BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
FORM B - BUILDING MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION 294 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02108 ---- - - - - - - Area Form no. 28 PHOTO (3x3"' OI 3x5", black & white) Staple to left side of form Photo number See attached two photographs J SKETCH MAP Draw map showing property's location in relation to nearest cross streets and other buildings ner Buszeings or geographical features. Indicate north. UTM: 19/349400/4726650 (Ipswich. MA) 1:25000 LENTRAL NORTH MAIN ST. VMA Essep Count Town Ipswich -Address Historic Name South Main Street Caldwell Block (Centra) commercial Ipswich MRA Use: Original Present commercial Ownership: [X Private individual Private organization_ Public Original ownerCol.
Tuther Caldwel] DESCRIPTION: Date_ 1870 Source_Bowen, Tales of Olde Ipswich, Style Italianate Architect - Unknown Exterior wall fabric flushboarding .and clapboard (ashestos siding removed Outbuildings None 5/83) Major alterations (with dates)_ 20th c. storefronts Moved no Date_ Approx. acreage less than one acre N Recorded by Margaret Welden Setting Conmercial district facing Town Organization Ipswich Historical Commission Square. Adjacent to Choate Bridge at Date August, 1978. Amended by Paul J. McGinley, February, 1981. prominent corner location of commercial district. Assessor's Data: (Staple additional sheets here) see attached map.
ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE (describe important architectural features and evaluate in terms of other buildings within community) This is the earliest commercial building in Ipswich designed as a commercial structure and continuously maintained for commercial and office uses. It retains many of the fine Italianate features of the original design. Among these are label moldings, paired round-headed windows in the three center bays, and an elaborate cornice with paired brackets between the bays. The facade and side elevations were faced with flush boarding treated to look like cut stone, while the rear elevation was. faced with clapboard. These original materials are most likely intact beneath the later asbestos siding. The storefronts were contained by a dentilled cornice and consisted of elaborate cast- iron frames, arched lights and recessed entrances.
The storefronts have been greatly altered. The building's prominent size, bold massing and elaborate detail are noteworthy. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE (explain the role owners played in local or state history and how the building relates to the development of the community) The property has a long and significant history in the commercial development of Ipswich due to its strategic location adjacent to the major crossing of the Ipswich River at the Choate Bridge. As the oldest stone-arch bridge in North America, the crossing became an early center for commercial activity in the town. The Caldwell Block stands on the site of the former Massachusetts Woolen Manufactory, constructed by Dr. John Manning in 1794. The property was sold to Stephen Coburn in 1847 and housed the post office and other shops. The building was destroyed by fire, and in 1869 the lot was sold to Col.
Luther Caldwell and his wife, Almira Flint Caldwell. Col. Caldwell erected the present building in 1870 and named it the "Caldwell Block." Col. Luther Caldwell was born in Ipswich on September 17, 1822, died in 1903 and was buried in the High Street Cemetery. He was Clerk of the New York Assembly in 1867 and. Mayor of Elmira, New York in 1873-74. He was editor and proprietor of the Elmira Daily Advertiser from 1864-70. He was an officer in the Civil War and a member of the conven- tion that named Abraham Lincoln for President in 1860. He was secretary of the convention that named General Grant for President in 1868. He served as Chief of the Bond Division of the U.S. Post Office during the term of President Harrison, 1889-93, and authored the Anne Bradstreet Book, which was published in 1898. The ground floor of the Caldwel1 Block has always contained commercial shops.
Originally, these included the drug store of Eben R. Smith, J. E. Perkins' boot and shoe shop, and the watch-repair shop of John Whippage. The second floor housed offices. From 1961-74 John Updike, one of America's foremost contemporary writers, occupied office space in the building. During this time he wrote almost allhis major works in the building. third floor was constructed with a large meeting hall and banquet room to accommodate the Grand Army of the Civil War, which was located here until the Memorial Building was built. BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES Harold Bowen, Tales of Olde Ipswich, vol. III. Ipswich Subscribers Business Directory Map, 1872. I. F. Waters, Ipswich in the Mass. Bay Colony, vol. I, p. 331.
20M-2/80 INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Commnity : Ipswich Form No: 28 Property Name : Caldwel1 Block Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. Ine caldwell Block possesses integrity of location, design, setting, materials, and workmanship. It meets criterion A as the prime example of Ipswich's commercial development and criterion C as a good representation of the commercial Italianate Ipswich's commercial center, although previously surveyed and included in the 1980 Multiple Resource Area: Historic Resources of the Central Village, Ipswich, Mass., was not evaluated for its National Register potential. A further investigation in 1981 by the Ipswich Historical Commission and Historic. Ipswich, Inc. identified several blocks which may meet the National Register criteria.
The Caldwell Block is the oldest, the most prominently sited and one of the most intact. Staple to Inventory form at bottom Section 10--Continuation Form--Page 1 Verbal Boundary Description The Cutural Resource Survey Area is identical to the target area for the Town of Ipswich's Housing Rehabilitation/Historic Preservation Program, conducted with HUD Small Cities Program funds in 1977 and 1978. The area includes the densely settled, central portion of Ipswich, and contains about 2 square miles. As drawn for the Housing Rehab. Program, the area's boundaries roughly resemble a home plate. The northernmost corner of the area is at a point on the Boston and Maine Railroad line, just northwest of the end of Lucust Rd. The boundary runs 7500- east from that starting point, to a point about 500' northeast of the end of Arrowhead St. off Newmarch St.
From that point the boundary runs south 5625' to a point on Old England Rd. about 1250' southeast of the intersection of that road and Rocky Hill Rd. From that point on Old England Rd. the boundary runs southwest to a point on Essex Rd. (Rt. 133) east of Cable Hospital (400' southeast from the inter- section of Essex Rd. - Rt. 133 and County Rd. - Rt. IA). From that point the boundary runs west 1750' to a point on the north bank of the Ipswich River, opposite Beechwood St. From the River the boundary runs northwest 6750' to Linebrook Rd., at a point midway between Kimball Ave. and School St., thence northeast 3625' to the start- ing point.
JUL 1 RECEIVED 1980 NATIONAL REGISTER 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 Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group For NPS use only received date entered Page dnr-11 Name State Central Village, Ipswich, Massachusetts MRA) Massachusetts Nomination/Type of Review 1. Caldwell Block Entered in the National Register 2. 3. 6. 7. 10.
Jroper Date/Signature OelowByan 2218 Attest Keeper Attest Keeper Attest Keeper Attest Keeper Attest Keeper Attest Keeper Attest Keeper Attest Keeper Attest Keeper Attest NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES Intted States Dapertmand el tho latarte ational Part Servict Caldwell Block (Central Village, Ipswich, Massachusetts MRA) Essex County MASSAC HUSETTS EYALUATION / RETURN SHE resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: Working No. JUN 8 1983 Fed. Reg. Date: 2-7-84 Date Due:_ 72/83- 1/23/3 3 Action: L ACCEPT 7/7/03 Entered in the - RETURN Nat1onal - REJECT- Fodotaitagoncy:. -sampie - request - appeal - NR decision Reviower's comments: -Nomination returned for: Rocom. / Criteria Roviower _ Discipilne- Date seo continuation sheet _technical corrections cited below -substantive reasons discussad balow 1.1 Name 2. Location 3.
Classification 4. Owner of Property 5. Location of Legal Description 6. Representation in Existing Surveys I tin prepety tem doemined - - - 7. Description Chack en escotor montorme ruine -o to poco -d and ertyadd (ll kaowal ployated a summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates boundary selection 8. Significance enter seeie datee setlly boter mttcen 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 Aoreago of nominated property - Quedrangie neme - UMT Roterences Yertel boundery descrtation end hesttiestien 11. Form Prepared By 12.
State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evaturted signinicance of this property within the stane is: - nationat - state local Mato Mistonie Preeervation Omicer sugnetun dett 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 Caldwell Block Ipswich, Mass. Photographer and location of Negative: tistorix 3gwich, Inc. Ipswich, MA Description of View: south and west elevations Photo #1 of 2 Tpswich - Caldwel Block Caldwel1 Block ipswich, Mass. Photographer and Location of Negative: Historic Ipswich, Inc. P.O.
Box 392 ipswich, MA Description of View: north and west elevations Photo #2 of 2 733 MANNING CENTR TALL 191 4101 T9GA tey STREKT WARREN 282 B07A MAIN STREET AREA E NOM 170 3g H3P t3e 173 STRIKT LT MAIN ELM UNION BOUTH Assessor's Map Caldwell Block Ipswich, MA Map by: John O'Donnell of Maine for the Town of Ipswich Jan. 1, 1982 SEEMAPK 17g COUNTY 10g AREAM MEETINGHOHSE GREËN DISTRICT CALDWELL BLOCK RIVIR SOSWICH $33 MAP IG HISTORIC IPSWICH, INC. PO Box 392 Ipswich, MA 01938-0492 February 23, 1983 RECECD FED 20 1833 MACS. MST. COMM Ms. Candy Jenkins National Registry Editor Massachusetts Historical Commission 294 Washington Street Boston, MA 02105 Re: Caldwell Block Ipswich, MA Dear Ms. Jenkins: Historic Ipswich, Inc.
wishes to reconfirm our ownership of The Caldwell Block in Market Square in Ipswich, and to urge the approval of this property for the National Register of Historic Properties. In a recent discussion with Paul McGinley, he indicated that The Caldwell Block would appear on the May agenda of the Historical Commission. If any questions or information is needed, please do not hesitate to contact us. Very truly yours, James M. Barney President Historic Ipswich, Inc. JMB/mjw PMC REALTY TRUST 239 WESTERN AVENUE ESSEX, MASSACHUSETTS 01929 TEL: 617-468-4511 May 11, 1983 RECEIV) MAY 1 6 1983 MASS. HIST. COMM. Ms. Candy Jenkins National Register Editor Massachusetts Historical Commission 294 Washington Street Boston, MA 02108 RE: Caldwell Block Ipswich, MA Dear Ms.
Jenkins: Confirming our recent telephone conversation, PMC Realty Trust of noninataon to tne Nasiona ic lirelch, enclosea aeores r ristorie PMC supports its nomination to the National register. Ipswich Inc.'s nomination materials. Please contact me if you need any further information. Very truly yours, PMC REALTY TRUST T.Ciural JOHN T. COUGHLIN TRUSTEE JTC/bk Encl. MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS Office of the Secretary of State 294 Washington Street Boston, Massachusetts 02108 617-727-8470 MICHAEL JOSEPH CONNOLLY Secretary of State May 25, 1983 Ms. Carol Shull, Chief National Register of Historic Places National Park Service Department of the Interior 18th and C. Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20240 Dear Ms. Shull: Enclosed you will find the following nomination forms: Boston - Sarah J.
Baker School (local) Boston - Newspaper Row (local) (0ba1) (ocal) Ipswich - Caldwell Block (local) New Bedford - Times-Olympia Building (local) Westfield - State Normal Training School (state) All have been voted eligible by the State Review Board and have been signed by the State Historic Preservation Officer. Owners were notified of pending State Review Board consideration 30-75 days before the meeting and were af forded the opportunity to comment. Comments received to date are attached to the nomination forms. Sincerely, Candace senkins Candace Jenkin Director, Preservation Planning CJ/1k D EGEIVE JUN - 8 1983