BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
STREET MWCRTH BOSTON LANDMARKS COMMISSION Building Information Form TH- CBD 501 Form I No. Area NR CBD ADDRESS 48 Boylston StCQR-Tamworth St. NAME Boston Young Men's Christian Union - sane present original MAP No. 24N/12E SUB AREA Theatre District DATE 1875 - Bradlee Drawings - Athenaeum source (Photo) ARCHITECT N.J. Bradlee " WT Winslow source BUILDER Morton & Chesley " source OWNER B.Y.M.C.U. original same present PHOTOGRAPHS TYPE (residential) single non-residential Ward 3, Parcel 4893, UTM# 19/329940/4690700 (Ind. Ref. #) double row 2-fam. 3-deck ten apt. NO. OF STORIES (Ist to cornice)_ flat - plus ROOE _cupola dormers MATERIALS (Frame) clapboards (Other)(brick) shingles stucco asphalt asbestos alum/vinyl stone-granite;) concrete iron/steel/alum.
Eor facade sandstone BRIEF DESCRIPTION snahred ock Bowar a L-shaped institutional structure in High Victorian Gothic style; two-part facade with main 3-bay mass with ground floor storefront and side dock tower and ground floor entry that projects slightly from facade plane. Highly decorative and pelychrome elevation. EXTERIOR ALTERATION - minor ( moderate) drastic clock tower removed 1927 CONDITION(good fair poor LOT AREA sq. feet NOTEWORTHY SITE CHARACTERISTICS STREET 3925 2575 15,3 * BOYLSTON 15: OWELL 6430 PARKiA 5,624 : UBLIX - 13,30) SIGNIFICANCE (cont'd on reverse) The Union was founded in 1851 by Harvard students as a biblical christian literature discussion group and evolved into a fellowship institu- tion: especially for youths in pursuit of careers who flocked to the cities in the later 19th century. They occupied several structures before building the Boylston St.
structure. The site was chosen for its / ARE1 NOV 7 1980 NRI DEC 9 1980 - Moved; date if known Themes (check as many as applicable) Aboriginal Conservation Agricultural Education Architectural Exploration/ The Arts settlement Commerce Communication Industry Military Community/ Political development Recreation Religion Scierce/ 7. _Cn .tarian rtation ant Significance (include explanation of themes checked above) central location and proximity to many residential neighborhoods, and the building contained retail ground floor space (initially leased to a bank), an auditorium, library, gymnaisium, social and game rooms, and Union offices. Bradlee & Winslow were selected as architects, an obvious choice because Bradlee himself was a life member and brother of a founder.
The building is architecturally significant as the most accomplished example in the High Victorian Gothic style remaining in the Central Business District. Bradlee's firm designed hundreds of structures, many in the CBD; however, few reamin there. The BYMCU originally formed a cluster with the 1867 Masonic Temple and Boylston Hotel, both in the High Victorian Gothic style. The style's popularity as well, perhans, as its ecclesi- astical overtones, befitted the image of a Christian service, fellowship-oriented institution for young middle class workingmen. The Union remains as one of a dozen remaining High Victorian Gothic structures and one of very few built for non-commercial uses. Preservation Consideration (accessibility, re-use possibilities, capacity for public use and enjoyment, protection, utilities, context) Designated a Landmark by Boston Landmarks Commission.
Accessibility remains due to continued historic use; open to membership which essentially is public. Recommended for National Register listing (individual) Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records, early maps, etc.) BYMCU Study Report, Boston Landmarks Commission, 10/27/77. 9. Major Bibliographical References See continuation sheets, Section 9 UTM NOT VERFID AOTEAGE NOT VERFIED 10. Geographical Data see individual and area forms Acreage of nominated property Quadrangle name - Boston South UMT References A |1 19 Zone Quadrangle scale 1"=25,000' 329940 Easting LLL 46p065p/ Northing LILu ILL Zone Easting Northing LILi LLLL E G FLU LLILLL HLU LILLL LILILLL LLILLL Verbal boundary description and justification The southern boundary of the Theatre Area starts at a oint on Washington St., 520' south of the intersection of Kneeland & Washington.
From this point it uns due west along an arbitrary straight Tine to a point on Charles St. South 442' south of Stuart treet. From thence it follows Charles St. South one block north to the intersection of Stuart St., List all states and counties for properties overlapping state or county boundaries state code county code state code county code 11. Form Prepared By y Pamel ostor name/title Candace Jenkins, Registration Director Fox Landmarks Commission organization Massachusetts Historical Commission street & number 294 Washington Street date telephone (617) 727-8470 city or town Boston, state MA 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 proceduresset forth by the Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service.
State Historic Preservation Officer signature atuahWeslroki 10/20/80 title date For HCRS use only 1 hereby certify at this property is included in the National Register date Keeper of yhe National Register Attest: ratuck Adeus oChief of Registration date 12-1/82 12/4/80 GPO 938 835 Property Bnsten Theatre Multipl Resonce Men State Suffolk Working Number fl, 7, 80, 2781 TECHNICAL DUE 1/1/81 CONTROL Photos Maps L/3 his muttipe resounce area is significant for the quality & its architectin HISTORIAN nd foi ets assoccalion with the development of the important boston music industu nd growth &f the theater /maire house industiy. Shedietriet's and individual brüldings acept chieved significanel between c. 1890and the 1930s- contained in this m.R.A.
au Patrick Andus ignificant poups g lao19h/ealy zothcent- commercial brüldings, thocenter 2/4/80 'the musee industry (especially piano manufacturing) and ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN pamples deverylaind &f theater that develahed in Beston in this peried. This is a good multiple esource nomination -they hove enduded all the regunred calegors ayormacion. ARCHEOLOGIST OTHER HAER Inventory Review REVIEW UNIT CHIEF BRANCH CHIEF KEEPER National Register Write-up Federal Register Entry 2.2.87 Send-back Re-submit Entered _DEC 9 1980 United States Departmentof the Interior - Heritage Conservationand Recreation Service tled LIQUORS RISTIAR URIOK - BOSTON UNION B.Y.M.C. UNION Bastan Yang Mois Chrstian wzon Busten Thato MRA Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000272