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 - '- 4. Map. Draw sketch of building location in relation to nearest cross streets and other buildings. Indicate north. ISTITUTE 1214 .E0 HP-2 227 17,00 219 4287 HP-Z In Area no. Form no. 35 210 1. Town Salem Address 144-156 Essex Street Name_ Bowker Place Present use Commercial Present owner L.H. Rogers, Inc. 144 Essex Street Salem, Mass. 01970 3. Description: Date c. 1830 Source_ Title records Style Greek Revival Architect Unknown Exterior wall fabric Brick Outbuildings (describe) none Other features 6/6 sash, brownstone lintels and sills Altered storefronts - Date 1974 Moved no Date 5. Lot size: 8,499 sq. ft. One acre or less Over one acre Approximate frontage 131 ft.
Approximate distance of building from street Adjacent 6. Recorded by_ A. Crump/A. Van Ingen Organization SRA/Historic Salem, Inc. Date November 1979 UTM Reference: 19/344510/4709260 Assessor's Number: 35-210 30M-5-77 7. Original owner (if known) William Manning. Original use Commercial Subsequent uses (if any) and dates Office, municipal, military 8. Themes (check as many as applicable) Aboriginal Agricultural Architectural The Arts Commerce Communication Community development X Conservation Education Exploration/ settlement Industry Military Political Recreation Religion Science/ invention Social/ humanitarian Transportation 9. Historical significance (include explanation of themes checked above) The Bowker Block, at 144-156 Essex Street, is a distinguished Greek commercial building erected about 1830 by William Manning.
Manning's bankruptcy forced sale of the building in 1844 to Joel Bowker, a leading local merchant, whose name was long associated with the structure. The building is significant both architecturally and through its association with the commercial development of the city. The three-story brick building is divided into three four-bay units, with each party wall marked by twin chimneys. The front slope of the pitched slate roof is also punctuated by two dormer windows on each unit. Brownstone lintels and sills trim the six-over-six windows on the upper floors; an elliptical window marks the center of the row on each story. The ground floor storefronts are framed by granite piers and lintels. The Bowker Block occupied a significant place in the commercial life of the community, as well as in its architectural environment.
The Merchants Bank, the Naumkeag Bank and the Salem Police Court were among the first tenants; later in the 19th century, occupants included the Salem Marine Insurance Company and the Second Corps Cadets. Prominent local retailers James F. Almy, David Conrad, and William Filene all started their operations in this building; Almy's and r enta Butevna, ayis dod Filene's are major department stores in the Boston area today. (Continued) 10. Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records, early maps, etc.) Essex County Registry of Deeds Salem Historic District Study Committee: Report, 1968. ) INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Commni ty : Salem Form No: 210 Property Name: Bowker Place Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. 9.
Historical Significance (Continued) In 1974, the Bowker Block was purchased by the L. H. Rogers Clothing Store. The original storefronts over time had been completely changed to a combination of wood, glass and aluminum. With L. H. Rogers' arrival, the mix and match storefronts were replaced with granite piers and lintels to approximate the original appearance. The Bowker Block possesses integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship and associations. It meets criteria A and C of the National Register of Historic Places.
Staple to Inventory form at bottom NPS Form 10-900-a (3-82) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form For NPS use only received date entered Continuation sheet 125 Item number Page / af2 Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group dnr-11 Name State Downtown Salem Multiple Resource Area Massachusetts Nomination/Type of Review i1. Bowker Place Intared in the National Register '2. Federal Street District Entered in the Nat1onal Register Date/Signature f'keeper Oulomßzun 1/2/63 Attest Keeper AuloraByer 9/16/. Attest "3. First Universalist Church Intered 1n tho Hational Regieter atsona 1Rottetor Theeper dulousByua 7/29ks Attest 4. Monroe, Bessie, House Entered in tne National Register fokéeper AulusByer 7/2/8: Attest _ ''5.| Downtown Salem District substantsva Horton falkeeper asceft Patick Andus celeles. Attest "6.
Peabody, John.P., House Jatared in It MwiSoöal Regieter tkeeper sdelmußgen 1/29/2 Attest 7. Salem Laundry Entered in the National Register tk eeper AelunaByen 7/29/83 8. Shepard Block Intored in tho Mations] Regieter Attest Hkeeper AulmusAyad 2/22/83 Wesley Methodist Church Intered in the Hationsl Register 10.' Crombie Street District Entered in the Mational Regteter Attest fieeper Attest TReeper Attest Ateloneßyus 7/2/83 Xibmußzur 9/16/83 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES United States Deg el thhe ladorier National Park Serri Bowker Place (Downtown Salem MRA) Essex County MASSACHUSETTS EYALUATION / RETURN SHE resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: Reviower's comments: Working No. Fed. Reg. Date: Dato Due: Action: Entered in the National Register Federal Agency:- JUN 1 4 1983 2 .84 83-7/29/83 ACCEPT2/29/83 RETURN REJECT.
- sample - request - appeal - NR decision -Nomination returned for: Recom. /Criteria _ Reviewer_ Discipline Date so continuation sheet -technical corrections cited below _substantive reasons discussad below 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification 4. Owner of Property 5. Location of Legal Description 6. Representation in Existing Surveys I Wis preperty bon teteren 7. Description dmertonem hoch om - unanoro Herer Choch ene summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates boundary selection 8. Significance arter Poes ef Si sarfle dates aregre 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 eage of nominsced property Quedrengle nume UNT Reterenoes Verbal sandery deecription and justifieatien 11. Form Prepared By 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evakurted significance of this property within the state is: netionel - state tade Historie Preeervation Officar signetur 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 2-30 Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000277