Nomination for Stacy, George O., House

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 MAR 18 1982 date entered APR 15 1982 historic /George O. Stacy House and/or common same 2. Location street & number 107 Atlantic Roade NA not for publication city, town Gloucester NA vicinity of state e- Massachusetts 3. Classification code 025 county congressional district Essex Sixth 009 code Category district X building(s) structure site object Ownership public X private both Public Acquisition in process being considered 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 name street & number Gerald E. and Geraldine Muller Niles Point Road city, town Gloucester N/A vicinity of 5. Location of Legal Description state ,Massachusetts courthouse, registry of deeds, etc. Essex County Registry of Deeds street & number 32 Federal Street city, town Salem state Massachusetts 6. Representation in Existing Surveys Ieventory of HistoricAssets of the Conmonwealth has this property been determined elegible? - yes - X no date 1979 federal X state . county - local depository for survey records Massachusetts Historical Conmission city, town Boston state Massachusetts 7. Description Condition X excellent -good fair .

deteriorated Check one unaltered altered Check one - original site moved date unexposed Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance

Description of the property

The George O. Stacy House occupies a prime location on Atlantic Road, the eastern shore road on the Eastern Point peninsula. The building faces the Atlantic Ocean on the east, overlooking Bass Rocks across the street, and Ihacher Island with its twin lighthouses off in the distance. The Stacy House was built in 1899 according to the designs of the well-established Gloucester architects, Phillips and Holloran. This firm was responsible for most of the city's prominent buildings early in this century, including numerous summer "cottages" on Eastern Point, the Eastern Avenue School, and the Tavern restaurant on Stacy Boulevard. Although all of these buildings were constructed in the then-popular Shingle and Colonial Revival styles, the Stacy House is the most classical in form. The 2½-story building is nearly cubical in shape, with a balustraded hip roof.

The walls are sheathed in clapboard. The north and south walls of the main block extend westward into 2 asymmetrical wings (original or by 1912), each with continuousstylistic treatment. An early or original 1-story porch, and 2 small mid-century additions of 1 story each, are also located at the rear of the building. A 1-story porch (original or by 1912) extends across the entire north wall of the building. The facade of the building is rigidly symmetrical and formal. It is distinguished by a Doric- columned portico and Palladian window at the center. The portico has a low roof balustrade with small carved floral ornaments on the center panel of each of its 3 sides. The doorway itself has a fanlight and sidelights, with geometric tracery repeated in the elaborate Palladian win- dow above.

Fluted comner pilasters with Ionic capitals, and an elaborate entablature with den- tils, triglyphs, and modillions, are repeated on the side and back walls, and are echoed or the portico, porches, and dormer windows. On the front (east) and left (south) side, the taller Ist floor windows have pronounced cornice moldings. The side (north and south) and back (west) elevations are asymmetrical and dissimilar. The south elevation has 2 secondary doorways with pilasters and classical entablatures, and a small balustraded deck. On the north elevation, the recently (1957) glass-enclosed porch has Doric columns connected by a low balustrade, a roof balustrade with louvered fan and floral grill panels, and an asymmetrical doorway. The rear (west) elevation of the main block contains a simplified Palladian window which lights the interior stairhall.

The northwest wing has two small oval windows with keystones on the first floor, rear. The roof of the building is punc- tuated by 3 original pedimented dormers (2 on the facade and 1 on the south elevation); a large flat-roofed dormer which wraps around the north and west elevations was added between 1912 and 1946.

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

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

Statement of significance

/Architect Phillips & Holloran Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) The Stacy House was built for George Odiorne Stacy (c. 1860-1928), a dominant Gloucester figure early in this century who was known locally for his keen involvement in real estate and develop- ment, and famed nationally as an enthusiastic hotel man. Stacy's ambitious dreams were housed in the grandest of structures, and the George O. Stacy House is one of the finest and few sur- viving designs recording this remarkable career. The Stacy House thus meets criteria A, B, and C of the National Register of Historic Places. Stacy was a pioneer in the summer hotel business in Gloucester. He quickly worked up from Kitchen employee at the Bass Rock House to owner of four of the most celebrated and successful hotels on the North Shore.

This quartet included the 200-room Hawthorne Inn (begun in 1886&the only survivor today); the Magnolia Hotel, accommodating 300 (dates unknown); the 130-room Moorland Hotel (1897, burned 1958) on Bass Rocks; and most spectacularly, the 300 room Colonial Arms (1904, burned 1908). These hotels were not only centers for Gloucester's prominent sumer colony, but also were instrumental in the upbuilding of the whole East Gloucester area. The Stacy House on Atlantic Road was one of the first houses in the new resort development at Bass Rocks. The house was built in 1899 from the designs of Phillips & Holloran, prominent local architects responsible for most of Gloucester's major buildings in this period. Like Stacy's hotels and other developments, this building uses the Colonial Revival style. stands apart, however, as one of the highest refinements of the style in the city.

Perhaps its unusual delicacy was influenced by deed restrictions on the property. These provisions included a minimum building cost, and reserved for the land-trust grantee the authority for approving building plans. Because of the building's color and form & the fact that Stacy was married earlier in the year ot its construction, the building has also been known as the wedding Cake House. Ironically, o, Lyme the Stacys never occupied this showpiece themselves. According to local tradition, Mrs. (Jane Parker) Stacy refused to live in this isolated, seasonally abandoned location. The house was subsequently rented out and then sold to "summer people," and is now used as offices for a large modern inn next door. Stacy's other building activities were widespread.

At his death in 1928, Stacy was reported to be the largest owner of residences in Gloucester, and one of the city's largest individual taxpayers. In fact, a friend's eulogy characterized Stacy as "a builder constantly building. He touched no property which he dld not improve. Stacy is best remembered, however, for the creation of the esplanade at Western Avenue--called Stacy's "crowning achievement"2 and "the most important public improvement in this generation. "3 Officially named George O. Stacy Boulevard, this major public park with the symbolic Man-at-the- Whee1 Statue was conceived and advocated by George Stacy. He contributed privately by buying and removing existing houses along the harbor side Western Avenue, and was involved publicly in 9.

The rest of the file

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

Major Bibliographical References sarland, Joseph "To the Lookout,"Cape Ann Historical Association, Scrapbook, No. 28, p.55. Eastern Point. Peterborough, NH: William S. Bauhan, Noone House, 1971. "George O. Stacy. "George O. Stacy:" Elou AnterDail ulnes, Dece,ber 10, 1928, p. 1. (continued) 10. Geographical Data Acreage of nominated property 16,600 sq. ft. ACREAGE NOT Quadrangle name Gloucester, MA Quadrangle_scale 1:25000 UMT References A119 Zone CLL UIM NOT VERIFIED 3/65/960 147|18|390 Easting Northing LILLLLL Zone LilltliLu Easting Northing ELI LLILLL LILILLL Luyual , Verbal boundary description and justification The property is located on the westerly side of Atlantic Road.

It is bounded on the east by Atlantic Road, 152.1 feet; on the north by Lot 206 on a plan of land belonging to the Estate of Henry Souther, dated August 189/ (Plan Book 11, Plan 15), 150 Ieet; on the west by Lot 260 on the above plan of land, 79 feet; and on the south by Lot List all states and counties for properties overlapping state or county boundaries (con't.) state code county code state code county code 11. Form Prepared By name/title Wendy Frontiero, Preservation Planner Massachusetts Historical Cormission organization date December, 1980 street & number 294 Washington Street telephone 727-8470 city or town Boston state ur Massachusetts 02108 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 tothe criteria and procedures set forthby the Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service.

State Historic Preservation Officer signature PaluuahWeslwski title ,Executive Director, Massachusetts Historical Conmission date 2/25/82 For HCRS use only 1 hereby certify that this property is included in the Naticer Registethe lue fur keeper of the National Register National Register date 4/15/82 Attest: date Chief of Registration GP O 938 835 FHR-8-300 (11-78) United States Department of the Interior Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form For HCRS use only received MAR 18 1982 date entered Continuation sheet Item number 8 Page 2 Contemporaries remarked on Stacy's extraordinary vision, perserverance, generosity, public spirit, and humor. "'He had, in fine, the quality which makes a delightful companion and leaves an "enduring memory."4 The George O.

Stacy House is an architectural treasure of itself, and well represents this rare combination of qualities which made the man such an asset to his city. 1 2 3 "The Western Avenue Esplanade, 4 Alfred Mansfield Brooks, "To the Lookout," Cape Ann Historical Association Scrapbook No. 28, P. 55. FHR-8-300 (11-78) United States Department of the Interior Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination Form For HCRS use only received MAR 18 1982 date entered Continuation sheet Item number 9 Page 2 MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES Holloran, Robert T. (59 North St., Georgetown, MA). Telephone interview. 10/11/79. Muller, Gerald E. (Niles Pond Road, Gloucester, MA), Private interview, 9/19/79. "Unveil Tablet to Memory of George O. Stacy." Gloucester Daily Times, August 14, 1930, p. 1 & 5.

'The Western Avenue Esplanade." Cape Ann Shore, July 5, 1924, pp. 607. Assessor's Records, 1899-1911. Gloucester City Hall, Gloucester, MA. Deeds: 3438/205; 3336/174; 2878/591; 1576/387. Essex County Registry of Deeds, Salem, MA. Vital Statistics, 1899. City Clerk's Office, Gloucester City Hall, Gloucester, MA. VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION 208 on the above plan of land, 150 feet. 2 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION / RETURN SHEET Property: State, County:- sacy, 6,orge Oi, House sssex Federal Agency: resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: Reviewer's comments: United States Department of the Interior National Park Service 82004963 Working No. 3.18.82.810 Fed. Reg. Date: 2.1.83 Date Due: 82 Action: ACCEPT1//5/82 Entered in the RETURN National Registor REJECT_ photos.

maps - sample - request -appeal - NR decision Recom. /Criteria Reviewer _ Discipline Date -see continuation sheet -Nomination returned for: - -technical corrections cited below _substantive reasons discussed below Name 2. Location x3. Classification Catogory Dwnership XPublic Acquieition 4. Owner of Property Status Accessible Present Use 5. Location of Legal Description 6. Representation in Existing Surveys hes this property beon determined eligibte? ros - nc 7. Description Comeitien _ excellent good _ deteriorated ruins - unexposed Check ene unaltered altered Checkone original site moved date Boseribe the present and eriginal ( knewn) physical appearance summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates boundary selection 8.

Significance erled Aress ef SignificanceChock and justify belen Specifie dates Btatement ef Significaneo (in ene paragraph) Bullder Architeet - summary paragraph completeness clarity applicable criteria justification of areas checked relating significance to the resource context relationship of integrity to significance justification of excepticn other 9. Major Bibliographical References 10. Geographical Data Acreage of nominated property Quedrangle neme _ UMIT Reterencer Varbel boundary description and justification 11. Form Prepared By 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evaluated significance of thie property within the state is: - netional .state _ local Btste Historic Preservation Officer signeture dete Btle 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 GLOUCESTER, MA George 0. Stacy House East and North Elevations Photo by Wendy Frontiero, 1979 Negative filed with photographer, 5 Franklin Sq, Glouc. ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES STATE MASSACHUSETTS Date Entered APRIL 15, 1982 Name Gleason Building Kimbal1, C. Henry, House Stacy, George O., House Location Lawrence Essex County Chelsea Suffolk County Gloucester Essex County Notified Honorable James M. Shannon Honorable Nicholas Mavroules Honorable Edward M. Kennedy Honorable Paul E. Tsongas Mid-Atlantic Regional Office; NPS North Atlantic Regional Office, NPS State Historic Preservation Officer Mrs. Patricia L.

Weslowski Executive Director, Massachusetts Historical Commission 294 Washington Street Boston, Massachusetts 02108 For further information,pleasecallthe National Register at (202) 272-3504