Nomination for Primrose Street Schoolhouse

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

NPS Form 10-900 (3-82) 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 MAY 2 3 1983 date entered historic Primrose Street Schoolhouse and/or common 2. Location same street & number 71 Primrose Street N/Anot for publication city, town Haverhill N/ A vicinity of state Massachusetts code 3.

Classification Category Ownership district - public x building(s) X private structure both site Public Acquisition _ object N/ A in process being considered 025 county Essex code 009 Status occupied X unoccupied - work in progress Accessible x yes: restricted Present Use _ agriculture _ commercial _ educational _entertainment government _ industrial military museum - park - private residence religious scientific transportation X other: Vacant 4. Owner of Property name Architectural Conservation Trust for Massachusetts, Ann Beha, President street & number 45 School Street city, town Boston N/Avicinity of 5. Location of Legal Description state Massachusetts 02108 courthouse, registry of deeds, etc. Essex County Registry of Deeds street & number 32 Federal Street city, town Salem, state 6. Representation in Existing Surveys Inventory of the Hist #250 .

Assets title of the Commonwealth has this property been determined eligible? Massachusetts 01970 yes X no date 1983 _federal X state - county - _local depository for survey records Massachusetts Historical Commission city, town Boston Massachusetts state 7. Description Haverhill: Primrose Street School Condition excellent x9oodE S fair YAN deteriorated ruins _ unexposed Check one unaltered X altered Check one Xoriginal site _ moved date _ N/A Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance

Description of the property

The Primrose Street Schoolhouse stands on an elevated site at the southeast corner of Primrose and Rose Streets in an area of mixed residential and institutional buildings of the mid and late nineteenth century that has undergone substantial abandonment and demolition. The former Schoolhouse is a brick structure with a rectangular floor plan that rises from a foundation of rock-faced granite through two full stories to a pitched roof with gable ends at the facade (west) and rear (east) elevations. Window and door openings are rectangular and have granite sills and lintels. Excepting several added windows on the north elevation, sash is 6/6. An enclosed two-story porch of wood-frame construction (ca. 1910) exists at the Building's northeast corner.

The facade (west elevation) is symmetrical, containing a central doorway flanked by two windows at both the first and second stories and'aglazed two-leaf door centered on the gable. The first storey entry contains a tri-partite transom and double doors with panelled bases and fixed lights, now concealed by modern coverings. The second storey entry retains a tri-partite transom; however, its double doors have been replaced by modern in-fill and a flush-panel (hollow-core) door. The gable doorway contains an unpanelled double door each half of which contains three lights. The gable is trimmed with a boxed cornice and wide frieze, from which the returns have been removed. The north elevation is asymmetrical, containing one 1/1 and one 6/6 window per storey as well as a second storey light on the main body of the Building.

At the east end of the north elevation is an enclosed two-storey entry porch (ca. 1910) that rests on concrete footings, is covered with matched boarding and is enclosed by a half-hip roof. The west elevation of this porch contains a flush-panel door at its first storey and a damaged four-panel door at its second storey, while the porch's north elevation contains one blocked window at each storey and a small 1/1 window at the second storey. The east (rear) elevation contains two original windows at the basement, first and second stories as well as two added windows (2/1 - ca. 1910) in the gable. As at the facade, the returns on the roof's boxed cornice and frieze have been removed. The south elevation is asymmetrical, containing two windows at the basement and three windows at both the first and second stories.

The center windows of the first and second stories are set in arched surrounds that were added to the elevation around 1910. As originally designed, the Primrose Schoolhouse differed from its present appearance in that its facade contained double window (6/6) in the center opening of the second storey, single 6/6 windows in each gable and only two window openings per storey on the north and south elevations. During the Building's conversion to a two-family house in 1910-1913, the facade was altered by the addition of doorways and balconies at the second storey and gable. Also added at this time were the present front doors and transom, the north elevation's enclosed entry porch, an exterior staircase along the north elevation and several new window openings on the north and south elevations; all exterior features appear to have been built of salvage from other Victorian buildings.

In addition, the Building's interior was subdivided into rooms that were finished with doors, mantel pieces, wainscots, cornices and other Victorian features that had been taken as salvage from unidentified Victorian buildings. Photographs showing the Building and its details around 1915-1920 have provided documentation for the reproduction of missing features, notably the facade balconies and north staircase which are currently being restored.

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Significance Haverhill: Primrose Street School 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 _ law agriculture economics _ literature X architecture education -military art engineering -music commerce exploration/settlement philosophy communications .industry .:politics/government - invention - landscape architecture_ religion science - sculpture social/ humanitarian _theater X transportation other (specify). community development Specific dates 1868, ca. 1910-1913 Builder

Statement of significance

/Architect Josiah Littlefield (1868) Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) The former Primrose Street Schoolhouse possesses integrity of location, design, setting, materials and workmanship from two important periods in its development. First, it represents (Haverhill's best surviving example) (one of Haverhill's few surviving examples) of a mid-late nineteenth century schoolhouse. Additionally, in its conversion to a two-family residence at the turn of the century by Carmine DePalma it possesses associations with Haverhill's Italian community and reflects changing community development patterns. It also represents a highly personal reuse of interior features from other period buildings. Thus, the building meets criterion C of the NRHP.

Built as a primary school by the City of Haverhill in 1868, the former Primrose Street School- house was originally identical to several other local schoolhouses built during this period to plans provided by Josiah Littlefield, of which only the Locust Street Schoolhouse remains (now altered). Although conversion to a two-family house in 1910-1913 eliminated the Building's original plan of one classroom and anterooms at each storey, the Building's exterior retains the major elements of its original design in its rectangular plan, gabled facade, deep boxed cornice, 6/6 sash and granite-trimmed brickwork, all of which are characteristic of early and mid-nineteenth century schoolhouse construction.

The Primrose Street Schoolhouse remained in use as a primary school from 1868 until the late 1890s, after which it was abandoned and used for the storage of City property until 1909, when deteriora- tion of the structure and vandalism encouraged the City to sell the property to Carmine DePalma. A native of Italy who had become a successful local shoemaker, DePalma carried out an ambitious and eccentric program of renovation, converting the Building to a two-family house between 1910 and 1913. Added at this time were two balconies on the west elevation, an exterior staircase with ornate turnings on the north elevation and a variety of interior fittings, most of which were taken as salvage from other Victorian buildings.

DePalma displayed his patrioticefeelings for both the United States and Italy by installing a bronze statue of Christopher Columbus on a pedestal in the front yard and by building two flag- poles painted red, white, blue and green; in addition, a statue of Psyche was also installed in the front yard. Although these features have been removed within recent memory, their whereabouts is unknown. DePalma's financial success was based on a shoemaking and repair busines which he established in Bradford, Massachusetts, soon after his arrival in the United States. Praised in contemporary accounts for his frugality, DePalma eventually saved enough money to purchase modern shoe repairing machinery as well as a commercial block on White Street, Haverhill, to which he moved his business and residence in the early twentieth century.

Following his renovation of the former Primrose Street Schoolhouse, DePalma and his family lived in the Building's second storey, until DePalma's death in the 1940s. Subsequently, in the 1950s, the building was used as a rental property and later as a nursery school Most recently the property served as a day-care center and offices for social service agencies until 1980.

The rest of the file

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

Major Bibliographical References Report of the Auditors of Accounts of the Town of Haverhill for the Fiscal Year Ending January 30, 1869 p.g- Haverhill Free Gazette. November 7, 1913 Haverhill Public Library - Photograph Collection 10. Geographical Data Acreage of nominated property 17,640 sq. ft. Quadrangle name - Haverhill, Mass.-N.H. Quadrangle scale 1:25000 UT M References AL119/ |3/219/41310 Zone Easting [417/318/11910 Northing LLLL CLL E Zone Easting -LULLILLL FLJ LLILLL LuLud LhLu Northing 4LLu Verbal boundary description and justification .The nominated property includes the original schoölhouse lot purchased by the City of Haverhill in 1867, shown as Parcel #2 on Hayerhill Assessors' Map #305, Block #69 (copy of map attached) List all states and counties for properties overlapping state or county boundaries state N/A code county code state code county 11.

Form Prepared By Candace Jenkins, Preservation Planning Director with name/title Brian Pfieffer, ACT for Massachusetts code organization Massachusetts Historical Commissiondate March 1983 street & number 294 Washington Street telephone (617) 7278470 city or town Boston Massachusetts 02108 state 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 National Park Service.

State Historic Preservation Officer signature Patumo <Weslowski State Historic Preservation Officer, title Massachusetts Historical Commission date 4/28/83 For NPS use only I hereby certify that this property is included in the National Register Velares Imtered in tso fokeeper of the National Register Hational Register date 6/23/83 Attest: Chief of Registration date PRIMROSE SEEPLAN NO.306 N ST. 59 PRIMROSE STREET SCHOOL HOUSE 71 Primrose Street Haverhill, Massachusetts Haverhill Assessors' Map #305, Block 69 Scale: 1"=40' current to 1/1981 15 ... T. 8 PRIMROSE STREET SCHOOL HOUSE AVE: 69 PRIMROSE DEVEL. CORPOCATION MACQUERiTE V. MELODY ET.AL. 15 13 L.

37 41 35 33 CHARLI NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES United States Departr vol al shro laterio Mationai Park Sarvice EVALUATION / RETURN SHE Primrose Street Schoolhouse Essex County MASSA CHUSETTS resubmission nomination by porson or local government omnar objection appeal Substantive Revlew: Reviower's comments: Working No. .MAY 23 1983 Fad. Reg. Data; 7-84 Date Due: 7/2 (3 3 Action: ACCEPT 6/23/83 Entered in the - RETURN National Regieter- REJECT. Faderal Agency:- -sample - request _ appeal - NR decision .Homination returned for: Recom. / Criteria - Reviower_ Discipline. Date _see continustion sheet -technical corrections cited below -substantive reasons discussed below 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification Prasoas dos 4. Owner of Property 5. Location of Legal Description 6. Representation in Existing Surveys das thle proporry tean drtrvatrend alrgicke? 7.

Description bommadtaho good raie _ detariorssa - ruine doch o0e - usottenad _ aiteres Chack ore - movod anios dho proceni soad artuhnal (1l ianaal pinyodaed aanaseraaan summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates boundary selection 8. Significanco Perter Arecs of Stgnillesn pesife dateo atomsans el Stentlloen 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 age of non inated property vadrengle namo VNST Reterenced larbed bouadery doecrtacton and heattothen 11. Form Prepared By 12.

State Historic Preservation Officer Certification Tine ereluated olgnificance of thie property vithin the etate le: netional aparvation Officer signeture 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 Historic Preservation Certification Applicatior Primrose Street School Haverhill, Massachusetts View: North & west elevations taken + facing east Photographer : Brian Pfeiffer ACT for Massachusetts November, 1981 Photo #1 of 2. Historic Preservation Certification Applicati Primrose Street School Haverhill, Massachusetts View: Photographer: North & west elevations taken f facing east - ca. 1920 Taken from photogranh collectior Haverhill Public Library Haverhill, Massachusetts Date: ca. 1920 Photo #2 o6 2.