Nomination for Wollison-Shipton Building

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

NPS Form 10-900 (7-81) OMB NO. 1024-0018 EXP: 10/31/84 United States Department of the Interior National Park 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 NPS use only received AUG 31 1982 date entered historic Wollison-Shipton Building (Preferred) and/or common 2. Location Wollison Block street & number 142-156 North Street N/A not for publication city, town Pittsfield N/A vicinity of congressionat district state Massachusetts 3. Classification Category Ownership .district - public X building($) X private structure both site Public Acquisition object N/A in process being considered code 025 county Berkshire code 003 Status X - occupied -unoccupied - work in progress Accessible - yes: restricted X.

yes: unrestricted _no Present Use _ agriculture X commercial educational entertainment government industrial -military _ museum park private residence - religious scientific transportatior X other: 4. Owner of Property name Mr. Robert F. Hatch street & number P.O. Box 373, Lenox Road city, town West Stockbridge N/A vicinity of 5. Location of Legal Description courthouse, registry of deeds, etc. Middle Berkshire Registry of Deeds state Massachusetts street & number Bank Row city, town Pittsfield 6. Representation in Existing Surveys Inventory of the Historic Assets title of the Commonwealth #2001 has this property been determined eligible? date 1978 federal state Massachusetts _ yes X no Pittsfield 01-2001 _ state -county - _local depository for survey records city, town Boston Massachusetts Historical Commission state Massachusetts 7.

Description wollison - Shipton Bldg., 142-156 North St., Pittsfield, MA Condition - excellent good X fair _ deteriorated ruins unexposed Check one _ unaltered _ altered Check one - original site moved date_ N/A Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance

Description of the property

The Wollis on-Shipton Building is located on an 85' x 200' lot on the east side of North Street (142-156 North Street), in the block bounded northerly on Eagle Street and southerly on Fenn Street and East by Renne Avenue in the heart of Pittsfield's business district. Abutted to it on either side are 20th century commercial buildings of similar scale. The original front, main section of the building, built in 1887, has a rectangular plan measuring 85' wide and 100' deep. The central portion rises four storeys or 65' and is flanked by two three storey wings. It is constructed of Philadelphia pressed brick trimmed with hewn dark freestone. The facade is symmetrical and has a smooth surface appearance with minimal decorative features.

The central block consists of a slightly projecting three storey central entrance bay flanked on the first floor by plate glass store fronts and on the second and third floors by tightly spaced trios of 2/1 double hung sash windows with freestone lintels and sills. The fourth floor is marked by a row of eight round-headed windows, also 2/1. The hipped roof is sheathed with original slate shingles. A delicate cast iron balustrade emphasizes the roofline. The two flanking wing facades are identical, consisting of plate glass store fronts on the first floor and evenly spaced pairs of 2/1 double hung sash windows on the second and third floors. Freestone trim is restricted to the store fronts and upper storey lintels. Original copper downspouts outline the flanking wings' rooflines and the edges of the central block.

The only exterior alterations that have occurred to the facade are the removal of three small attic dormers about 1900. As a result the wing roofs are sheathed with asphalt shingles. At the rear of the building, a three storey brick commercial warehouse addition with a center entry and court was added circa 1900. The Wollison-Shipton Building incorporated a patented cellular steel fire-proof flooring invented by Mr.. Wilson, built by the Cincinnati Corrugating Company, and used here for the first time in the east. The building, in addition to its fire proof construction, utilized the most modern features including large plate glass window storefronts which were rare at the time, sky lights and an "Otis Brother Improved elevator" from the second floor up. The total cost of construction was $35,000.

Originally, the first floor was divided into four stores each 100' x 20' connected in the rear. The second floor was divided into two equal apartments, one of which originally housed Pittsfield's YMCA. Accounts of the YMCA pening on Thursday, April 12, 1888 indicate that the suite left of the main staircase contained an office for the general secretary, a parlor, reading room, a hall, and gymnasium. These rooms remain even today. It also mentions elaborate wallpaper, tinting, carpets, open fireplaces, pictures and rich brass chandeliers (likely gas). The original woodwork and fireplace tiles remain. The third floor was comprised of four spaces similar to the first floor, and the fourth contained a large meeting hall and a photographic studio. Since a smoky fire in March of 1980, the building is being restored by its present owner.

xtensive efforts were made to retain all interior woodwork, fireplaces, windows, anc alvageable pressed lron cellings. The original office space lavout remains viable without major alterations. Even today, it stands as a tribute to H. Neil Wiisons original design.

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Significance Wollison-Shipton B1dg. 142-156 North St., Pittsfield, MA Period prehistoric 1400-1499 1500-1599 1600-1699 1700-1799 1800-1899 1900 Areas of SignificanceCheck 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 dates1887, completed 4/1888Builder

Statement of significance

/Architect H. Neil Wilson (1855-1926) Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) Builder: D.C. Munyan; Mason: George D. Foote; Heating System: Robbins, Gamwell & Co. The Wollison-Shipton Building retains integrity of location, design, workmanship, feeling and association. It is a major local example of Victorian commercial architecture and incorporates many innovative decorative and structural features as testimony to the collaboration between the owners/financers, Wollisons, Interior Decorators, and the architect, Henry Neil Wilson: prominent midwestern and local architect to have been built in Pittsfield. In addition to en se de niy comer cial bar ang ri ed bion te the Wollison's decorating firm, the building has housed a variety of businesses and the first Pittsfield YMCA. The Wollison-Shipton building thus meets criterion A and C of the National Register of Historic Places.

Ruben D. Wollison and his son Herbert S. Wollison, both well known merchants and real estate owners, built the Wollison-Shipton Block at what was then known as 74 North Street in 1887-1888. The Pittsfield Academy of Music, built 1878-9 and burned 1912, and the Wollison Block became the major features of the east side of North Street in the last quarter of the 19th century. Ruben, a paper hanger by trade, came to Pittsfield in 1848 from Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. He established himself in the painting and interior decorating business which he carried on for over forty years and retired from active business in 1887. Ruben married the daughter of Abner Stevens, a Pittsfield store keeper and drum maker, August 1, 1852. Herbert S. Wollison entered his father's business as a young man and later spent two years with a decorating firm in New York City.

He returned to Pittsfield in 1889 opening a salesroom on the second floor of the Block. As business increased, he expanded to a store on the ground floor as well. He employed about 40 men, in season, painting and paper hanaing in many of the larger Berkshire estates. He stocked shades, matting, and picture frames as well as wallpaper and paints. Socially, Herbert Wollison belonged to many of the same organizations as H. Neil Wilson, his architect. Both were Vestrymen of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church and members of the Berkshire Commandry of the Knights Templar. Some of Mr. Wollison's tenants in the building were Mr. S.S. Wheeler, a photographer, located in the studio on the fourth floor; F.C. Kiptland, an electrician in Room 4, who specialized in annunciators, bells, speaking tubes, gas lights and telephone and telegraph equipment; H.P.

Lucas, who dealt in agricultural supplies on the north end of the building; and Kingman and Loveless, who sold Steinway Pianos and music from the store on the south end. Henry Neil Wilson was the son of architect James Keys Wilson of Cincinnati, Ohio. The elder architectural firm of Walter & Wilson in Cincinnati. He was noted for his Gothic Revival designs. H. Neil Wilson was born in Glendale, Hamilton County, Ohio, near Cincinnati on (continued) 9.

The rest of the file

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

Major Bibliographical References Biographical Review of Berkshire County, Henry Neil Wilson, p.314. "Pittsfield Sun, April 19, 1888, p.I, February 2, 1888. Pittsfield Historical Survey. 10. Geographical Data Acreage of nominated property 14,148 sq. ft. Quadrangle name Pittsfield West, 1973 UMT References A LL8| 16|4,3/6,44 Zone Easting 1471011060 Northing ELI GLULLILULILILI Verbal boundary description and justification Book 1048-768, 769, 770, #237520 Quadrangle scale 1:25,000 BL LIL Zone Easting Northing DLULLILLL FLIJ LLILLL LILILLL (continued) List all states and counties for properties overlapping state or county boundaries state N/A code county code state N/A code county code 11. Form Prepared By , Massachusetts Historical Commission name/title JamesnN. Parrdans, pstorac Presstaat,onapanhes, terkshire Cou ty Regionat Planning Commission organization Mass.

Historical Commission date July 1982 street & number 294 Washington Street telephone (617) 727-8470 city or town Boston state Massachusetts 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 National Park Service.

State Historic Preservation Officer signature Valunie Aun Talmage title Executive Director, Massachusetts Historical Commission date Aug,24,1982 For NPS use only I hereby certify that this property is included in the National Register Nelon Entered in the forraae ne natimthmmintamad National Register 9/30/82 Attest: date Chief of Registration NPS Form 10-900-a (7-81) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form For NPS use only received date entered Continuation sheet The Wollison-Shipton Buildingltem number 8 Page 1 founded his own business in the growing city of Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was brought to Pittsfield in 1885 to supervise the construction of a residence he had designed for William Russell Allen, better known as the Allen House on East Housatonic Street (NR).

Wilson settled there, opening an office in the Berkshire Life Insurance building at 3 North Street, Rooms 26 and 27. Before his death in 1926, he designed over thirty buildings in the region, a large number of which survive today. The Wollison family worked closely with Wilson on some of his major residential designs, including "Shadowbrook" (1892-1894), the residence of Anson Phelps Stokes and the largest of the great Berkshire estates. It was later owned and used as a summer home by Andrew Carnegie and was destroyed by fire in 1956. Major surviving buildings designed by Wilson include the Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge (1892); the Dalton Town Hall and Library; the Berkshire County Home for Aged Women, Pittsfield; and the State Normal School now North Adams State College. Use of the Wollison-Shipton Building as commercial and office space has continued uninter- rupted to the present day.

It became known as the Shipton Building when the Shipton Realty Co. took over ownership in the early 19th century. They sold the building to the present owners in 1980. -. Thay s hn i i ng t ti r g ry Current restoration is designed to retain the building's architectural integrity as far as possible under the direction of Terry Hallock, architect. NPS Form 10-900-a (7-81) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form For N°S use only received date entered Continuation sheet Wollison-Shipton Building Item number 10 Page 1 Beginning at a point in the westerly sideline of the town way known as Renne Avenue, said ooint being the northeast corner of a parcel of land conveyed by Olympla Theatres, Inc. o Western Mass. Theatres, Inc.

dated October 10, 1935, and recorded in the Berkshire Middle District Registry of Deeds in Book 475, Page 58, said point is further described as being the northeast corner of the brick building known as the "Palace Theatre" , and is further described as being the southeast corner of the premises herein conveyed; running thence North 81 degrees 25 minutes 48 seconds West along the seam between the "Shipton Building", so-called, and the "Palace Theatre Building" and being also along the north line of land conveyed to said Western Mass.

Theatres, Inc., a distance of 201.93 feet to a point in the easterly sideline of North Street, said point being further described as being North 81 degrees 25 minutes 48 seconds West a distance of 0.04 feet from the northwest brick corner of the said "Palace Theatre Building"; running thence North 09 degrees 55 minutes 59 seconds East along the easterly sideline of said North Street and along the brick face of the said "Shipton Building" a distance of 85.02 feet to a point, which point is further described as being North 81 degrees 25 minutes 1l seconds West a distance of 0.34 feet from the southwest corner of the brick building known as the "Miller Building"; running thence South 81 degrees 25 minutes 1l seconds East along the southerly line of land conveyed by Richard B.

Shipton to Floyd Passardi et ux by deed dated July 29, 1977, and recorded in the Berkshire Middle District Registry of Deeds in Book 992, Page 347, and along the seam between the "Miller Building", so-called, and the said "Shipton Building" a distance of 80.24 feet to a brick corner of said "Miller Building"; running thence South 82 degrees 18 minutes 43 seconds East along the southerly line of land of said Floyd Passardi et ux and along the north face of the said "Shipton Building", so-called, a distance of 20.20 feet to a brick corner of the said building; running thence South 81 degrees 33 minutes 40 seconds East along the south line of land conveyed to the said Floyd Passardi et ux and along the north face of the said "Shipton Building" a distance of 100.13 feet to a point in the westerly line of Renne Avenue, said point being further described as being South 81 degrees 33 minutes 40 seconds East a distance of 0.15 feet from the northeast brick corner of the said "Shipton Building"; running thence South 09 degrees 00 minutes 30 seconds West along the said westerly sideline of Renne Avenue a distance of 85.52 feet to the point and place of beginning.

The above-described parcel of land contains 17,148 square feet and is the parcel of land conveyed by L. Locke Larkin Trust to Robert F. Hatch and Suzanne Hatch by deed dated February 11, 1980, and recorded in the Berkshire Middle District Registry of Deeds in Book 1030, Page 136. The above-described premises are further shown on a plan entitled "Survey of Land in Pitts- field, Mass., Prepared for Shipton Development Co." , Scale 1"=20' , dated July 16, 1981, Dennis C. Drumm, RLS, which plan is recorded in the Berkshire Middle District Registry of Deeds in Drawer D-37.

(Please also refer to attached assessor's map) ATIONAL REGISTER OF NISTORIC PLACES ited States Department of the Interior tional Park Service Wollison-Shipton Building Berkshire County MASSACHUSETTS EVALUATION / RETURN SHEET resubmission nomination by person or local governmant owner objection appeal Substantive Review: _ sample - request Reviewer's comments: working No. 8/31/82-2376 Fed. Reg. Date: 2. k 83 Date Due: 2/30/62 Action: ACCEPT_ mucred the _ RETURN.. National Begister REJECT_ Federal Agency: - appeai _NR decision -Nomination returned for: Recom. / Criteria Reviewer. Discipline Date _ see continuation sheet -technical corrections cited below _substantive reasons discussed below 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification Category Ownership Public Acquisition Status Accessible Present Use 4. Owner of Property 5. Location of Legal Description 6.

Representation in Existing Surveys has this property been determined eligible? - yes - nc 7. Description Condition excellent good VRIT deteriorated ruins _unexposed Check one unaltered altered Check one oricinai site moved date Describe the present and original (If known) physical appearance summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates boundary selection 8. Significance Ported anses ol Stomttcenos Chack and heatly balor Doellder Arehitect @poctfic datos Bcatemont el signlticenoo (in eno paragraph) 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 9. Major Bibliographical References 10.

Geographical Data Acreage of nominated property Quedrangle neme - UMT References Vorbal boundary description and justitication 11. Form Prepared By 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evaluated significance of this property within the state is netional _-state local Btate Historic Preservation Officer signature date thie 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 ITOD ALT SLEFLIES - SIAHONEI GREETING CARDS bbe Wollison-Shipton Building North Street, Pittsfield View - northeast, front facade James N. Parrish 10/16/81 #95-8 #1012 Wollison-Shipton Building View - southwest from Renne Ave., rear warehouse section of Wollison Block. James N.

Parrish 10/16/81 #95-13 #202 support PILISHEID MASSACHUSLTY OFFICE OF THE MAYOR CITY OF PITTSFIELD MASSACHUSETTS CHARLES L. SMITH MAYOR RECEIVED JUL 23 1982 MASS.HISE COMMA July 21, 1982 Ms. Patricia L. Weslowski State Historic Preservation Officer Executive Director Mass achusetts Historical Commission Office of the Secretary of State 294 Washington Street Boston, Massachusetts 02108 Dear Ms. Weslowski: I am writing in support of the nomination of the Walliston Shipton Building in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, to the National Register of Historic Places. The City has been working very closely with Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hatch, owners of the building, to process an orderly and sensitive restoration of a downtown landmark whicn unfortunately suffered severe fire damage.

Nomination to the National Register is desirable for the protection of the building which lends grace and a certain majesty to the central portion of North Street, (our main street) - Again, I would like to register my full support for the nomina- tion of the Walliston Shipton Building to the National Register. Sincerely, saetrl Mayor, City of Pittsfield Pittsfield Historical Commission City Htall*Pittsfielc:Ntassachusetts - 01201 FEB 1 1002 BERKSHIRE GGENTY BESOHAL PL9482ASSIOA Mr. James Parrish Historic Preservation Officer Berkshire County Regional Planning Commission 10 Fenn Street Pittsfield, Massachusetts 01201 Dear Jim: On behalf of our Commission I write to strongly support you in your application for National Register status for the Wollison-Shipton Building located at 150 North Street in Pittsfield. Constructed in 1888 by noted local architect H.

Neil Wilson the building has been an impressive landmark within our city's downtown for nearly 100 years. Its exterior of Philadelphia pressed brick with dark freestone trim help to make it an unusual yet most impressive building complimenting the more modern structures surrounding it. I urge you to push for a quick review of the Wollison-Shipton Building's application for its National Register status is well deserved. Sincerely, Gate Tony King Chairman 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 August 24, 1982 Mr. Jerry Rogers Keeper, National Register of Historic Places National Park Service Department of the Interior Washington, D.C. 20243 Dear Mr.

Rogers: Enclosed you will find the following nomination forms: Adams - Phillips Woolen Mill (local) Adams - Renfrew Mill #2 (local) Belchertown - Walker Collis House (local) Hudson - Col. Adelbert Mossman House (local) Lenox - Lenox Academy (state) Lenox - The "Church on the Hill" (local) New Bedford - Dawson Building (local) New Marlborough - New Marlborough Village Historic District (local) North Andover - Machine Shop Village (state) - Pittsfield - Wollison- Shipton Building (local) Rockport - Sewall-Scripture House (local) 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 considerations 30-75 days before the meeting and were afforded the opportunity to comment. Comments received to date are attached to the nomination forms.

Sincerely, Candaceyenkins Candace Jenkirector Massachusetts Historical Commission Enclosures CJ/mas RECEIVED AUG 31 1982> NATIONAL REGISTER LLTDE