Nomination for Luther Store

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Form No. 10-300 (Rev. 10-74) PH0660523 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OFTHE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE FOR NPS USE ONLY DATA SHEET NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM RECEIVED JAN 17 1978 DATE ENTERED MAY 2 2 1978 SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES -- COMPLETE APPLICABLE SECTIONS NAME HISTORIC The Iuther Store AND/OR COMMON same 2 LOCATION STREET & NUMBER W OO 160 Old Warren Road CITY.

TOWN Swansea out 3 4 Luana STATE - VICINITY OF CODE -NOT FOR PUBLICATION CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 10th Massachusetts COUNTY CODE Massachusetts CLASSIFICATION 025 Bristol 005 CATEGORY _DISTRICT XBUILDING(S) STRUCTURE -SITE -OBJECT OWNERSHIP PUBLIC X_PRIVATE _BOTH PUBLIC ACQUISITION -IN PROCESS -BEING CONSIDERED STATUS PRESENT USE X OCCUPIED -AGRICULTURE SMUSEUM -UNOCCUPIED _COMMERCIAL -PARK _WORK IN PROGRESS -EDUCATIONAL - PRIVATE RESIDENCE ACCESSIBLE -ENTERTAINMENT _RELIGIOUS XYES: RESTRICTED -GOVERNMENT -SCIENTIFIC -YES: UNRESTRICTED -INDUSTRIAL -TRANSPORTATION Lace_No:: 10 se0 = 3elo "MILITARY;! -LOTHER: OWNER OF PROPERTY 2S0 163 EMe CI 903 E:B0B NAME Swansea Historical Society, Inc. 09T0a 003 01038 STREET & NUMBER P.O. Box 67 CITY. TOWN Swansea STATE VICINITY OF LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION Massachusetts 02777 COURTHOUSE. REGISTRY OF DEEDS;ETC.

Bristol County Registry of Deeds, Fall River District STREET & NUMBER 441 North Main Street CITY. TOWN Fall River STATE Massachusetts REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS TITLE Historic American Buildings Survey Inventory of Historic Assets of the Commonwealth DATE 1935, 1969 DEPOSITORY FOR CITY. TOWN X FEDERAL XSTATE COUNTY LOCAL SURVEY RECORDS Library of Congress, Massachusetts Historical Commission STATE Washington, D.C.; Boston Massachusetts 7' DESCRIPTION CONDITION XEXCELLENT _GOOD -FAIR -DETERIORATED _RUINS -UNEXPOSED CHECK ONE _UNALTERED X ALTERED CHECK ONE - ORIGINAL SITE X MOVED DATE1937 DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (IF KNOWN) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Description of the property

The Luther Store is located on the southeast corner of the intersection of Old Warren Road and Maple Avenue in the Luthers' Corner neighborhood of the southeastern Massachusetts town of Swansea. This principally residential neighborhood was once the center of community activity. The two story brick veneer on plank "saltbox" faces north across Old Warren Road. Built in 1815, it has two interior end chimneys; the roof is wood shingled. Fenes- tration is irregularly placed, set in jack arch openings and framed by simple plank blinds. The plain moulded cornice sits just above the window openings of the second floor on the facade and has open returns on the gable ends. The facade is four unequal bays wide. The store is located in the western end of the structure. The orientation of the facade reflects the separation of the store and the second story spaces.

The western end of the facade has the store entrance flanked by two windows. Above the windows, on the second floor are two windows. The eastern end of the facade has a window and doorway; above these openings are two windows on the second floor. The end and rear elevations have irregularly spaced windows. There are doorways on either end of the first floor of the western elevation. Above the entrance to the store and on the western elevation are the original store signs. The interior is finished in simple white plaster and the store retains its original three foot deep by twenty-five foot long mahogany counter. Some early merchandise is on display. A small shed to the rear has been removed, and the roof was reshingled in 1975. The store was moved back thirty-five feet on its lot when Old Warren Road was widened as a WPA project in 1937.

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

SIGNIFICANCE PERIOD _PREHISTORIC -1400-1499 -1500-1599 _1600-1699 -1700-1799 X1800-1899 -1900- _ARCHEOLUGY-PREHISTORIC ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC -AGRICULTURE X ARCHITECTURE -ART X 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 POLITICS/GOVERNMENT -INVENTION -RELIGION -SCIENCE _SCULPTURE _SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN _THEATER -TRANSPORTATION -OTHER (SPECIFY) SPECIFIC DATES 1815 BUILDER

Statement of significance

/ARCHITECT Mace Luther STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE The Luther Store is significant for the excellent preservation of its architectural character, for its association with the Luther family and as a center of community activity in the 19th century. The store was built in 1815 for John Brown Luther by his journey man cousin, Mace Luther. The store continued to be operated by members of the Luther family until 1925. In 1935 it was deeded to the town by heirs of the Luther family and since 1941 has been operated by the Swansea Historical Society. Marion Reilly, the founder and first president of that organization, is a tenth generation descendant of Captain John Luther, one of the original settlers. Luthers have occupied these four corners since 1747. When John Luther opened his store, he lived on the corner opposite it.

Another Luther ran a tavern on another corner, and Henry Luther had a shoemaking shop on the last corner. Members of the Luther family associated with the store held many local political positions including town clerk, treasurer, collector of taxes and justice of the peace.

The rest of the file

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

MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES Records and Collections of the Swansea Historical Society Collections of the Rhode Island Historical Society Beers; John N., Representative Men and Families of Southeastern Massachusetts, Chicago: 1912. Wright; Olney, His tory of Swansea, Massachusetts, Swansea:1917. 10 GEOGRAPHICAL DATA ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY UTM REFERENCES 1/3 acre ALL,21 1311,512,0,0 EASTING 14,612,316,2,01 NORTHING BL EASTING NORTHING 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 Joseph R. Orfant, National Register Editor & Ferdinand J.

Loungeway ORGANIZATION Massachusetts Historical Commission STREET & NUMBER 294 Washington Street CITY OR TOWN Boston December 22 ,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 X 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 li hê Nel Amacon TITLE Executive Director, Massachusetts Historical Commission DATE 1/10/78 FOR NPS USE ONLY | HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS PROPERTY IS INCLUDED JN THENATIONAL REGISTER DYPIOETTRIBROYEOTTAYINO TATION DATE KRUPER OE DATE 52220 TANTONAR RNOLSD 4-76-78 ATTEST: KEEPE ER GPO 892-453 RECEIVED JAN 1 7 1978 NATIONAL REGISTER Swansea, MA. from Swansea Assesors Map not to scale U.S. Route 6 176.4° Old Warren Road Maple Avenue 102' ,911 |II.)' Pearse Road MAY 2 2 1978 Property The Luther Store state Mass. Working Number 1.17.78.2248 TECHNICAL Photos - Maps 1, sketch Bristol CONTROL OK 1.18.28 HISTORIAN ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN ARCHTTECTKANY TE ERRESENS A OUAL - UNTTOR Auee STRUCTURE Of THE EARIY JNUSUAL SPACING OF WINDONS, 3/3/78 ARCHEOLOGIST Statement of siguificance ared have beer stronger.

OTHER sravnan 3.8.78 HAER Inventory Review concur with Brablian, but commerciad oignifio REVIEW UNIT CHIEF demonotrated. Lebrrin (moved back few feet in 1935 fo rood wrademsy 4/10/78 BRANCH CHIEF KEEPER National Register Write-up Federal Register Entry 7.5.28 Send-back_ Re-submit Entered United States Department of the Interior National Park Service WASO No. 7 MAY 22 1978 INT :2106-74 J.G. LU &.B.LUTHER 8 GO Luther Store Swansea Massachusetts 1977 Albert Deston JAN 1 7 1978 500 Dillon Lane Swansea, Massachusetts 02777 Bristol County Photo #1 MAY 2 2 1978 Looking northeast towards the facade and west elevation of the Luther Store PROPERTY OF THE MATIONAL REGISTER ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER STATE MASSACHUSETTS Date Entered MAY 22 1978 Name Ware Paper M111 Luther Store Location Newton Middlesex County Swansea vicinity Bristol County Also Notified Honorable Edward W.

Brooke Honorable Edward M. Kannedy Honorable Robert Z. Drinan Monorable Margaret H. Heckler NR Mott/js 5/23/78 Seace Ilistorlc Preservation Officer Mra. Patrícia L. Heslowski Executive Director, Massachusetts Historical Cormission 294 Washington Street Boston, Massachusetts 02108 PH0660523 NATIONAL REGISTER DATA SHEET ONAME as it appears on federal register: 2 OTHER NAMES: 3) date of ent Luther Store MAY 2 2 1978 4 county code: 05 5 LOCATION street & number city/ town vicinity of state county 6NPS REGION: W of Swansea at 160 01d Warren Rd. Swansea MA Bristol NA OWNER XPRIVATE OOSTATE OMUNICIPAL COCOUNTY OMULTIPLE -FEDERAL(agency name) 8ADMINISTRATOR: 9EXISTING SURVEYS OEHABS CHAER ONHL (10 FUNDED? OYES ONO IICONGRESS. DISTRICT 10th 12)SOURCE of NOMINATION X STATE -FEDERAL if state who prepared form?

HATIONAL RECISTER HISTORIC DISTRICTT MATIBNAL HISTORIE LANOMARK1 ACREAGE DLOCAL OPRIVATE ORGANIZATION 1B CONDITION -deteriorated Daltered Doriginal site CSUBSTANTIALLY INTACT-1 Dexcellent 17)features: Oruins OONOT INTACT-O OSUBSTANTIALLY INTACT -2 CSUBSTANTIALLY INTACT -3 Dunaltered Omoved - NOT INTACT-O QONOT INTACT - O Ogood Ounexposed Ofair Dreconstructed Ounknown WCUNKNOWN-4 UNKNOWN-5 SO UNKNOWN-6 Ounexcavated Dexcavated *O NOT APPLICABLE -7 WONOT APPLICABLE-8 ZO NOT APPLICABLE - 9 BACCESS OYES-Restricted DYES -Unrestricted - No Access -Unknown (19) ADAPTIVE USE DYES ONO SAVED? DYES IS PROPERTY A HISTORIC DISTRICT?

Dyes Ono 21 AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE : DENGINEERING-11 -LANDSCAPE ARCH.- 15 - POLITICS / GOVT.- 21 -RECREATION -28 ACLAIMS: explain -ARCHEOLOGY - prehistoric-2 -COMMERCE-6 CENTERTAINMENT-26 - LAW- 16 first' O C RELIGION- 22 -SETTLEMENT-29 CARCHEOLOGY-historic-1l -COMMUNICATIONS-7 CEXPLORATION -12 - LITERATURE-17 - SCIENCE- 23 -URBAN PLANNING -31 'oldest' O - AGRICULTURE -3 - CONSERVATION - 8 CHEALTH - 27 - MILITARY- 18 - SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN-24DOTHER(SPECIFY) - ARCHITECTURE-4 - ECONOMICS- 9 C INDUSTRY-13 - MUSIC - 19 - SOCIAL / CULTURAL-30 -ART-5 - EDUCATION-10 - INVENTION - 14 PHILOSOPHY-20 - TRANSPORTATION - 25 'only' D functions dates of initial construction: ETHNIC GROUP ASSOCIATION WHEN HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT: major alterations: CURRENTLY: historic events: * architectural style(s): architeet: master builder: engineer: landscape architect / garden designer: interior decorator: artist: @artisan: -builder/contractor: BNAMES give role & date PERSONAL: EVENTS: INSTITUTIONAL: NATIONAL REGISTER WRITE-UP reviewers initials.

date IIF ADDITIONAL SPACE NEEDED, NUMBER & PUT ON REVERSER