Nomination for Waitt Brick Block

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

FHR-8-300 (11-78) United States Department of the Interior Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form See instructions in How to Complete National Register Forms Type all entries - complete applicable sections 1. Name For HCRS use only received OCT 14 1982 date entered historic Waitt Brick Block and/or common 2. Location Wait Block street & number 422-424 Main Street NA not for publication city, town Malden NA vicinity of congnes nelerstriot Soventh state Massachusetts 3. Classification Category Ownership district public - building(s) private structure both site Public Acquisition object N/A in process .

being considered code 025 county Middlesex code 017 Status X occupied - unoccupied work in progress Accessible X - yes: restricted yes: unrestricted no Present Use agriculture X commercial educational entertainment government industrial military museum park -_ private residence religious _ scientific transportation other: 4. Owner of Property SE01 C13623028280 name Benjamin Soep, Trustee street & number 422. Main Street Trust; 263 Commercial Street Malden city, town N/A vicinity of 5. Location of Legal Description Massachusetts state courthouse, registry of deeds, etc. Middlesex County Registry of Deeds street & number 40 Thorndike Street city, town Cambridge state Massachusetts 6. Representation in Existing Surveys Inventory of the Historic Assets title of the Commonwealth #501 has this property been determined elegible?

*_ yes X no date 1977 - federal - state - county X local depository for survey records Massachusetts Historical Conmission city, town _Boston state Massachusetts 02108 7. Description Waitt Brick Block, 422-424 Main St., Malden Condition excellent X good _fair deteriorated ruins unexposed Check one unaltered X altered Check one X original site _ moved date Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance

Description of the property

The Waitt Block stands on the west side of Main Street, Just north of Pleasant Street, in the densely bullt up commercial center of Malden. Ihis mid-nineteenth century bullding currently occupies a 4600 square foot lot and shares party walls with later adjoining structures. Originally it was freestanding and occupied the entire 16000 square foot lot formed by the intersection of Main and Pleasant Streets. Despite the later construction, its curved facade still reflects the early street pattern. Built c. 1848, the Waitt Block rises three storys from a foundation of granite rubble stotte and cut granite (now below grade) to a combination gable and hip roof covered in slate. The main body of the block is executed in red pressed brick laid in a common bond with narrow raked joints. Greek Revival in style, the building is simple in form and spare in ornamentation.

The symmetrically aligned rectangular shaped windows have sharply cut openings with granite lintels and sills. The upper level of the building is accented by a raised brick beltcourse which runs above the third floor windows. Further delineation is made by a brick cornice consisting of two courses, one which is a band of plain dentils, and the other which is of a sawtooth pattern. The most significant alteration to the block resulted from a realignment of Pleasant Street in 1894 and the construction of a new building which obstructed four of the bays of the earlier structure. Additional alterations on the street level facade have resulted from the needs of a succession of commercial tenants, as well as from reconstruction after fires in 1891 and 1940. Originally the storefronts consisted of monolithic granite piers and Iintels with 13 bays which were congruent to the upper tenestration.

In 1895, decorative cast iron and plate glass replaced the granite piers and bays. Recent storefront commercial signs, along with white enameled brick and mosaic panels, have in turn replaced the underlying cast iron work. Alterations have also been made to the roof and upper windows. Changes in the roof can be seen on the rear slope where several skylights have been added as well as asphalt shingles in place of slate tiles. The windows which originally had 6/6 lights have been replaced with 2/2 lights on the third floor and 1/1 on the second floor. Portions of the original windows remain only on the third elevations at the gable ends. Over the years changes on the chimneys have also occurred. Originally six tall brick stacks were paired on the ends and in the center of the building.

The front one on the southern wing is now absent; its counterpart on the rear, with a molded cap, is the only original one. The remaining four chimneys, while still of original height, are slightly modified and have tapered caps.

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Significance Period - prehistoric 1400-1499 1500-1599 1600-1699 1700-1799 X 1800-1899 X 1900- Areas of Significance - Check and justify below - - _ archeology-prehistoric _ community planning - archeology-historic _ conservation agriculture economics architecture education art engineering commerce exploration/settlement communications industry invention .landscape architecture _ law . literature military music -philosophy - politics/government _ religion - science - sculpture social/ humanitarian theater transportation other(specify) Specific dates circa 1848 Builder

Statement of significance

/Architect unknown Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) The Waitt Brick Block possesses integrity of location, design, setting, materials, and workmanship, as well as strong associationswith the economic development of Malden Square during the mid 19th century. Constructed c. 1848, it is also the only surviving structure from the period and represents a fine example of the commercial Greek Revival style. This building therefore meets criteria A and C of the National Register of Historic Places. Thomas Wait, Jr. (1803-1859), a state representative, town clerk, and deacon in the local baptist society, Iinanced the bullding ot the commercial block that bears his name. Wait purchased the property in 1840 for $1,100 and sold it, with a new brick edifice, in 1851 for $3,100.

At that time, the building was sold as three separate vertical units, known as the "North Store," the "Middle Store," and the "Old Store." From 1868 through the 1940's, a grocery store operated in the North Store, often called the Hills Block after the pro- prietors. The Middle Store originally housed an oyster and drinking saloon, and was later used by H.P. Hood and Sons as a distribution center for their company. A later occupant was the printing firm, Senate Brothers. The Old Store for many years operated as an outlet for rubber products, such as boots, shoes and rubbers, which were manufactured in the town. This was followed by an apothocary shop. The upper floors have been used for offices and apartment dwellings.

The most prominent enterprise which had their businesses located here in the late 19th century were two local newspapers, the Malden Mirror (1871-1914) and the Chelsea Record and Temperance Advocate (1847-1906), both of which had their offices, composition rooms, and printing presses on the second and third floors from 1873-1891. Other businesses which used office space in the building were a candy company, insurance agents, barbers, and dressmakers. Through the passage of its many occupants, the Waitt Brick Block has acquired the imprint of prominent families (e.g., Sprague, Upham, Wait, Hill, Converse, Abbott) wlth which Malden is intimately associated. The building stands now as the sole link in downtown Malden with these locally important figures and the commercial origin of the city.

The rest of the file

Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.

Major Bibliographical References Architectural Survey and Inventory, Malden, MA. Bastille-Nelley Architects, 1977. Corey, Deloraine P. Waite Family of Malden. Cambridge: University Press, 1913. Malden Messenger, March 26, 1859. Malden Messenger, February 22, 1868. 10. Geographical Data Acreage of nominated property app. one-third acre (4,600 sq. feet) thisinnet Yeacre -|acre =43,560 Quadrangle name Boston North, Mass.

Quadrangle scale 1:25,000 6|29/83 UMT References A19/ 3|29|8,80 Zone Easting L4/6 98 990 Northing CL1 Zond Eaeig homing LiL LILL LLILL E D F H Verbal boundary description and justification From the west, running along a service alley that runs parallel to Dartmouth Street, and on the north, abutting a one-story commercial building executed in cast stone, and on the east, along the public sidewalk lining Main Street, and to the south, abutting directly behind a yellow brick 3-story commercial building. List all states and counties for properties overlapping state or county boundaries state NA code county code state code- county 11.

Form Prepared By name/title kathace kubie, Progran Registration Director Kathryn Kubie, Assistant organization Massachusetts Historical Commission code street & number 294 Washington Street Society with Jeffrey Cronin, Malden Historical date April 10, 1980 telephone (617) 727-8470 city or town Boston Massachusetts 02108 state 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 to the criteria and procedures set forth by the Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service.

State Historic Preservation Officer signature Valerie Talmage title Executive Director, Massachusetts Historical Commission date 9/28/82 For HCRS use only I hereby certify that this property is included in the National Register llmu Sntered in the Ukeeper of the National Hegister National Register date /112/82 Attest: Chief of Registration date GPO 938 8.35 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES Untted States De - of sho lataria Mational Park Service EYALUATION / RETURN SHEI Waitt Brick Block Middlesex County MASSA CHUSETTS resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive | Roview: Roviower's comments: Working No. 20/14/82-2847 Fod. Reg. Date: 2 Dato Due: 1/92 11/28/82 Action: ACCEPT_11/12/32 Entered in the - RETURN National Register - REJECT_ Foderal Agoncy:_ - sample - request _ appeal - NR decision Recom. / Criteria - Reviower - Discipline.

Date - technical corrections cited below substantive reasons discussed below continuation sheet -Nomination returned for: 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification umerehu dlle ho 4. Owner of Property vocon Ueo 5. Location of Legal Description 6. Representation in Existing Surveys Is thle preparty boon eetarained olrgtete? - pe - 7. Description hoad ene unentered ood teie eterlorsted ruine scartoo lho procont and crtelnal (il taorral ptayeteal summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates boundary selection -hock ene - moved 8. Significanco Perled Aress of summary paragraph completeness clarity applicable criteria justification of areas checked relating significance to the resource context relationship of integrity to significance justification of exception other Major Bibliographical References 10. Goographical Data arbel beundery 11.

Form Prepared By 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification rifleance of unie property wttn -- laca: 13. Other Maps :Photographs Other Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to Signed Date. Phone: 202 272-3504 Comments for any item may be continued on an attached sheet LEO P. DEMARCO Vakers Towne JEWELERS FINE JEWELRY AND GIFTS WATCH AND JEWELRY REPAIR SPECIALISTS. SICHS. BARBER SHOP OREAM - CANDIEE BRTETHNS AUTO INSURANCE LEFT LANE FOR LEFT TURN PK ARKING Conuetse Waitt Block Malden, Mass. Robert Graham Malden Public Library Main Elevation 1980 PHoro WA BRICK BLOCK LOEN MA. FACA Waitt Brick Block 422-24 Main Street Malden, Mass. by Robert Graham March 1980 negative filed at the Malden Public Library. Main (southeast) elevation.

Photo 1 of 1 ACES (1980) MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS Office of the Secretary of State 294 Washington Street Boston, Massachusetts 02108 617-727-8470 MICHAEL JOSEPH CONNOLLY Secretary of State September 29, 1982 Ms. Carol Shull, Chief National Register of Historic Places National Park Service Department of the Interior Washington, D.C. 20243 Dear Ms. Shull: Enclosed you will find the following nomination forms: Beverly: United Shoe Machinery Corporation Clubhouse (local) Longmeadow: The Green (local) Malden: Waitt Brick Block (local) Weston: Post Road Historic District (state) All have been voted eligible by the State Review Board and have been signed by the State Historic Preservation Officer. Owners were notified of pending State Review Board consideration 30-75 days before the meeting and were afforded the opportunity to comment.

Conments received to date are attached to the nomination forms. Sincerely, Candace fenkins Candace Jenkins Registration Director Massachusetts Historical Conmission CJ/sac enclosure RECEIVED OCT 14 1506) NATIONAL REGISTER