Nomination for Octagon 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 Octagen Yeuse historic Watson-Steiger-Ioomis House For HCRS use only received MAR 3 1982 date entered APR 1 1982 and/or common-Octagon House (preferred) 2. Location street & number 28 King Street NA not for publication Westfield city, town N/A vicinity of congressional district First state Massachusetts 3. Classification Category Ownership . district public X building(s) X private structure both site Public Acquisition object in proçess X being considered code 025 county Hampden code 013 Status X occupied unoccupied work in progress Accessible - yes: restricted - unrestricted X .

no Present Use _ agriculture commercial educational entertainment government i industrial military . museum park X private residence religious scientific transportation _ other: 4. Owner of Property name Anna Czarnecki street & number 26 King ,Street city, town .c : Westfield N/A vicinity of 5. Location of Legal Description Massachusetts state courthouse, registry of deeds, etc. Hampden County Registry of Deeds street & number 50 State Street city, town Springfield state MA 6. Representation in Existing Surveys title Inventory of the Historic Assets of the Commonwealth has this property been determined elegible? - yes July 8, 1977 X date _ federal state - county - _ local depository for survey records Massachusetts Historical Commission city, town Boston Massachusetts state 7.

Description WESTFIELD: Octagon House, 28 King Street Condition excellent good Xfair 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

The Watson-Steiger-Loomis house faces north on King Street in a densely developed later nine- teenth century neighborhood on the western edge of downtown Westfield, Its main components consist of a two story octagon built between 1858-1864, and a two story rear ell added in the 1870's. Both sections are of wood frame construction, sheathed with clapboards and trimmed with cornerboards and friezes. The foundation below grade is granite while above grade it is brick. Each plane of the uctagonal section is symmetrically designed with a single window lighting each floor. The windows have simple frames with slighlty projecting caps and most contain house, and two interior chimneys. » ploreaed ly a cenaei baoeare it en diae te eston oe t On the interior, in keeping with a typical plan of an octagon house, is a central spiral staircase which.

leads not only to the second floor, but to the cupola as well. decoratively turned porch posts and balusters, a frieze of. spindles under the eaves, and a turreted projection at the Northeast corner. As already noted, the fenestration has been somewhat altered by the use of 9/1 sash on the first floor of the three front elevations. The rear ell, ca. 18/0, is a two story, four bay rectangular extension whose construction materials and fenestration correspond to that of the main structure. It terminates with a two story shed outhouse which is believed to have been added in the late 19th century.

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Significance Period - prehistoric 1400-1499 1500-1599 1600-1699 1700-1799 X 1800-1899 1900- Areas of Significance-Check and justify below _ archeology-prehistoric - community planning - archeology-historic _ conservation agriculture _ economics X architecture _ education art - engineering X 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 c. 1861 Builder

Statement of significance

/Architect Unknown Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) The Watson-Steiger-Loomis House possesses integrity of design, location, materials, and setting, and is a fine example of an unusual style of 19th century architecture. It also has associations with a past prominent businessman of the area, and therefore the house meets criteria B and C of the National Register of Historic Places. This octagonal house, built for Joseph watson, ca. 1861, represents an interesting aspect of experimentation in domestic design which occured during the 19th century.It clearly displays the characteristics of the octagon style developed by Orson Squire Fowler in his design book, A Home for Ali, and is representative of the less ornate type which evolved in Massachusetts. This is one of three octagonal cottages which originally existed in Westfield, and is the only one that stands intact today.

Although the period of popularity for this residential type was short-lived, 1848-1862, the design appeared throughout the United States. New York and Massachusetts in particular had a high concentration of the style, and to this day approximately twenty such structures exist in Massachusetts. Orson Squire Fowler, the major proponent of this plan, felt the octagon mode was preferable to others for both aesthetic and practical reasons. In his pattern book, A Homefor All, first printed in 1848, he exposed the virtues of this architectural design. Among its positive qualities, he noted that it provided substantially more floor space than a square house with the same size walls. He also felt it was more attractive since it closely approached a spherical shape, a form he believed was the predominant one in nature.

addition he propounded that this was an economical building type as well since it let in more sunlight and therefore was less expensive to heat. In many ways Orson Squire was a progressive thinker and designer of his day. In addition to its architectural significance, the Watson-Steigers-Loomis House also po- ssess significance in its association with a regionally prominent late 19th century business- Mr. Albert Steiger, who lived here in the 1880's-90's, was the founder of the Steiger Department Stores which continue to be a leading retail firm in Massachusetts. From 1908 through the 1970's, the house has been owned by the Loomis family.

The rest of the file

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

Major Bibliographical References Assorted maps, 1855, 1870, 1875, 1894, 1912 Deeds, Hampden County Registry of Deeds, Springfield, Massachusetts. 10. Geographical Data .25 Acreage of nominated property Quadrangle name Southwick UMT References UTM NOT VERIFIED ACREAGE NOT VERIFIED Quadrangle scale 1:25 000.- A 18 Zone CLL Easting 4616549,9 Northing LLLL G B Zone LLiilii Easting Northing ULLILNLILILN FLULLILLI LILILLL HLULIA dLLu Verbal boundary description and justification See attached topographical map of City of Westfield List all states and counties for properties overlapping state or county boundaries state NA code county code state code county code 11. Form Prepared By Kathryn Kubie, Program Assistant Dept. of Community Develop.

name/title Candace Jenkins, Register Director with Lee David Hamber, Administrative Assistant, organization Massachusetts Historical Commission date February 8, 1980 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 the criteria and procedures set forth by the Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service.

State Historic Preservation Officer signature dluvi IWestnski title Executive Director, Massachusetts Historical Commission date For HCRS use only I hereby certify that this property is included in the National Register tau dlmea Intored In the alen *eaper of the National Regiee date 2/17/82 H/1182 Attest: Chief of Registration date GPO 938 835 1445 44. 147.6 146.6 KING 198.5 PARKING PARKING PARKING 147.5 1471 PARKING 147.5 ST 146.6 WSI0 153.5 8.0 HOLCO UTM 154.0 N ZONE 18 155.3 PARKING CORTÉ 154.02 52.5 53.0 SCALE 1" = 200' NOBLE 150 COURT 151.8 148.6 Octagon House- preferred Watson-Steiger-Loomis House Westfield, MA Source: Topographic Map of City of Westfield, sheet No.

F-6 Scale: 1" = 200' Date: May 1978 MAR 3 1982 NORTH 200 1/49.6 400 600 CONTOUR INTERVAL 5' YOP:NPS NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES United States Department of the Interior Nstionel Park Service 82004967 EVALUATION / RETURN SHEET / Property:. OctagonHouse: State, County:_ MA Nampdes Federal Agency: Working No. 3/3/82-607 Fed. Reg. Date:_ 2./83 Date Due: 4-1-82 4-12-82 resubmission Entered Stithe ACCEPT- 4/1/82 RETURN nomination by person or local government- National Register - REJECT- owner objection photos. appeal maps- 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. Kame 2. Location 3. Ciassification Catapory Owmnership Public Acquisition 4.

Owner of Property Batus Accessibie Present Use 5. Location of Legal Description Representation in Existing Surveys Lee thie property been denermined oligible? - re1 - no 7. Description Conditioo good tarr detenorated ruins _ unexposed chock ene - unatlered . aherec Check one - original site _moved date serlbe the prosont and eriginal (I known) physicai appoerance summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates boundary sclection C. Significance Perted Arame of Stgmilicance Chack and hustity bate Specific datee Pratememt el Significence (in ane peragrast) Buitder Architect 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 S. Major Bibliographical References 10.

Geographical Data Acraage of nominsted property - Ousdrangie neme - UMT Raterences Varbei boundary description and justfication 11. Form Prepared By 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evsiuatec significance of this property within the starte is: national -stane State Ihstonc Preservation Officer signature dete 13.

Other Maps Photographs Other Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to Signed Date _ Phone: 202 272-3504 Comments for eny item may be continued on an etteched sheet Octagon House Watson-Steiger-Loomis House Westfield Hampden County MA Photo Credit: Lee David Hamberg Negative Filed: Community Development Office, WEstfield, MA Identification: View from Northeast Date: October 1979 MAR 3 1982 Watson-Steiges-Loomis House Westfield Hampden County MA Photo Credit: Lee David Hamberg Negative Filed: Community Development Office, Westfiela, MA Identification: West Elevation Date: October 1979 MAR 3 1982 (J City of Westfield, Massachusetts - DEPARTMENT of COMMUNITY DEVELOP MENT - Patrick M. Condon Director January 20, 1982 Ms. Patricia Weslowski State Historic Preservation Officer Executive Director Massachusetts Historical Commission 294 Washington Street Boston, Ma.

02108 RECEIVED JAN 25 1982 MASS. HIST. COMM. Dear Ms. Weslowski: Please accept our department's endorsement of the two pending Westfield nominations for National Register status: The Loomis Octagon House, and and the Landlord Fowler Tavern. As you may know, the Landlord Fowler Tavern has been carefully restored through a concerted effort that involved Block Grant funds from this office. The original doorway, which is now on display at the New York Metropolitan Museum fur its significance as an exemplar of Georgian period design, has been accurately restored. With this restoration and others, the building is, we feel, the single most important area example of the Georgian style, both architectural and a historic point of view. The Loomis Octagon House is one of a handful of such homes remaining nation- wide and is the only one in our region.

National Register status for this building, which is now showing significant decay, would make its future restoration far more likely. In conclusion, the Westfield Office of Community Development heartily endorses the inclusion of these two structures into the National Register of Historic Places. Very truly yours, Nl loda Patrick M. Condon Director PMC/1m TATT MAR RECEIVED 3 1982 NATIONAL REGISTER TEI TET? Municipal Building - 59 Court Street - Westfield, MA. 01085 - Telephone (413) 568-9181 L OF 6991 THE PIELD. MISO Westfield Nistorical Commissin WESTFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS 01085 REM iou2 MASS. HIST. COMM. January 18, 1982 Ms. Patricia L. Weslowski State Historic Preservation Officer Executive Director Massachusetts Historical Commission 294 Washington Street Boston, MA 02108 Dear Ms.

Weslowski: Your letter to Mayor McDermott dated December 23, 1981, was turned over to the Historical Commission. The Commission voted at its January 4, 1982 meeting, to inform the State Commission of our desire to have the Landlord Fowler Tavern and the Octagon House formally presented for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places. It is our understanding that the nominations will be presented to the State Review Board soon for nomination to the National Register. We have been working on this nomination for sometime, and trust that they will be accepted. Very truly yours, Carl E.

Walker Chairman 48 Westwood Drive Westfield, MA 01085 MAR 3 1982 NATIONAL REGISTER Name ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES STATE MASSACHUSETTS Date Entered APRIL 1, 1982 Location Mausert Block Adams Berkshire County Armory Block Adams Berkshire County Simmons Block Adams Berkshire County Octagon House Westfield Hampden County Notified Honorable Edward M. Kennedy Honorable Paul E. Tsongas Honorable Silvio O. Conte 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, please call the National Register at (202) 272-3504