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 1105-19 : 268 6 NC: NOi COUTLIBUTiNe ASSESSOR # 181-50 30M-5-77 In Area no. NW CAMB. Form no. NWC IID2 Cambridge ss 1991 Massachusetts Avenue St. James Episcopal Church nt use church int owner St. James Episcopal Churci 'iption: 1888 urce deed records Richardsonian Romanesque ruvuitect Henry M. Congdon Exterior wall fabric_stone, brick Outbuildings (describe) Other features crossing tower with peaked roof and finial, apse has sandstone Romanesque columns separ- ating its windows with scalloped capitals and molded band. Altered Moved No 5. Lot size: Date One acre or less Over one acre Approximate frontage_200 feet Approximate distance of building from street 5 feet 6. Recorded by Bainbridge Bunting Organization Cambridge Historical Comm. Date 1965 UTM-BOSTON NORTH 14/325400/4695130 7.
Original owner (if known) Original use church Subsequent uses (if any) and dates_ 8. Themes (check as many as applicable) Aboriginal Agricultural Architectural XX The Arts Commerce Communication Community development St. James Parish same Conservation Education Exploration/ settlement Industry Military Recreation Religion Science/ invention Social/ humanitarian Transportation 9. Historical significance (include explanation of themes checked above) xx St James Church was built in 1888-89 on the site of an earlier Cambridge landmark, the eighteenth century Davenport Tavern. The parish of St. James had begun in 1864 as a mission from Christ Church, and built its first chapel in 1871. Vichen ceion Within ten years, the congregation was able to plan the erection of the present building. The commanding presence of St.
James results from the richness of its masonry and from its unusual siting on an angle at the corner of Beeüch Street and Massachu- setts Avenue. The compact, centralized plan, broad for its length, is characteristic of Episcfopalian churches. A square tower dominates the complex composition of buttresses, gables, dormers and porches. The use of Iour materials, puddingstone, brownstone, brick and vivid contrasts. The spacious beamed interior contains handsome woodwork and a rose window. 10. Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records, early maps, etc.) NOV 1 4 1980 2 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES United States Department of the Interior National Park Service EVALUATION / RETURN SHEET ST. James Episcopal Charch (Cambrudge Property: multiple Revnuree Area) Working No. State, County:- MA- nuddlesux Fod. Reg. Date:.
Federal Agency: Date Due: Action: resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal 11-14-80-2862 4-17-82 ACCEPT RETURN_ 4//3/82 - REJECT- photos_/ maps - Substantive Review: samplereguest-apeal NR decision Reviewer's comments: No contert, no state ment of arcutectasad Digrificanee beyond i com manm iaia setuee " Roviower Bracuam Discipline- anch /Rs Date 4.5.82 _ see continuation sheet -Nomination returned for: - technical corrections cited below _substantive reasons discussed below 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification dumarahio Public Aoqutattion 4. Owner of Property Matus hacocalble rcon Uao 5. Location of Legal Description 6. Representation in Existing Surveys Mon thn property boon detorminad oletoie? - 7e - no 7. Description excellent good fair deteriorated ruins unexpoeed Ohock one - unattered .
altered Chock one -_ original site - moved dato acortho the prasans and ertetnel (1l knowmn) pinpataed crgaeranas summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates boundary selection 8. Significance Porto Apees ol , datos lentteen onttcancs Chack and heatlfy baten holtdor An summary paragraph completeness clarity applicable criteria justification of areas checked relating significance to the resource context relation ship of integrity to significance justification of excepticn other 9. Major Bibliographical References 10. Geographical Data lorago of nominatod property - Quedrengte namo UNIT Poterence arbel boundery descriptien and justicatier 11. Form Prepared By 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The eraluuated significance of thie property atehin the etete is: . national _state _local Dute Mietoric Preeervatten Officer eigneture 13.
Other Maps Photographs Other andru Questions concerningthis nomination may be directed to d Signed Branom - Date $4/3.82 Phone: 202 : 272 -3504 Comments for any Item may be continued an attached sheet FORM B - BUILDING MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, State House, Boston - - - - In Area no. NW CAMB. Form no. NwC IID2 1. Town Cambridge Address 1991 Massachusetts Avenue Name_St. James Episcopal Church Present use church " 2. Photo (3x3" or 3x5") Staple to left side of form Photo number |105 - 19 - 26 NCINON CONTIBUTiNe ASSESSOR # 181-50 Present owner St. James Episcopal Churct 3. Description: Date 1888 Source_ deed records Style Richardsonian Romanesque Architect_ Henry M.
Congdon Exterior wall fabric stone, brick Outbuildings (describe) Other features_crossing tower with peaked roof and finial, apse has sandstone Romanesque columns separ- ating its windows with scalloped capitals and molded band. Altered - No Date Moved No Date_- 5. Lot size: One acre or less Over one acre Approximate frontage 200 feet Approximate distance of building from street 5 feet 6. Recorded by Bainbridge Bunting Organization Cambridge Historical Comm. Date 1965 UTM-BOSTON NORTH 14|325400/4695130 30M-5-77 7. Original owner (if known)_ St. James Parish Original use chunch Subsequent uses (if any) and dates -same 8.
Themes (check as many as applicable) Aboriginal Agricultural Architectural XX The Arts Commerce Communication Community development Conservation Education Exploration/ settlement Industry Military Political Recreation Religion Science/ invention Social/ humanitarian Transportation XX 9. Historical significance (include explanation of themes checked above) St James Church was built in 1888-89 on the site of an earlier Cambridge landmark, the eighteenth century Davenport Tavern. The parish of St. James had begun in 1864 as a mission from Christ Church, and built its first chapel in 1871. Within ten years, the congregation was able to plan the erection of the present building. The commanding presence of St. James results from the richness of its masonry and from its unusual siting on an angle at the corner of Beefch Street and Massachu- setts Avenue.
The compact, centralized plan, broad for its length, is characteristic of EpiscCopalian churches. A square tower dominates the complex composition of buttresses, gables, dormers and porches. The use of four materials, puddingstone, brownstone, brick and slate, creates vivid contrasts. The spacious beamed interior contains handsome woodwork and a rose window. 10. Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records, early maps, etc.) NOV 1 4 1980 INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Community : Northwest Cambridge Form No: NWC II. D.2 Property Name : Saint James Church Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below.
Until the middle of the 19th century, Porter Square and Massachusetts Avenue developed as a strip community along the highways to Lexington on the west and Charlestown and Harvard Squareron the east and south. The Square itself was an important stage stop, with a hotel, tavern, blacksmith shops and cattle market. The opening of the Fitchburg Ráilroad in 1843 established direct communication to Boston, and North Cambridge quickly became a bedroom community. While North (Massachusetts) Avenue from Porter Square to Harvard Square quickly became a prestigious suburban address, Porter Square itself and the streets north of it developed in a more modest fashion.
The streets north of the railroad immediately adjoining Porter Square were developed in the 1850-1880 period with comfortable single family homes on smal] lots, while the streets further out Massachusetts Avenue developed in the 1890-1930 period in two family houses and three deckers. Those who built close in were Yankee and Protestant Yankee craftsmen and managers, while those who built further out were Irish Catholics, the children of immigrants. St. James Episcopal Church was built to serve the established Yankee community in Porter Square. It is described in Report Five: Northwest Cambridge of the Survey of Architectural History In Cambridge: The St. James Episcopal Congregation was brought together in 1864 by a retired clergyman, and first met in rented quarters in an old drill hall over a grocery store on Russell Street.
By 1871, the group was large enough to erect a modest wooden chapel on Beech the church sat, but was willing to part with the entire parcel. Thus, in 1885, the congregation acquired its present site at 1991 Massachusetts including the Davenport Tavern which had stood there since 1757. By 1888, the group was ready to undertake the construction of the present building, although this necessitated moving one section of the tavern to 81 Eustis Street, Somerville, and demolishing the remainder. of the funds for the new building came from parishioners who lived in Old Cambridge, and included a very large gift from Mary Longfellow Greenleaf, sister of the poet and resident of 76 Brattle Street. The design of St. James is a good late example of Richardson Romanesque and is the work of Henry M. Congdon, an architect from New York City.
It has a commanding presence because of its unusual site and fine materials. The principal view is a side elevation seen from the south as one proceeds north on Massachusetts Avenue from Porter Square. The composition is deliberately picturesque, and suffers from an overabundance of architectural elements: a crossing tower, a belfry, slate roofing, dormer windows of different sizes, a transept, two side entrances with separate and different- Staple to Inventory form at bottom (see continuation sheet sized porches, a complicated arrangement of shapes fitting around the apse, and numerous finials, gable stones, and buttresses. I'he compact, centralized plan - broad for its length - is characteristic of Episcopal parishes with the low church ritual which emphasized sermon rather than ceremony. Trinity Church in Boston in the way the composition is crowned by toer te ra2 cke St.
James is somewhat similar to a dominant crossing tower, but it lacks the calm monumentality Moreover, the use of four materials provides too strong a contrast. The random puddingstone masonry is beautiful in itself, but its tawny colors do not harmonize with the reddish brownstone nor with the unusually ruddy brick. It 1s clear trom contemporary newspaper accounts, however, that the bullders would have preferred stone to the existing brick trim, which was necessitated by economy. St. James Episcopal Church meets criterion A of the National Register, due to its associations with the development of Massachusetts Avenue and North Cambridge, most notably the Yankee community between Harvard and Porter Squares. It also meets criterion C as a good local example of Richardsonian Romanesque ecclesiastical design.
NPS Form 10-900-a (7-81) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form Continuation sheet Item number For NPS use only received date entered Page /6 411 Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group Name State Cambridge Multiple Resource Area MA Nomination/Type of Review 151. Day, Anna, House Suöeta 152. Kingsley, Chester, House Sue 153. Watson, Abraham, House Suãg MtIva Ioview dariea Substantive Review 154. Wyeth Brickyard Superintendent's House "155. Greek Revival Cottage 156. Vst. James Episcopal Churchsia "157. Kidder-Sargent-McCrehan House '158. Henderson Carriage Repository 159. Soule, Lawrence, House Subetontive Review 160. Wyeth-Smith House Keeper Attest Keeper Attest Keeper Attest Keeper Attest V Keeper Attest - V Keeper Attest Keeper Attest Keeper Attest Keeper Attest Keeper Attest Date/Signature Weian A.
Araham 4.13:82 WieuamH.Drackam 4.13.82 Wieham H. Aravzam 413.82 Welam H Brackom 4.13.82 Welam Ht. Brackam 4.13.82 Dopcs.LianArasedl 6-30-83 Welam H Bravnam 4.1382 Wiekam H. Bravkam 4.13.82 WillianA. Brakam 4.1382 WellamH.Brackom4.13.82 TIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES od States Depertmant ef tho lnterten anai Park Sarvice Substantive Review St. James Episcopal Church (Cambridge MRA) Middlesex County MA EYALUATION / RETURN SHEE - resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Subatantive Roview: Working No. 1/.14.80-2862 Fed. Reg. Date:. 2-7-84 Date Due: 7/4/83 Action: ACCEPT 6/30/83 _ RETURN - REJECT- Federal Agency:_ -sample _request appeal NR decision Roviowor's comments: SIGNIFLANCE SIATEMENT ADEQUATELY EXPANDED Recom. / Criteria AtC /AecEM Reviewer _ Nte DoUzA Discipllne A.4.
Date 6-30-87 8o continuation sheet - technical corrections cited below -substantive reasons discussad below -Nomination returned for: 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification mrad ahe hoontore 4. Owner of Property nocoas Uoo 5. Location of Legal Description 6. Representation in Existing Surveys prooety tomn encnaned dirgecsal ron - 7. Description - etenorer rumne oca eno - unertared - atared wrt t and ertyned (il kaswml papeten summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/inte rit Chock em - mored 8. Significance Pariod Aroes el Significance Chack and frettty batow Spocific dates Bultder Architect Statomont el Stgnificance (in eno peragraph) 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 Reterences Varbal boundary description and justification 11. Form Prepared By 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evaluated significance of this property within the state is nationa! _ state local Strte Mistoric Preservation Ofticer signature date titie 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 61-9Q11 NOV 1 4 1980 st. Janes Epesconal church Canbridye MRA, Ma 1991 Massachusetts Aue. 1105-19 Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000275