BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
FORM A - AREA SURVEY ry no 90000410 Form numbers in this area MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, State House, Boston Area no. 155-I-1 1. Town Worcester Name of area (if any) Worcester Academy - National Register District 2. Photo (3x3" or 3x5) Staple to left side of form Photo number 3. General date or period 1889-1911 4. Is area uniform (explain): in style? no (mixed Victorian) in condition? yes (good) Roll 25 in type of ownership?_ - Jes (Worcester Academy) - - - - in use?Jes (private boarding school) 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.
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS SPACE USGS Quadrant MHC Photo no. (over) 6. Recorded by B.R. Pfeiffer Organization Worc. Heritage Pres. Soc. Date UTM 1926970014681400 November 1977 5M-)_7E-DA61AGE 7. Historical data. Explain the historical/architectural importance of this area. The portions of Worcester Academy included in this nomination have been selected to include the school's Victorian classroom and dormitory buildings and to exclude later, twentieth-century construction on the campusis southern portion. Included in this nomination are portions oi Lot 5 shown in Assessors' 4oo sa, i-1, the aproltnated apoa oe land snouaed in balo nontnation shown in Assessors' Book 4, P.33. is 212,800 square feet. Buildings which stand within the bounds of this district are: 1.
Walker Hall, built 1889 (Fuller & Delano, architects): a two and one-hall storey classroom building of Romanesque Revival design, this building is of brick construction with rock-faced sandstone trim. Major leatures include a wide sandstone entry area, arched windows (1st storey), arched windows with transoms (2d storey), gabled dormers and a slate- covered hip roof. 2. The Megaron, built 1906 (architect unknown): a one-storey brick structure of Romanesque Revival design, the Megaron has a symmetrical facade (south) with evenly spaced arched windows and a gabled entry porch which bears a name plaque. The Megaron was planned as a single large room to provide a social center for the campus. Both the building's name and its intended function consciously imitated the megaron as it existed in classical antiquity. 3.
Adams Hall, built 1892 (architect unknown): Adams Hall is a one and one-half storey brick structure of rectangular plan with a high hip roof. Of late Gothic Revival design, the building's major features include & buttressed entry porch with pointed-arch entry and elaborate tracery in the entry transom, sandstone trim, window labels, and & central dormer with name plaque and carved stone finial. The building's interior contains a dining hall. Adams Hall is in unaltered condition. 4- Dexter Hall, built 1892 (Fuller & Delano, architects): a three and one-half storey brick dormitory with a symnetrical facade (west) con- taining central and end pavilions. The main entry is framed by a sandstone surround of engaged Ionic columns supporting a broken pediment, behind which is a sandstone and iron railing.
Other decorative trim consists of sandstone mouldings, stone panels, a wooden cornice with modillions and fanlights in gables. 8. Bibliography and/or references such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records, early maps, etc. Engineering and Building Record, vol. XIX, March 2, 1809, P.xi (Walker Hall); vol. XXIV, Oct. 31, 1891, p. xii (DexterHall) Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians,vol. XXXII, no.2, May 1973, p.129 (Daniels Gymnasium) Barker & Nourse, Illustrations... (Kingsley Laboratories) Nutt, C. History of Worcester and Its People, vol. II, pp. 730-734 Ward, George otis.
The Worcester Academy: Its Locations and Principals I834-1882 INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Commnity: Worcester Form No: 155-I-1 Property Name: Worcester Academy Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. 5. Kingsley Laboratories, built 1897 (Barker & Nourse, architects): A three-storey brick bullding with a hip roof and central, octagonal cupola, the Kingsley Laboratory Building has a symnetrical facadet arranged about a three and one-half storey central pavilion. Elements of building's design are derived from Romanesque Revival architecture, such as its rock-faced sandstone trim, sandstone entry arch with foliate carving and arched third-storey windows. The building remains in largely original condition.
Buildings numbered 6 to 10 (inclusive) were included in an initial survey of the campus, but have not been included in this nomination. 11. 81 Providence Street, built 1886-1896 (architect unknown): 81 Providence Street is a two and one-half storey frame house of simple Queen Anne style design. Among the building's features are some decorative shingling, eyebrow dormers and & Tuscan entry porch with & low pediment over the entry. Built for Worcester Academy, this building's original use is unclear. 12. 60 Penn Street, built ca.1890 (architect unknown): a two-storey frame house with elements of Queen Anne style architecture, #60 Penn Street was built by an individual and has a history unrelated to Worcester Academy. Although compatible in period with the surrounding campus, this structure does not contribute taithe area's significance.
HISTORICAL SIGNIF ICANCE Worcester Academy was founded in 1834 as the Worcester County Manual Training School by a group of Baptists seeking to establish "an academy that would give the poor boy an opportunity for liberal education." In the year of its founding $5,000 was raised locally to allow the pürchase Hammond and Lagrange Streets) where a chapel and a "Mansion House" were constructed. In 1854 the Academy, plagued by financial difticuities, sold its Main Street campus to Eli Thayer and moved to the former head- quarters of the American Antiquarian Society at the corner of Sunmer and Belmont Streets. In 1869 Isaac Davis, the first president of the Academy, purchased the present Union Hill campus. At the time of its purchase, the present campus contained a large brick building which had been designed by the worcester architectural firm of Boyden and Ball and constructed in 1852.
Between 1852 and 1856 this building served as the Worcester Medical College, between 1856 and 1860 as the Ladies' Collegiate Institute (which was ruined panic of 1857-1858) and between 1864 and 1865 as the Dale General Hospital for the care of wounded Union soldiers. After 1869 the building was re-namea Davis Hall, In honor of Isaac Davis and served as classroom and dormitory space for the school. In the mid-twentieth century Davis Hall was demolished and replaced by modern buildings outside the boundaries of this nomination. Staple to Inventory form at bottom INVONIUKI FUKM CUNIINUATIUN SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Commnity : Worcester Form No: 155-I-1 Property Name: Worcester Academy Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. 7.
The first substantial building on the Union Hill campus to be designed specifically for Worcester Academy was Walker Hall (1889). During the 1890s, Walker Hall was followed by the construction of Adams Hall (1892) 1 and Dexter Hall (1892) on the campus's north side. With the completion of the Kingsley Laboratories (1897) and the Megaron (1906), the school's major period of building came to an end and the campus assumed muchool its present appearance. Currently in good condition, the bulldings of Worcester Academy preserve good examples of late Victorian institutional architecture and have continuous associations with one of the city's oldest schools. Staple to Inventory form at bottom 7. -..
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Lommumity: Worcester Form No: 155-I-1 Property Name: Worcester Academy Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. Property List Property 1.Walker Hall 2. Megaron 3. Adams Hall 5. Dengery Dexter Hall Laboratories 6. Daniels Gymnasium Assessor's Data Portions of Asséssor's Book 4, p. 35 Lot 5 (indicated on map 155) also portions of Assessor's Book 4, p. 33 Lots 44-40 inclusive (irdicated on map 155) Present Owner Trustees, Worcester Academy 81 Providence Street Worcester, Mass. 01604 Staple to Inventory form at bottom Property Warcester Mltple Resome Aua (Parteal Ianenteny) state MA (Warceste Working Number8. 30. 79.2060 TECHNICAL CONTROL Photos 383 +13 Maps 2,63 of Worceote. Enuebec miesl eguner dacngten to ihe entie cel, HIS AAN Cae/Acupt dow.
Cach te Lightne , 4 reasons 10-30-79 matywat thio fime (1.g.3.deckea) Ddene ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN Winn problemo wak som conam n/h Bmiés ummento nn 102-L-3 "6-CBD -", "]-E, and 130-CBD-50 and 14. Intgnty and /o bomdaries meed to' be adlessed ppiathally on endurdual ARCHEOLOGIST II6- CBD - 17 - Destroyed, cunnot be listel. 130- - pema) amecade as corgorao nt tes aledo be - Peuiod s descussed with WINh 3 EXCENTONS AU PROPERTIES APPEAN TO ME D MEET AK CRITGRI AND THE OTHER FORMS ARE ADEQUHTE REO BOTH TECHNLALLY AND TO PETERMINE SIÇNIFICANCER ACLERT ACMOLH SOME OE RHE FORME DID NOT CONTAN SIRONK SIATEMENB IF SIGNIFICANKE THE KSSOURCE CAHTEGONIES WERE TUDROWGHLY DISCUSSED IN DHE BODY OF MHE NONINATIOD; 2/28,88 TUGREFORE SNGNIFICANCE MAS ESTABLISHED. UBDS WERE NOT NELESSARY BELHSE OF THE SCHUE MAPSAND CLEANLY DELNEATES BOUNDANIES .
HURENDE WAS MISSING HAER DIU SACE PROPEATES DUT EIS MOW INCLLDED AFTER THE 2/11/ CORRELZONS. THE ONLY RROPERTIES THEE I DO NOT RECOMMENR LISTING HRE Inventory- - 116-CBD-13 - DESMOYCOBYFRE MO - HOCBD-!! Review 130-CB0-44- POCS. NOT RETSUN INTEGRITY FOR INDI VIDUKLA ELGIBILITY v102-L-3 1 GOT CONVINKED ABOUT BOUNDANLES REVIEW UNIT CHIEF BUT BELENE THEY BOUCD BE OK. W BAGED Recommend ON ADDLTONAL DOCULENTATTON SUBMITTED - / DEFER JUDLEMENT . Listing all propertres sexcep these 3. Return 116-CBD- to Stute (mot etegeble); F o to durcuss futhu stute.
DUBIE Retum 102-L-3 to State fer coredtum; 3/51 BRANCH CHIEF 3/3/8t HOLD 130-CBD -44 for info from stute DURLE Staff confernu 3/5/30 - agrud to action as zotel below: KEEPER saldhe 3/5/80 MAR 51980 CBD-I1) a el 130- CBD-44 (Lildin prut National Register Write-up Send-back Federal Register Entry 2.3.8 Re-submit - SEE 3/3/80 REPORT Entered United States Department of the Interior - Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service C AUG 155-1- hereester Acadene eresto KingsCey Lab Santh leal vo Xeyag Kq JAN 1978 155.I-4UG.1979 Weresfer Acadt Walker Hall ecrreste - West elevation 0 AUG 19 "155 t!y verest Adamo Hall Wereste North& West elevationo 3 0 AUG 1979 155 - J-iden Kingsley dab Detaulhoresto MRA, M4 South elevation 3D AUG 1979 155-I-1 Deter Hall heroster qladeng Wteat elvation Worestr MRA Ma 155-I-1 30 AUG 1979 81 Providence Wette o Acaceng woreosto mRA, MG horth elevation WORCES 3 0 AUG 1908 Wurester mllt n 155 -1-1 eesto Aet Walker Hall Detael -west elecalton 3 0 AUG 1979 155.I -1 o Acadlery The Meqaron Sauth elevation 3.0 AUG 1979 155-T-1 hurasa Waloen Hall Setaul.
Sonth electto adeny Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000304 Warchester Multiple Resowce Area 9-11-29 ONOR 155-I-1 WORCESTER ACADEMY 81 Providence Street / Worcester, Massachusetts 01604 / Telephone (617) 754-5302 October 17, 1979 Mr. Charles A. Herrington Acting Keeper of the National Register Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service Department of the Interior Pension Bldg., 440 G Street, N. W. Washington, D. C. 20243 Re: Worcester Multiple Resource Area Dear Mr. Herrington: In response to your letter of September 27, 1979 to the Trustees of Worcester Academy, Iam pleased to advise you of the Trustees' pleasure to hear that our properties have been nominated for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.
It is the plan of the Trustees to maintain all of the buildings in question with relatively little change. Most of those will be attributed to the need to guarantee safety of our students and personnel. We are always proud to have visitors who enjoy architecture on our campus, and we would hope that through the designation by the National Register that still more people would enjoy our grounds. So that we might cooperate in whatever way possible, I would ask that you direct your mailings personally to me so that I might expedite matters. Sincerely, johnaBloom John A. Bloom Headmaster JAB:ers DATE ACT INITIALS 2 10/28 IC PLACES OCT 1 9 1919 RESPONSE (ATTACHED) TERIAL SENT (ATTACHED) STODE PPt.ocpuIe ou SS00 2OT9T SSH 2r0c