Nomination for Great 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 DATA SHEET FOR NPS USE ONLY RECEIVED JUN 211977 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM DATE ENTERED DEC 2 1977 SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES -- COMPLETE APPLICABLE SECTIONS 1 NAME THISTORIC 2 Castle Hill AND/OR COMMON same LOCATION STREET & NUMBER Eif sfswich Argilla Road CITY,TOWN 3 Ipswich STATE Massachusetts CLASSIFICATION - VICINITY OF 0025 _NOT FOR PUBLICATION CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 6 COUNTY Essex CATEGORY DISTRICT X BUILDING(S) STRUCTURE SITE _OBJECT OWNERSHIP _PUBLIC XPRIVATE _BOTH PUBLIC ACQUISITION -IN PROCESS BEING CONSIDERED STATUS X OCCUPIED _UNOCCUPIED -WORK IN PROGRESS ACCESSIBLE XYES: RESTRICTED - YES: UNRESTRICTED -NO OWNER OF PROPERTY PRESENT USE -AGRICULTURE -MUSEUM _COMMERCIAL -PARK _EDUCATIONAL _PRIVATE RESIDENCE _ENTERTAINMENT -RELIGIOUS _GOVERNMENT -SCIENTIFIC _INDUSTRIAL -TRANSPORTATION _MILITARY XOTHER: conference and funetion center NAME The Trustees of Reservations - STREET & NUMBEF 224 Adams Street CITY, TOWMi.lton _VICINITY OF LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION COURTHOUSE.

REGISTRY OF DEEDS, ETC. Essex South District Registry of Deeds STREET & NUMBER Massachusetts 02186 32 Federal Street CITYTOWN Salem REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS Massachusetts TITLE Inventory of the Historic Assets of the Commonwealth DATE 1974 DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS Massachusetts Historical Commission CITY. TOWN _FEDERAL X STATE _COUNTY _LOCAL Boston STATE Massachusetts DESCRIPTION CONDITION XEXCELLENT _GOOD -FAIR -DETERIORATED _RUINS _UNEXPOSED CHECK ONE X UNALTERED -ALTERED CHECK ONE XORIGINAL SITE _MOVED DATE_ DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (IF KNOWN) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Description of the property

The Castle Hill property, consisting of approximately 165 acres covering three drumlins overlooking the Atlantic, is bounded by the ocean to the north, Castle Neck and Cranes Beach to the east, and marshes to the south and west. The grand landscape scheme which covers the entire area was started in 1910 by the Olmsted Brothers and was designed to take advantage of the magnificent views the drumlins command. The house is located on the highest drumlin at the center of four formal landscaped axes. The Spruce Allee extends northeast from the house, past the casino and pool, over Steep Hill, and down to the sea. To the northwest are the Italian gardens, including formal hedge plantings, a grotto, a grape arbor, and a rose garden. A bowling green (later used as a tennis court) extends from the south east. A maze, once situated beyond the bowling green, is no longer extant.

To the rear of the house lie the vegetable and flower gardens, the greenhouse, and the caretaker's house; at the level of the marsh are the stables, barns and garage. The wrought iron entrance gates and the Gate House are located east of the outbuildings. A winding road which branches out at intervals to connect with the outbuildings leads from the entrance gate, around Castle Hill and Steep Hill, up to the Great House. The main house, designed by David Adler in 1925, was built in 1926-27. The massing and detail of the house were copied from several English houses of the transitional Elizabethan/English Renaissance period. The main influences appear to be Belton House in Lincolnshire (1684) and Eagle House in Surrey (1705). The two story structure, constructed of small pink-red Holland bricks, consists of eleven bays arranged in tive parts.

The servants' wing which extends to the northwest is the only deviation from the symmetrical composition. A central block is joined to projecting end pavillions by narrow recessed wings. All five parts are articulated by stone quoins. The central block is surmounted by a triangular pediment containing a cartouche. The slate hip roof above the pediment is set off by a balustrade and topped by a cupola ornamented with voluted buttresses and arched windows. The central door is protected by an elaborate stone hood, in the Queen Anne style. A stone string course runs the length of the facade between the first and second floor, and a heavy cornice is supported by stone modillions. The windows on the ground floor have 16/12 sash and plain sur- rounds; those on the second floor have 8/12 sash. Iwo dormers flank the central pediment.

The garden elevation is composed of a five bay central block flanked by two projecting three bay wings. A broad stone terrace extends between the wings and is reached from the central block by three evenly spaced doors. A one bay by two bay vaulted porch is located on the terrace in each corner, formed by the intersection of the central block and the wings. A stone string course extends across the central block and the corner porches; oval niches containing sculpted busts are located at each bay just above the string course. The niche and bust motif is continued on the projecting wings. The modillioned cornice is identical to that on the facade, and the window treatment is similar. The house has ten tall brick chimneys, ornamented with recessed panels and heavy cornices. 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 JUN 21. 1977 DATE ENTERED DEC 2 1977 CONTINUATION SHEET Castle Hill ITEM NUMBER 7 PAGE 1 The interior of the building is arranged around a large hall or gallery which runs the length of the central block. The gallery is sixty-three feet long with sixteen foot ceilings and has two fireplaces. It is entered from the facade through a vestibule flanked by men's and women's dressing rooms and opens directly onto the terrace of the rear elevation. Leading off from the gallery to the southeast is the Queen Anne panelled drawing room, occupying the end pavillion.

The library occupies the northeast wing extending from the rear elevation and contains an ornate wooden mantel carved by Grinling Gibbons, which was imported from Cassiobury Park, Hertfordshire, England. The library bookcases and panelling were also taken from Cassiobury Park. Opposite the library and facing the front of the house is a guest bedroom suite. The dining room lies to the northwest of the gallery, occupying the other rear elevation wing. The pantry, kitchens and servants' quarters extend beyond the gallery to the northwest. Opposite the dining room at the front of the house is the grand stairway, leading up to a central hall running the length of the main block on the second floor.

Iwo bedroom suites are placed symmetrically in the projecting rear elevation wings, each consisting of a large single room, a dressing room, bath, and sleeping porch tucked within the bulk of the house. Additional bedrooms with pri- vate baths flank the central hallway in the central pavillion. The master bedrooms are located over the drawing room in the southeast end pavillion. The plumbing in the house is particularly noteworthy. Each bathroom is specially decorated with tiles and paintings to complement the adjoining bedroom. Many fix- tures, including faucets, built-in shower surrounds, and bath fittings are made of sterling silver; the bathroom attached to the master bedroom has gold plated fixtures.

The house itself contains many significant structural features including a massive reinforced concrete pan-joist system resting on brick walls containing several em- bedded steel columns. The attic is framed in steel and roofed with lead, copper, and slate. The house is heated throughout by steam heat, fired from a huge boiler in the sub-basement. The house has been virtually unaltered since it was built. The original furnishings are gone, but the extraordinary Crane plumbing fixtures remain. The outbuildings and landscaping are still extant but are in need of attention and repair. Plans are being considered to restore the landscaping and house to their original condition.

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 X1900- ARCHEOLOGY-PREHISTORIC ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC AGRICULTURE X ARCHITECTURE -ART XCOMMERCE _COMMUNICATIONS AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE -- CHECK AND JUSTIFY BELOW _COMMUNITY PLANNING X LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE _CONSERVATION -LAW ECONOMICS _LITERATURE LEDUCATION -MILITARY LENGINEERING _MUSIC _EXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT _PHILOSOPHY LINDUSTRY _POLITICS/GOVERNMENT _INVENTION _RELIGION _SCIENCE _SCULPTURE _SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN _THEATER _TRANSPORTATIÓN _OTHER (SPECIFY) SPECIFIC DATES 1925 STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE BUILDER

Statement of significance

/ARCHITECT David Adler Castle Hill in Ipswich is significant primarily for its architecture, landscape architecture, and its associations with Richard I. Crane, Jr., the early twentieth century plumbing magnate. The house, designed in 1925, is considered to be David Adler's greatest work. Adler, educated at Princeton, the Polytechnickum in Munich, and the Ecole Des Beaux-Arts in Paris, worked mainly in Chicago designing large homes for the wealthy. Adler drew on historical procedents in his designs, and Castle Hill is perhaps his most skillful blending of plans and architectural features from existing buildings. The house is not merely a copy of the late seventeenth century English buildings which served as a model for Castle Hill; his combination of features has produced something quite original.

The scale, massing, architectural detailing and siting of Castle Hill make it one of the most significant early twentieth century houses in the state. The landscaping of the site contributes to its significance. The formal landscaped scheme covering 165 acres was originally designed by the 01msted Brothers to com- plement the Italianate house designed by Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge and built in 1911 on the present site of the great house. The landscape plan consisted of the Spruce Allee extending down to the casino and pool, and the Italian gardens to the northwest of the house. Shortly after the Italianate house was completed, Crane hired his neighbor, Arthur Shurtleff (later changed to Shurcliff) to finish the landscape design started by the Olmsted Brothers. Shurtleff extended the allee down to the sea and and designed the rose garden, maze, bowling green, and vegetable garden.

Shurtleff's work continued the formality and extended the scale of the 01msteds' designs. When the Italianate house was demolished in 1925 because Mrs. Crane thought it was too drafty, David Adler sited the new house to take full advantage of the existing land- scaping. Adler evidently felt that there was no need for a new landscape architect while he was designing the new house, so the designs of the 01msted Brothers and Shurtleff remained intact. Although the landscape features have suffered from neglect because of the high cost of labor, most of the plantings are still extant. Richard I. Crane Jr. was an important Chicago industrialist who built an empire based on plumbing fixtures. He embodied an extravagant lifestyle common to the very wealthy in early 20th century America.

The demolition of the 1911 Italianate house because his wife was not pleased with it was a gesture of keeping with the lifestyle he typified. The great house, complete with its sterling silver and gold plated plumbing fixtures,

The rest of the file

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

MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES Hornbeck, Peter Lo, Reed Dillingham and Peter Jacobs. Landscape Survey and Policy Study Richara 1- Crane, Jr. Memorial Reservation, Ipswich, Massachusetts, The Trustees of Reservations, Milton, 1968 Randall, Brian, Theodore Driscoll and John French. An Analysis and Documentation of Castle Hi11, Ipswich, Massachusetts, Designed by David Adler.

Harvard University School of Design Cambridge, MA 1976 10 GEOGRAPHICAL DATA ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY C.165 acres UTM REFERENCES AL1,21 1315,414,3,0 14,712,810,2,0 B[1,9 1315,47,0,0 ZONE EASTING NORTHING C 119/ |3/54/216,0 417/2,67/2,0 ZONE EASTING 0|112| 13/513|413,01 1472,7560 NORTHING L47/217/521d VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION Beginning at the entrance to Steep Hill Beach Road, proceeding southwesterly along the northerly edge of Argilla Road for approximately 500 feet, crossing Argilla Road where It curves to the south; bearing northwesterly along the northeasterly edge of Fox Creek salt marsh to Cedar Point Road (unimproved) a distance of approximately 3,050 feet; bearing northwesterly onto Cedar Point Road for approximately 946 feet, where a culvert crosses under Cedar Point Road, continuing approximately 300 feet more on Cedar Point Road to a sand dune on the easterly edge of Cedar Point Road; bearing northeasterly along LIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNTY BOUNDARIES CODE COUNTY CODE CODE COUNTY CODE STATE STATE 11FORM PREPARED BY NAME / TITLE Christine Boulding, Preservation Planner and Garret F.

VanWart ORGANIZATION DATE Massachusetts Historical Commission June 14, 1977 STREET & NUMBER TELEPHONE 294 Washington Street CITY OR TOWN 617-727-8470 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 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 TITLE Elizabett Rud Amados Executive Director, Massachusetts Historical Commission DATE 6.13.77 FOR NPS USE ONLY I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS PROPPRTY GINCLUDEG IN TYE NATIONAL REGISTER ATTESTReCTOn.g SIORIG PRYGEAVATON KIKPER OE THE TATIONAL 11-30.12 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 JUN 21 1977 DATE ENTERED DEC. 1977 CONTINUATION SHEET Castle Hill ITEM NUMBER 8,10 PAGE 2 is a striking memorial to Crane and his empire. Crane died in 1931, a few years alee dede inD9tesioneofette theeatseeedeadesefeenltzeeseateken she died in 1949 Trustees of Reservations.

The house and the 165 landscaped acres included in this nomination are now used as a function center; the rest of the estate has been set aside as the Crane Memorial Reservation and is open to the public.

10, Geographical Data (continued) the crest of the sand dune (a small brackish marsh lies to the east, changing to a red maple swamp north of the marsh); approximately 875 feet from Cedar Point Road on this course the crest of the sand dune rises overlooking Plum Island Sound to the north and the red maple swamp below to the south; bearing easterly from this point for approximately 1,740 feet to and crossing a sandy foot path (which leads to Steep Hill Beach from the Steep Hill Beach parking area); bearing northeasterly approximately 300 feet through a black locust forest to the edge of Steep Hill Beach; bearing : easterly approximately 1,150 feet along Steep Hill Beach to the easterly boundary of the Grand Allee and land owned by the Heirs of Florence Crane Belosselsky; bearing southwesterly from Steep Hill Beach approximately 910 feet to a granite bound bearing east 160 feet to the intersection of two unimproved roads and bearing southeasterly 360 feet to another granite bound; bearing southwesterly 950 feet along the easterly edge of a secondary road to Steep Hill Beach Road; bearing southeasterly approximately 1,200 feet along the easterly edge of Steep Hill Beach Road returning to the entrance of SteepHill Beach Road.

Property Cactle siee State Mass. Working Number6.21.27.1000 TECHNICAL Photos 3 Maps good staterent of siguifecance. imposteml tor Ancrrrcezure, cAussimpa Ancinreczure Ano HrscOnICe YSSOUATUn. Essex CONTROL pl 6.22.72 HISTORIAN colt7 accept shepy 10-12-17 Ormioualy igificent based ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN juet on what ee have - but file Jann Gelmsre should hove interier phates and Accept 10/6/77 eueigo e grandaa mp is pare appropiie?-yo- al ORmilens, New UTM-lises.-A map - "-28.11 ARCHEOLOGIST replace auginal nap OK mms Back to Paulise OTHER HAER acreage jistifeél because ob landscapüg- Inventory Review REVIEW UNIT CHIEF Accept LEBoreCH 11/28/17 BRANCH CHIEF znigte 11-30.22 KEEPER 12/2 EnteredDEC 2 1977 IN T :2106 - 74 National Register Write-up Federal Register Entry 2.7.78 Send-back Re-submit United States Department of the Interior National Park Service WASO No.

7 Castle Hill, Ipswich, Massachusetts Gordon Abbott, Jr., June, 1976 The Irustees of Reservations, Milton, MA 1ooking north at south facade photo #1 DEC 2 1977 JUN 211977 Viw South facade +bbo#, I-. ustees of Reservations front ent-ane To ghatoos Frbewvegohe, Matton, KA looking south up Allee to Garden elevation photo #2 DEC & 1977 Vlew: JUN 21 1977 A 66 0r ardem facade (south) Iri Trustees 8 Reserralim vastie hillg ipswich, Massachusetts Gordon Abbott, Jr., June 1976 The Trustees of Reservations, Milton, MA looking south at Garden Elevation photo #3 JUN 2 1 1977 Abbott, Ir. hstees 2 Reseruatims, DEC 2 1977 View Garten F acade (soutn) PAUL GUZZI Secnitary of the Commonuralth The Commonvealth of Massachusetts Office of the Secretary Massachusells Historical Commission 291 Mashinglon Siree Boston, Massachusells 02108 (617)727-8470 UR019 June 15, 1977 RECEIVED JUN 21 1977 {1 Mr.

Charles Herrington, Chief Registration Branch National Register of Historic Places OAHP National Park Service Washington, D.C. 20240 Dear Charles: -8 NATIONAL REGISTER Enclosed please find nomination forms for the following properties: 1. Bedford: Bedford Center Historic District 2. Ipswich: Castle Hill These properties have been reviewed and voted by the State Review Board and signed by the State Historic Preservation Officer. Sincerely yours, Pat Patricia L. Weslowski Survey Director Massachusetts Historical Commission PLW/etd enc.

Castte qel - Mraso - tee bildig - fau - iigght had caner - hatton - shat is s 11-3-1) shapy - Chustiie - will check easer for that bauday - esulmit fp - meay PAUL GUZZI Sermlary of the Commonwealth November 16, 1977 The Commonwealth of Massachusetts ffice of the Secretary Massachusells Historical Commission 291 Hashinglon Ired Boston, Massachuselts 02/08 (617)727-8429 RECEIVED NOV 2 8 1977 NATIONAL REGISTER EETTE Ms. Marcella Sherfy National Register of Historic Places National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Washington D.C. 20240 Dear Marcella: Enclosed is a new map and UTM coordinates for Castle Hill in Ipswich, MA. The section we questioned should remain in the nomination boundaries because the ornamental entrance gates to the estate are located there. If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely yours, christine Sondig Christine Boulding Preservation Planner THE NATION. DATE D-" Iu PLACES 11-38-77 DATE AC... INITIALS WASO-166 (August 1971) U. S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE TELEPHONE REPORT 1. CALL TO: [FROM (Name) Chistime Bauldig 3. SUBJECT, PROJECT NO., ETC. Castle Hel DATE 1/-11-12 TIME OF CALL AM PM 2. ADDRESS (Tel. No. if needed) 617-127-8410 4. DETAILS OF DISCUSSION the called tmustees - cora cula in SE coner should be included because of gatehouse there. She has ore. couected US65. is sending new 11-16-12 NAME OF PERSON PLACING/RECEIVING CALL lhapy TITLE OFFICE ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER STATE MASSACHUSETTS Date Entered _DEC 2 1977 Name LCastle H1111 Hadley Center Ilstorie Distrfet Sherburae, Warren E., House Location Ipswich vicinity Essex Couty Hadley Hampahtre County Lexington Middlesex County Also Notified Hon. Edward W.

Brooke Hon. Bdvard M. Kennedy Eon. Michael J. Harrington lon. Siivio 0. Conte Hon. Paul Tsongas Regional Director, North Atlantic Region 880 Mott/js 12/12/77 State Biatorie Preservation 0fficer Mxs. Elizabeth R. Amadon Executive Director, Massachusetts Historical Cosmission 294 Washington Street Boston, Massachusetts 02108 NATIONAL REGISTER DATA ONAME as it appears on federal register: 2 OTHER NAMES: Castle Hill 6 LOCATION street & number eity/ town vicinity of state cour E of Ipswich on Argilla Rd. Ipswich MA Essex 7 OWNER *RIVATE COSTATE MUNICIPAL OCOUNTY MULTIPLE CFEDERAL (agency name) 8ADMI 9) EXISTING SURVEYS CHABS CHAER ONHL (10) FUNDED? OYES ONO (LI)CONGRESS.

DISTRICT 6th 12)SOURCE of NOMINATION XSTATE WITHIN HATIONAL RECISTER HISTORIC ACREAGE BUESAM CONDITION O deteriorated Daltered Doriginal site (17)features: Dexeellent *OSUBSTANTIALLY INTACT-1 «OSUBSTANTIA Oruins Ounaltered Omoved Ogood Dunexposed QONOT INTACT-O 9D NOT INTACT Ounknown Ofair Dreconstructed Ounexcavated EO UNKNOWN-4 WOUNKNOWN. Oexcavated Z0 NOT APPLICABLE-7 SO NOT APPLIC (S)ACCESS OYES-Restricted DYES - Unrestricted - No Access - Unknown (19 ADAPTIVE USE DYES ONO SAVED?

-YES IS PROP 21 AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE : DENGINEERING-11 - LANDSCAPE ARCH.- 15 -POLITICS/ GOVT." 21 -RECREATION-28 ©CL -ARCHEOLOGY -prehistoric-2 -COMMERCE-6 -ENTERTAINMENT-26 - LAW- 16 *firs -RELIGION-22 C SETTLEMENT-29 -ARCHEOLOGY-historic-1 - COMMUNICATIONS-7 CEXPLORATION -12 - LITERATURE -17 - SCIENCE- 23 DURBAN PLANMING-31 'old - AGRICULTURE-3 - CONSERVATION - 8 -HEALTH-27 C MILITARY - 18 - SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN-24 - OTHER (SPECIFY) -ARCHITECTURE-4 - ECONOMICS-9 - INDUSTRY-13 D MUSIC - 19 - SOCIAL / CULTURAL- 30 'onl -ART-5 - EDUCATION-10 - INVENTION - 14 - PHILOSOPHY - 20 - TRANSPORTATION - 25 3) funetions WHEN HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT: CURRENTLY: architectural style(s): dates of initial construction: major alterations : historic events: architect: ®master builder: landseape architeet/ garden designer: S interior decorator: artist: @artisan: NAMES give role & date PERSONAL: EVENTS: INSTITUTIONAL: CNATIONAL REGISTER WRITE-UP ers initias date 9DITIONAL SPACE NEEDED.

NUMBER & PUT ON REVERSE Castle Hill (Resource Name) Essex (County) STATUS: 1. MISSING 2. REMOVED/ DEMOLISHED 3. NHL X 4. TR 5. MRA EXPLANATION: 1. Missing Status: Entire Folder ( ); Nomination ( ). Map(s) ( ) Photos ( Available on: Microfiche ( ): Optical Disk ( 77000183 (Reference Number[s]) MA (State) 6. OVER- SIZED 7. NPS - UNDOCUMENTED 3 / 22 /16 (Date form completed) WACC (Completed by) 8. DOE - OWNER OBJECTION 9. RESTRICTED (Cause for removal) (NHL Name, if different than NRHP Name) (Date Removed) 8 / 5 /98 (Date Designated) (If multi-state/county TR, state/county where filed and locatiori) (TR or MRA Name) (If multi-state/county MRA, state/county where filed and location) (Location of oversize file) 7.

[Current source of partial documentation) (Target Date) COMMENTS (Where found, or source of replacement) (Date Found/Replaced) NATIONAL PARK SERVICE National Register of Historic Places Locator Card WASO 21 JAN.