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. 500 NAB+PP - 1. Town_ Fall River, Mass. Address 160 Rock St. Name Church of the Ascension Present use church 2. Photo (3x3" or 3x5") Staple to left side of form Photo number Chack ul.4f194 PSNR-!-31 +. Map. Draw sketch of building location in relation to nearest cross streets and other buildings. Indicate north. PINE ST. PURCHASE ST. PARISH HousE CHURCH J-chapel ROCK ST. Present owner Church of the Ascension 3. Description: Lge. masonry church Date 1875, 1910, 1964 Source_Atlas, Fall River Herald New Style Victorian Gothic Architect Cove1 & Baker (builders) Exterior wail fabric granite, red brick & Scotch stone trim. Outbuildings (describe) parish house (1910) See 147 Purchase Street. Other features buttressed sq.
corner tow w/ crenellated cap & small stöne pinnacles at each corner. Brick- taced buttresses, pointed arch windows. Additions:parish house chapel Moved 1910 Dates: 1964 Date_ 5. Lot size: 19,256 sq.ft. One acre or less X Over one acre Approximate frontage Approximate distance of building from street 6. Recorded by Organization Date P. Giza FROHP 2/18/81 (over) 17M-7-77 7. Original owner (if known)_ Original use church Church of the Ascension 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 X 9.
Historical significance (include explanation of themes checked above) Parish History: The Church of the Ascension was founded on July 15, 1836; it is the oldest Episcopal parish in the city. The first church service was held in the Unitarian House of Worship in 1835. The first meeting to form a parish was held July 11, 1836 and on July 15, 1836, plans were con- For the rest of 1836, services were held in Pocasset Hall. a growing congregation, the parish moved to the Town Hall on Centra1 With : Street in 1837 and continued there until 1840, when it purchased the First Baptist Church on So. Main St.; it burned in 1850. A new building was erec ed on the same site in 1852. By 1872, the church was deemed too small and was sold. From 1872 to 1875, services were held in the Music Hall. The present building was dedicated on Nov. 29, 1875. Built of Fall River granite with red brick trim.
Granite was chosen as the first church burned. Part of the high construction cost was covered by generous cash gifts by wealthy persons in England. The masonry contract was given to Covel & Baker of Fall River for $39,250. Some of the masonry work was done by John J. Highlands. A Boston contractor had sent in bids, but, because Fall River granite was specified, the contract was given to Covel & Baker. The Church of the Ascension is a distinguished Victorian Gothic structure with a buttressed square tower with a crenellated cap and stone corner pinnacles. The tight massing, necessitated by its urban location, is relieved by the addition of a side garden, attached chapel, and handsome brick and shingle parish house.
The most striking feature of the building is its marked contrast in texture achieved by the use of Fall River granite for the body, accented with red brick and Scotch stone trim. architect is not known. Located on lower Rock Street, a street of churches, (CONTINUED) 10. Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records, early maps,etc.) Atlas 1895: Shown 1883: Shown 1871: Not shown Fall River Herald News July 13, 1979 June 9, 1942 Feb. 21, 1937 Annals of the Church of the Ascension, Margaret Russell (Durfee) Bldg. Dept: Church of the Ascension, Oct. 8, 1964, Permit#242, Rock St. Addition for chapel, $15,000 R.H. Hadfield. INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Commmity: Fall River, Mass.
Form No: 500 148459 Property Name: Church of the Ascension Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. No. 9 (continued) its high guality of design and workmanship, as well as its significant historical association, contribute to make it meet Criteria A and C of the National Register of Historic Places. Staple to Inventory form at bottom NPS Form 10-900-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 received (5/63 date entered Page 3ofu Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group Name Fall River Multiple Resource Area State MA Nomination/Type of Review 21. Chace Mills Substantive Review Keeper 22. Chace, A. B., Rowhouses Attest Entered in the National Register fKeeper Attest 23.
Chace's, Oliver, Thread Mill Entered in the National Register fKeeper Attest 24. Charlton Mill Enteredin the Mational Reglater fKeeper 25. Chase-Hyde Farm Entered in the Mational Register Attest fkeeper 26. Children's Home Entered In the National Hegiater Attest YKeeper Attest 27. Church of the Ascension Entered in the FKeeper National Regiater 28. Collins, William, House Attest Entered in the National Beglater FKeeper 29. Connel1, William M., School Attest Entered in the Mational Regiater /Reeper 30.
Cornell Mills entered in the lational Regieter Attest /Keeper Attest Date/Signature 1/16/05 Bammd 2/6/81 AlourByen 2/10/83 2lelousBzur 2/a1o Auloustzur 2/1n/83 AilousByen 2/10/83 Ahlmaßzun 11 delmaßzun 2/ra/s) dlelusßyen 2/1/63 deloußzen /14/83 lelomsßzua VATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES Snited States De of fie iuterier lational Park Service BVALUATION / RETURN SHEET Church of the Ascension (Fall River MRA) Bristol County MASSACHUSETTS resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: Working No. 1/5/83- Fed. Reg. Date: 1.83 Date Due: 2/3/83 - 2119/83 Action: ACCEPT- 2/16/83 Entered in the - RETURN National Register - .REJECT. Federal Agency:- -sample - request _ appeal - NR decision Reviower's comments: -Nomination returned for: Recom. /Criteria. Reviewer_ Discipline.
Date technical corrections cited below .substantive reasons discussed below continuation sheet 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification meral Prosent Uee 4. Owner of Property 5. Location of Legal Description 6. Representation in Existing Surveys tee ie property keon emenmine 7. Description good fale soceriorate ruins unexpose beck e uneitered atered (00 - soyela summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates boundary selection Check ene -moved 8. Significance Porled Arees of Significancs Specifie dates Statement el Significaneo (in one paregaph) -Chook and justify belew Buiider: Architeet summary paragraph completeness clarity applicable criteria justification of areas checked relating significance to the resource context relationship of integrity to significance justification of excepticn other 9. Major Bibliographical References 10.
Geographical Data Acreege of nominsted property- Quadrangie 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 Officer signature date tle 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 Fall River MRA, Ma Church of the Ccexion 160 Bock St. PSNR CHURCH OF THE ASCENSION 160 ROCK ST FALL KIVER, MRMA PAMELA SHIELDS (1982) FALL RIVER OFFICE OF HIST, PRES.
I GOVERNMENT CENTER FALL RIVER, MA 02722 (PSNR 1-31) CHURCH OF THE ASCENSION - FRONT AND SIDE FACADE, LOOKING NORTHWEST Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000279