Nomination for Sacred Heart Church, Rectory, School and Convent

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 Teceived JUN 3 1980 date entered historic Sacred Heart Church, Rectory, School and Convent. and/or common 2. Location 39 and 49 64 Cnci street & number Church, 39 Sixth Street; Rectory, 49 Sixth Street; School and Convent, 163 Thorndike Street city, town Cambridge - vicinity of congressional district las Thorrdkc - not for publication Eighth state Massachusetts 3. Classification Category Ownership district public X.

building(s) X private structure both site Public Acquisition object in process being considered code 025 county Middlesex code 017 Status occupied inoccupiec work in progres: Accessible X yes: restricted yes: unrestricted no Present Use _ agriculture _ commercial X educational entertainment -government industrial military museum park - private residence * religious scientific transportation other: 4. Owner of Property name Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston street & number 2121 Commonwealth Avenue city, town Brighton vicinity of 5. Location of Legal Description state Massachusetts courthouse, registry of deeds, etc. Middlesex County Registry of Deeds street & number Cambridge and Third Streets city, town Cambridge state Massachusetts 6.

Representation in Existing Surveys Cambridge Historical Conmission,, title inn baridee lte, orpoat 1: mast Camb Sudgeas of prpitecture eisteor eregible? - yes X no Cambridge: M.I.T. Press, 1965, pp. 50-51 date _ federal state county X local depository for survey records Cambridge Historical Commission city, town Cambridge state Massachusetts - 7. Description Condition _ excellent -I good _ fair - deteriorated . ruins unexposed Check one _ unaltered X altered Check one X original site - moved Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance

Description of the property

The Sacred Heart Parish includes three structures which occupy the entire block bounded by Otis, Thorndike, Seventh and Sixth Street in East Cambridge. It is a prominent land- mark in this working class neighborhood of small brick and frame houses. The only land- scaping is provided by a few small sidewalk trees, although an interior courtyard is planted with grass and trees. The focus of the complex is the Sacred Heart Church, built in 1874-1883 to the designs of Patrick W. Ford. Executed in the Victorian Gothic style, the random coursed Somerville bluestone ashlar structure is trimmed with light colored Milford granite. The front (eastern) facade is raised approximately five feet above grade with a wide flight of stairs providing access to the two main recessed pointed arched entrances.

Each entrance is topped by geometric tracery and enframed bÿ rock faced granite with smooth stone banding. Attached colonettes set within the recess are topped by a fillet and broad fascia at the spring line which are carried across the facade as a string course. Two shallow stone gables each entrance are topped by small crosses. Triple pointed arched windows above with geometric tracery and granite trim are set within a slightly projecting pointed arch of granite ashlar with an inset roundel similarly adorned. A rectangular opening tops this arch. To the south, an angle buttressed turret, previously finished by a pinnacle and finial, separates the nave portion of the facade from the low side aisle area with its pointed arched entrance topped by a short recessed pointed arched window. To the north rises a massive belfry with angle buttresses and a pointed arched entrance.

Two narrow re- cessed openings pierce the area below two tall pointed arched windows, above which are two similar louvred openings with a stone string course at the spring line level. An octagonal spire originally finished the tower. The northern facade features pointed arched windows separated by single buttresses running the length of this facade, interrupted by a gable penetrated by a roundel centrally located on the facade. The clerestory was rebuilt with simple vertical boarding after a fire in 1963 destroyed the roof. The interior is dominated by a marble, onyx and alabaster altar by Peter Paul Pugin which is intricately sculpted. The central arched tabernacle has a carved tympanum a- bove. A similarly carved cap above forms the throne for the monstrance, above which is an arch with cinque foil cusping.

Flying buttresses to either side and a central crock- eted gable amid the numerous pinnacles are all richly wrought. The reredos is divided into two set of three panels depicting the curcifixion and the vision of the Sacred Heart. The chancel is raised and set within a deep pointed arch with a marble tile floor and - a plaster ceiling replacing the earlier black walnut trusses destroyed by fire. The walnut trusses ornamented with quatrefoil, hexafoil and octafoil Gothic tracery. The black walnut galleries and pews remain intact while clustered colums and pilasters modulate the interior space within seven pointed arches. A two story stone and tan brick wing to the south of the church on Sixth Street was in- tended to serve as a study and crypt for Monsignor d'Brien,the first Pastor.

Its first floor of random coursed Somerville bluestone ashlar is pierced by pointed arched openings enframed in smooth stone trim. FHR-8-300A (11/78) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR HERITAGE CONSERVATION AND RECREATION SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTOR Y -- NOMINATION FORM FOR HCRS USE ONLY RECEIVEDJUN 3 1980 DATE ENTERED 1 CONTI NUATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER PAGE #7 Description/A stone coursing rises into a gable to the north penetrating the second story of tan brick which features pointed arched openings trimmed by two courses of headers. The eastern edge of the building curves smoothly to join the northern facade, with round arched corbeling at the roofline. Attached to this structure is the 1885 Rectory, a four-story, four-bay pressed brick building with a rock faced stone foundation.

The front (eastern) facade's round arched recessed entrance features paired doors, sidelights and fanlight. Brownstone trim echoes the arch and is carried in a smaller round arched opening to the north. Flanking these openings are projecting bays of paired flat arched windows with edged brick trim below the sills and segmental arched brownstone trim above with edged brick infilling the typanums. Brownstone coursing with edged brick trim wraps around the building from the lintel level of the flat arched openings on the first and second floors, with an intricate corbeled atop the third floor level. Slightly projecting pedimented gables at the two outside bays break the corbeled cornice which finished the building. The southern facade is similarly detailed with chimeys replacing the gables noted earlier.

A brick wall enclosed the corner between the Rectory and the Sacred Heart School and Convent. Built in 1902, this building is a four story, nine bay red pressed brick structure with brownstone trim. Three sets of paired flat arched openings flank the recessed center entrance above which are triple openings set between a brownstone framing with triple openings above topped by a round arched brick panel. Simple brick voussoirs and raised brick keystones top each pair of windows, while a corbeled brick cornice tops the third and fourth floors.

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Significance Period prehistoric 1400-1499 1500-1599 1600-1699 X 1700-1799 1800-1899 -1900- Areas of SignificanceCheck and justify below -archeology-prehistoric - community planning - archeology-historic _ conservation law - agriculture _ economics _literature X architecture _ education _ military X art engineering - music - commerce - exploration/settlement- - philosophy communications _ industry - politics/government invention _ landscape architecture_X religion - science - sculpture _ social/ humanitarian - theater - transportation - other (specify) Specific dates 1874-1883(Church) 1902(School); 1885 (Rectory) Builder/Architect P. W. Ford (Church); others unknown" Statement of Significance

Statement of significance

(in one paragraph) The Sacred Heart Church complex possesses integrity of location, design,setting, materials and workmanship and is significant both for the quality of its architectural design and for its associations with immigrant populations. The Sacred Heart Parish was originally organized as Saint Jokn the Evangelist Parish in 1842. As the first Catholic Church in Cambridge, it served the growing immigrant pop- ulation working for East Cambridge industries. The original church, located on Fourth Street, was dedicáted in 1842 with President John Tyler and Mässachusetts Governor John Davis in attendance. Serving as the mother church for Cambridge and Somerville it grew rapidly despite the setting off of'two other local parishes in 1867 and 1870. When Monsignor John O'Brien assumed the pastorage of St.

John's in 1873, he began a drive to build a new, larger church and obtained the land on the corner of Sixth and Otis Streets. Al though work began in 1874, it was nine years before the church was consecrated. It was at this time that the parish was renamed Sacred Heart. The architect for the church was P.W. Ford (1848-1900), an Irishman who emigrated to the United States in 1866. Ford had worked with P.C. Keeley, a prolific church architect based in brky, supervising the execution of Keeley''s Holy Cross College in Worcester. Ultimately, Ford is known to have designed almost thirty churches, with Sacred Heart one of his earliest works. This design shows a strong reliance on Keeley's works, especially in the heavy buttresses and prominent tower. Perhaps the most significant aspect of the church is the elaborate altar executed by Peter Paul .Pugin, son of A.W. N. Pugin.

Imported from Cheltenham, England, the altar is cited in contemporary accounts as having "pronounced by competent judges (to be) second to none in America.....(it is ) the plentitude of magnificence --a masterpiece of human art." The stained glass done by John Hardman & Company of London and Birmingham was unfortunately destroyed in the 1963 fire. As the Parish grew, the Rectory and School were added to the complex filling out the entire city block. Sacred Heart thus camé to symbolize the role of the Catholic Church in the nineteenth century: founded on the contributions of impoverished immigrants, embellished with the richest fixtures available, and providing religion, education and cultural advance- ment in an architecturally unified complex at the heart of a working class neighborhood.

The rest of the file

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

Major Bibliographical References *The Cambridge Chronicle, V. 42, #2169. September 10, 1887, p.5. Cambridge Historical Commission. Survey of Architectural History in Cambridge, Report 1: East Cambridge. Cambridge, M.I.T. Press, 1965 ASull ingu, 1 5 5.oa i phic, Historical, and Pictorial coupt of the Catholic Church of 10. Geographical Data UTM NOT VERFND Acreage of nominated property 0:77 Quadrangle name - Boston South UMT References ACREAGE NOT VERIFIED Quadrangle scale 1:24000 *L119/ |3/218|2/619/ 4692 820 Zone Easting Northing cLL LLL EL Zone DLL F LeLu LIILLL Easting Northing UUL GLUJLLILLY LILILLLI HLLLILL LILIL Verbal boundary description and justification The Church, Rectory and School and Convent are located in the block bounded by Otis (north), Sixth (east), Thorndike (south) and Seventh (west) Streets in East Cambridge.

List all states and counties for properties overlapping state or county boundaries state code county code state code county code 11. Form Prepared By Candace Jenkins, National Register Coordinator with name/title Patricia J. Casler, Assistant Director, Cambridge Historical Conmission organization Massachusetts Historical Commission date March, 1980 street & number 294 Washington Street telephone 727-8470 city or fown 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 Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service.

Htene hWeolriski 527/80 State Historic Preservation Officer signature Executive Director title Massachusetts Historical Conmission For HCRS use only thereby certify that this property is included in the National Register date date Keeper of the National Register Attest: Patrich Andrues Chief of Registration date 7/10/80 FHR-8-300A (11/78) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR HERITAGE CONSERVATION AND RECREATION SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTOR Y -- NOMINATION FORM FOR HCRS USE ONLY RECEIVED JUN 3 DATE ENTERED 1380 CONTINUATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER 9 PAGE 1 #9 Major Bibliographical References/Floyd, Margaret Henderson (editor). Sacred Heart Church. Tufts College, 1979. Centennial: Sacred Heart Parish, East Cambridge; 1842-1942.

N.p., 1942 roperty Saged Ztenrt Church Retery, state Ma, Millledr Working Number 6.3,80./454 TECHNICAL CONTROL Photos - Maps This complex is significant for its architectural guality and for its association HISTORIAN with cambridgé's Catholic immigrant population. Bequn in 1874 to serve the needs o the immigrants in cambride's industues, the compley grew until 1902 when it eached its landmark sise, covering a complete cits brork. The church example. & Gothic Revral Patuck Andus style, while the rectoy t schoolare simpler bick with brounstone trim structwnes.

7/10/80 Phone sfol gegueae that ene et ehe nominatim (2e ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN Returnat State raquest Patvik Andrus 8/5/80 ARCHEOLOGIST OTHER HAER Inventory Review REVIEW UNIT CHIEF BRANCH CHIEF KEEPER National Register Write-up Federal Register Entry Send-back Re-submit 5-680 Entered United States Department of the Interior - Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service NAME OF PROPERTY Sacved Heaut Church, Rectory, Schol t Cnvent STATE_M4. The attached National Register Inventory-Nomination form is being returned to your office for clarification of the information indicated below. PLEASE RETURN THIS FORM WHEN THE NOMINATION IS RESUBMITTED.

7 Description: 8 Statement of Significance: 9 10 Bibliography: Geographical Data -- Acreage: UTM Reference(s): Verbal Boundary Description: 12 Certification: Photographic Coverage: Map Coverage: other:Ondulu12,1980 we requested photos of the alter, the scheeland convent: Jhis complex will be a fart of a multiple resource Area that the state is - in Septemnder. Because the state has no plans in the hear future to take the requested (ever) Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to Patrick Andrus on the National Register staff, telephone 202/343-6401 Thank you for your attention to the above items. mucha Date: 8-6-80 .8.80 Chief, Branch of Registration CL. FORM B - BUILDING MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, State House, Boston - - - - - - In Area no. E. Camb. Form no. EC IID2 , 1.

Town Cambridge Address Sixth & Thorndike Streets Name Sacred Heart Church, School and Present use Rectory, and Conven religious 2. Photo (3x3" or 3x5") Staple to left side of form Photo number 1101 -I4A 1101-15A 1101-19A - - 22 12 SPRING ASSESSOR # 34-110 IM-5-77 34-111 1 1 Present owner Roman Catholic Archdioces of Boston, Corp. 3. Description: Church: 1874-1883), Rectory: 1885 Date School and Convent: 1902. Sourcechurch and deed records_ Style_Medieval Gothic/Panelled Brick Architect P.W. Ford Exterior wall fabric stone and brick Outbuildings (describe)_ Other features well-integrated .grouping of church buildings combining features from both the Medieval and more contemporary styles. Altered. No Date Moved No Date -- 5. Lot size: One acre or less Over one acre XX 200 feet Approximate frontage Approximate distance of building from street 0 feet 6.

Recorded by Bainbridge Bunting Organization_Cambridge Historical Comm. Date 1964 UTM- BOSTON SOUTH 19|328240/4692820 34-61 7. Original owner (if known). St. John the Evangelist Parish Original use religious Subsequent uses (if any) and dates same 8. Themes (check as many as applicable) Aboriginal Conservation Agricultural Education Architectural XX Exploration/ The Arts settlement Commerce Industry Communication Military Community development XX Political Recreation Religion Science/ invention Social/ humanitarian Transportation 9. Historical significance (include explanation of themes checked above) XX Ihe Sacred Heart Parish was original organized as Saint John the Evangelist Parish in 1842. As the first Catholic Church in Cambridge, it served the growing immigrant population working for East Cambridge industries. The Sacred Heart Church, designed by P.W.

Ford, features an elaborate altar executed by Peter Paul Pugin, son of A.W.N. Pugin. As the fish grew, the Rectory and School were added ..... to the complex, filling the entire city block._ Relying on the contributions of improverished immigrants, the complex, rich ornamentation symbolized its role as the center of culture, education and social improvement for this working class neighborhood. 10. Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records, early maps, etc.) NOV 1 4 1980 NPS Form 10-900-a (7-81) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form Continuation sheet Item number UND NU. 1U64-UU1S EXP. 12/31/84 For NPS use only received date entered Page &ahe? Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group Name State Cambridge Multiple Resource Area MA Nomination/Type of Review 31.

Bottle House Block 32. Building at 42 Edward J. Lopez Avenue 33. East Cambridge Savings Bank 34. Hoyt, Benjamin, House Substantive Review 35. Lechmere Point Corporation Houses 36. '37. -38. 15 Tueat 30. :40. Sacred Heart Church, Rectory, School and Convent Union Railway Car Barn B and B Chemical Company Subsfan House SubatantIve Revlew Baker HOEZOWNER OBJECTION Beth Israel Synagogue Bt 0w Keeper Date/Signature Weliam H. Brackam 4.13.82 Attest Keeper Wieiam H Bracham 4.13.82 Attest Keeper Welliam A. Arackam 4.13.82 Attest / Keeper Welam H.Bracham 4.13.82 Attest / Keeper Weuam H.Bracnam 4.13.82 Attest Keeper WuliamH Bracham 4.13.82 Attest Keeper Wieliam H. Bracham 4.13.82 Attest Review Keeper WeeiamH. Brachom 4.13.82 Attest Peteruined -dy Aaplaer Attest Keeper Willian H.

Bracham 4.13.82 Attest 12 Substantive RevTew NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES 3% United States Department of the Interior National Park Service EVALUATION / RETURN SHEET Sacred Heart chuach, School, Rectary Property: andconuent Cambnidge multple Resounas State, County:- nIA- puddlesu Federal Agency: Working No.- 11-14-80-2862 Fed. Reg. Date: Date Due: Action: 4/11/82 ACCEPT 4/13/52 RETURN. resubmission nomination by person or local government - REJECT - photos 3 owner objection maps- appeal Substantive Review: - sample - request -appeal NR decision Reviewer's comments: Aigrificant for conmcnity lfe and religroues worle Recom. /Criteria _A Reviower Brauzam Discipline Crch. /tis. Date _4.2.82 - see continuation sheet -Nomination roturned for: - technical corrections cited below _substantive reasons discussed below 1. Name 2. Location 3.

Classification ategery Oumership Peblic Aoqulaitien 4. Owner of Property Matus Lecosalbte Prozom Uao 5. Location of Legal Description 6. Representation in Existing Surveys the property been determined eligibte? - yes - no 7. Description Dondltien exceltent good tair deteriorated ruine . unexposed Ohock ene _ unattered altered Chock one _ original site mored dete - cerlbe the prosen and arteined (il knowm) phryaieal apposrene summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates boundary selection B. Significance Porte oes of Chock and jaattly baler hfider/ Areblo ano parecrest summary paragraph completeness clarity applicable criteria justification of areas checked relating significance the to resource context relationship .of integrity to significance justification of excepticn other 9. Major Bibliographical References 10.

Geographical Data Aoreage of nominated property Guedrengie name _ UNIT Roterences Varbel boundary dascriatien and jesttcation 11. Form Prepared By 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification Tha ereteated elgniticance of thie propparty mtthin the etate le: _ pational - local Mate Mlatortc Precervatien Officer eigneture 13. Other Maps Photographs Other Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to. Signed Date Phone: 202 272 -3504 Commentsfor any Item may be continued on an attached sheet 1101-14A 079| NOV cambridge MRA, Ma Sacred Heart Church 6th St. t Otis 1101-14A 1101-15A 079 C canbridge MRA,Ma Sacred Heart Rectory-6kStt. Thorndike 1101-15A 101-19 Cantrido MRA. Mu 1791 Sacred Heart School fte St.I Thorndike (101-19A Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000275 U.S.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR HERITAGE CONSERVATION AND RECREATION SERVICE DATE 7/12/80 TIME OF CALL TELEPHONE REPORT 1. CALL TO: FROM (Name) 2. ADDRESS (Tel. No. if needed) Candy Jenkins MA. SHPOffice 3. SUBJECT, PROJECT NO., ETC. Sacned Heaut Chuuch, Rectory, School, and convent - Middlesex county 4. DETAILS OF DISCUSSION Irequested photos o: the alter (because they consider it one of the most important elements of the comples), and of the schoolf convent building. 8/5 Candycalled - the complex is qong to be pait o a muttiple resounce area that the state is qoing to nominate in September. They have no plans in the near futue to take the Photos requested on 2/1, so the stale requests that we retuen the nomination. NAME OF PERSON PLACING/RECEIVING CALL Patrick Andues FHR-8-227 June 1978 TITLE OFFICE