BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
BOSTON LANDMARKS COMMISSION TH-CBD 418 Building Information Forn. Forn No. Area CBD NR: TH-52 25-39 ADDRESS Boylston St. COR. Bumstead Court Electric NAME present /Boston Edison,Illuminating C original TYPE MAP MO. 24N/12E #33-39 1906 DATE #23-27 1922 SUB AREA permit 4/ 37 Fheatre permit 8/6/1922 source 1906-Winslow & Bigelow (permit) ARCHLTECI 1922-Bigelow & Wadsworth (permit) source 1906-Whidden & Co (permit) BUILDER 1922-Geo.B.H. Macomber (permit) Edison Electric Illuminating OWNER Company / original present PHOTOGRAPHS 2 4/4, 9 4/6 -79 4tM19/330000/4690740 Ward 3 Parcel#4878 (residential) single double 2-fam. 3-deck ten apt. non-residential) Boston Edison headquarters NO. OF STORIES (1st to cornice) 10 ROOE flat cupola plus dormers MATERIALS (Erame) clapboards (Other) brick shingles stucco asphalt asbestos alum/vinyl stone_limestone concrete iron/steel/alum.
1s asymmetrical, designed with center and one side section. First Iloor heavily altered, second iloor features banded rustication, stone balcony between 2nd & 3rd stories supported on heavy console brack- ets, cartouche over entrance with mosaic "Edison" inscription, copper torcheres set in niches at 3rd story, stone bracketed cornice. EXTERIOR ALTERATION minor moderate drastic heavily altered storefront LOT AREA 6700 -sq. feet CONDITION (good) tair poor_ NOTEWORTHY SITE CHARACTERISTICS (Map) (N+) June, 1979 SIGNIFICANCE (cont'd on reverse) Notable Beaux Arts skyscraper by well-known Boston architectural firm, solidly constructed and well-preserved.
The building contributes to the street- NOV 7 1980 9 198 Moved; date if kaown Themes (check as many as applicable) Aboriginal Conservation Agricultural Education Architectural Exploration/ The Arts settlement Commerce Industry Communication Military Community/ Political Recreation Religion Science/ invention Social/ humanitarian Iransportation development Significance (include explanation of themes checked above) but is flawed as a composition because it was built in two stages rather than conceived as a single unit. Because of the rigid rules of symmetry which characterize Beaux Art classicism, the resulting structure appears lopsided, as if a west section were missing.
The main part of the building, #33-39, was constructed in 1906-7 by Winslow and Bigelow, the partnership which handled all Edison Illuminating Company construction as well as the design of many large Boston commercial buildings including the Walker Building addition, Oliver Ditson Building (150 Tremont), Board of Trade Building and South Terminal. The addition at #23-27 was done in 1922 by the successor firm of Bigelow & Wadsworth and involved a careful g materiais. match of style and building materials. The building continued in use as Boston Edison offices through the 1950'sg when it was sold and converted to stores and offices. Preservation Consideration (accessibility, re-use possibilities, capacity for public use and enjoyment, protection, utilitles, context).
_ Good candidate for adaptive re-use At edge of "Piano Row" district, could be included in future expanded boundries of that district. Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records, early maps, etc.) 9. Major Bibliographical References See continuation sheets, Section 9 UTM NOT VERFLD AOTEAGE NOT VER'FED 10. Geographical Data see individual and area forms Acreage of nominated property Quadrangle name - Boston South UMT References A1,9 Zone CLI E G Quadrangle scale 1"=25,000' 3|29/940 Easting LLLL 46p06 5p/ Northing LIL Zone Northing DLLJ LuLLLi LLLLL HILLL FLI LUILL LILILLL HLI Labu aliL 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 line 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 name/title Candace Jenkins, Registration Director )v Pamel -Fox ostor Landmarks Commission organization Massachusetts Historical Commission street & number 294 Washington Street date telephone (617) 727-8470 city or town Boston, MA 02108 state 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 forthoy the Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service. State Historic Preservation Officer signature ecae ie o me iora anr procedures tongey e i eslnok 10/20/80 title For HCRS use only I hereby certify-tbat this property is included in the National Register til. xuce Keeper of yhe National Register Attest: - nduus Chief of Registration - date date 12-9/80 date 12/4/80 GP O 938 835 Property Basten Theatre Multiple Resonce Auea State MA Suffolk Working Number //.
7.80, 2781 TECHNÍCAL DUE 1/1/8/ CONTROL Photos Maps L/3 This muttipte resounce area io significant for the quality d'its auchitectine HISTORIAN nd foiits assocalion wilh the deveopment of the important boston music industu arcept nd glouth & the theater /maire house industey. Thedietriet's and individual buildings chieved significanel between c.1890and the 1930 s- contained in this m.R.A. au Patrick Anduus ignificant poups o lato 1gth/early aothcent- commercial brüldings, therenter 1/4/80 ;the mucc industr (especially piano manufacturing) and ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN pamples fevery baind of theater that develghed in Beston in this period. This is a good multiple esource nomination -they hove included all the reguured calegores gunyormalion.
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 Department of the Interior - Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service Bosten Fedisan Electric Illumizatig corpong Baston Thaste MRA Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000272