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 - - - - - In Area no. Form no. M179A 131 2. Photo (3x3" or 3x5") Stapleto left side of form Photo number PFNK-/-9 1. Town Address Name_ Present use Fall River, Mass. 244 Grove Street Barnabus Blossom House Multi-family - Map. Draw sketch of building location in relation to nearest cross streets and other buildings. Indicate north. WALNUT ST. N Present owner Jerome Margues 3. Description: 24-story w/flanking gable roof Date - c. 1800 Source V/A Style Federal Architect Exterior wail fabric_ Clapboard, shingle Outbuildings (describe) Other features Center entrance w/pedimented door surround & semi-circular fanlight; center chimney; some 6 over 6 sash Altered Date from N.E. corner Moved No. Main & FranklinDate_c.1883-1886 5. Lot size: 4,623 sq. ft.
One acre or less Over one acre Approximate frontage Approximate distance of building from street 6. Recorded by Organization Date Patricia Giza FROHP January 11, 1982 (over) - 7. Original owner (if known). Original use Barnabus Blossom Residence Subsequent uses (if any) and dates_ 8. Themes (check as many as applicable) Aboriginal Agricultural Architectural The Arts Commerce Communication Community development Conservation Education Exploration/ settlement Industry Military Political Recreation Religion Science/ invention Social/ humanitarian Transportation 9. Historical significance (include explanation of themes checked above) One of Fall River's most outstanding and best-preserved early residences, the Barnabus Blossom House is particularly notable for its two elegant pedimented doorways and largely intact interior.
The Federal-style house follows the tra- ditional 5-bay, side gable plan popular throughout the 18th and early 19th century and retains its original splayed lintels and 6/6 sash. It is known to date back at least to 1800 because a newly minted penny of that year was found in the walls during restoration. The pedimented door surrounds are of a type widely used in New England frame houses beginning in the 1790's. The ultimate design source is Plate 16 of Wm. Pain's Practical Builder, which was published in London in 1774 and Boston in 1792, although the builder of the Barnabus Blossom House probably simply copied the doorway of another house. The use of a central chimney rather than the more up-to-date side chimney/center hall plan is not uncommon in ruxal houses even into the 19th century.
Interior detailing has remained in place and includes Federal beaded door moldings, simple mantels, a dining room corner cupboard, a beehive oven, and six-panel doors. Both the interior and exterior have been sympathetically restored. The first well-known occupant of the house was Dr. James Aldrich, a "botanic physician," who moved to Fall River in 1843 and is listed at this address in the city's first (1853) directory. Between 1883 and 1886 the house was moved from its original location at the northeast corner of Main and Franklin Streets to make way for the Hotel Mellen (since demolished). Several other handsome Federal houses also stood on North Main Street during the early 19th century and were moved or demolished as the downtown commercial district expanded.
As a well-crafted, recently restored example of the Federal style and one of only a handful of buildings remaining from the early settlement period, the Barnabus Biossom House meets Criteria A and C of the National Register individually. 10. Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records, early maps,etc.) Atlas 1895 - Shown as 36 Grove & 73 Walnut 1883 - Not shown (1883 - Shown Original Location (1871 - Shown J. M. Smith - N.E. corner No. Main & Franklin Street :Shown 1886 - App. Water Dept.- Thomas G. Monroe - May 1 'botanic physician - house 77 No. Main Directory: - 1853 - James M. Aldrich - corner Franklin Street Building Dept.
- Jerome Marques - February 4, 1980 - Permit #22 - interior and exterior alterations - $15,000 - owner NPS Form 10-900-a (3-82) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form OMB No. 1024-0018 Exp. 10-31-84 For NPS use only received d5(0) date entered Continuation sheet Item number Multiple Resource Area Thematie Group Page 1 of cu dnr-11 Name Fall River Multiple Resource Area State Massachusetts Bristol County Nomination/Type of Review 1. Algonquin Printing Co. Substantive Review Keeper Date/Signature 2416/80 DucihaAnge 2. American Printing Co. and Metacomet Mill Entered in the National Regiater 3. Anthony, David M., House Enteredin the National Register Attest /keeper Attest /Keeper Aelon Byew aites ofetis duen Bsua 4. Ashley House Entered in the National Register Attest Skeeper 2p0/3 aelma Bezan 5.
Ashworth Brothers Mill Babsfantiva RevTew DOE/OWNER OBJECTION Attest Determinec Keeper //85 tmce sabre 6. Barnard Mills 7. Belmont Club/John Young House Entered in the National Regiater 8. Blossom, Barnabus, House Attest Entered in the National Register fReeper Attest AReeper Attest Entered In he National Register /Reeper 2/x/83 AebmeByen A1u/r3 Aelurßyur s/10/r3 dllouBzen 9. Boguslavsky Triple-Deckers Attest Entered In the National Register /Reeper d14185AilmByer 10. Borden, A. J., Building Entered in the National Regieter Attest /Keeper A4/83 AleloreByer Attest ATIÚNAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES & of shelo eriel States De ational Park Servics EVALUATION / RETURN SHEET Blossom, Barnabus, House (Fall River MRA) Bristol County MASSACHUSETTS resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: Roviower's comments: Working No. 15/83-15 Fed. Reg.
Date: 2 -7.84 Date Due: 3/3/83- 2/19/83 Action: ACCEPT 2/10/83 Entered in the Mational Register - RETURN .REJECT- Federal Agency:. - sample - request - appeal - NR decision Recom. /Criteria - Reviewer Discipline Date continuation sheet technical corrections cited below substantive reasons discussed below -Nomination returned for: 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification Cada Pracons Uoe 4. Owner of Property 5. Location of Legal Description 6. Representation in Existing Surveys fhe property been decenmtned eligibte? 7. Description eteriora ruine beck end uneitered sred Check ene -ooedt eo - - moved the preesnt and artglal (il lsowe) plyaieet appearen summaryparagraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates boundary selection 8.
Significance Poriod Arees ef SignificaneeChook and justify belew pecifie dates Statemert el Significanee (in one peregraph) Bulider Architect 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 Acreage of nominated property . Quadrangle neme UMT References Verbal boundary description and justification 11. Form Prepared By 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification_ The evaluated significance of this property within the state is: _ national -- state State Historic Preservation Ofticer signature date title 13.
Other Maps Photographs Other Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to Signed -Date- Phone: 202 272 - 3504 Commentsfor any item may be continued on an attached sheet Fade Envo MRA. Ma BAPKASUS BLUSSO HIUSE Sui GIVE S- 0=2-- 9 Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000279