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. 87862 491 1.Town Fall River, Mass. Address 116 Rock Street - Name_ Cataract Engine Company No.3 Present use G.A.R. Building 2. Photo (3x3" or 3x5") Staple to left side of form Photo number Inst, rL4 #20A - 4. Map. Draw sketch of building location in relation to nearest cross streets and other buildings. Indicate north. ROCK ST. FRANKLIN ST. Present owner City of Fall River 3. Description: 2st. 3 bays wide 1843 Date_ Source_ History of Fire Department Style Greek Revival (commercial) Architect Exterior wail fabric clapboard Outbuildings (describe) Other features gable end to street; plain pilasters, Ist front porch; ground floor baywindow Altered porch Moved Date early 20th C. Date 5. Lot size: 1,908 sq. ft.
One acre or less Over one acre Approximate frontage Approximate distance of building from street 7 ft. 6. Recorded by_ Patricia Giza Organization FROHP Date 11/14/80 (over) 7. Original owner (if known) City of Fall River Original use_ fire barn Subsequent uses (if any) and dates_City of Fall River voting place; evening school 1883; school dept. headguarters 1867 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 Cataract Engine Company No.3 of 1843 is the oldest fire station still standing in Fall River, the only remaining frame fire station, and one of the very few Greek Revival non-residential structures surviving in the city. The Cataract Engine Company was Fall River's third fire station. The first was erected in the 1820's on Pleasant street; the second, also a small wooden structure, originally stood on Stone Lane. The Fall River Fire Department was officially established in 1832. The Cataract Engine Company was erected in response to the devastating fire of 1843, which destroyed much of the early settlement area. Located at the corner of Rock and Franklin Streets on the fringe of the downtown, the 2-story, 3-bay Greek Revival temple-front building looks more like a house than a public facility.
It was built for the town by Southard H. Miller and James Ford at a cost of $976 plus $362 for the land. At the same time the town purchased its No. 3 fire engine from William C. Hunneman, a well-known Roxbury builder. In 1872 the city's first chemical fire engine was housed here. The firehouse was initially manned by a volunteer company of 60 men, a number later increased to 82. It remained in use as a fire station until 1876. From 1867 to 1890 the second floor of the building was used as the Fall River School department administration headquarters. The first evening high school opened in the Cataract No. 3 in 1882 and continued here for many years, until this successful program was moved to the old High School building.From 1891 to 1917 the building was used by the Veteran Firemen's Association, organized in 1890.
From 1918 until recent years it served as the Richard Borden Post 46 of the Grand Army of the Republic, (G.A.R Hall). The house was recently sold and will be restored (cont'd) 10. Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records, early maps,etc.) Atlas 1895: engine house shown 1883: shown 1871: shown (city written on this lot) 1858: shown 1850: shown Directory : 1853-Cataract Engine Company No. 3-comer Rock & Franklin Sts Lazarus Borden foreman History of the Fire Dept.-Captain Thomas Lynch-1900-pgs. 52-162 LPYLITIUAI TURM CUNILNUATIUN SHEET - MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Commnity : Fall River, Mass. Form No: 178+-87 491 Property Name:Cataract Engine Co. #3 Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. 9. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE (cont'd) for residential use.
As an early building of major significance to the history of the Fall River Fire Department and as a unique building type, the Cataract Engine Company No. 3 meets criteria A and C of the Natioanl Register, individually. BIBLIOGRAPHY (cont'a) Phillips History of Fall River-Vols. II and III-1945 1843-1865: building housed Cataract Engine Company No. 3 source: Fall River Directories 1866: no listing 1867-1890: second floor of building used as school headquarters. First evening high school opened in the Cataract No. 3 in 1882. This school continued to teach academic high school subjects for many years. It grew in numbers and usefulness and was moved to the old High School building. Source: Phillip's History of Fall River pgs. 60 and 79 Vol II 1891-1917: building used by Veteran Firemen's Association which was organized on Aug. 5, 1890.
Source: Fall River City Directories, History of Fall River Fire Department by Thomas Lynch pg. 162 1918-1931: building used by Grand Army of Republic Richard Borden Post 46 Source: Fall River City Directories, Phillips History of Fall River pg. 112 Vol. III 1932-present: listed in city directories as GAR Hall Staple to Inventory form at botton NPS Form10-900-a (3-82) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form Continuation sheet Item number OMB No. 1024-0018 Exp. 10-31-84 For NPS use only 115(63 received date entered Page 2L' Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group NameFall River Multiple Resource Area State Nomination/Type of Review 1.Borden, Ariadne J. & Mary A.Substantlve Revtem Keeper 12. Border City Mills BubstantIve Revlew DOE/OWNER OBJECTION 13. Borden, N.
B., Schoo1 Entered in the National Register 14. Borden-Winslow House Entered in the National Register Attest Determineg Keeper Attest feeper Attest Fkeeper Attest KReeper 15. Brayton Methodist Episcopal Church Entered 1n the National Begistar Attest 16. Brightman, Hathaway, House Entered in the National Register tkeeper Attest 17. Bristol County Superior Court Entered in the Keepe National Begister Attest 18. Cadedy, Squire William B., House Entered in the /Keeper National Begister Attest fKeeper 19. Cataract Engine Company No. Shtered in the National Register Attest 20.
Central Congregational Church Entered in the TReeper fatlopal Begteter Attest Date/Signature 2/6/43 fauce hea Bnyal 2/16/53 AlelovesByur 4/0/83 diluclegur spa/8s Aulmaßzen R: 2/14/83 Qlorßyere 2/k/83 delouesByen 2/16/8) AlmeBye 2/10/83 DlelouaByen 2/16/83 Keeluabzea ATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES states Depsrem nt of she laterier tional Park Servic EVALUATION / RETURN SHEET Cataract Engine Company No. 3(Fall River MRA) Bristol County MASSACHUSETTS resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Roview: Working No. 115/83-15 Fed. Reg. Date: -7.38 Date Due: 2/3/ 2/19/5 Action: - ACCEPT 2/16/83 Interedin the - RETURN. National Register - . REJECT_ Federal Agency:- - sample _request appeal - NR decision Reviower's comments: Recom. /Criteria. Reviewer.
Discipline Date continuation sheet -Nomination returned for: technical corrections cited below _substantive reasons discussed below 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification gery eble M 4. Owner of Property Prosom Uee 5. Location of Legal Description 6. Representation in Existing Surveys tms thle property troon determe 7. Description atertoreta ruine Check ene unattered .aitered d the procant end ertalnal (ll tnacnel ptry summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates boundary selection Cheek ene - moved 8.
Significance Perted Areas ot SignificancsChock and justity balow Specific dates Statement ef Significanoe (in one poregrasi) Bulider: Arehitect 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 nominsted property Quedrangle neme UMT References Verbel 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 local 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 Comments for any item may be continued on an attached sheet ONE WAY AR BLDG. 116 ROCK ST. Unst. rl. 4 #20A Fall Aio MRA, Ma Cataract Engire Compery No. 3 CATARACT ENGINE CO. #3 16 ROCK ST. FALL RIVER,! WRGA PAT GIZA (1981) FALL RIVER OFFICE DF HIST. PRES. / GOVERNMENT CENTER FALL RIVER, MA 02722 CHL 2 XX/1-15) CATARACT ENGINE CO. #3 -FRONT FACADE, LOOKING WEST Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000279