Nomination for Memorial Hall

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 MAR 2 2 1983 date entered historic Memorial Hall and/or common Memorial Hall 2. Location street & number 22 South Street N/Anot for publication city, town Foxboro N/Avicinity of yeosionat dietrier state Massachusetts 3.

Classification Category Ownership .district X public X building(s) - private _ structure both site Public Acquisition _ object N/Ain process being considered code 025 county Nor folk code 021 Status X _ occupied - unoccupied work in progress Accessible - yes: restricted yes: unrestricted no Present Use - agriculture commercial educational entertainment - government industrial military X - museum - park - private residence religious _ scientific _ transportation _ other: 4. Owner of Property name Town of Foxboro, Historical Commission street & number Memorial Hall, 22 South Street city, town Foxboro N/A. vicinity of 5. Location of Legal Description state Massachusetts courthouse, registry of deeds, etc. Registry of Deeds street & number High Street city, town Dedham 6.

Representation in Existing Surveys Inventory of the Historic Assets title of the Commonwealth #186 Massachusetts state has this property been determined eligible? - yes X no date 1981 federal X state county local depository for survey records Massachusetts Historical Commission city, town Boston state MA 7. Description Memoria1 Hall, Foxboro, MA Candition excellent . good fair _ deteriorated ruins unexposed Check one _ unaltered _altered Check one X original site _ moved date N/A Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance

Description of the property

Memorial Hall is a smal1 commemorative building standing opposite the Town Common in Foxboro Center. Located at a busy downtown intersection, the flat half-acre lot also contains an early burial ground. A low granite curb encloses the property on three sides; large maple, chestnut, and linden trees also frame the building. Built in 1868, this High Victorian Gothic structure is one and one-half stories high, built of random coursed, granite rubble. Its octagonal plan is formed by a crucitorm core with a pyramidal roof and, at the interstices, four gabled wings. Articulating The complex too is atiored are cusigranitentres, cursned bypanlo and archat avpsda (kitco optagonal windows), on which stands a 10-foot wooden statue of a Union soldier. A pair of stone buttresses defines each corner of the building.

Each of the 8 sides of the building (excepting the southwest and southeast) contains a single equilateral arched window with a banded architrave and trefoil glazing. gable fields in the north and south wings each contain a small triangular window, while those in the east and west wings have a round window. Low, pitch roofed additions made c. 1875 filled in the southwest and southeast corners, repeating the materials and design of the original structure. The original windows on those walls were re-used one story above to create gabled dormers. The building is entered from its north side, where granite steps lead up to a shallow gabled frontpiece. An equilateral arch opening with banded architrave frames double chestnut doors, all surmounted by an inset tablet commemorating the year of construction.

Large stained glass windows, located on all eight sides of the structure, distinguish the interior of Memorial Hall. The most prominent of these is entitled "Liberty", placed on the southern elevation where it immediately confronts visitors. A dome encloses the central hall, illuminated by a stained glass window at the top and the eight octagonal lights in the cupola. Windows and doors are all framed in chestnut, which was also used to panel the central room. Iwo small rooms off the main hall occupy the 1875 additions in the southwest and southeast corners of the building. Alterations to the original building have been minimal and generally reinforce its in- tegrity.

These include addition of the c.1875 alcoves, removal of original wrought iron cresting (probably during roof repairs made in 1920), and a 1962 replication of the original wooden statue, which had deteriorated beyond the point of repair. In addition to Memorial Hall, the property also contains a one-story wood frame building which was erected in 1979 as a storage sheet; 30 by 60 feet large, it is located 80 feet from the Hall near the southern property line and is not considered to be a contributing structure. Approximately three dozen simple gravestones dating from the late 18th through middle 19th centuries occupy the eastern and southern sides of the property.

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Significance Memorial Hall, Foxboro, MA 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 X military - music - philosophy politics/government _ religion science sculpture social/ humanitarian theater transportation other (specify) Specific dates 1868 Statement of Significance

Statement of significance

(in one paragraph) Builder/Architect J. Stevens Memorlal Hall 15 signiticant as a civic tribute to the Civil War, for its functions as a library and museum, and as a distinctive example of High Victorian architecture in Foxboro. The property meets Criteria A and C of the National Register of Historic Places, retaining integrity of design, materials, workmanship, location and setting. Memorial Hall was erected in 1868 as a "suitable monument" to the Union soldiers who died in the Civil War, as well as to all citizens who had served and contributed in some way to the preservation of the Union. Nehemiah Carpenter donated to the town the land for the structure, and E.P Carpenter, owner of the prominent Union Straw Works, chaired the committee which oversaw construction. This committee envisioned not only a marker but also a functional building.

Thus while the hall originally In 1872, onethousand books were donated to the town and housed in Memorial Hall, which served in tact as the town library until 1968. Since then, the building has been operated by the Foxboro Historical Commission, reverting to its original use as the town museum. Memorial Hall was erected at the height of Foxboro's industrial prosperity in the late 19th century. Local wealth and pride are reflected in the, employment of re- gionally known talent in the design and execution of the building. The architect was J. Stevens, most likely John Stevens of Boston, who was a popular designer of civic structures in this period; the stone cutter was a Mr. A. K. Lilley of Providence; the soldier was carved by L.F. Pratt; interior decoration was by a Mr. Brarier of Boston; and the carpentry was by Abner Fales of Foxboro.

The central location of Memorial Hall emphasizes its exceptionally fine Gothic Revival design. In a town with little high style architecture, particularly in non-residential buildings, Memorial Hall is a special demonstration of the cultural values and historical development of Foxboro. Its excellent preservation is further evidence of the importance town citizens afford to local history. The cemetery on the property was a family burial ground. The earliest grave is that of Elizabeth Carpenter, dated 1773, and the latest death was Abiathar and Lucretia Robinson, 1853; several graves were moved when Memorial Hall was built. No artifacts have ever been found on this property. 9. ajor Bib iographica References Authelet, Jack. Glimpses of Early Foxboro. Foxboro, MA: The Foxboro Co., 1978. Lane, Mr. and Mrs. Clifford W. This Was Foxboro. Foxboro, MA: Rea Craft Press Inc. 1966.

The rest of the file

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

Geographical Data Acreage of nominated property - 25,300 Square Feet Quadrangle name Wrentham, MA UMT References A 119 Zone 3/113/80d 1416/ 59 111001 Easting Northing C E G LL B LL Zone Quadrangle scale 1:25000 Easting LIILL Northing LL Verbal boundary description and justification See attached sketch map. 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 Wendy Frontiero, Preservation Planner with Mary Elizabeth Pyne, consultant organization Massachusetts Historical Commission date 12/31/82 street & number 294 Washington Street telephone 617 727-8470 Boston city or town state MA .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 National Park Service. State Historic Preservation Officer signature Paleue LWeslurki State Historic title Preservation Officer Massachusetts Historical Commission date 3/16/83 For NPS use only I hereby certify that this property is included in the National Register Nelores Entered in the.

ers fo Keeper of the National Register National Regtster date 4/21/83 Attest: date Chief of Registration NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES I ef she laterie Untted States D National Park &1 EVALUATION / RETURN SHEE Memorial Hall Norfolk County MASSACHUSETTS resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Rovlow: Reviower's comments: Working No. Fed. Reg. Date:, Date Due:. 4/ 21/$3 Action: -- ACCEPT- Entered in the - RETURN National Register - REJECT_ Foderal Agoncy:. 7-84 5/6/83 +21/83 -sample - roquest _ appeal - NR decision Recom. /Criteria _ Reviower_ Discipline. Date - se- continuation sheet -Nomination returned for: - technical corrections cited below .substantive reasons discussad bolow 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification narall Prasont Uoo anpatattton Owner of Property 5. Location of Legal Description 6.

Représentation in Existing Surveys es tain proporty boon entoratnee oliglbia? T - 7. Description _ dotertarates _ ruine boch unettered Mered mant and artolnas (1l teasaranal pongatan summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates boundary selection Chock en - moved 2000 8. Significance erter summary paragraph completeness clarity applicable criteria justification of areas checked rolating significance to the resource context relationship of integrity to significance justification of exception other 9. Major Bibliographical References 10. Geographical Data mngo of e sanated preperty - madrangto ru WATT Ratoronoo varbed bocadary dosertollon a 11. Form Prepared By 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The erelueasd oigntfhcance of ehla prosparty sutemtn eha elato ls: tlonel _otate -- loca: ata Mlatarte Proservetten OMcer elgnerture 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 onan attached sheet OUTH 140 MANSFIELD 4 TAuNTON 16 Memorial Hall South ST. Foxboro, Mass Northwest view Betsy Pyne June1982 Negative at Mem. Hall FOXBORO, MASS. Memorial Hall View of northwest elevation Photography by Mary Elizabeth Pyne, 1982 Negative at Memorial Hall Photo 1 of 1 RECEIVED 2280 GO BETH CHEAGTAN JUITE LIRANTATO ORE - LIBERTATE NOV 0 5 2008 The Commonwealth of Massachusetts NAT. REATIONALPARK SERV PLACES NATIONAL PARK SERVICE William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Massachusetts Historical Commission October 30, 2008 Mr. J. Paul Loether National Register of Historic Places National Park Service 1201 Eye Street, NW 8" floor Washington, DC 20005 Dear Mr.

Loether: Enclosed please find the following nomination form: Medway Village HD, Medway (Norfolk Co.), MA The nomination has been voted eligible by the State Review Board and has been signed by the State Historic Preservation Officer. The owners of the properties in the district were notified of pending State Review Board consideration 30 to 45 days before the meeting and were afforded the opportunity to comment. Sincerely, Betay Fuedkey Betsy Friedberg National Register Director Massachusetts Historical Commission enclosure CC: Rob Pomponio, Medway Historical Commission Glen Trindale, Medway Board of Selectmen Laura Kline, Claire Dempsey, consultants Susan Affleck-Childs, Medway Planning Board 220 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston, Massachusetts 02125 (617) 727-8470 - Fax: (617) 727-5128 www.state.ma.us/sec/mhc