Nomination for Thom Block

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The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

NPS Form 10-900 (3-82) OMB No. 1024-0018 Exp. 10-31-84 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form See instructions in How to Complete National Register Forms Type all entries - complete applicable sections 1. Name For NPS use only received MAY 2 3 1983 date entered historic Thom Block (preferred) and/or common Flat Iron Building 2. Location street & number 83 - 89 Main Street N/A not for publication city, town Milford N/A vicinity of state Massachusetts code 025 3. Classification Category district X building(s) structure site object Ownership public X private both Public Acquisition in process N/A being considered county Worcester code 027 Status X - occupied .

unoccupied work in progress Accessible X yes: restricted yes: unrestricted no Present Use agriculture X commercial educational entertainment government industrial 1-military museum park - private residence _ religious _ scientific _transportation other: 4. Owner of Property name Howard M. Feldman and Lidia M. Feldman street & number P. O. Box 581 city, town Hopedale N/A vicinity of 5. Location of Legal Description state Massachusetts courthouse, registry of deeds, etc. Worcester County Registry of Deeds street & number 2 Main Street Worcester Massachusetts city, town state 6. Representation in Existing Surveys Inventory of the Historic title Assets of the Commonwealth, #202 has this property been determined eligible? -yes X no date 1980 federal X state - county _ local depository for survey records Massachusetts Historical Commission city, town Boston Massachusetts state 7.

Description Thom Block, Milford, Massachusetts Condition excellent good fair YAM - deteriorated - ruins unexposed Check one X unaltered _ altered Check one - original site _moved date N/A Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance

Description of the property

The Thom Block, a four-story, flat roofed, granite commercial block is situated in The building covers nearly all of the 3000 square feet, trapezoidal-shaped parcel on which it stands; it fronts on Main Street on the southeast, Calley Square on the northeast, and Spruce Street on the northwest. Due to its shape, the Thom Block is commonly known as the Flat Iron Building. The street facades of the Thom Block are built of locally quarried, rock faced granite blocks. The windowless southwest wall is a red brick (24" thick at the base, 8" thick at the top), and was originally shared with an adjoining commercial block which was destroyed during the 1960s. Heavy timber framing - some members as thick as 8" x 10" - braces load-bearing walls and rests upon vertical granite slabs at basement level.

The street facades are composed of coursed and random sections of ashlar, with suggestions of quoins at the Calley Square corners. Rectangular windows with one over one sash are framed by plain granite lintels, slightly projecting sills, and jambs of alternating wide and narrow blocks. The facades are simply articulated by granite belt courses and unusually decorative storefronts. The building was at one time topped by a metal cornice, added probably in the late 1920s to prevent roof leaks and removed several years ago after serious deterioration. Below a granite frieze, the Main Street storefronts are separated by seven poly- chromatic piers which alternate blocks of polished and rock faced granite. The piers are each capped by a carved modillion block.

At the building's northeast corner, a recessed entrance is supported by a polychromatic column of polished granite cylinders separated by narrow bands of rock faced granite. A rudimentary, rough hewn capital block surmounts this column. Eight granite piers line the Spruce Street storefronts as well, although these are neither polished nor polychromatic. The major ornament of the upper stories is a large plaque on the Main Street facade just above the recessed entrance. Iwo Corinthian colonettes are spanned by a frieze and plinth on which "THOM" and "1891" are carved, respectively. The whole is surmounted by a semi-circular pediment. Although the building's exterior is in very good condition, the interior is in poor Significant interior features are few, but include wood framed plate glass storefront windows and the stores' original pressed metal ceilings.

The upper configuration has been extensively and repeatedly altered throughout the building's history. Although little original fabric remains within the upper stories, their architectural and historical

From the form

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significance appears to have been negligible. Originally, the Thom Block contained three stores on the first floor, each with access to both Main and Spruce Streets, and nine rooms in each of the upper stories. At present, the building's only occupants are a small clothing store and Alson's Auto Parts, both on the first floor. 8. Significance Thom Block, Milford, Massachusetts Period - prehistoric .1400-1499 1500-1599 1600-1699 1700-1799 X 1800-1899 1900- Areas of SignificanceCheck and justify below - archeology-prehistoric _ community planning - archeology-historic _ conservation - agriculture X _ economics architecture _ education art - engineering commerce - exploration/settlement - _ communications -industry _ invention landscape architecture law literature military music - philosophy - politics/government .

religion science sculpture social/ humanitarian _theater transportation - other (specify) Specific dates 1891 Builder

Statement of significance

/Architect James Thom Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) The Thom Block retains integrity of design, materials, workmanship, location and setting. The building is significant for its associations with Milford's late 19th century industrial prosperity and as a fine example of a granite commercial block of the period; it meets criteria A and C of the National Register. Since the mid 19th century, granite quarrying has been Milford's largest and most important industry. H. H. Richardson's Boston and Albany railroad stations and his Allegheny County Courthouse are built of Milford granite, as are McKim, Mead and White's Boston Public Library and Pennsylvania Station. Other notable structures of Milford granite include the New York City Public Library, Boston's South Station, and Washington's Executive Office Building and Museum of Natural History.

Milford granite was shipped to all corners of the U. S. and as far afield as Europe. Although Milford's granite industry declined precipitously in the early 20th century, the town's late 19th century commercial blocks continue to dominate Main Street and to define its character. The Thom Block is the town's only surviving granite commer- cial block,and as such serves as a prominent visual reminder of the industry whose prosperity built much of Main Street. Although rock faced granite ashlar is not unusual in Massachusetts, load bearing walls of randomly sized courses are notably less common, particularly among buildings of the late 19th century. In addition, the Thom Block's polychromatic piers of polished and rock faced granite are unique in the region. James Thom came to Milford around 1889. Soon after joining Milford Pink Granite Quarries as a "foreman stone-cutter," Mr.

Thom was the target of a "murderous assault" by a disgruntled quarry laborer by the name of Scampini. Shortly thereafter, Thom submitted his resignation. He then turned his attention to other pursuits such as proprietorship of a local bicycle-horse-carriage racetrack and of Milford's two semi-professional baseball teams. In the spring of 1891, Thom set to work erecting the building which bears his name. Just prior to its scheduled completion, a fire gutted the entire interior, including James Thom, Jr.'s street level clothing store. The Thoms were not to recover from this calamity and subsequently defaulted on the mortgage; they removed to Mainein 1895. The Craddock Hotel and the Ancient Order of Hibernians occupied the Thom Block's upper floors for most of this century.

The street level stores have housed Trotta's Barbershop, Mainini's Liquors, a key shop, and a saloon which was entered from Spruce Street.

The rest of the file

Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.

Major Bibliographical References Milford Journal (5/7/1890, 3/2/1892, and 10/15/1892). Milford Directories (1880-1940). Milford Pink Granite Quarries company records. Milford Historical Commission, History of Milford (Milford:C. Kraft Press, 1980). (Cont inued) 10. Geographical Data Acreage of nominated property.15 Quadrangle name - Milford UT M References A 119| |2/911|81610/ Zone Easting 1416 618/412101 Northing CL1 ELI Quadrangle scale - 1:25,000 BL LLLILIL Easting Northing DL F LL LLL .LL Verbal boundary description and justification The 71' x 28' x 65' x 62' Thom Block nearly covers the entire 3,000 square feet trapedzoidal shaped parcel on which it stands, in- dicated in the Assessor's records as Lot #550 on Sheet 148.

Beginning at the eastern (Continued) List all states and counties for properties overlapping state or county boundaries State code county code N/A state code county 11. Form Prepared By Wendy Frontiero, Preservation Planner, with name/title Thomas J. Morgan, Consultant code organization Massachusetts Historical Commission date February 22, 1983 street & number 294 Washington Street telephone (617) 727-8470 city or town Boston state Massachusetts 12.

State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evaluated significance of this property within the state is: - national -_ state local As thedesignated State Historic Preservation Officer for the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Public Law 89 665), I hereby nominate this property for inclusion in the National Register and certify that it has been evaluated according to tlee criteria and procedures set forth by the National Park Service.

State Historic Preservation Officer signature State Historic Preservation Officer, Petum (Weslowski title Massachusetts Historical Commission date 4/28/83 For NPS use only I hereby certify that this property is included in the National Register Xeloes Entered in the National Begieter date 6/23/83 Keeper of the National Register Attest: date Chief of Registration NPS Form 10-900-8 (3-82) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form Continuation sheet Thom Block, Milford, Mass. item number9 and 10 OMB No.1024-0018 Exp. 10-31-84 Far NºS usa anly ressived dale entered Page 1 Section 9: Major Bibliographical References (Continued) Interviews with Milford residents Robin Philbin (3/25/1982), Dwight Matson (4/1/1982), and Michael DeLuca (4/2/1982).

Section 10: Geographical Data: Verbal Boundary Description (Continued) corner of the premises at a point where Spruce Street enters Main Street, the boundary runs southwest 67 feet along the west line of Main Street, thence north- west 62 feet along land formerly of Raftery to Spruce Street, thence east 75 feet along the south line of Spruce Street to the west side of Calley Square, thence southeast 28 feet along the southwest line of Spruce Street to the point of beginning. See also attached sketch map.

162 M6 5 AC "Pruce 4794 SF 340 OF 190 STREET (564A) 6072SF MILFORD 4c 18,000 SF -RSALIST CHURCH 133 9,000SF STREET 155 90 9,800SF 8.500 SF 52 MEMORIAL SQUARE SCHOOL ST 40 9103 SF 7155S F 8756 SF 222 8965 SF 310 5598 SF 203 21 0412136 6,000SF -52 6,509SF 6,500SF 125 4800SF 50 PRENTICE 7,000 SF 91 12,500SF 70 THOM BLOCK T.O.M 4,2005F 66 5,800 SF TAO TOWN MILFORD 15 66 COURT 160 3000SF BO 36,500 SF COMM 210 TOWN COURT 12 20,104 SF STREET 8,000S F 1E 717 SF 163 MAIN SPRING 6,872 SF 514 6.300SF BIO7SF 12,500SF 5,500SF 6,079SF 9,000SF 180 12,000SF 12,000SF 9,2495F 60E 6,011SF 4,207SF 5,594SF g 100 JEFFERSON 9,000SF 87 5,500 SF 524 1,500SF 96. 4,700 SF 4,3005F 98 3500SF 96 033 7.00 6,000SF 8,100SF 6,000SF 24,500SF 8,800SF So 190 5,600SF 4,200SF Soi 3200SF. 8,200SF 100 7349SF T.O.M.

4,100SF Sg TOC 6,500SF 5,00 59 7,400SF 66 66 4,300SF 50 30 7,800SF 450SF 49 2 4,200SF 4,6L TOWN OF MILFORD 14,500SF 10,900SF 63 8,000 SF 79 7,400SF 66 24,500 SF 11,800 SF 55 45 8.000SF 85 11,000c- TOWN OF MILFORD Massachusetts 100 ASSESSORS ATLAS MAY OF 1968 SCALE 100 200 300 FEE 100 FEET TO I INCH FEET N THOM BLOCK FIRST FLOOR EXISTING 1" : 8 ALTO NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES United States Departw e el the latarier National Park Service EVALUATION / RETURN SHE - Thom Block Worcester County MASSA CHUSETTS rosubmission nomination by person or local government owner abjection appeal Substantive Raview: Roviower's comments: MAY 23 1983 Working , No. Fød. Reg. Date: 7-85 Dato Due: S/23/43 - 1/7B3 Action: _ ACCEPT 6/23/83 Entered in the - RETURN Natlonal Regteter - REJECT_ Federal Agency:- _ sample _request _ appeal __ NR decision Recom.

/ Criteria - Reviower_ Discipline Date _800 continuation sheet -Momination returned for: _technical corrections cited below _substantive reasons discussed bølow 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification C-orol Polatte Rasaaielon 4. Owner of Property Proooas Uon 5. Location of Legal Description 6. Représentation in Existing Surveys M wn prperty bomn cocerainad ergieta 7. Description ack o0 _ unertar sartore ruine artgaed fil taon summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates houndary selection -heck en - moved 8. Significance ortor pealiie datee der Arobhte ant el stgnifleenoo (in ene 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 hcreago of sed property. Quedrangle nemo . UNT Reterences Verbal b 11. Form Prepared By 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The eveluated olgniticance of thie property within the atate ls: netional -Bate local Dteto Mletorte Preservadon Officer eigneture doto 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 MAReMONI better by design auto parts for imports WORLDPARIS ISO ALSON AU Thom Block 83-89 Main St. Milford, MA 01757 Photo: Negative: April 1982 Tom Morgan 50 Federal St. Boston (617) 542-1006 Photo # 105 Looking north at Thom Block's SW & SE elevations ALSOI MODERN OFFICE SPACE AVAILARLE SSLDMAN RFAITY Thom Block 83-89 Main St. Milford, MA 01757 April 1982 Photo: Negative: Tom Morgan 50 Federal st.

Boston (617) 542-1006 Photo # 2 ol5 Looking SW at Thom Block's Calley Square facade. MODERN OFFICE Mo Thom Block 83-89 Main St. Milford, MA 01757 April 1982 Photo: Negative: Tom Morgan 50 Federal St. Boston (617) 542-1006 Photo # 3 015 Looking south at Thom Block's NW facades. NE & 1891 Thom Block 83-89 Main St. Milfora, MA 01757 April 1982 Photo: Negative: Tom Morgan 50 Federal St. Boston (617) 542-1006 Photo # 4015 Main St. facade detail, second story, Thom Block's E corner. AS YOU LIKEITTS HOURS Monday bee Thuscdy à 6om Friday 10am sQpa Saturday OLET H OPEN Thom Block April 1982 83-89 Main St. Milford, MA 01757 Photo: Tom Morgan Negative: 50 Federal st. Boston (617) 542-1006 Photo # 50/5 Looking SW into recessed entry at Thom Block's E corner.