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. COUNTY JAIL AND HOUSE OF CORRECTIOM 48530 -HP- :OM- 5-77 In Area no. 35 Form no. 194 1. Town Salem Address 6 Rust Stfeet First Universalist Church - Name_ Present use Church First Universalist Church Present owner 6 Rust Street Salem, Mass. 01970 3. Description: Date 1808 Source Salem Historical Commission Style Federal Architect William Putnam Exterior wall fabric_Brick Outbuildings (describe) None Other features pedimented frontispiece, balustraded tower, arched entry 1855;1878; Altered Restored 1924 Date Moved No Date 5. Lot size: 16,252 sq. ft.
(Ø.Uecres One acre or less Approximate frontage Over one acre 126 ft. Approximate distance of building from street Adjacent 6. Recorded by_ A. Crump Organization Salem Redevelopment Authority Date November 1979 UTM References: 19/344300/4709460 Assessor's Number: 35-194 7. Original owner (if known)_ First Church Original use Church Subsequent uses (if any) and dates 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 First Universalist Church on Rust Street is one of two Federal period churches remaining in the city.
In addition, it is one of only two buildings to survive in an early 19th century vernacular neighborhood that was cleared for urban renewal. The two-story, red brick church is built on a typical Federal meetinghouse plan, with a projecting five-bay facade supporting a square tower at its center, which masks the ridge of the pitched roof behind. Brick sill courses mark the second story of the facade and encircle the tower, but do not appear on the main mass of the building, which is completely sheer except at the cornice. This restraint enhances the bold effect of the stronger cornice and balustrade capping the tower. Broad granite steps lead to three doorways symmetrically placed on the facade. The center entry is recessed in a round arch; the secondary side entries, also recessed, are segmentally arched. The end bays are marked with rectangular windows.
The Universalist Society of Salem was founded in 1805, and a lot of land on St. Peter Street was donated for construction of a church. This was considered to be too close to the town jail, so the lot was sold for $1,000 and the present lot purchased for 1,500. The cornerstone was set on August 17, 1808; the first service was held on May 14, 1809. The First Universalist Church possesses integrity of location, design, materials, workmanship and association. Historic Places. It meets criterion Cof the National Register of 10. Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records, early maps, etc.) Salem Historic District Study Committee: Report, 1968.
NPS Form 10-900-a (3-82) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form Far NPS use only recelved 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 Intored in the National Register 2. Federal Street District Entered in the Nat1onal Register f'Keeper Attest Keeper Date/Signature AelousByun 7/20/83 AuluaByen 9/16: "3. First Universalist Church Entered in tho Hational Regieter tkeeper AelouaBye 1/29ks Attest 4. Monroe, Bessie, House Entered in tne National Register fokéeper AubuaAyen 7/29/8: Attest ''5.\ Downtown Salem District subetantara lovton frlkeeper asceft Patick Andus ralks. Attest "6.
Peabody, John.P., House Jatared in la IwiSoös1 Register Keeper selmußgun 7/29/2: 7. Salem Laundry Entered in the National Regieter Attest Theeper Aulunazen 1/29/83 8. Shepard Block Entored in teo Matlobsl Regieter Attest HKeeper AulousAyad 2/29/83 9. Wesley Methodist Church Entered in the Mational Register 10.' Crombie Street District Entered in tho National Regieter Attest fkeeper Attest Keeper Attest SelonaByus 7/29/83 9/16/83 EVALUATION / RETURN SHE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES United States Dopartme al ol tho laterier National Park Serricr First Universalist Church (Downtown Sale m MRA) Essex County MASSACHUSETTS resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: Reviower's comments: Working , N°. JUN.| 4 1983 Fed. Reg.
Date: 8 Dato Due:7//7/83 /29/83 Action: ACCEPT_7/24/23 Hatared in tho _ RETURN Hatsoürl Regieter - REJECT. Federal Agoncy:. - sample _ request _ appeal - NR decision Recom. / Criteria - Reviewer Discipline Date se continuation sheet -Nomination returned for: corrections cited below _substantive reasons discussad below 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification 4. Owner of Property 5. Location of Legal Description 6. Représentation in Existing Surveys Ms hie property bean feteresm - ºº - 7. Description Mortora wine rgtmal (Wl duee summaryparagraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates boundary selection 8.
Significance lrees ef 3i peere dates toromont of Stomiteen wider Arehitee summary paragraph completeness clarity applicable criteria justification of areas checked relating significance to the resource context relation ship of integrity to significance justification of exception other 9. Major Bibliographical References 10. Geographical Data loreege of nomineted property Quedrangle nere UMT References Verbal beundery descrietien and jstificatien 11. Form Prepared By 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evelumsed significance of thie property within the scate is: netionel state oca Bteta Historic Preservation Officar aigneture 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 397 BGN Dounteun Salen MRA, Ma First universalst Churdh NOV 1979 stige Prints Aospeg la 7-20 Respeg la Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000277