BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
- FORM B - BUILDING nel no 80000628 MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, State House, Boston - - - - - 1. Town i Address Name In Area no. Form no. 141-J Worcester 838 Main Street Lucius Knowles House Present use funeral service 2. Photo (3x3" or 3x5"') Staple to left side of form Photo number_ Ro11.2 - 4. Map. Draw sketch of building location in relation to nearest cross streets and other buildings. Indicate north. Present owner W.H.Graham Corp. 838 Main Street 3. Description: Date 1870, addition 1880 Source atlases, building notices - Style Victorian Second Empire 1070 - unknowr Architect 1000 - Stephen Earl Exterior wall fabric aluminum siding Outbuildings (describe) garage Other features_slightly projecting entr: pavilion, original front & side porches, slate mansard roof, brack- ets with carved swags Altered siding Date 1970s Moved no - Date UTM 5.
Lot sizdssessor's Book 6, p.25 19/267820/4681710 Lot 2, 22,432 sq.ft. One acre or less 'X Over one acre Approximate frontage Approximate distance of building from street 112' 25° C Charalambides & E.Kunholn 6. Recorded by ed. B.R.Pfeiffer OrganizationWorc. Heritage Fres. Sec. Date November 1977 (over) 30M-5-77 7. Original owner (if known) Original use Lucius J. Knowles residence funeral service (mid 20th century) Subsequent uses (if any) and dates 8. Themes(checkas many as applicable) Aboriginal Agricultural Architectural The Arts Commerce Communication Community development Conservation Education Exploration/ settlement Industry Military Political Recreation Religion Science/ invention Social/ Transportatian 9.
Historical significance (include explanation of themes checked above) The main body of the Lucius Knowles House was built in 1870 and remains among the city's best examples of Second Empire architec- ture, despite the application of aluminum siding. The facade is sym- metrical, containing a slightly projecting pavilion at its center. At the first storey this pavilion contains two pairs of ornate wooder aoors and an original entry porch. On the house's south elevation is a second original entry porch. (now glazed) above which a semi-circle oriel has been added (ca 1900). Other details of the building's or- iginal design are its concavely curved mansard roof covered with fish-scale slates and paired cornice brackets which have carved swags at their bases.
A unique detail of the Knowles House is its music room which was designed by Stephen Earle of Worcester and added to the house's northeast corner. (This bay was reputedly designed to provide space for a harp played by Knowle's daughter). Both the main body of the music room and its corner bay were originally lit by stained-glass skylights, set in coved celling, now covered on the exterior, but intact and visible on the interior. The room's interior is decora- ted with wooden 'panelling, varying bands oi arabesques (in plaster or lincrusta) and stained ians and artists. Unaltered and retaining most of its original colors, the Knowles House music room is one of the most important Victorian interiors in Worcester, one which represents the most advanced taste of its period. Other rooms in the house contain a variety of Second Empire and Colonial Revival style fittings. 10.
Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records, early maps, etc.) American Architect & Building News,Vol. VIII, 8/28/1880, p.108. (addition notice) Plumber & Sanitary Engineer, Vol IV, September 1880, p.398. (addition notice) Nutt, Charles. Hist.of Worcester,Vol. III, p.53. Washburn, C., Industrial Worcester, pp. 89-93. INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Commnity : Worcester Form No: 141-J Property Name: Lucius J. Knowles Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. 9. Historical significance Lucius Knowles (1819-1884) was a native of Hardwick, Massachu- e9 Firt 3opalin 45 0226, In 1843, Knowles added electro-gilding and sliver plating to his bus- ana the anufacturo iness.
Subsequent business ventures of Knowles included the spooling of thread (1844), the manufacture of cotton warp at Spencer (1847) and the manufacture of satinets at Warren (1855-1858)- In 1856, Knowles nade the first of many improvements in the design of looms for making "fancy goods". By 1862, Knowles and his brother, Frank B., were manu- facturing looms for hoop-skirt tapes. In 1863, the brothers took pa- tents on their designs and, in 1866, the firm moved to Worcester. Once in Worcester, the company's business grew rapidly, based on new inventions of the Knowles brothers,incluaing improve or plaids (1868). Known for their use of the oven shed orinciole th Knowle's took out a patent in 1873 for a broadloom for fancy woolens. In 1876, the brothers added a forty-harness loom which was exhibited at the Centennial Exposition.
By 1879, the firm's increasing business led to the rental of large portions of the Junction Shop (form 142-B) which was occupied by the Knowles Loom Works until 1890 when the present Grand Street Factories were built. In 1897, the Knowles Loom Company was merged with the Crompton Loom Company to form the Cromp- ton and Knowles Loom Works, which remains one of Worcester's major industries. Staple to Inventory form at bottom Poperty Warceoter Multiple Resourae Area (Pastial Danentary) State MA (Warcester Working Number8. 30.79.2060 TECHNICAL CONTROL Photos 383 +13 Maps 2,63 sullent multyll resource nomenation for the extire cily HISTORIAN 1Worceote. Both the general descrption o statement if Cal/Accpt draye nocdaed het aue Lightne appocition is hyited an actached shets. coam a/h Bmiés ummenti i02-4-3, NC-CBD-", "7-E, and 130-CBD-50 and 44.
Integnty and /or bondaries reed to be adcessed spectcully on induidual DUBIE ARCHEOLOGIST H6- CBD- 17 - See attache - Peuiod 5 descusted with WIT 3 EXCERTONS AU PROPERTIES APPEAK TO ME TO MEET AK CRITERIA AND THE FORMS ARE ADEQUATE RED BOTH TECHNLALLY AND TO RETERMINE SIÇNIFICANCE, ACMOLELI SORLE OE TE FORME DID NOI CONTAN SIRONE SIATEMENS IF SIGNIFICANCE THÉ KESOURCE CAFEGONIES WERE TADROUGHLY DISCUSSED IN THE BODY OF THE NDRINAION; TUEREFORE SNGNIFICANCE MAS ESTABLiSHED. VBDS WERE NOT NELESSARY BELNSE gF MYE SCALE MAPSAND CUEANLY DELNEATES BOUNDANIES. AURENDE WES PLISINA OTHER 2/2888 HAER DIU SAMLE PROPEATIES BUT EIS MOW INELLDEN AFTER THE 2/1/ CORRELIIONS.
THE ONLY PROPERTIES THST I DO NOT RECOMMEND LISTING ARE v 116-CBD-/3 - DESNOYCO BY FIRE Mo - 16CBD-!1 Inventory - Review 130-CB0-44- DDES NOT RETAIN INTEGRITY FOR INDI VDUKBELGIBILITY v102-L-3 / PESSPAL ST CONVINLED ABOUT BOUNDMES REVIEW UNIT CHIEF BUT BELLEÜE THEY BOUCD BE OK. - BASED Recommand ON ADDITONAL DOCUMENTATON SUBMITTED - / DEFER JUDGEMENT. Listine proparties nexcept these 3. Return 116-CBD-1$ to Stute (mot etegible); H2uita ) -3 to state fir cumetum; as to descuss futha +stute.
DUBI , BRANCH CHIEF 3/3/81 HOLD 130-CBD -44 for info from stute DUBKE Staff conferenu 3/5/30-aguud to action as sutel belorui dcept w sxep, ok 3(rkun 16-CBD-11 (officcal notfrntin o (o-s) aL 130- CBO-44 |Liliy tt SCE 33,80 REROLT National Register Write-up Send-back Entered Federal Register Entry 2.3.8) Re-submit KEEPER Soldha 315/80 MAR 5 1980 United States Department of the Interior - Heritaqe Conservation and Recreation Service by Berk JUN 1979. Knawles, Lueios, Heise 0 AUG 1979 141- J wircesto MRA Ma 838 main St. South + east elivatione by B JUN 1979 GR Tuneral Home by Berl JUN 11 KnuW19s, Locins, MaRo O AUG. 19 141- bcreesto NTA Ma 1979 838 main St. East y north elevations by Berkey estige Print JUN 1979 Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000304