Nomination for Old Post Office Building

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Form No. 10-300 (Rev.

10-74) PH0504696 DATA SHEET UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FOR NPS USE ONLY NATIONAL PARK SERVICE RECEIVED SFP 9 6 1977 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM DATE ENTERED MAR 8 1978 SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES -- COMPLETE APPLICABLE SECTIONS 1 NAME HISTORIC Old Post Office Building AND/OR COMMON City Hall Annex 2 LOCATION STREET & NUMBER Crescent Street CITY, TOWN Brockton STATE - VICINITY OF :ODE )25 _NOT FOR PUBLICATION CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 11th COUNTY Plymouth 3 Massachusetts CLASSIFICATION CODE 023 CATEGORY _DISTRICT UILDING(S) _STRUCTURE SITE _OBJECT OWNERSHIP XPUBLIC PRIVATE _BOTH PUBLIC ACQUISITION -IN PROCESS BEING CONSIDERED STATUS _OCCUPIED _UNOCCUPIED -WORK IN PROGRESS ACCESSIBLE _YES: RESTRICTED *YES: UNRESTRICTED -NO PRESENT USE AGRICULTURE -MUSEUM -COMMERCIAL _PARK _EDUCATIONAL -PRIVATE RESIDENCE -ENTERTAINMENT _RELIGIOUS X GOVERNMENT SCIENTIFIC -INDUSTRIAL: -_TRANSPORTATION _MILITARY _OTHER: 4 OWNER OF PROPERTY NAME City of Brockton STREET & NUMBER City Hall, School Street CITY, TOWN Brockton VICINITY OF 5 LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION STATE Massachusetts 02401 COURTHOUSE, REGISTRY OF DEEDS,ETC.

Plymouth County Registry of Deeds STREET & NUMBER Russe11 Street CITY. TOWN STATE Massachusetts 02360 6 Plymouth REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS TITLE Inventory of the Historic Assets of the Commonwealth DATE 1976 _FEDERAL YSTATE COUNTY _LOCAL DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS Massachusetts Historical Commission CITY. TOWN Boston STATE Massachusetts 02108 7-DESCRIPTION CONDITION LEXCELLENT _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 O1d Post Office is located on Crescent Street in Brockton's commercial and civic center. The slightly more than one acre of property is bordered by Maple Street to the east and commercial and civic structures to the south and west. The original 1898 rectangular portion of the building is 2½ stories high, 7 bays wide, and 4 bays deep constructed of brick with granite trim. A full Corinthian entabla- ture encircles the building. The slate tiled hip roof carries a balustrade decorated by alternating sections of turned balusters and molded panels. The granite faced basement level! is partially exposed. Eight projecting brick courses arranged to resemble rustification define the first story. A granite stringcourse links the lintels of the first story windows and doors. Fenestration is 6/6. First story windows have jack arched lintels and wide granite sills.

Second story windows are jack arched and are set inside blind segmental arches. The building is dominated by a central cupola in four stages. The first stage is a square, slate tiled base with an oculus on the north facade and south elevation and a molded entablature. The second stage is square with an urn ornamenting each corner. Each of the four sides contain an arched 6/6 window framed by flat pilasters and headed by a triangular pediment. At the base of each window is a small balustrade. The third stage is octagonal with an arched louvered opening on each side, all topped by a molded entablature. The cupola is crowned by an octagonal dome with finials at each corner and a finial at the peak. The symmetrical facade faces north toward Crescent Street. The five center bays project out slightly from the core of the building. The two corners of this projec- tion are quoined.

The three center bays have full round arches with fanlights and keystones. Iron railings lead to the central bay entrance. The two bays flanking it are windows with sidelights. A rectangular panel with a garland motif in relief stands between the first and second story windows on both the eastern and western recessed end bays. The attic has three gable dormers on center line with the three center bays. Each has an arched window with keystone and is framed by molded pilasters. The east and west elevations are four bays deep, with a slight recess at the southern end bays on each side. The corner of this recess is quoined on both elevations. Three rectangular panels with a swag motif in relief identical to those on the facade stand between the first and second story windows on both elevations. There is a single gabled attic dormer on line with the center bay.

The 1932 addition extends from the rear (south) elevation. It was designed by James A. Wetmore and is triple the size of the original building. It conforms with the style of the original and was constructed in two sections. The one story section attached to the original structure contains an open hall which was used for sorting mail. A loading dock is connected to the west elevation. The east elevation has a series of large round arched windows with keystone modeled after those on the original building facade. The elevation copies the original with its granite bands and stringcourse connecting the window lintels. A balustrade encircles the roof. The rear section of the addition is a three story structure with a loading dock on the rear (south) elevation. The ground slopes down to the rear of the building forming a third usable floor at the rear basement level.

A balustrade ornaments the roof. 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 SEP 2 6 1977 DATE ENTERED MAR 8 1978 CONTINUATION SHEET Old Post Office BlfeM NUMBER 7 PAGE 1 The building has been altered very little. Renovation work is currently in progress to update the building for use as a City Hall Annex. It will be linked to the City Hall by a pedestrian mall. The exterior of the building will not be altered except for the enclosure of the loading dock areas to create additional office space. Fences and dense planting will conceal air conditioning equipment on the first story of the east, west and south elevations.

Much of the property to the south and west of the building was previously occupied by maintenance ract of tre Buidte and storage structures. All but one small office building to the west have been nc capat e neec o me mol lte o prcyiou ty eaee razed. The bulk of the site is being studied for future use as a Brockton Area Transit bus terminal.

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- AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE -- CHECK AND JUSTIFY BELOW ARCHEOLOGY-PREHISTORIC COMMUNITY PLANNING -LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC _CONSERVATION LLAW AGRICULTURE -ECONOMICS _LITERATURE XARCHITECTURE _EDUCATION -MILITARY ART -ENGINEERING -MUSIC COMMERCE -EXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT _PHILOSOPHY _COMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY XPOLITICS/GOVERNMENT -INVENTION _RELIGION SCIENCE -SCULPTURE -SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN -THEATER _TRANSPORTATION OTHER(SPECIFY) SPECIFIC DATES 1898 STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE BUILDER

Statement of significance

/ARCHITECT James Knox Taylor The Old Post Office is significant as Brockton's finest example of Georgian Revival style architecture. It is also significant for having served as the major postal facility in the city for 75 years. The Old Post Office has become a local landmark. The architect, James Knox Taylor, also designed the Old Post Office building in Fitchburg's Monument Park Historic District, a current National Register nomination. The building is currently being renovated for reuse as a City Hall Annex. It is situated at the south end of V.F.W. Parkway, a street that will be discontinued and rebuilt as a pedestrian mall. At the northern terminus of the mall will be City Hall, a property now listed in the National Register.

The rest of the file

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

MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES Ameriçan Architect and Building News, Vol. 62, p. 106, pl. 1200, December 24, 1898. Original Drawings. 10 GEOGRAPHICAL DATA ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY _1 1/5 acres UTM REFERENCES A10/ |3/32/960 ZONE EASTING 14 6 16 0150.0/ NORTHING VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION BLI NORTHING - NORTHING ULLLULIILIL 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 Blaine Mallory and Joseph Orfant, National Register Editor (John R.

Wilson, Brockton Planner) ORGANIZATION DATE Massachusetts Historical Commission September 6, 1977 STREET & NUMBER TELEPHONE 294 Washington Street 617-727-8470 CITY OR TOWN STATE Boston Mass achusetts 12 STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER CERTIFICATION THE EVALUATED SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS PROPERTY WITHIN THE STATE IS: NATIONAL - STATE_ LOCAL 02108 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 Liakith Rud Amadon Executive Director, Mass.

Historical Commission FOR NPS USE ONLY 9/3/77 I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS PROPERTY ISINCLUDED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER ATTEST SHEOChaCAHEOE KEEPER OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER nucl HISTORIC PRESERVATION DATE SEPBR-OH DATE 38>8 THE HATTONAD RIGTSOR 3.6-78 GPO 892.453 propert Old Port Office Bulding Mass. Horking Number 9. 26. 27. 1524 TECHNICAL Photos 2 Maps - 1, Shetch 9 dert huni crlur photogeaphs shou addilion. But murl elirelelo 1ssuve Plymaoth CONTROL 0 9.22.72 HISTORIAN Shefy arrpt 1-12.08 ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN ACCEP ARCHEOLOGIST OTHER o 932 ma sleto und ne gin liceusoim original sestion. HAER Inventory - Review REVIEW UNIT CHIEF Qecept kbovich 2\14|78 BRANCH CHIEF Hurigt 3.6.78 KEEPER (r'5ht Entered MAR 8 1978 INT:2106 -74 National Register Write-up Federal Register Entry 4.4.78 Send-back - Re-submit United States Department of the Interior National Park Service WASO No.

7 Old Post Office SEP 2 6 1977 Brockton, Massachusetts 1976 John R. Wilson MAR 8 Office of the City Planner City Hall, Brockton 02401 #1 2 Looking southwest toward north facade andeeast elevation Plymouth County 1978 PROPERTY ST AATOMAL REGISTER Old Post Office SEP 2 6 1977 Brockton, Massachusetts 1976 John R. Wilson Office of the City Planner MAR 8 City Hall, Brockton 02401 Lobking southeast toward north facade and west elevation. Plymouth Courty 1978 PROPERTY OF T- 107.0 OAM REGISTER ALILLPLLO RECEIVED SEP 2 6 1977 NATIONAL REGISTER FOST OFFICE BUILDING 8 CRESCENT STREET 1898 PORTION i A.C. UNIT Dock ('= 40' 1932 ADDITION UNITI MAPLE AVEN VE WALL! :A.c.

LUNIT DOCK Old Post Office Building Brockton, Massachusetts Sketch Map Scale: 1"=40' Source: Phase II Report on Downtown Area of Brockton Date: 1974 ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER STATE MASSACHUSETTS Date Entered MAR 8 1978 Name ( Old Post Office Butlding Weatfield Munteipal Bui1ding Location Brockton Plymouth County Weatfield Hampden Also Notified Hon. Edward W. Brooke Hon. Bdvard M. Kennedy Hon. Janes A. Burke Hon. Silvio 0. Conte Regional Director, North Atlantic Region / 880 Mott/js 3/14/78 State Ilistorie Preservation Officer Mrs. E11zabeth R. Amadon Executive Dizector, Massschusetts Ilistorical Connission 294 Washington Street Boston, Massschusetts 02108 PH0504696 NATIONAL REGISTER DATA SHEET ONAME as it appears on federal register: MAke of entry ) county code: 1978 Old Post Office Building 5 LOCATION street & number city | town City Hall Annex vicinity of 23 Crescent St.

Brockton state MA 6)NPS REGION: NA OWNER -PRIVATE OSTATE XMUNICIPAL COUNTY MULTIPLE [FEDERAL (agency name) EXISTING SURVEYS CHABS CHAER NHL|(10) FUNDED? OYES -NO |(11)CONGRESS. DISTRICT 11th (12)SOURCE of NOMINATION TIONAL REGISTER HISTORIG DISTRIET1 HISTORIE ACREABE CONDITION -deteriorated Dexcellent Oruins Ogood Ounexposed Dfair Ounexeavated BACCESS OYES-Restricted DYES-Unrestricted I) AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE : CARCHEOLOGY - prehistoric-2 -COMMERCE-6 -ARCHEOLOGY-historic-1 - COMMUNICATIONS-7 - AGRICULTURE -3.

- CONSERVATION- 8 - ARCHITECTURE-4 - ECONOMICS- 9 -ART-5 - EDUCATION-10 Daltered Dunaltered Dreconstructed Dexcavated - No Access CENGINEERING-11 -ENTERTAINMENT-26 -EXPLORATION -12 C HEALTH- 27 - INDUSTRY- 13 - INVENTION -14 Doriginal site Omoved Ounknown - Unknown -LANDSCAPE ARCH.- 15 -LAW- 16 - LITERATURE- 17 - MILITARY- 18 - MUSIC - 19 - PHILOSOPHY -20 1features: OSUBSTANTIALLY INTACT-1 9ONOT INTACT-O WOUNKNOWN-4 20 NOT APPLICABLE-7 (19) ADAPTIVE USE DYES ONO] SAVED? DYES - POLITICS / GOVT." 21 -RECREATION -28 CRELIGION- 22 - SETTLEMENT-29 - SCIENCE- 23 -URBAN PLANMING-31 - SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN-24 -OTHER (SPECIFY) - SOCIAL / CULTURAL- 30 - TRANSPORTATION-25 county Plymouth 8ADMINISTRATOR: XSTATE CFEDERAL if state who prepared form?

OLOCAL -PRIVATE ORGANIZATION «OSUBSTANTIALLY INTACT -2 2OSUBSTANTIALLY INTACT -3 90 NOT INTACT-O OUNKNOWN-5 QONOT INTACT - O 5O UNKNOWN-6 JO NOT APPLICABLE-8 WO NOT APPLICABLE - 9 IS PROPERTY A HISTORIC DISTRICT? Dyes Ono CLAIMS: explain "first'D 'oldest' O 'only' D funetions WHEN HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT: CURRENTLY: ) architectural style(s): dates of initial construction: major alterations: historic events: ETHNIC GROUP ASSOCIATION architeet: master builder: engineer: * landseape architect / garden designer: interior decorator: artist: artisan: builder/contractor: NAMES give role & date PERSONAL: EVENTS: INSTITUTIONAL: NATIONAL REGISTER WRITE-UP reviewers initials. date |IF ADDITIONAL SPACE NEEDED, NUMBER & PUT ON REVERSE