Nomination for Lynn Bank Block

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 JUL 271982 date entered historic Lynn Bank Block and/or common Essex Trust/Lynn Institution for Savings (formerly) 2. Location street & number 21-29 Exchange Street- N/A not for publication city, town Lynn N/A vicinity of songressionat dietrict Sixth state Massachusetts code 3. Classification 025 county Essex code 009 Category _district X building(s) structure site .object Ownership public X private both Public Acquisition N/Ain process being considered Status occupied - unoccupied work in progress Accessible X yes: restricted yes: unrestricted .

no Present Use agriculture . commercial educational entertainment government industrial military museum park private residence religious scientific transportation other: 4. Owner of Property name Mallory Realty Trust Hugh Quinn, Trustee street & number 10 Bourbon Street city, town Peabody N/Avicinity of 5. Location of Legal Description state Massachusetts 01960 courthouse, registry of deeds, etc. Essex County Registry of Deeds street & number 32 Federal Street city, town Salem 6. Representation in Existing Surveys title Inventory of Historic Assets of the Commonwealth #443 has this property been determined eligible? state Massachusetts 01970 - yes X no date May, 1977 _federal X state - county local depository for survey records Massachusetts Historical Commission city, town 294 Washington Street, Boston state Massachusetts 02108 7.

Description 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

N/A The Lynn Bank Block stands on the south side of Exchange Street between Union and Spring Streets, immediately east of the elevated railroad crossing of the Boston and Maine Railroad. Built to be part of a row of commercial buildings, the block is attached to a neighboring structure on its east elevation; however, its western party wall is now exposed due to the demolition of abutting buildings. The Bank Block has a rectangular plan consisting of a three-storey front section (north) and a one-storey rear wing (south) which was added in 1931. Both sections are enc bsed by flat tar-and-gravel roofs and are built of masonry with wood and steel framing. symmetrical facade (north) is faced with dressed límestone set on a granite plinth.

Limestone finishes vary from heavy rustication on piers at the first storey to rusticated ashlar on upper floors and a band of dressed ashlar with four wreaths carved in low relief between the second and third stories. These wreaths bear various inscriptions, i.e., "1814" (date of the bank's incorporation), "1891" (date of the block's construction), "FNB" (First National Bank) and "IFS" (Institution for Savings). The facade's first storey is dominated by an arched entry (doors replaced ca. 1956) surmounted by a damaged keystone, a course of carved fleur-de-lis and a cornice decorated with carved lion's heads. Flanking the entry are two sets of store fronts, each of which is framed by panelled iron pilasters into three bays; at the first storey each of these bays contains a transom and a single fixed light set over a panelled base.

At the basement, most bays contain single fixed lights (two have been altered to accommodate air conditioners) except for the eastern-most bay which contains a below-grade entry with granite steps, a panelled lobby and glazed doors with iron grilles. An identical entry existed in the western-most bay until 1956. by Ionic columns. Flanking this central window are six windows (1/1) arranged in moulded cap and carved wreath. The third storey contains eight windows (1/1) arranged mio tace sroe faeatae kat ranoa eig semed symmetrically about a carving in low relief that consists of a shield framed by a crown, scrolls and swags; the shield itself is oval in shape and bears three swords and three bell flowers. At the top of the third storey is a pressed metal cornice with modillions.

Originally a pressed metal balustrade formed a parapet across the facade; however, this detail was removed in the mid-twentieth century. The east elevation consists of a blank three-storey party wall (north), a one-storey wall of red brick (south) with four blocked window openings and a partially collapsed blank brick wall (1931) at the south end of the elevation. This wall as well as the interior behind it were damaged by smoke and water in 1981 when the neighboring building burned. The south elevation is built of red brick set on a concrete foundation. Fenestration of the basement and first storeys is irregular consisting of four blocked windows (basement), five windows of varying size, and two doors (first storey). The second and third each have eight windows, symmetrically arranged.

Sash is mostly 2/2 set in 1ng o, ca te motly 2l2 ber tesent), rectangular surrounds with sandstone lintels and sills.

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 -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 dates 1891, 1931 Builder

Statement of significance

/Architect James T. Kelley,Architect (1891) Thomas M. James Co. (1931) Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) James, Thamas M., Co. The Lynn Bank Block possesses integrity of location, design, setting, materials and workmanship, as well as historical association with the reconstruction of Lynn's com- mercial district after the Fire of 1889 and the development of the City's important shoe industry throughout the nineteenth century. Additionally, it was the first building constructed in downtown Lynn after the devastating fire to employ a classical design vocabulary. Thus, the building meets criteria A & C of the NRHP.

Between 1891 and the early 1970s, the Bank Block served as the main offices of the Lynn Institution for Savings (chartered as a savings bank in 1826) and the Lynn First National Bank (chartered as a commercial bank in 1814 as the Mechanics' Bank; re-in- corporated as the Essex Trust Company in 1904). Founded by local shoemakers, these two institutions, especially the former Mechanics' Bank, played an essential role in the development of the shoe industry in Lynn by discounting the notes of credit with which Southern and Western buyers paid local manufacturers for boots and shoes. As early as 1804, such notes amounted to $500,000 annually and proved a severe hindrance to shoemakers who needed cash to purchase raw materials.

With the founding of the Mechanics' Bank, this credit problem was solved and a continuing relationship was established between the bank and the local shoe manufacturers, a relationship that was reflected in the large number of shoe manufacturers who served on the bank's Board of Directors throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Before 1889, the two banks had jointly occupied a succession of different buildings on the Lynn Common and Broad Street; however, the reconstruction of Lynn's business district after the Fire of 1889 provided them with the opportunity to establish their headquarters in a location which was more central to the business district that had grown around Central Square after the opening of the railroad in the 1830s.

In 1891, the Exchange Street site, which had previously contained two shoe factories, was purchased by the banks, and architectural plans by James Kelley of Boston were published for the burned district's first Classical Revival style block. Praised by a local newspaper as "one of the most thoroughly built blocks in the City," the Bank Block also enjoyed the distinction of being the most finely decorated building in the district. Its facade of Indiana limestone, low-relief carvings, Palladian window, modillioned cornice and other decorative details are of extremely high quality and are characteristic of a taste for fine details which is evident in other major local buildings designed by Kelley, most notably in the Elihu Thomson House at Swampscot (1889), the Charles Porter House at Lynn (1889) and the nearby Lynn Gas & Electric Company Block on Exchange Street (1896).

Exterior details, as well as interior features such as panelled wainscots, ornamental plasterwork and carved railings remain mostly intact. Actual construction of the Block was carried out by James E. Manning, mason, and Joseph Breed & Son, carpenters, of Lynn.

The rest of the file

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

Major Bibliographical References Burrill, E.M. Essex Trust Company: An Historical Sketch... Lynn: 1914 Lynn City Item May 1, 1891, p.6 10. Geographical Data Acreage of nominated property - 15,204 square feet Quadrangle name - Lynn, Mass. UMT References Quadrangle scale_1:25,000 Zone 1314,90,8,9 Easting 14,70,285,0 Northing D F LLLLL Easting Northing LIL E GLULLILLLIILLI Verbal boundary description and justification The nominated property includes only the lot on which the block stands, shown on Lynn Assessors' Sheet 19 as Lot #20 of Block #595, which is attached. List all states and counties for properties overlapping state or county boundaries State N/A code county code state code county code 11. Form Prepared By name/title Candace Jenkins, Registration Director by B. R.

Pfeiffer, ACT for Massachusetts organization Massachusetts Historical Commission date May, 1982 street & number 294 Washington Street telephone (617) 727-8470 city or town Boston state 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 to thecriteria and procedures set forth by the National Park Service. Atina Historic Preservation Oficer signature Valerie Ann lalmage title Aeting Executive Director, Mass.

Historical Commission date puly 20,1982 For NPS use only I hereby certify that this property is included in the National Register Nelores Entered in the Keeper of the National Registephe National Register date 8/2/82 Attest: Chief of Registration date NPS Form 10-900-a (3-82) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form Continuation sheet Lynn Bank Block Item number 8 OMB No.1024-0018 Exp. 10-31-84 For NPS use only received date entered Page 2 In 1931, the Block was enlarged by the construction of a one-storey brick addition to the south elevation. Built to enlarge the banking halls, this addition was not originally visible from the street.

Its exterior is undecorated, although its in- terior contained Colonial Revival style woodwork, most of which has been damaged as the result of the collapse of a neighboring structure onto this wing in 1981. Other alterations to the Block include the installation of an elevator in the well of the main staircase (1941) and the addition of oak panelling, suspended ceilings and aluminum-trimmed glass doors to the entry lobby (1956). 598 3161 3193 ITLE 19-21 9969 524-530 57.90 516-520 »; 595 242 ESED 808 6005 562 174-841 G 2501 (ReS 237-343 106.08 GoMT 69.41 1.% 60° Ill af 384-598 STREET 3610 6206 4494 3: 9010 8919 661° 48,162 380.63 594 STREET 205 278 222.49 166 HAL SQ. 33679 159 1600 0297 3/ 6% LOST SGR OV 32.87 31-35 tàigi 7976 <82g 31-01 4502 12. 3606 PT. 66LS7 36,980 NVHLVN ST 5013 0978 99°15 5709 1069 HURD gQ. 18864T 7300 L 10,714 59.04 27.4250 75 2 TO.

68 1981 Bank lot indicated by red cross-hatching scale: 1"=80' Lynn Assessors' Sheet #19 EXCHANGE 103.66 39701 2927 11-20 596 214.31 76.20 179 BROAD 192-190 176 17909 62.80 1090 18- 8 15,153 Lynn, Massachusetts LYNN BANK BLOCK 2LTS 99SE ol. 66 ATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES iited States Department of the Interior tional Park Service EVALUATION / RETURN SHEET 62004964 Lvnn Bank Block, Essex Countv, MASSACHUSETTS, Working No. 7/27/82-2076 Fed. Reg. Date: Date Due:_ 8-268-/9-10-82 Action: ACCEPT_ 8/28/82 resubmission Entered in the - RETURN- nomination by person or local government National Register _REJECT_ owner objection Federal Agency: appeal Substantive Review: - sample -_ request - appeal - NR decision Reviewer's comments: Recom.

/ Criteria Reviewer_ Discipline Date see continuation sheet -Nomination returned for: 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 - no 7. Description Condition excellent good fair deteriorated ruins unexposed Check one unaltered altered Check one originai site moved date Describe the present and original (If known) physical appearance summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates boundary selection 8.

Significance Perted Aroes ef SignificanceChock and justity balow pocific dates Btatomant el Stgnificence (in ene paragraph) Sullder Architeet 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 Reterences Verbal boundery description and justification 11. Form Prepared By 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evaluated significance of this property within the state is netiona! -- state - State Historic Preservation Officer signature date Witle 13.

Other Maps Photographs Other Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to Phone: 202 272 -3504 Date_ Signed Comments for any item may be continued on an attached sheet MASS. SCHOOL OF BARBERING HAIRSTYLING OF LYNN, INC. 25 EXCHANGE ST. Lynn Bank Block 21-29 Exchange Street Lynn, Massachusetts Brian Pfeiffer, photographer - February negative at: ACT for Massachusetts 45 School Street Boston, Massachusetts 02 View of the facade (north elevation) tak position facing southwest. MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION July 20, 1982 COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS Office of the Secretary of State 294 Washington Street Boston, Massachusetts 02108 617-727-8470 MICHAEL JOSEPH CONNOLLY Secretary of State Ms. Carol Shull, Acting Keeper 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: Lynn: Lynn Bank Block (1ocal) Monterey: Reverend Adonijah Bidwell House and First Meetinghouse Site (local) Newburyport: E.P. Dodge Building (local) Sandisfield: Philemon Sage 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 consideration 30-75 days before the meeting and were afforded the opportuntiy to comment. Comments received to date are attached to the nomination forms. Sincerely, Candace fenkins Candace Jenkins Registration Director Massachusetts Historical Conmission (S) RECEIVED JÜL 27 1982 NATIONAL REGISTER INITE