New England. Architecturally, it is significant as a rare example of a Byzantine-derived style. Greeks began arriving in Lowell in large numbers in the 1890's. In 1894 the community organized a society called "The Washington-Acropolis" to perpetuate Greek traditions and religion, and a priest was secured to minister to religious needs. This was the fourth Greek orthodox community organized in the United States, following within one or two years the communities in New York and Chicago; the New Orleans church was the earliest, established in 1865.

The church was incorporated in 1900, plans were ini- tiated in 1901, and construction of this structure began in 1906. A Lowell architect, Henry L. Rourke, was hired. Rourke had visited the Aiga Sophia in Constantinople (Is- tanbul), and the parishioners requested a Byzantine structure based on that model. Life in Lowell was difficult for the Greek community. Faced with an alien culture and language, the church became a natural center for the emerging community. The Greeks were a part of a continuing process of exploitation of successive immigrant groups by the textile mill owners. This church served as a symbol of unity and permanence in an often hostile environment. In 1909 the parish began the first Greek school in the area in the church basement. The school was later moved to separate facilities. In 1918, the very Reverend Panaretos G.

Anagnos-Topoulos, Pastor of Holy Trinity, died during the influenza epidemic, acquired while ministering to his parisioners. In 1920 creditors threatened to seize the church; the parishioners gathered at the doors and offered money, jewelry (even wedding bands) to raise $16,000 in a single day. In 1934, at the depth of the Depression, the church was again threatened by seizure. This time Christos Laganas, a shoe industrialist, made a personal payment of $13,000. The community eventually repaid him. The political turmoil in Greece during the 1920's had effects in Lowell. On December 28, 1924, Metropolitan Vasilios proclaimed Lowell as his See and himself as Archbishop, with Holy Trinity as the Cathedral of the Independent Royalist Communities of the United States and Canada. Members of the community who sympathized with the Venitzelikous (Re- publicans) left and established a new parish.

In 1929 Archbishop Vasilios returned to Greece at the call of the Holy Synod of Greece. Holy Trinity rejoined the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America.

The rest of the file

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

MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES Gialopsos, Rev. Phillip G.; The History of the Greek Orthodox Community of "Holy Trinity Records of the Holy Trinity Church Coburn, Frederick; History of Lowell, Lowell Historical Society, Lowell:1920. Kanoutsos, Seraphim; The Life of the Greek Communities in America, Holy Trinity, Lowell: 1911. Kengott, George; The Record of a City, MacMillan, New York: 1912. Lowell Daily Sun (1906-1908) 10 GEOGRAPHICAL DATA ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY 1/6 acre (6400sq.ft.) UTM REFERENCES A|1,9 ZONE L3/1003,0 EASTING 14,72,3/840 NORTHING BLJALNILILILL EASTING NORTHING DULLLJLIIL VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION 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 Asst. Director Joseph R. Orfant, National Register Editor & Lewis I.

Karabatsos, Lowell Museum ORGANIZATION Massachusetts Historical Commission 26 October 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 LOCAL- 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 Olichich Rue Amadmn TITL Executive Dixecto, Massachusettes Historical commi gsion DATE / 0/26/76 FOR NPS USE ONLY 1 HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS PROPERTY SINCLUDED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER CHIEF ATTEST: CE OF ARCHED OLOGY AND HIS RIC PRESERVATiON DATE DATE 3.18.22 KEEPER OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER GPO 892-453 Form No. 10-300a (Rev. 10-74) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY RECEIVED NOV 1 1976 [DATE ENTERED APR 13 1977 CONTINUATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER PAGE Holy Irinity Hellenic Orthodox Church 8 page two The Holy Trinity Church Orthodox Church was built by the donations of salaries and family heirlooms or immigrant laborers. It stands roday as the center of one of the most active and thriving Greek communities in America.

Unchanged over the years, it is a symbol of the devotion and labors of the early Greek immigrants. Property Holy Trinity Helfenke orthodox Church State Working Number 11.1.76.4418 Mass. TECHNICAL Photos _ 3 Maps Middlesex CONTROL KP 11.1.76 HISTORIAN accept 8. Gersvena 11/14/76 ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN Accept 12-4-76 ARCHEOLOGIST OTHER HAER Inventory Review REVIEW UNIT CHIEF acrpt Cole actue 2:2177 BRANCH CHIEF KEEPER Hundl for eurton 3,8:2 APR 1 3 1977 National Register Write-up Federal Register Entry 5-3-27 Send-back Re-submit Entered INT,210g United States Department of the Interior National Park Service WASO No. 7 U.-U Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church Lowe11, MA. 1976 Andrew Drenas Holy Trinity Church, Lewis Street, Lowell Massachusetts 01852. Photograph #1 / 3 Looking northwest across Lewis Street towards the church facade: APR 1 3 1977 NOV 1 1976 .

PROPERTY OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER Com - Pics Color Photographers 190 MIDDLE STREET LOWECL, MASSACHUSETTS 01852 Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church Lowel1, MA. 1976 Andrew Drenas Holy Trinity Church, Lewis Street, Lowell, Massachusetts 01852 APR 1 3 1977 Photograph #2 f 3 Looking northeast across the intersection of Jefferson & Lewis Streets towards the church facade and west elevation NOV 1 1976 PROPERTY CF THE NATIONAL REGISTER EO2 KKAI TOY2 IPOZKYNOYNIA PROPERTY OF THE NATIONAL REGIOTER Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church Lowe11, MA.

1976 Andrew Drenas Holy Trinity Church, Lewis Street, Lowell, Massachusetts 01852 Photograph #3 Looking north 3 in the church interior D OE APR 1 3 1977 NOV11976 HT-z Com - Pics Color Photographers 1190 MIDDLE STREET LOWELE, MASSACHUSETTS 01852 ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER STATE MASSACHUSETTS Date Entered APR 1 3 1977 Name Locatior Great Stone Dam /Eoly Irinity Greek Orthodor Chuzcli Chandler, General Sanuel, Fouse Lawzence vicinity Essex County Lowell Middleses County Lezington Mddleser County Also Notified Hon. Edward M. Kennedy Hoa. Edward W. Srooke Iion. Paul Isoagas Regional Director, North Atlantic Region 880 Mott/ej 4-18-77 State liistoric Preservation Officer Nrs. Elizabeth R.

Anadon Executive Director, lassaclusetts llistorical Cormission 294 Mashia ton Street Boston, lasszchusetts 02103 NR Data Sheet DATE; 11/15/16 Reviewer INITIALS: NR DOE APR 13 1977 NAME AS IT APPEARS IN FEDERAL REGISTER: Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church OTHER NANES: Holy Trinity Hellenic Orthodox Church LOCATION: STREET & NUMBER Lewis St. CITY. TOWN Lowe11 CONGRESSIUNAL DISTRICT 5th STATE Massachusetts 25 VICINITY OF COUNTY Middlesex code 017 OWNER OF PROPERTY: (Circle) PRIVATE STATE LOCAL GOV'T MUNICIPAL COUNTY OTHER ADMINISTRATOR(underline) FEDERAL(AGENCY NAME) : NPS REGION: (CIRCLE) (N.ATLANTIC MID ATLANTIC SOUTHEAST MIDWEST SOUTHWEST ROCKY MOUNTAIN WEST PACIFIC NORTHWEST FEATURES: INTERIOR - Substantially intact-1 - unknown - 4 - not applicable - 7 CONDITION - LEXCELLENT _GOOD -FAIR EXTERIOR ENVIRONS _ Substantially intact-2 - Substantially intact-3 _unknown.-5 -.

unknown -6 - not applicable - 8 _Not applicable-9 -Interioz, exterior, environs not intact-o _DETERIORATED -UNALTERED - RUINS LALTERED _UNEXPOSED -Reconstructed LORIGINAL SITE _MOVED _Unknown _Unexcavated -Excavated ACCESS - Yes-restricted Yes-unrestricted No access Unknown historic district? YES WITHIN NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT? IF YES, NAME: YES WITHIN NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK? IF YES, NAME: YES NO ADAPTIVE USE: YES NO Saved?

YES 1920 1934 NO FUNCTION (S): (use vocabulary words) then- chunch now- churet SIGNIFICANCE: ARCHEULUGY-PREHISTORIC -ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC AGRICULTUR ARCHITECTUR -ART _COMMERCE -COMMUNICATIONS Claims "first" 1st shuchue built to hnusi - CONSERVATION -ECONOMICS VEDUCATION -ENGINEERING _EXPLORATION _INDUSTRY -INVENTION -LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE LRELIGION _LAW/Gov't/politics SCIENCE -LITERATURE _MILITARY -SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN -MUSIC -PHILOSOPHY -_POLITICS/GOVERNMENT _TRANSPORTATION _OTHER (SPECIFY) --entertainment -health _recreation -Settlemen _soc10/cultura. _urban & commun planning NO "eoldest?' YES uk Orthdr woshis in US NO "'only" YES NO ARCHITECTURAL STYLE: architect/m.builder: Heny L. Rouke landscape/garden designer: interior decorator: ETHNIC GROUP: Greck NAMES: (label role & appropriate date) personal engineer: artist/artisan: G.

Rinkelin - musal pauntu builder/contractor: events institutional DATES: DATE OF CONSTRUCTION (Specific date or 1/4 of century) : 1906 DATE (S) OF "MAJOR" ALTERATIONS: HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT DATE (S) : 100 - present SOURCE: (OF NOMINATION) PRIVATE STATE LOCAL GOV"T MUNICIPAL COUNTY OTHER FEDERAL 'AGENCY: ACREAGE: (to nearest tenth of an acre) - 2 COMMENTS: (include architectural information here) Yellow brick, 1 story, erosensma cruciform with Oreek Cross plan, cross galled roof with lange central ribbed gilded dome with round asched windows in drum, front anter. recesseds round ar Pallade en hance with Palladian arched enhance way set wichin small galled sechin; 2 front couner kell tnuerd, rach surmnented luy dtett octagmal Uell cupula wuth cancentri round gilded rilelud diines and. bases wuth blind encentrec rnund arched sechims pienied luy cenculas apenengo.

entuncea ly Bezantne chusch designo. Furst structure wilt to rouse quek Arthodor cunshup in Us; SIGNIFICANCE:(maximum two sentences) religioua and culhural cinter for an eaily Greek community, accaó firot Greit ochoo spucted n a uhite in church basement (1909).