BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
FORM B - BUILDING ref no 80000596 - MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, State House, Boston - - - - - - - In Area no. Form no. 117-E 1. Town Worcester Address 40 Laurel Street Name Borden-Pond House Present use residential apartments 2. Photo (3x3" or 3x5") Staple to left side of form Photo number Present owner Martin M. Surabian 3. Description: Date Source Roll 21, - - Style 1856-1859 city atlases Second Empire (altered) 4. Map. Draw sketch of building location in relation to nearest cross streets and other buildings. Indicate north.
Architect unknown Exterior wall fabric granite former stone stabl Outbuildings (describe) converted to house Other features cursed daube onert stairs with cast-iron balustrade railing, grahite quoining, cornice with heavy modillions roof squared, Altered porches Date enclosed early 20th century Moved no Date Assessors' Book 1, p.29 UTM: 5. Lot size: Lot 35 14,175 sq.ft. 192696604683200 One acre or less * Over one acre Approximate frontage 110' Approximate distance of building from street 251 W. * M. Seaman 6. Recorded by_ ed. B.R. Pfeiffer Organization Worc. Heritage Pres. Soc. Date January 1978 (over) 30M-5-77 Lucius W. Pond (first known 1868) 7. Original owner (if known) residence Original use same Subsequent uses (if any) and dates 8.
Themes (check as many as applicable) Aboriginal Agricultural Architectural The Arts Commerce Communication Community development X Conservation Education Exploration/ settlement Industry Military Political Recreation - Religion Science/ invention Social/ humanitarian Transportation 9. Historical significance (include explanation of themes checked above) Built between 1856 and 1859 and (perhaps) completed in the early 1860s, the Borden-Pond House is an early, important example of Second Empire style architecture, one which retains architectural significance despite alteration. The front (original) section of the house is con- structed of granite rubble with dressed quoins and window trim. The house rises from a high basement two stories to a modillioned cornice, above which the original concavely curved mansard has been squared out to create a full third storey.
The house's facade (south) is approached by two symmetrical, curved granite stairways which retain extremenly fine cast-iron railings. At the facade's center is a two-storey pavilion Leantto in front of which is an entry porch with arched openings (now glazed). Flanking this pavilion are two porches, now enclosed by modern siding which covers original trim. Located on the west slope of Chandler Hill, the Borden-Pond House is among Worcester's few remaining stone "villas" of the 1850s and 1860s, although & large number of them (both in Italian- ate and Second Empire styles) once stood on the hills which surround the city's center. The high quality of the house's construction, re- maining details and historical associations warrant its restoration. The Borden-Pond House was built for (and perhaps by) John Borden, who is listed .
variously in city directories as a mason, stucco worker and as a mastic and stucco worker. Borden only occupied the house until 1860-1861. Local tradition suggests that in building #40 Laurel Street Borden intended to outdo the opulence of the nearby Merrifield House (now demolished). Further, it is believed that Borden could not afford (cont.) 10. Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records, early maps, etc.) Carruth, L.. Scrapbocks of Worcester Houses. Worcester Public Library City atlases and directories -Worcester Ilistorical Society- Biographical file (Pond obituary) INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Commnity : Worcester Form No: 117-H Property Name: Borden-Pond House Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below.
complete the house and that it was sold, unfinished, to Lucius Pond in 186l. According to local directories, Lucius Pond (1826-1500) lived in the Sorden-Pond House from 1868 until 1875 when he was sent to prison. Pond was a native of Hubbardston, Massachusetts who came_to Worcester in 1846. Having "learned the machinist's trade of Samuel /lagg" entered into partnership with Plags between 1847 and 1849. In 1859 Pond became sole owner of the business, which was moved in 1859 to the Merritiela bullding wnere fona manulactured engine-latnes, planing machines and other heavy equipment. During this period Pond became an important local machine manufacturer, owning some of the most advanced equipment of the time such as a 37 long screw-cutting lathe and the city's largest (37' long) planing machine.
At the outbreak of the Civil War Pond invented the "Ellsworth Gun" (a cannon capable of shooting an 1Sôz, ball three miles) which he manufactured for the Union Army. In 1853-1859 Pond was a member of the common council, in 1862 an alderman and in 1866-1866 a state senator. He was an early member of the Laurel Street Methodist Church and became known for his financial generosity. Pond was a director of the Central National Bank Irom 1866 to 1875 when rumors of the insolvency of his business led to his de- parture from Worcester on a nominal business trip. Travelling to Mew York by steamship, Pond left the ship in disguise, leaving belongings in his cabin in such a way as to suggest suicide by having jumped over- board. After a lengthy search Pond was arrested in San prancisco as he was about to board aiboat to Australia.
Having been brought back to Worcester, Pond was convicted of forging dates on bank notes and sen- tenced to a fifteen-year prison term. Despite the widespread losses caused by Pond's fraud, petitions on behalf of his pazole were circulated until he wea released from prison in 1832. Upon his return from prison, a number of Pond's friends purchased and DeMaonCman semtdet re-naming it the Low. Pond Machine Company, Although he never recovered his earlier business prominence, Lucius Pond regained much of his earlier popularity and at his death in 1888 was the subject of laudatory obituaries. Staple to Inventory form at bottom Poperty Warceoter Miltple Resonce Auea (Pastial Laventery) State MA (Warcester Working Number8.
30.79.2060 TECHNICAL CONTROL Photos 383 +13 Maps 2,63 xuclent multyll resource nomenation for the entie cely HISTORIAN 4 sratemeat s all/Accpt Lightne 10.30-79 pastfed Dthese at this time (1.g.3.deckera) OdwneARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN pposetion is high properties are s it wawa pacheles wah som comam wiph Bmiés umment 102-4-3, "G-CBD-", "7-E, and 130-CBD-50 and 44. Integnty and or bondaries need to be addlessedl speciticully on induidual DUBIE ARCHEOLOGIST 50 -CB - 14 - , coot descussed with Eynfcance and cadegortabtgnity, see WINt 3 EXCENTONS AU PROPENTIES APPEAK TO ME TO MOET AE CRITERIN AND THE FORMS ARE ADEQUATE REO BOTH TECHNILALLT AND TO DETERMINE SICNIFICANCE. ALMOLAI SOME EE TE FORMS DID NOT CONTAIN STRONE STATEMENS IF SIGNIFICANKE THE KESOURCE CHEGONIES WERE THOROUGHLY DISCUSSED IN THE BODY OF MHE NOMINATION; THEREFORE SIGNIFICANKE LAS ESTABLiSHED.
UBDS WERE NOT NELESSARY BELHSE of THE SCHE MAPSANP CLENRLY DELNEATES BOUNDARIES. ALRENDE WAS ALISSING THE ONLY PROPERTES THAT I DO NOT RECOMMENA LASTING ARE - 1/6-CBD-/3 - DESTOYCO BY FIRE no- 16CBD-11 OTHER ACLEDT 2/2888 HAER Inventory- Review 130-CB0-44- POES. NOT RETMN INTEGRITY FOR INDI VIDUKA ELGIBILITY v102-L-3 I DORISST PEET CONVINLER ABOUT BOUNDANES REVIEW UNIT CHIEF BUT BELLEVE THEY BOUCD BE OK. I MASEN ONN ADOLZONA DOCUMLENTATON SUBMITTED - / DEFER JUDLEMENT. Recommanl Listine all propertres nexcept these 3. Return 116-CBD-H to Stute not elegible); fetum 102-L-3 to State fer curedum; o to derauss futa INR +stute.
DUBIE g BRANCH CHIEF 3/3/81 HOLD 130-CBD -44 for info from stute DUBLE Staff confernu 3/5/80 -agued to action as suted belorui diceet woh ste, k-3 (ukusy7 16-CBD-11 (officcal notfrati of also (on5) 2./ 130- CBO-44 |Lili, fit SCE 383,80 RERMT National Register Write-up Send-back Entered Federal Register Entry 2.3.81 Re-submit KEEPER soldha 3/5/80 MAR 5 1980 United States Department of the Interior - Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service Burd Berden-Pend eve Woiceste MRAMa 17- AUG 1979 40 Laurel St South &east eluations Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000304