BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
Washington Street FORM A - AREA SURVEY MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, State House, Boston Form numbers in this area TH-41 to TH-46 Area no. D 1. Town Boston (CBD-Theatre) Name of area (if any) Liberty Tree Leatre 2. Photo (3x3" or 3x5'g) Staple to left side of form Photo number 3. General date or period 1850-1900 4. Is area uniform (explain): in style? no (mid-to-late 19th c. style in condition? no (fair to poor conditior in type of ownership? yes (private) - - in use?ves (conmercial) 5. Map. Use space below to draw a general map of the area involved. Indicate any historic properties for which individual reports are completed on Forms B thru F, using corres- ponding numbers. Show street names (including route numbers,if any) and indicate north. Indicate with an "x" existing houses not inventoried on Form B.
Essex Street TH 57.41 23 43 2018 TH-45 44 TH- 41 *% 1422 1048 TH-46 907 849 849 3075 6I91EI 16,665 2726 10,208 Avenue Harrison Beach 18,364 SHOPPER'S PARKING GARAGE 8172 SE EE St. 34 DO NOT WRITE IN THIS SPACE USGS Quadrant 40 MHC Photo no. 6. Recorded by_ Pamela Fox Organization_Boston Landmarks Commissic Date June, 1979 (over) NOV 5M-2-75-R061465 7 1980 DEC 9 1990 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. 1. Boston Evening Transcript, Feb. 19, 1850 (reprinted in part in the Drumlin, newsletter of the City Conservation League, Jan.
1978) (on the Liberty Tree Block) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR HERITAGE CONSERVATION AND RECREATION SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM FOR HCRS USE ONLY RECEIVEDNOV DATE ENTERED 7 1980 CONTINUATION SHEET Bibliographical ITEM NUMBER 9 PAGE - Liberty Tree Area Form The Liberty Tree district consists of six buildings clustered around the corner of Washington and Essex Streets at the northern edge of Boston's "adult entertainment zone" The areaissignificant historicallyas thelocation ofthe famous Liberty Tree and architecturally as a small-scale ensemble of mid-to-late 19th century commercial build- ings, many of individual distinction.
The corner of Washington and Essex Streets, known as Hanover Square before 1765, was the site of the Liberty Tree Tavern and the magnificent American elm known as the Liberty The tree and tavern were favorite gathering places for the Sons of Liberty, a group of patriots organized in 1765 to protest the Stamp Act. During the pre-Revolutionary War period, demonstrations against British rule were commonly held here, and the tree became a symbol of liberty and focal point of Boston's early struggles against tyranny. The Liberty Tree is commemorated by a finely carved relief plaque on the Washington Street facade of the brick commercial building erected on the site in 1850. Calledthe Liberty Tree Block (TH-45), this building was owned by wealthy Bostonian David Sears and housed small shops on the ground floor and elegant public halls above.
The Liberty Tree Block and adjacent buildings also reflect the commercial develop- ment of the area during the mid-to-late 19th century period. Shops were still small and the upper floors of commercial buildings at 11-13 and 15-17 Essex Street (TH-44 and TH- 43) were used as residences. Because Washington Street was for many years the only land route out of Boston, hotels and taverns were also located here. One of these was the 1824 Lafayette Hotel at 644 Washington Street (TH-46), named in honor of Lafayette's visit to Boston that year. It was remodelled in the early 1860's by philanthropist Robert Bent Brigham into Brigham's Hotel and remodelled again in the late 19th or early 20th century, at which time the present Adamesque facade was erected. The area includes another hotel, the Essex at 25-31 Essex Street (TH-41), probably erected in 1881.
By that date, railroads with terminals in the nearby South Cove area were bringing even more travelers into the area. The Liberty Tree Block (TH-45) is architecturally significant as a prominent corner building which serves as a visual focus for the area. The building itself is an unusual example of the transition from the Greek Revival to Italianate style in commercial archi- tecture. 11-13 Essex Street (TH-44) probably dating from 1871, is highly significant as the only commercial building in the Boston Central Business District with a wooden The thin wooden piers are chamfered in imitation of the more expensive cast iron storefronts popular at that date. 15-17 and 25-31 Essex Street (TH-43 and TH-41) are among the survey area's best surviving examples of High Victorian Gothic commercial architecture.
640-644 Washington Street (TH-46) is the best example of the Federal Revival style in the survey area and features fine details such as Flemish bond brick, iron balconies and splayed slate lintels. NOY 7 1980 C UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR HERITAGE CONSERVATION AND RECREATION SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM FOR HCRS USE ONLY RECETVED DATE ENTERED UcU 9 0 CONTI NUATION SHEET Bibliographical ITEM NUMBER 9 PAGE Area D: Liberty Tree District Acreage: 3/5ths of an acre UTM Reference #: 19/330080/4690710 Boundary Justification: The district ts bounded by Essex Street on the north and Washington Street on the west.
The southern boundary was drawn between #644 and #646 Washington because #644 was considered to be of comparable architectural quality to the rest of the district and #646, #648 and #660-672 were considered to be of lesser archi- tectural quality. The eastern boundary is defined by a vacant lot and a heavily altered building of no architectural or historical significance. List of Structures: (all considered to contribute to the district): TH-41 25-31 Essex Street - (Essex Hotel) (c. 1881) 5-story stone High Victorian TH-42 19-21 Essex Street - (post 1928 facade) 3-story Greek Revival bowfront hidden by 20th century concrete Gothic-style facade. TH-43 15-17 Essex Street - (1875) 4-story polychrome stone High Victorian Gothic mercantile building whichhoused sewing machine company for many years. TH-44 11-13 Essex Street - (c.
1871) 3-story commercial building with wooden carved to imitate cast iron construction, built by wealthy merchant David a Beit y weathy merchant D eocae Sears, probably for a kitchen supply company. TH-45 628-636 Washington Street - (Liberty Tree Block) (1850) 4-story brick Greek Reviva1/ItaTianate commercial building with plaque marking site of historic Liberty Tree. TH-46 640-644 Washington Street - (Lafayette Hotel) (1824, late 19th or early 20th century facade) 4½-story brick Federal Revival facade with slate Mansard roof. Unclear whether earlier hotel was totally rebuilt at turn-of-the-century or whether only the facade was remodelled. 9. Major Bibliographical References See continuation sheets, Section 9 UTM NOT VERFID AOTEAGE NOT VERFED 10.
Geographical Data see individual Acreage of nominated property Quadrangle name - Boston South UMT References A1,9 Zone CLL EL I and area forms Quadrangle scale 1"=25,000' 329/940 Easting 4690650 Northing AILL Zone Northing LULLL LLLL FLUJ LLILIL LILLLL H LLILLL LLLLLL 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 name/title Candace Jenkins, Registration Director y pame Fox ostor 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 tothe criteria and procedures set forth by the Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service.
State Historic Preservation Officer signature atmahh eslsopki 10/20/80 title For HCRS use only I hereby certity toat this property is included in the National Register till: uuce Keeper of the National Register Attest: tatuc - yChief of Registration ndlus - date date date 12-1/80 12/4/80 GP O 938 835 Property Basten Theatre Muttipl Resonce len State 1A Suffolk Working Number H, 7.80, 2781 TECHNICAL Photos Maps 1/3 D4E 1/1/81 CONTROL HISTORIAN nd arowth of the theater /maire house industry. Thedretriet's and individual brüldings accept chieved significanel between c. 1890and the 1930 s- contained inthis m.R.A. au Patrick Andus ignificant groups g lato 19th/early 20th cent- commercial brüldings, therenter 12/4/80 Ithe muric industiu (especially piano manufacturing) and ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN pamples oevery laind of theater that develghed in Beston in this peried.
This is a good multiple esource nomination -they have incuded all the reguured calegoras 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 Department of the Interior - Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service Essex J-ODOK Co. ESEK LUOS - 473:1175 Boston, MA Historic Resources of the Boston Theatre Area Pamela Fox, April & May, 1979=C 9 1980 Negative at Boston Landmarks Commis- sion, Boston, MA Photo #3 of 15, Liberty Treet District 11-31 Essex St.
T# 44,43,42, 41 NOV 7 1980 Liberty Tree District, 1/-31 Essex St, Boston MA Essex JOLAR ONEMA WELCOMES YOU TO BOSTONS NO RIGHT TUKN NUTEPHDTOS S3IAOM Baston Mouse of PIZZA ARCA E OPEN OPEN 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 #6 of 15, Liberty Tree Block (B1dg.) (Liberty Tree District), 628- 636 Washington St. TH45 NOV 7 1980 Liberty Tree Block 628-636 Washington St, Baston MA Camens T ROOMS BARCE Boston, MA -Historic Resources of the Boston Theatre Area Pamela Fox, April & May, 1979 9 1980 Negative at Boston Landmarks Commis- sion, Boston, MA Photo #7 of 15, Liberty Tree District, 628-644 Washington St. NOV 7 1980 Hburty Tree District, 628-644 Washington .
St, Boston MA Essex 830c0-r Liberty Tree Ristrut Baster Theater MRA Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000272