Nomination for Lynn Public Library

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 FOR NPS USE ONLY NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM RECEIVED DATE ENTERED JUN &6 179 AUG 21919 Massachusetts CLASSIFICATION Essex 3 SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES -- COMPLETE APPLICABLE SECTIONS NAME HISTORIC Lynn Public Library AND/OR COMMON same LOCATION STREET & NUMBER CITY, TOWN 1315 North Cormon Street Lynn STATE - VICINITY OF CODE 025 NOT FOR PUBLICATION CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT Sixth COUNTY CODE 009 CATEGORY DISTRICT XBUILDING(S) _STRUCTURE _SITE _OBJECT OWNERSHIP XPUBLIC _PRIVATE _BOTH PUBLIC ACQUISITION -IN PROCESS _BEING CONSIDERED STATUS XOCCUPIED _UNOCCUPIED WORK IN PROGRESS ACCESSIBLE - YES: RESTRICTED XYES: UNRESTRICTED -NO PRESENT USE -AGRICULTURE -MUSEUM _COMMERCIAL _PARK -EDUCATIONAL _PRIVATE RESIDENCE ENTERTAINMENT _RELIGIOUS XGOVERNMENT _SCIENTIFIC _INDUSTRIAL -TRANSPORTATION +_MILITARY ,* 1 LOTHER: OWNER OF PROPERTY NAME City of Lynn, Board of Library Trustees Antonio Marino, Mayor STREET & NUMBER 5 North Common Street City Hall CITY.

TOWN Lynn STATE Massachusetts VICINITY OF LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION COURTHOUSE, REGISTRY OF DEEDS;ETC. Essex County Registry of Deeds STREET & NUMBER Essex County Courthouse CITY, TOWN Salem 6 REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS STATE Massachusetts TITLE Inventory of the Historic Assets of the Commonwealth #530 DATE 1978 DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS Massachusetts Historical Commission CITY, TOWN FEDERAL *STATE COUNTY _LOCAL Boston STATE Massachusetts 7-DESCRIPTION CONDITION XEXCELLENT LGOOD FAIR -DETERIORATED _RUINS _UNEXPOSED CHECK ONE XUNALTERED ALTERED : CHECK ONE XORIGINAL SITE _MOVED DATE_ DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (IF KNOWN) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Description of the property

The Lynn Public Library is a two and one-half story Renaissance Revival style building located at the northwest corner of North Common and Franklin Streets. Rectangular in plan, the building has a facade (south) and reax wall (north) of nine bays' length each; end walls (east & west) are of seven bays' length each. Centered on the south, east and west walls are slightly projecting pavilions, each of three bays' width. The structure rests upon a plinth of dressed granite above which rises a rusticated basement, faced with limestone. Upper floors are faced with dressed limestone. Elements of the building's design which are identical on all elevations are: paired Corinthian pilasters at each corner (first and second stories only), a continuous entablature, modillioned cornice and solid parapet.

The building is enclosed by a nearly flat roof which is pierced by skylights at various points over the reading rooms. FACADE (SOUTH): The facade is approached from a flight of granite stairs which cascades out in three directions from its center entrance. Centered on the facade is a two-story Corinthian portico, supported by four columns, which stands in front of the central pavilion. Behind the portico, the pavilion is framed into threebaysby four Corinthian pilasters. The center bay contains the library's major entry set one-half story.. below the first floor level. This entry con- tains aluminum and glass doors (ca. 1970) and is set in a moulded surround sur- mounted by a decorated frieze. Above the entry, at the second story, is an arched window with an unmoulded surround.

Sash of this and all other second story windows on the facade consists of oversized 2/2 sash surmounted by a two- pane semi-circular light. The outer two bays of the pavilion each contain one rectangular window (2/2)awith a limestone balustrade at the first story, above which is a recessed stone panel, and an arched window identical to that of the center bay, at the second story. Each of the facade's six remaining bays con- tains one window (2/2) at the basement and a two-story arched frame topped with a keystone rising through the first and second stories. Each frame encloses a balustrade at its base, one window (2/2) at the first story, a recessed pane1, and an arched window (2/2 with two-pane semi-circular light) at the second story.

EAST WALL: Facing Franklin Street, the east wall contains a shallow central pavilion which is framed into three bays by four Corinthian pilasters at the first and second stories. Partially below ground level, at the pavilion's center bay, is an entry (original panelled doors) over which is a damaged bronze lantern. This entry is flanked by one window (2/2) on each side. First and second story windows of the pavilion are identical to those of the outer bays of the facade pavilion (including two-story arched surround). The main body of the east wall has two bays onceach side of the pavilion. Each of these bays is identical to those of the main body of the facade. WEST WALL: The west wall is identical to the east, except that it faces a neighboring structure (approximately 30' distant) and has a narrower entry set farther below ground. This entry leads to the building's boiler room.

Form No. 10-300a (Kev. 10-74) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTOR Y -- NOMINATION FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY RECEIVED JUN 2 6 1979 DATE ENTERED AUG 2 | 1919 CONTINUATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER 7 PAGE 2 NORTH WALL: Of the same length as the facade, the north wall does not have a central pavilion, although its center bays are framed by paired Corinthian pilasters (at the first and second stories) to divide the elevation into three sections. East of the center bays are five bays, identical to those of the main body of the facade. The central section contains double entry doors (original) at the basement with a two-story arch containing first and second story windows, above. Flanking the entry are two narrow rectangular windows; flanking two-story arch are two narrow arches containing first and second story windows.

West of the i. Noeo eho) central section, fenestration consists of eight narrow rectangular windows at the basement, above which are eight narrow, two-story arches containing sash at different levels from the rest of the building (reflecting the various levels of the stacks which they light).

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- ARCHEOLOGY-PREHISTORIC _ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC AGRICULTURE XARCHITECTURE ART COMMERCE COMMUNICATIONS AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE -- CHECK AND JUSTIFY BELOW XCOMMUNITY PLANNING -LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE _CONSERVATION _LAW LECONOMICS _LITERATURE XEDUCATION MILITARY -ENGINEERING _MUSIC _EXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT _PHILOSOPHY _INDUSTRY _POLITICS/GOVERNMENT INVENTION _RELIGION -SCIENCE -SCULPTURE SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN THEATER _TRANSPORTATION -OTHER (SPECIFY) SPECIFIC DATES 1898-1900 BUILDER

Statement of significance

/ARCHITECT George A. Moore STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE The Lynn Public Library retains integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship and association and is the city's most elaborate example of Renaissance Revival architecture, one which occupies a prominent site and serves as an important local landmark. Major features of the building include a monumental Corinthian portico, Corinthian pilasters, entablature, modillioned cornice and solid parapet. Excepting the replacement of its front doors, the Library's exterior is unaltered. The building's interior has, at its center, a twelve-sided court which rises from a limestone arcade at the first story to a colonnade of Corinthian columns which support a coffered dome at the second story.

Opening onto this court at the structure's southeast corner is the main reading room, a two-story room with a marble mosaic floor, carved woodwork and coffered ceiling--details which are found throughout the Library's public rooms. The north wall of the reading room contains a mural entitled "The Awakening of Ignorance", painted for this room by F. Luis Mora in 1898. Lynn's first library was named the Social Library and was organized in 1815. In 1850, the Social Library passed out of existence, merging its collection with that of the Lynn Natural History Society, which, in 1855, turned both collections over to the Lynn Library Association. In 1862, the Library Association gave its collection to the city to provide the nucleus for a free public library.

Having occupied rented quarters since 1862, the Public Library moved into rooms designed for it in the new city hall of 1867-1868 (demolished), where it remained until the opening of the present building in 1900. to it in 1868. The movement to build a separate building was aided in 1893, when Elizabeth Shute of Lynn left nearly $100,000 for a library to be built as a memorial to her husband, William. Although this bequest provided much of the money needed, additional money was raised by private subscription, since no city funds were to be used. All aspects of the library building were hotly debated; however, the selection of George Moore (formerly of Little, Moore & Brown) as the building's architect caused the longest dispute, one that was reported both locally and in Boston news- papers. Early in 1897, Moore had been asked by J. N.

Smith, a library trustee, to prepare a proposal at his (Smith's) expense. This original proposal was essentially the same as the plan that was later built; however, the city's mayor and other citizens demanded that an official design competition be held (the terms of which would have excluded Moorés plan from consideration). As a compromise, 9

The rest of the file

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

MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES Johnson, David N. Sketches fo Lynn. Lynn: Thomas P. Nichols, 1880. pp. 256-259. Lynn City Item. Nov. 19, 1897. p. 6. Lynn Scrapbooks. (unpublished collection at the Lynn Public Library) Vol. 38, p. 6; Vol. 42, entire volume; Vol. 43, pp. 3 & 50-52. 0 GEOGRAPHICAL DATA ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY 39,162 sq. ft. UTM REFERENCES A 19| 13 319/31410 14..7/02/9,7,0 NORTHING ZONE EASTING CWLiLu NORTHING DLULLILLIILN VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION Please refer to the attached assesor's map on which the boundaries are deliniated.

Lot # 12 Block # 717 sheet #21 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 Brian Pfeiffer, Consultant City of Lynn Candace Jenkins, National Register Coordinator with ORGANIZATION Massachusetts Historical Conmission April 1979 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 Açt 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 Tahem LWechrsks 6/1/19 TITLE Executive Director.

Mass, Historical Commission FOR NPS USE ONLY I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS, PROPERTY IS ANCLUDED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTEF shul ANOHHSTORIC-PRESERVATION DATE DIRECTOA-OFFICE OFARCH ATTEST KEEPER OFTHE NATIONAL REGISTER DATE 8.21-29 A3D LASPLOAA DATE 0/20/29 GPO 892-453 Form No. 10-300a (Kev. 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 2 6 1979 DATE ENTERED AUG 2 | 1919 CONTINUATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER 8 PAGE 2 the Library Trustees held an informal competition, inviting submissions from various architects. Believing that the choice had already been made, not local architects submitted plans, although proposals were presented by J. Lyman Faxon, James Kelley and Shepley, Rutan & Coolidge, all of Boston.

when Moore's plan was finally chosen, it was revealed by newspapers that Moore and J. N. Smith were blood relatives causing Shepley, Rutan & Coolidge to withdraw in protest. Controversy over the choice continued and Professor F. W. Chandler of M.I.T. was brought in as an arbitrator. Although the issue was never resolved, con- struction according to Moore's design was begun in the summer of 1898. building was completed at a cost of $175,000 in 1900 and was dedicated in April of 1900, since which it has served as the city's main library. Public Library Lynn, MA Assessor's Map Sheet #21 Block #717 Lot #12 39; 9050 JUN 2 6 1979 4761 37 35: 5510 13 27,631 RANKLIN 223036 L.C 81 1477LCAI 3*: 36271 68.52 33: 15,439 55.45 OLO 717 12. PUBLIC LIBRARY 39,162 251.91 552 64.13 25 88.20 : 177.55 NORTH COMMON ST. LYNN COMMON SOUTH COMMON 726.21 57 3427 20 46 2 3958 18 6380 ST.

45.10 8-10 $1352 18 3 10,193 PARK TER. 12851 17,185 Assessed 88.0 1559 16 8 6 4127 4. 401T PLEASI 4128 5. LC 3); 6484 30 4400 J 116.47 O, 175.81 5808 2' 7996 32; 13,262 641 38,096 48,000 160 80 21 10 82.40 7834 WYMAN PL CITY 16 8 11,623 Porcel 6 Property State Lymn Publi Labrary mass. Essel Working Numbere. 26.79.1547 TECHNICAL Photos Maps CONTROI 6.26.25 HISTORIAN LOCSUM SIGNIFCANT LIBRARY BUILT IN 1898-1900. ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN SIGNIFILANT AS AN INTALT EXAMPLEDE KENAISSANCE REVIVAL STYLE PUBLL BUKDING. WILL ACLEPT MOUGH NO LOCAL ARCHHITECTURAL CONTEXT IS GIVEN.

ACLEPT MALPOUKAL 8/20/19 ARCHEOLOGIST OTHER HAER Inventory - Review REVIEW UNIT CHIEF AccEpT MAL DOUKAL 8/20/15 BRANCH CHIEF KEEPER National Register Write-up Federal Register Entry OCT 2 9 Send-back Re-submit Entered AUG 2 1 1979 United States Department of the Interior -Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service Lynn Public Library Lynn, Mass. ,Cnep County, Marsachuaetta Brian Pfeiffer 1979 Lynn Community Development Dept. Photo #192 View facing northwest JUN 2 6 1979 00C AUG 2 | 1919 SLIC LIBRARY Lynn Public Library Lynn, Mass., Essef county, Massachuretts Brian Pfeiffer 1979 Lynn Community Development Dept.

Photo #2 %2 View facing north JUN 26 ;1979 AUG 2 | 19/9 ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER Date Entered STATE MASSACHUSETTS AUG 2 | 1979 Iocation Name Bedford Building Lynn Masonic llall Lynn Public Library Boston Suffolk County Lynn Essex County Lynn Essex County Also Notified Honorable Paul G. Isongas Honorable Edward M. Kennedy Honorable John J. Moakley Honorable Nicholas Mavroules State Historic Preservation Officer Mrs. Patricia L. Weslowski Executive Director Massachusetts Historical Comnission 294 Washington Street Boston, Massachusetts 02108 NR Byers/bjr 8/22/79 nioaso call the National Register at (202) 343-6401.