BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
FORM A - AREA SURVEY MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, State House, Boston - - Form numbers in this area TH-12 to TH-40 Area no. 1. Town Boston (CBD-Theatre) Name of area (if any)_ Piano Row iestrut 2. Photo (3x3" or 3x5) Staple to left side of form Photo number 3. General date or period late 19th and early 20th century 4. Is area unitorm (explain): in style? no tur-of-th--nentury styles yes (well- AVERY in condition? maintained yes (private) TH-13 TH in type of ownership? no (residential 1-149. in use ? (commercial/ 5. Map. Use space below to draw a general map of the area involved. Indicate properties for which individual reports are completed on Forms B thru F, TH TH-15 TH-16 THEATRE 14,225 institutional ponding numbers. Show street names (including route numbers, if any) and i Indicate with an "*" existing houses not inventoried on Form B.
TH - 17 + BOSTON COMMON Tremont GRAND LODGE OF MASONS TH-18 Park Square 8 TH 37 TH TH TH 36 35 SE 30 TH-25 COLONIAL THEATRE TH-22 LITTLE vacant lot 1t-26 Tt-27 T-28 29 BOYLS TON TH-24 TH-231 TH-19 EUILDING AMWORTH planned State Transportation Building ALLEN'S ALLEY SAXON THEATRE TH-2 6. Recoruco LA GRANGE TH-20 DO NOT WRITE IN THIS SPACE USGS Quadrant_ Pamela Fox MHC Photo no. Organization Boston Landmarks Commission Date June, 1979 NOV (over) 7 1980 5M-2-75-R061465 7. Historical data. Explain the historical/architectural importance of this area. 8. 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 3/2,9/9 40 Zone Easting 14690/65pl Northing CL E G Quadrangle scale 1"=25,000' Zone Easting Northing DLIJ LULLLL FLUJ LLILLL JLILILLL HLLILLlILu 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 ov Pame 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 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 ahuahWesluki 10/20/80 title For HCRS use only 1 hereby certify tpat this property is included in the National Register til: sure -keeper of the National Register Attest: tatuck Adus Chief of Registration - date date date 1217/82 12/4/80 GP O 938 835 Property Brsten Sheatre Multipl Resonce Uea state MA Suffolk Working Number H/, 7, 8D, 2781 TECHNICAL DuE 1/1/8/ CONTROL Photos Maps 4/3 his muttiple resornce area is significant for the qualit d its architectin HISTORIAN nd /oi its assoccallon with the development of the important boston music industu nd qrouth f the theater /mavre house industiy. Thedretriet's and individual buildings acept chieved significanel between c. 1890 and the 1930s- contained in this m.R.A.
au Patrick Ardus ignificant qroups g tab 19h/ealy 20th cent- commercial brüllings, thecenter 12/4/80 Ithe music industir (especially piano manufacturing) and ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN pamples oevery laind of theater that develafed in Beston in this peried. This is a good multiple source nomination -they hove included all the reguired caregores gunformalion. 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 UEC 9 1980 United States Departmentof the Interior - Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service Boston, MA Historic Resources of the Boston Theatre Area NOV 7 1980 Pamela Fox, April & May, 1979 Negative at Boston Landmarks Commission, Boston, MA DEC 9 1980 Photo #1 of 15 Little Bldg.nand Colonial Bldg. (Piano Row) 74-94 and 96-106 Boylston St.
Little and Colorial Bldgs (Prano R020) 74-94896-106 Boylston st, Boston MA VER DITSON COMPANY ASTOR UNION STAT Boston, MA Historic Resources of the Bostor Theatre Area Pamela Fox, April & May, 1979 Negative at Boston Landmarks Commis- sion, Boston, MA Photo #8 of 15, Piano Row, 174-186 Tremont st and 62 Boylston St. NOV 7 1980 Piano Row, 174-186 Tremont& 62 Boylston Sts. Boston MA TOW ZONE LOADING ZONE TRUCKS NO STANDING 7AM - 9:30AM 4PM - 6PM TOW STA Boston, MA Historic Resources of the Boston Theatre Area Pamela Fox, April & May, 1979 Negative at Boston Landmarks Commis- sion, Boston, MA Photo #9 of 15, 176-186 Tremont St.
(Piano Row) NOV 7 1980 DEC 9 1980 Piano Rou Strutscape, 176-186 Tremont St, Boston MA Boston, MA Historic Resources of the Boston Theatre Area 1980 Negata Foat Boston May,a193 Commis- sion, Boston, MA DEC Photo #10 of 15, Hotel Touraine, 62 Boylston St, Boston, MA (Piano Row) Hotel Towaine, 62 Boylston St, Boston MA (Prano Row) Boston, MA DEC 9 1980 Historic Resources of the Boston Theatre Area Pamela Fox, April & May, 1979 Negative at Boston Landmarks Commis- sion, Boston, MA Photo #11 of 15, Piano Poot 144-116 and 120-124BBoy1s tpn St. Boston, MA Walker Bldgs, Pano Row 114-116 ard 120 -124 Boylston, Boston MA.
The ALL NIGHT STRUT: Boston, MA Historic Resources of the Boston Theatre Area Pamela Fox, April & May, 1979 Negative at Boston Landmarks Commis- sion, Boston, MA Photo #12 of 15, Piano Row, 3-6 Boylston Blace UEU IYoU NOV 7 1980 Piano Row, 3-6 Boylston Place, Boston MA lawmut Bank Shawmut Boylston THE BOSTON REPERTORY THEATRED O,RIG Boston, MA Historic Resources of the Boston Theatre Area Pamela Fox, April & May, 1979 Negative at Boston Landmarks Commis- sion, Boston, MA Photo #13 of 15, Streetscape, 130-162 Boylston Ste, Piano Row NOV 7 1980 Prano Row Streetscape, 130-162 Boylston St, Boston MA COMMON [G GARAGE LUGGAGE BOYLSTON JACK'S UNESHOP FAMOUS STEAK SUBS PIZZA Boston, MA Historic Resources of the Boston Theatre Area NOV 7 1980 Pamela Fox, April & May, 1979 Negative at Boston Landmarks Commis- sion, Boston, MA Pho4 pat4 Squas, Piano Row District, UEC 9 1980 Pano Row 2-4 Park Sa.
ER DITSON COMPANY EBBB ASTOR Prasa Row District Basten Thester MRA Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000272 RECEIVED Bartebian Inc. SEP - 51980 Collector & Importer Colonial & Oriental / Antiques & Marks of Art LMASS. HIST. COMM. 160 BOYLSTON STREET, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02116 423-0266 Mis. Patrecia Wedowabi September 4, 1980 Slate Historic Presemation officer 294 Washunçton Shiet, Boston, Wx. 0'2/08 Dear Ms. Wealowake; We mere delighted to hear tleal "Piano Ros" is to be vomina to Hic atinel Refe ter letenie Plees in order to preseme as much of the. Bostim as posseble, especially fociing the parro.
the beulding we hor oron (.160 Corp.) at 160 Beylalm Sheet u very elapt in to prime, ücta fiue ed celings tuo stosias high, accented witer gold leaf, and wset wete pauels of blue shay and white cloreds. au time the beuling has been altered to forn slaria. freru six wiete solarium on the roof, aud au additimn has been hade in the bare yard To eptens eael flior. Wehane a peitue of the ariguial Guelding before and Repoussé metal triin. dos muge atry, b hes brong cladaies hat i l rous of creptal. Hhe adoliteon has luher belbs wcorporated en the acauthus leaf moldings of the ceeleig libe sepuphony hall. Betwenr the two beuldrigs, an umpresiie Posce collonade separates the space uto 2 open voorus, NOV 1 7 wetu a two level flozz sepanind y a lon stanwarf This beaitiful aukutertine shoukd be restrel t it, of the ceeling and staved the wallsa floow. rined fro se ca contactos.
yf thece are federal gauts-in - a, and lax shette for restoration well be made available to brilduy oppey ju iemo fou e von cutaialy like tos. you ae in the neghbarkood, condetin, and tthe old pictmne. Suicenly, Prescella Baitonian NOV 17 1980 abcd PRDEED Action for Boston SEP 19 19S0 Community Development MASs. HIST. COiMM. Inc. 178 TREMONT STREET, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02111 TELEOE: AEACOE17)357-6000 Suffalkca, September 12, 1980 Patricia L. Weslowski Massachusetts Historical Commission 294 Washington Street Boston, Massachusetts 02108 Dear Ms. Weslowski, I have received your notification of consideration by the State Review Board of the Theatre District for nomination to the National Register Historical Places and am pleased to see the nomination progressing so smoothly.
As you know, the property at 178-179 Tremont Street is owned by the Action for Boston Community Development Real Estate Corporation, Inc. As Executive Director of ABCD, I would like to indicate our agency's full support_for the property being nominated as an integral part of the historic "Piano Row District. The present location of ABCD is situated in that section of the Piano Row District which saw the evolution of the music publishing business in the United States. 178 - 179 Tremont Street is a 10-story marble Renaissance Revival office building built for the Oliver Ditson Company, which in 1917 was the country's largest music publishing business. The structure is a Boston landmark worth noting. this dietriet shoul ar Thehistoricaland architectural significance of the structures composing this district should certainly be recognized and preserved for future generations.
The future uses of such structures should reflect a sensitivity to the city's residents from the many varied racial, ethnic, and socio- economic backgrounds which has made Boston a city so rich in tradition. The district under consideration for National Register nomination is in an area that is crucial to the future revitalization of downtown Boston. The obvious advantage of protection through comment by the Advisory Council on Historical Preservation on the effect of future undertakings is one that should not be overlooked. The important location of the Piano Row District the emaertant Tocatly combined with the natural beauty and uniqueness of the bordering Boston Common make this area extremely delicate and vulnerable to the potential adverse effects of inappropriate future developments.
Nomination to the National Register of Historic Places will be one more step to insure that these negative developments do not materialize. VIVIENNE S. THOMSON, President; JEAN M. BABCOCK, Vice President; EDRICK BAIN, Vice President; NOV 17 1980 ANNA MAE COLE, Vice President; BARBARA CONNOLLY, Vice President; STANLEY N. WILLIAMS, Vice President; F. DOUGLAS COCHRANE, Clerk; ROBERT H. GARDINER, Treasurer; ROBERT M. COARD, Executive Director Massachusetts Historical Commission September 8, 1980 Page 2 I thank you for your invitation to comment on the district and I urge the State Review Board to nominate Piano Row District to the National Register of Historic Places. Very truly yours, Kolutn Coar Robert M. Coard Executive Director cc: John Drew, Deputy Executive Director Michael McParland, Director of Administration John Nucci, Director of Community Coordination NOV 17 1980