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 1-S 4. Map. Draw skeicn uI vunumg «om. 1105-31 in relation to nearest cross streets and other buildings. Indicate north. "S mnousia -MASS ACHUSET TS AV. C. CHURCH RECTORY K'G 2 PARK HOLLIS 12 FWP i. 30M-5-77 AssEssoR #196-143 DINIDAEFIFIA In Area no. NW CAMB. Form no. NWC IID3 Cambridge ISS_2270 Massachusetts Avenue Saint John's Roman Catholic Church ent use church ent owner Roman Catholic Arch ocese 3oston Corporation Sole; Rev. ription: Henry Barry. 1904 surce_ Deed Records Tuscan Romanesque utect Maginnis, Walsh & Sullivan Exterior wall fabric_brick Outbuildings (describe) Other features_impressive campanile at rear of church, terra cotta decora- tive features, marble columns support- ing arched openings at entrance.
Altered Yes- part of Date 1957 church rebuilt after 1957 fire Moved No Date ------ 5. Lot size: One acre or less Over one acreXXX Approximate frontage278 feet Approximate distance of building from street 10 feet 6. Recorded by_Bainbridge Bunting OrganizationCambridge Historical Comm. Date 1965 UTM-LEXINGTON 19/324860/4895500 7. Original owner (if known) Original use_ Subsequent uses (if any) and dates 8. Themes (check as many as applicable) religious same Aboriginal Agricultural Architectural The Arts Commerce Communication Community development Conservation Education Exploration/ settlement Industry Military Recreation inventior Social/ humanitarian Transportation 9. Historical significance (include explanation of themes checked above) XX This Tuscan Romanesque style church was built in 1904 to replace the parish's earlier building of 1891.
Flanked by a Florentine-style campanile,it is executed in brick with ivory, green and red terra cotta terra cotta capitals support five arched openings, within which are three entrances and above which is a broad terra cotta fascia pierced by paired round arched windows. A 1957 fire resulted in the rebuilding of the nave area in a similar style as the original. Fortunately, no damage was done to the tall campanile to the rear of the church which is ornamented with ornate terra cotta trim in the belfry area. The reconstruction of the nave was designed by the firm of Maginnis, Walsh & Sullivan. 10. Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records, early maps, etc.) M1 $ ST.O St. John's R.C. Church 2270 Massachusetts Ave.
Photo: c.1905 N.R.# NWC II.D.3 2 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES United States Department of the Interior National Park Service EVALUATION / RETURN SHEET Sanit John's Roman Cathulic Church Property: (CAmbrudse hultiple Resoura Area) State, County: MA. nuddlesx Federal Agency: Working No.. Fed. Reg. Date:- Date Due: Action: 11-14-80-2862 4-11-82 ACCEPT resubmission RETURN 4.1382 nomination by person or local government - REJECT- owner objection photos L appeal maps- Substantive Review: - sample - request _appeal VNR decision Reviewer's comments: Nro contert, no isfatement of arclutectural reae No contert, signuficance. Please discuss the rebuilding &f the Nave ava Recom. /Criteria Keturn allowrng the 1957 fire- how extensie was this Reviower tatucn Anduus rebrilling, and what effect does it have on the Discipline Histouan inteqrityof the ristorie portionof the cheuch?
Date - 1/5/82 - see continuation sheet -Nomination returned for: technical corrections cited below substantive reasons discussed below . Name 2. Location 3. Classification pebtic Aoquetattion 4. Owner of Property Matus lecosalble Prosom Uao 5. Location of Legal Description 6. Representation in Existing Surveys has thle property baon dotarmined oligitle? - - 7. Description onditton excellent good tair - deterioratod _ruins _ unexposed Ohock en - unaitered - altered Chock one _ original site _ moved deto - asortbo the prosant and artglnel (ll knowm) plryataal eppaeranas summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates boundary selection 8.
Significance tono poslfie datee ad jatily boler hobder Aretltoo ef Otentfleam summary paragraph completeness clarity applicable criteria justification of areas checked relating significance the resource to context relationship of integrity to significance justification of excepticn other 9. Major Bibliographical References 10. Geographical Data Aoreage of nominated property - Quadrangte name _ UMT Roterences tarbel bouundary doscrbptton and heatthcation 11. Form Prepared By 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The eretuatad algnilicance of thie proporty wtthin the state la: nationa! - ocal Buto Mlotoric Proservetten OMicer eigneture 13.
Other Maps Photographs Other Questions concerning this nomination may be directed toAudrus Signed Brauham - Date 4./3.82 Phone: 202 272-3504 Comments for any Item may be continued on an attached sheet - FORM B - BUILDING MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, State House, Boston - - 2. Photo (3x3" or 3x5") Staple to left side of form Photo number 1105-3l - 4. Map. Draw sketch of building location in relation to nearest cross streets and other buildings. Indicate north. 2285 223202077 2089 30 WPNOLSTG. - MASSACHUSETTS AV. K'G ,2º% IZ C. CHURCH RECTORY 2 PARK HOLLIS 5WPi. 20 75 DINAGEFIFID 30M-5-77 AsSESSOR #196-143 In Area no. NW CAMB. Form no. NWC IID3 - i 1. Town_Cambridge Address_2270 Massachusetts Avenue Name_Saint John's Roman Catholic Church 1 - Present use church Present owner Roman Catholic Arch ocesE of Boston Corporation Sole; Rev. 3.
Description: Henry Barry. Date 1904 Source_ Deed Records Style Tuscan Romanesque Architect Maginnis, Walsh & Sullivan Exterior wall fabric brick Outbuildings (describe)_- Other features_impressive campanile at rear of church, terra cotta decora- tive features, marble columns support- ing arched openings at entrance. Altered Yes- part of.. Date 1957 church rebuilt after 1957 fire Date------ 5. Lot size: One acre or less Over one acreXXX Approximate frontage278 feet Approximate distance of building from street 10 feet 6. Recorded by_Bainbridge Bunting OrganizationCambridge Historical Comm. Date 1965 UTM-LEXINGTON 191324860/4675500 7. Original owner (if known) Original use religious 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) This Tuscan Romanesque style church was built in 1904 to replace the parish's earlier building of 1891. Flanked by a Florentine-style campanile, it is executéded in brick with ivory, green and red terra cotta detailing. Marble columns with terra cotta capitals support five arched openings, within which are three entrances and above which is a broad terra cotta fascia pierced by paired round arched windows. A 1957 fire resulted in the rebuilding of the nave no damage was done to the tall campanile to the rear of trim in the belfry area.
The reconstruction of the nave was designed by the firm of Maginnis, Walsh & Sullivan. 10. Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records, early maps, etc.) 08L/100 INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Commnity: Form No: Northwest Cambridge NWC II.D.3 Property Name: Saint John's Roman Catholic 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 Square on 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 Railroad 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 öf 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 small 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 lankee craftsmen and managers, while those who built further out were Irish Catholics, the children of immigrants. St. John's Church was built to serve the Irish Catholic community on outer Massachusetts Avenue.
It is described in Report Five: Northwest Cambridge of the Survey of Architectural History In Cambridge: After 1900, three elaborate edifices were erected in North Cambridge by Roman Catholic parishes. St. John's, begun as a mission of St. Peter's church on Concord Avenue, erected a building at 122 Rindge Avenue in 1891, designed by Patrick W. Ford, on the present site of St. John's Grammar School that served both as school house and church. The present impressive building of buff-colored brick and terra cotta at 2270 Massachusetts Avenue was designed in 1904 by Maginnis, Walsh and Sullivan and completed a year later. The most successful aspect of this Tuscan Romanesque design is the socated wlt splendid campanile located well back from the Hollis Street facade.
Separated from the nave of the church by a low side aisle, the campanile appears even taller than its 100 foot height, whose vertical lines are uninterrupted by decorative elements except for slight indentations in . the brick at each floor level. The acade, approached by broad flights of stairs, is enhanced by a rofusion of terra cotta ornament harmonizing with the lange cream- colored marble columns which carry a blind arcade across the main story- A serious fire in 1957 necessitate the reconstruction of the upper part of the church, including the second story of the facade.
at that time, the design was changed: the gable was lowered slightly, raking parapets in front of the side aisles were eliminated, the rose window was greatly simplified, and the pair of twin windows that once flanked the rose window in imitation of a church in Stapte to Inventory form at bottom (over for continuation) Toscannella, Italy, were deleted. In comparison to the original the present upper story seems rather light, but a nice aecomplishment of the remodeling is the pair of covered vestibules which flank the steps to the main entrance and lead to the Iower church. The alterations of 1957, while serious, do not detract from the associations of the church with the North Cambridge Irish Catholic community. St. John's Roman Catholic Church meets criterion A of the National Register due to its associations with the development of Massachusetts.
Avenue and North Cambridge, most notably the Irish settlement on the outer reaches of Massachusetts Avenue. 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 / 5 4: 7 Multiple Resource Area Thematie Group Name State Cambridge Multiple Resource Area Nomination/Type of Review '141. Taylor Square Firehouse '142. Aborn, John, House 143. Hews Pottery Company Carriage House "144. Walden Street Cattle Iunnel 145. Slowey, Patrick, House '146. Fresh Pond Hotel cads ''147. McLéan, Isaac, House 148. Billings, Frederick, House -149. Farwell, R. H.,House Eubatantive Review 150. JSt. John's Roman Catholic Church V Keeper Date/Signature Weliam H.
Aracham 4.13.82 Attest / Keeper Wuliam# Brackom 4.13.82 Attest Keeper Reie 4/13/85 Attest sfemtive Hevie Keeper Attest Detun 4.13.82 Keeper Weelam Hbracham 4.13.82 Attest Keeper WelamHBrackam 4.13.82 Attest Keeper Weuam H Aracham 4.13.82 Attest / Keeper Auecamtt Arachom 4.13.82 Attest / Keeper weuam H.Bravkam 4.13.82 Attest Keeper Attest Towen har Dnyed 6 30-3 TIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES od Statas Dopertmant of the leteries onal Park Sarvice Eubatantive RevIew St. John's Roman Catholic Church (Cambridge MRA) Middlesex County MA EYALUATION / RETURN SHEE Working No. Fed. Reg.
Date: Date Due: Action: 1/ 1.:80 -2862 2-7-84 7/4/83 ACCEPT 6/30/83 - RETURN - REJECT- Federal Agency: -sample - request - appeal NR decision resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Subatantive Review: Reviower's comments: SITHOUCAA DHE FIRE REQUIRED THERENOUAK, REDESIEN Recom. /Criteria. AlACLEDT AND REBUILDINS OF THi TRE UPPER Reviewer_ PORTION oF PHEDLANCH IT RETAINS SUFALIENT INTECARITY TO BE ELGIBLE Discipline sean Brny A.H. Date 6-30-83 UUDER CRITERION A. continuation sheet -Nomination returned for: _technical corrections cited below _substantive reasons discussad below 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification stagory maren an sodaro 4. Owner of Property Btardere osand vas 5. Location of Legal Description 6. Representation in Existing Surveys -M progery toon dranee - 7.
Description p00d oca - unertered _ artered Choca en - mored summary paragraph completeness clarity 8. Significance Period Aroes of significance Chock and justity betow Spocific dates Sulider Architect Statement el Significance (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 Major Bibliographical References 10. Geographical Data Acreage of nominatad property Quadrengle neme UMT Reterences Verbal boundary description and justitication 11. Form Prepared By 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evaluated significance of this property within the state is: local State Historic Preservation Otticer signature title 13.
Other Maps Photographs Other date 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 05-31 Canbrilge MRA, Ma Saint Jnn's Reman Catholie Cherch NOV 1 1980 4 9 c 2270 Massachusetts Ave. 1105 - 31 Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000275