BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
rel no 50000563 - FORM B - BUILDING MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office oi the Secretary, State House, Boston - - - - - In Area no. Form no. 116-B - .i: 1 1. Town Worcester Address 31 Harvard Street Name Present use Salem Copeland House institutional offices 2. Photo (3x3" or 3x5") Staple to left side of form Photo number Family Service Organi- Present owner _zation of Worcester, Inc 3. Description: :-3513 - 4. Map. Draw sketch of building location in relation to nearest cross streets and other buildings. Indicate north.
:) : 3933009 :o.L 20/e Date ca.1847 Source_deeds, city directories Roll 29 Style Architect Greek Revival see reverse side #9 Exterior wall fabric clapboard Outbuildings (describe):brick stable Öther features pedimented facade, papyrus & acanthus capitals, 9crol1 work decoration around gable window anthemia (stylized honeysuckle Ilower desif to south additions Altered wall sash Date 1960s? Moved no Date UTM: 5. Lot size: Assessors' Bk. 2, Pg- 30 19/268840/4683280 Lot 14 & 16 19,513 sq. It. One acre or less * Over one acre Approximate frontage 150' Approximate distance of building from street 20% R. Moore 6. Recorded by_ ed. B.P. Pfeiffer Organization Worc. Ieritage Pres. Soc Date December 1977 (over) Original owner (if known) Original use Salem Copeland residence Subsequent uses (if any) and dates 8.
Themes (checkasmany asapplicable) Aboriginal Agricultural Architectural The Arts Commerce Communication Community development institutional (present) Conservation Education Exploration/ settlement Industry Military Political Recreation Religion Science/1 invention Social/ humanitarian Transportation 9. Historical significance (include explanation of themes checked above) : Built on a lot which Salem Copeland bought from Harrison Bliss in 1846 tor $00.00, the Copeland House is one oi two ornate, templa-iront housesi extant in Worcester. (Ihe other is the Arad Alexander House - see Form #143-J). Iwo stories high, of frame construction, the Copeland House has a pedimented facade with a portico supported by four fluted columns which rise to papyrus and acanthus capitals. The facade is faced with matched both of which contain elaborate foliate decoration. on consoles.
Alterations to the building are minor, consisting of the re- placement of original sash with smaller-pane wood sash and the construction of an addition at the building's southwest corner; nonetheless, the Copeland House remains essentially intact. Salem Copeland (1815-1891) was a native of Thompson, Connecticut who cametto Worcester around 1838 and, soon after, became foreman at the Providence Scre» Company. When the Providence Company moved to Rhode Island, Copeland became a tool maker at the Washburn Wire Mill on Grove Street; between 1846 and 1850 Copeland worked at the Court Mills for the tool manufacturing firm of Thompson, Skinner & Co.
Around 1865 Copeland eventually forming the Copeland began manufacturing hardware on his owithe claims of Copeland's obituary Hardware Manufacturing Company- Among is that he "made the first iron planing machine ever used." At the same cime that copeland was employed by Thompson, skinner & Co-, Iocal direc- tories list him as a builder. In 1063 Copelana sold #31 Harvard street to David Scott, a druggist, who lived here until 1069 when he built a Second Empire style house (now demolished) on the southern halt oi 10. Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records, early maps, etc.) Copeland's original lot. In 1870 the house was sold to Horace Sheldon, a merchant, who sold it to Edward Brown, county treasurer, in 1883.
Worcester County Registry of Deeds Proceedings, Worcester Society of Antiquity (1896) "Iwenty Years On Harvard Street" Albert Waite Papers, Box 6 property Warceoter Multple Resouce Ara (Pastial Daventary) state MA (Warcester Working Number 8. 30.79.2060 TECHNICAL CONTROL Photos 383 .+13 Maps 2,63 xuelent multyle resource nomenation for the extie cely HISTORIAN of Worceofer. Both the general descrytion * shaterest o Call/Acapt Lightne apyeocition io ligtt Muna tached shut. coan n/h Bmiés ummento 102-4-3, NG-CBD-", "7-E, and 130-CBD-50 and 44.
Integnty and for bondaries need to be addressed speahally on indurdual BUBIE ARCHEOLOGIST ; See attaches be - Peniod 5 descussed with WINH 3 EXCERTIONS AU PROPERTIES APPEAN TO ME D MET AK CRITERI AND ME FORUS ARE ADEQUATE RSO BOTH TECHNILALLY AND TO PETERMINE SISNIFCANCE, ALMOLA SOME OF THE FORME DID NOT CONTAIN STRONK STATEMENS IF SIGNIFICANCE THE KESOURCE CHTEGONIES WERE THBROUGHLY DISCUSSED IN BIE BODY OF MHE NDRINATION; THENEFORE SNGNIFICANCE MAS ESTABLSHED. VBDS WERE NOT NELESSARY BELNSE Of MYE SCHE MAPSAND CLEANLY DELNEATES BOUNDANCS. HLRENDE WHS MISINY OTHER ACLEDT 2/2388 HAER DAU SANCE PROPENTTES BUT EIIS MOW INCLIDED AFTER THE 2/11/ CORREIRONS. THE ONLY PROPERTIES TKAT I DO NOT RECOMMEND LASTING ARE - 116-CBD-13 - DESROYCO DY FIRE no- I6CBD-!! Inventory - Review 130-CB0-44- DOES.
NOT RETAN INTELRITY FOR INDI VIDUKBELGIBILITY v101-L-3 / PORSISA PRL WEST CONVINLED ABOUT BOUNDNES REVIEW UNIT CHIEF BUT BELIEVE MEY SOUCD BE DK. - BASEN Recommand ON ADDITTONAL DOCUMLENTATON SUBMUTTED - / DEFER JUDLEMENT. Listne all propentres sexcept these 3. Return 116-CBD-11 to Stute (mot eligeble); to descuss funtha w/NR staff ute. DUBIE Petum 102- L-3 to State fer caredem 3151 g BRANCH CHIEF 3/3/81 HOLD 130- CBD -44 for info from stute DUBLE Staff conferne 3/5/80-agued to actioi as pustid below: ficcept with exeeyatin oh. !
116-CBD-11 (officcal notficati on BD-I) eel 130- CBO-44 /LEc itritfse stikeo National Register Write-up Federal Register Entry Send-back Entered 2.3.81 Re-submit KEEPER Soldhe 3/5/80 MAR 5 1980 United States Department of the Interior - Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service Prestige Prints Xesuag kq 80 AUG 1979 copelard, Sanuel, Heuse 116-B Waresto MRA, Ma 31 Narvard St east r nurth elevatians Prestige Prints . Aesueg ka JAN 1978 Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000304 Worchester Muttiple. 116-B Resource Area Family eService Organization of Woreester? Ine. COUNSELING ON FAMILY AND PERSONAL PROBLEMS RUSSELL A THOMPSON, PRESIDENT MRS. EDWIN R. FOLEY, SECRETARY JOHN L. VIRGILIO, TREASURER VALTER A.
OLSON, ACSW, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOI OSEPH SAMARA, ACSW, ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOF 31 HARVARD STREET, WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS 01608 AREA CODE 617 756-4646 Ma October 9, 1979 Charles A. Herrington Acting Keeper of the National Register Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service Department of Interior, Pension Building 440 G. Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20243 Re: 663 Attention NOM Dear Mr. Herrington, Persuant to the nomination of Family Service Organization of Worcester, Inc., 31 Harvard Street, Worcester, Mass., 01608,- Samuel Copeland House, for listing in National Register of Historic Places, please find enclosed a resume of the House as well as a photograph taken October 5, 1979. We feel that this data may assist in applying your eligibility guidelines for listing. Thank you for your cooperation. Sincerely, JactaAlllas Walter A. Olson, ACSW Executive Director Encl.
WAO:cg MEMBER OF UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS AND FAMILY SERVICE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY / AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER ACCREDITED OCT 1 1 1979 10/23 Resume of the Houseat 31 Harvard Street In the early 1800's the land on which we are now located was the high point of farmland noted for its view of Mt. Wachusett and acres of meadows and pastures. In 1845, Dr. John Green, who had an estate on Main Street, decided the time had come to extend the lines of the town westward, laying out a street parallel to Main, on the crest of the hill thus cutting into pastureland and woods where long had been the Doctor's gardens. As Dr. Green had received his degree in medicine from Harvard, he gave that name to the new thoroughfare just opened through his ancestral acres. In 1859, Dr. Green founded the Worcester Free Public Library.
The immediate continuance of the street to the north was due to the enterprise of citizens who had purchased the old Dix property and proceeded to lay out a new street there. In 1854, Harvard and Dix Streets were pronounced public, at which time began the laying of gas, water and sewer pipes. Then, the development of the wide sidewalks lined with maple and chestnut trees which resulted in Harvard Street being considered one of the most beautiful streets in Worcester. From this beginning, the location attracted the professional and business people who built substantial houses, many of them designed by Eldridge Boyden whose own house was built on a lot he had bought from Dr. Green soon after building the Green Mansion. Mr. Boyden was the architect of Mechanics Hall which was dedicated in 1857. As we are now at No.
31 Harvard Street, it may be interesting to concentrate on its past ownership. The house with the Greek Revival columns was built by Mr. Samuel Copeland who was noted for his love of flowers and his conservatory on the side of the house. He sold the house to Mr. David Scott who in turn sold it to Mir. Horace Sheldon, the owner of a dry goods store in the Mechanics Building. Before his death in 1886, he had sold his house to Mr. Edward A. Brown, the much respected Treasurer of Worcester County. Mr. Brown with his wife and three daughters enjoyed this home for many years; the oldest daughter, Anna, being married from here before Mrs. Brown died. The other two daughters continued to live here and care for their father. After Mr.
Brown's death, they found the care of the conservatory and grounds which extended to Lancaster Street an increasing burden, their father having done much of the maintenance himself. An account of these activities recalled by a neighbor that "the lot (#31) is a long one and while this affords an opportunity for Mr. Brown's horticultural tastes in the summer - when the winds sweep down with snowy wings, the city ordinances demand that sidewalks -2- be kept free from icy winter's accompaniments. At such times, after doing duty on Harvard Street, Treasurer Brown marches around (the Bates property on Dix Street) to Lancaster Street and illustrates the biblical state- ment that 'in the sweat of his face shall man eat bread'". Living across the street from the sisters was a young man who was working as an apprentice for Mr. Darius A. Putnam, the family undertaker, friend and neighbor.
Seeing the sisters' need for a "man in the house", Mr. Putnam confidentially suggested, as dependable and honest, his young helper. On Christmas Eve in 1916, George Longstreet was warmly welcomed into his new home. He continued to work and study in his chosen field, and three years later leased property at 7 Highland Street ready to start business in his own quarters. But this proved disastrous in more ways than one, what with water damage, heating bills for coal and various other woes. With encouragement from the Misses Sally and May Brown and his own continuing enthusiasm and determination to achieve his goal, a new sign appeared on their front lawn: George H. Longstreet, Undertaker 31 Harvard Street A gradual remodelling took place, with an apartment for the family living quarters upstairs while downstairs the front and back parlors became the new funeral parlors.
When the Bates property at 29 Harvard Street became available in 1936, George purchased it, demolished the house and landscaped the lot as a littie park, complete with an acquired Victorian fountain surrounded by pink roses. This made a suitable setting for the already impressive adjoining property and was much admired and photographed by passersby in all seasons. The red brick building was the former carriage house and living quarters for David , the Bates' Black coachman. This building was put to use for the Longstreet motor equipment but the park was later sacrificed to asphalt for parking. Some years before, in 1954, Harvard Street had been widened to become a busy one-way thoroughfare. The gorgeous trees were cut down and the side- walks narrowed. By this time, many of the family homes were torn down or put to oher uses.
During George Longstreet's more than fifty years on Harvard Street, he witnessed all the changes but was determined to keep the main house with the stately pillars intact. -3- There are those of us who are grateful, not only for the survival of the house but also for the use to which it is put as a continuing community service, the Family Service Organization. Marguerite J. Longstreet August, 1974 * Historical references are taken from a published pamphlet "Twenty Years of Harvard Street" given as an address in 1896 to the Worcester Historical Society by the Hon. A. S. Roe, a resident of the street. More recent references are from newspapers and also personal reminiscences. M.J.L. Family ServicE. OREAURATIaN of Woreestos, MAss SIHARVARD stheat (0c(9779)