BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
FORM B - BUILDING MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, State House, Boston - 2. Photo (3x3" or 3x5") Staple to left side of form Photo number | |06-6A 5 OM E R E U M E MACULATE CONCEPX AROCHIAL SCHOOL MATIGNON e so AV 6 In Area no. NW CAMB. Form no. NWG IIDI 1. Town Cambridge Address 45 Matignon Avenue Name Almshouse Present use religious Roman Catholic Archbishop Present owner of Boston Corporation Sole 3. Description: Rev. John Taglino Date 1850 Source deed records Style Greek Revival/Italianate Architect Gridley J. F. Bryant Exterior wall fabric stone Outbuildings (describe) -- Other features excellent masonry -- slate, granite which was used for quoins, belt courses and cornices. Altered Yes- later Date_post 1927 additions Moved No Date - 5.
Lot size: One acre or less Over one acre XXX Approximate frontage Approximate distance of building from street 10 feet 6. Recorded by Bainbridge Bunting Organization Cambridge Historical Comm. Date 1965 UTM-LEXINGTON 19/324480/4696410 ASSESSOR#185-53 30M-5-77 7. Original owner (if known)_ City of Cambridge Original use almshouse Subsequent uses (if any) and dates school-convent 8. Themes (check as many as applicable) Aboriginal Agricultural Architectural The Arts Commerce Communication Community development XX Conservation Education Exploration/ settlement Industry Military Political Recreation XX Religion Science/ invention Social/ humanitarian Transportation 9. Historical significance (include explanation of themes checked above) XX XX In 1849 the City purchased an 'eighteenth century éstate for the site of its new Poor Farm, the fiftr facility of its type in Cambridge.
The winning architectural design for the structure was submitted by Rev. Louis Dwight and Gridley J.B. Bryant. Dwight was known for his pioneering work in prison reform and care of the poor and mentally ill. Bryant would later design Boston's 0ld City. Hall. The Almshouse follows a radial plan with a central octagonal section and four residential wings, a concept based on late eighteenth century English jail prototypes. Considered advanced for its time, the cruciform plan appeared in other local commissions by the architects, including the Charles Street Jail (1848) and the Deer Island House of Correction (1850). The Almshouse is a transitional Greek Revival/Italian- ate structure, but the absence of detail or embellishment frees the building from any strict stylistic category.
The glory of the building is its masonry: grey-green and grey-ochre slate blocks laid in random ashlar with contrasting dark granite quoins. Bryant was familiar with stone building techniques, as it was his father who had developed the Quincy granite quarries for the Bunker Hill Monuments (1824). The slate used in the Almshouse came from 10. Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records, early maps, etc.) a ledge at the site. The City sold the almshouse. to the Archdiocese of Boston in 1927, and since that time it has been occupied by the parish school and convent. The building is intact except for a few later additions.
MOV 1 4 1980 NPS Form10-900-a (7-81) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form Continuation sheet Item number For NPS use only received date entered Page /4 ~117 Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group Name State Cambridge Multiple Resource Area MA Nomination/Type of Review 131. Conventual Church of St. Mary and St. John / Keeper Date/Signature Wicias H.Braiham 4.1382 Substantive Review . Attest 132. /Second Cambridge Savings Bank Building Keeper Sudetentire Fevser tu(nbe/630) Attest 133. Frost, David, House SuünSienttre Nevier Keeper pulon 16-008 Attest 134. Howe House Substantive Heview Keeper Pas 1 mplbrn '135. Lowell, The Su8eTentTra Sudo -136. Willis, Stillman, House Attest FsvlAm Keeper ndun A Dnel (-30.8) Attest Tira Tar1on Keeper Willian H.Braham 413.82 Attest SolleDcaVira Lov1os ''137.
Second Waterhouse House Keeper tonele derl 6.3058 Attest SERS TOWER - **138. Harvard. Observatory suner aljection DOE/OWNER withdraw °139. Almshouse Substantive Review Keeper OBJECTION Attest / Keeper Cane D Shuel 2-2687 DetDange: 2-26-81 WeliamH.Braonam 4.13.82 Attest *140. Love11 Block Subs Keeper Attest tuur ka lngl6300 Substantive Revi NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES 139 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service EVALUATION / RETURN SHEET almshruse (canbrdge Property: multiple Resouree ARea State, County: M4- Middlesex Federal Agency: resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Working No. 11-14-80-2862 Fod. Reg. Date:- Date Due:. 4p-17-83 Action: LACCEPT$/13/82 - RETURN.
- REJECT- photos L maps - Substantive Review: sample - request _ appeal - NR decision Reviewer's comments: hocally sianificont for architecteure - applicatio o Greek Merral/stalianaile steling to large scall pubtie blüilding. Recom. / Criteria Acest. 1÷c wh6 Ligripicant tor assoccation weth social humanitauaRoviower Latuik Anduls movenent in combridge Discipline- Historan Date3/22/82 digndicanee is mpered mere thae _ see continuation sheet sfater -Nomination roturned for: technical corrections cited below _substantive reasons discussed below 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification Dumorahip Pebtie hospetattion 4. Owner of Property Btatus Accosalbte Prosan Uee 5. Location of Legal Description 6. Representation in Existing Surveys hor thie property boan determined oligitte? - roo -n 7.
Description omtien excellent good toir - deteriorated .rutns unexposed Ohock ano _ unattered altered cartbo tha procant end artginal (1l tnomn) phoyaical a summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates boundary selection Check one - original site -moved date 8. Significance Pored Aroes ef Significen peolfle detes of gnll book and joellfy beler htdor Arebtte parsgraph 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 age of nominsisd property - undrangie name INT Roterence Verbel boundery deecrtptien and jetification 11. Form Prepared By 12.
State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evalusted significance of this property wlthin the stote is: national local Blate Mletoric Proserretten Officer eigneture 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 1106-6A NOV 1 4 1980 Canbridge MnA, Mar 06.4 C Almshoue 45 Matignon Ave. 1106-6A Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000275