Nomination for Old Medford High School

From the form

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 SEP _ 9 1983 date entered RECEIVED historic Medford High School JUL 8 1983 and/or common 2. Location Old Medford High School (preferred) MASS. HIST. COMM. street & number city, town 22-24 Forest Street Gity of Medford N/A not for publication N/A vicinity of state Mass. 3.

Classification code 025 county Middlesex code 017 Category district building(s) structure site Ownership xx public - private both Public Acquisition object N/A in process being considered Status - occupied XX unoccupied - work in progress Accessible - yes: restricted - yes: unrestricted _ no Present Use _ agriculture commercial educational entertainment .government industrial military X museum park private residence religious scientific transportation other: vacant 4. Owner of Property name City of Medford street & number Medford City Hall - 85 Salem Street city, town City of Medford N/A vicinity of 5. Location of Legal Description state Mass. courthouse, registry of deeds, etc. Middlesex County Court House street & number Second Street city, town Cambridge state 6.

Representation in Existing Surveys Inventory of the Historic title Assets of the Commonwealth#110 has this property been determined eligible? Mass. - yes xX no date 1977 _federal xx state - county - local depository for survey records Massachusetts Historical Commission city, town 294 Washington Street Boston state Mass. 02108 7. Description Condition excellent A gaadg fair deteriorated ruins unexposed Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance

Description of the property

Medford High School, 22-24 Forest Street, Medford, Mass. Check one unaltered xX altered Check one XX original site N/A _moved date The Old Medford High School stands north of Medford Square at the southwest corner of Forest Street and Hall Avenue. Surrounded primarily by mid-19th and early 20th century frame houses, its facade (east elevation) overlooks a semi-circular driveway and lawn with a bronze and concrete World War I Memorial. At the rear (west) elevation facing Bradlee Road, is the former Vocational School (1929) which has previously been converted to elderly housing and is not included in this nomination. The Old Medford High School is composed of a central building (1895) that is flanked by two L-plan wings (1929, 1939) that form an open court facing Forest Street.

Sharing many elements of design, proportions and materials, these three units are all three-stories high, constructed of red brick and trimmed with brown sandstone and cast-stone cornices, pilasters and belt courses. The original high school building (now the central block of the present structure) has a symmetrical facade of seven bays flanked by projecting and pavilions of three bays each. Resting on a rock-faced granite foundation, the first storey of the facade has rusticated brickwork and a central entry that is framed by Ionic columns standing in antis. Brown sandstone beltcourses divide the basement, firs t and second stories. Central bays of the second and third are framed by Ionic pilasters that rise to the main cornice of the building. Between these pilasters are two rectangular window openings (end bays) and five wide, arched windows with moulded surrounds and keystones.

Above the third floor, the entabla- ture's frieze is inscribed with five names: Homer, Raphael, Shakespeare, Franklin and Agassiz (obscured by vines). Above the frieze are courses of leaf-and-dart moulding, dentils and egg-and-dart mouldings which culminate in a copper cornice. Particularly noteworthy is the central building's entrance. Approached by low steps of pink granite, the entry is set in a vestibule that is framed by a wide brownstone piers and Ionic columns standing in antis. The entrance floor is composed of stretcher bricks laid in mosaic fashion. Original panelled doors are set in a frame with multi-pane sidelights and transoms. Suspended from the entry's ceiling is the original wrought iron lantern. Sash in the original building varies in configuration by location.

North and south of the central building are additions which are characterized by classical ornamentation designed to harmonize with the original building. Rustication, belt courses and red brick construction have been carried over to these wings from the old building. The additions' facades (east elevations) feature long bands of windows containing 12/12 wood sash. Flat roofs with pedimented parapets surmount these wings, except for portions ofethe south wing which contain an auditorium. These additions are linked to the old building by narrow 3-bay, 3 storey connectors which provide interior access via three double doors with pedimented, classical enframements. The north and south additions' classical ornamentation is confined primarily to the Forest Street elevations of their end pavilions.

The north wing (1929) exhibits a central entrance with a cast-stone cap and consoles in the manner of the Renaissance Revival. Above this entrance is a tall (Continued) NPS Form 10-900-a (3-82) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form Medford High School, Continuation sheet Medford, Massachusetts Item number OMB No. 1024-0018 Exp. 10-31-84 Far NPS uae anly recsived date enterec Page 1 multi-pane arched window flanked by engaged Ionic columns and surmounted by a pedimented entablature. The south wing (1939) has a 5-bay pavilion (east elevation) that exhibits Georgian Revival stylistic elements. At the ground storey are three entries set in cast-stone surrounds, surmounted at the second and third stories by monumental engaged Ionic columns that frame windows set in earred surrounds with moulded caps.

Corners of the south wing are accented with paired Ionic pilasters. The roof line of the south wing is trimmed with a cast-stone cornice, copper crown mouldings and a brick parapet. Rear elevations of the main building and its wings are largely utilitarian in design, consisting of evenly spaced groupings of windows (12/12) that reflect interior classroom partitions. Elements such as rusticated brickwork, belt courses and cornices are carried across rear elevations in a simplified form. Alterations to the former high school are limited to the rear of the main building, from which a 1914 addition was removed following a fire in 1965, and the roof of the main building which was re-built at a slightly lower than original height, due to fire damage in 1965.

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Significance Medford High School, 22-24 Forest Street, Medford, Mass. Period prehistoric 1400-1499 1500-1599 1600-1699 1700-1799 1800-1899 - 1900 Areas of Significance Check and justify below - - archeology-prehistoric - community planning -archeology-historic conservation . agriculture 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 1895, 1929, 1939 Statement of Significance

Statement of significance

(in one paragraph) Builder/Architect Hartwell & Richardson (1895) Michael Dyer (1929, 1939) The Medford High School possesses integrity of location, design, setting, materials, and workmanship. Architecturally significant as an excellent local example of late 19th century institutional buildings in the Renaissance Revival style and designed by the prominent Boston firm of Hartwell and Richardson, it further derives historical significance through associations with the development of public education in Medford. The Medford High School thus meets criteria A, and C of the National Register of Historic Places.

Begun in 1895 and dedicated in 1896, the original high school building (central section of the present structure) is an outstanding local example of the Renaissance Revival style architecture, one which is noteworthy for the scale of its design, the high quality of its materials, and its association with the Boston architectural office of Hartwell & Richardson. Particularly noteworthy details are the building's rusticated and pilastered main facade with its Ionic entrance, arcaded windows, Ionic pilasters and finely carved courses of decorative details.

Built at a cost of $150,000 in 1895, the original building was designed by the noted Boston firm of Hartwell & Richardson which specialized in school architecture and public buildings during the late 19th century: Other notable buildings designed by the firm include the Belmont Town Hall and the First Spiritualist Temple (now Exeter Street Theatre), Boston. Sandstone trimmings of the original building were given by General Samuel Crocker Lawrence, Civil War Officer, rum distiller and first mayor of Medford (early 1890s). Medford's leading citizen at the turn of the century, Lawrence was known locally both as the owner of extensive real estate in Medford and as a philanthropist who donated the building of the Medford Armory to the local volunteer militia (National Guard).

Dedicated on May 21, 1896, the central building originally contained 15 classrooms, science laboratories and an assembly hall. As a result of Medford's growth as a suburb of Boston, the original brick building was nearly doubled in size in 1914 by a rear addition which contained "many classrooms, a gymnasium and an auditorium holding 1,200 pupils." The rear addition was destroyed by fire in 1965. Continued population growth necessitated the construction of a north classroom wing (1929) and later a south wing (1939) that was designed by Michael A. architect of Medford's City Hall. Containing classrooms and a gymnasium, the wing also possessed an auditorium, the largest in the Commonwealth at the time ofits completion.

Characteristic of their period, these wings are built of red brick trimmed with cast-stone details that combine elements of the Renaissance Revival and Colonial Revival styles. Together with the Medford City Hall, the wings of the High School are the finest local examples of their style. With the exception of the south wing's auditorium, which is used for theatrical per- formances, the Old Medford High School has been vacant since a fire in November, 1965 its 1914 addition and portions of the central building's interior. Since 1971, the high school has been located in a new building on Winter Street.

The rest of the file

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

Major Bibliographical References The Medford Historical Register, Vol. III - January 1900, No.1 Mustang News, November, 1965. Massachusetts Historical Commission. Inventory Form #71, 1974. 10. Geographical Data 172,594 sq. ft. Acreage of nominated property Quadrangle nameBoston North UMT References A 1,91 Zone L312,615,0,9 Easting C119 L3/ 216/41010 Quadrangle scale _1: 25,000 14,619,814,4,0 Northing 1416/918|4410 B|9 Zone 1312,613,7,0 Easting LIL 46982,70 Northing LILLL GL F HI 1Lu Verbal boundary description and justification The nominated property includes 2 lots shown as S. Pt. 2 and N. Pt. 2 on Medford Assessors' Sheet L-9. Bounded by Forest Street, Hall Avenue, Bradlee Road and neighboring lots, this property includes the High School's original parcel with the exception of a lot that was transferred to the Medford Housing Authority during the 1970s.

See 2istash Sfates and counties for properties overlapping state or county boundaries state code county code N/A state code county code 11. Form Prepared By Candace Jenkins, Preservation Planning Director, with Edward Gordon, Consultant name/title to Architectural Conservation Trust (ACT) organization Massachusetts Historical Commission date June, 1983 street & number 294 Washington Street telephone (617) 727-8470 city or town Boston state Massachusetts 02108 12.

State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evaluated significance of this property within the state is: _ national -_ state _ local As the designated 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 the criterla and procedures set forth by the National Park Service.

State Historic Preservation Officer signature atum LWeslouhi 8/29/82 State Historic Preservation Officer title Massachusetts Historical Commission date For NPS use only I hereby certify that this property is included in the National Register Aelrecßyen Entered in the Keoper of the National Register National Register Attest: Chief of Registration date 10/6/83 date WASO Form - 177 ("R" June 1984) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET Old Medford High School Middlesex County MASSACHUSETTS resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: Reviewer's comments: Lsample J request Lappeal Working No. SEP 9 1983 Fed. Reg.

Date: 2.5.85 Date Due: 1076/83 Entered in Actithe ACCEPT RETURN Nat1ona1 BeeioteT REJECT- Federal Agency: _ 10/24/83 10/6/83 LNR decision Recom./Criteria Reviewer Discipline Date see continuation sheet Nomination returned for: - _technical corrections cited below _substantive reasons discussed below 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification Category Ownership Public Acquisition 4. Owner of Property 5. Location of Legal Description 6. Representation in Existing Surveys Has this property been determined eligible? yes no 7. Description Condition J excellent good fair deteriorated ruins unexposed Check one -unaltered altered Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates boundary selection Status Accessible Present Use Check one - original site moved date 8.

Significance Period Areas of Significance-Check and justify below Specific dates Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) Builder/Architect 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 Looros 9. Major Bibliographical References 10. Geographical Data Acreage of nominated property Quadrangle name_ UTM References Verbal 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 title 13. Other Maps Photographs Other Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to _ Signed Date.

Phone: Comments for any item may be continued on an attached sheet Property name: Old Medford High Schoo1 Street address: Forest Street Community: Medford, Ma. Photographer and date: J.P. Matthews, 6/17/83 Location of negative-Office of Comm. Devt., City Hall, Medford Photo number 1 of 3 Description of view Main structure from southeast Property name: Old Medford High Schoo1 Street address: Forest Street Community: Medford, Ma. Photographer and date: J.P. Matthews, 6/17/83 Location of negative-Office of Comm. Devt., City Hall, Medford Photo number 2 of 3 Description of view Main structure from northeast Property name: Old Medford High School Street address: Forest Street Community: Medford, Ma. Photographer and date: J.P. Matthews, 6/17/83 Location of negative-Office of Comm.

Devt., City Hall, Medford Photo number 3 of 3 Description of view North wing from southeast; World War I Memorial in foreground