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Nomination for Searles High School

The case file that argued this property on to the National Register: 1,081 words across 9 pages, filed in 1984. Reproduced in full, word for word.

Source document Held by the National Archives in Record Group 79 as reference 84002431, where it exists only as a scan with no text layer. The words below were read off that scan by machine, so the occasional stray character is the recogniser's and the typewriter's. Nothing is summarised, corrected or written by this site. See the catalogue record, or return to the property.

The nomination, in full

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

AREA FORM B - BUILDING MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION 294 WASHINGTON STREET, BOSTON, MA 02108 FORM NO. 61 Town Methuen Address 41 Pleasant Street V Historic Name Searles High School Present Owner: Town of Methuen PHOTO: (3x3" or 3x5", black & white) staple to left side of form Photo number 4-35 (Pleasant St.) 5-1 (Searles Estate facade) SKETCH MAP Show property's location in relation to nearest cross streets and/or geographical features. Indicate all buildings between inventoried property and nearest intersection Indicate north. PLEASANT ST. Use: Present Methuen Schoools Admin. Bldg. Original high school DESCRIPTION: Date 1904 Source_Town records Style_ Jacobethan - English Revival Architect_Henry Vaughn Exterior wall fabric_red brick and masonry Outbuildings none Major alterations (with dates) none PARK ST- MAIN FACADE Moved no Approx.

acreage_ Setting_ residential 1.4 acre Date n/a Recorded by Organization Date Gail Hunton/Carole Zellie Landscape Research, Ltd. May, 1978/May, 1983 Assessor's Data: Block 41, Lot 127 UTM Reference: Lawrence Quad 1:25,000 (Staple additional sheets here) 19 321200/4732920 ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE (Describe important architectural features and evaluate in terms of other buildings within the community.) The Edward F. Searles High Schoolis an excellent example of the English Renaissance Revival and Queen Anne styles favored by Searles and his British-trained architect, Henry Vaughn. Vaughn, a student of English architect G. F. Bodely, also designed the Serlo Organ Hall (1897). The monumentally-scaled, 3½-story building of granite-trimmed brick is oriented to the Searles Estate and surrounded by a granite retaining wall.

Three finial-capped projecting pavillions on the main facade have granite-trimmed projecting bays; a two-level granite trimmed arcade connects them. Finial topped wall dormers and heavily-trimmed chimneys are the secondary vertical elements. The brick-faced building rests on a high rusticated granite found tion. The rectangular windows are trimmed with granite quoins and fenestration defined by granite string- HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE (Explain the role owners played in local or state courses. history and how the building relates to the development of the community.) The Searles High School is testament to the endowments of millionaire Edward Searles, and is a significant example of the scale and architectural treatment of structures Searles endowed to the Town of Methuen and built for himself.

(See multiple resource narrative for biography.) The Searles High School possesses integrity of location, setting, design, workmanship and materials and meets criteria A, B and C of the National Register of Historic Places. BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES (name of publication, author, date and publisher) Records of the Methuen Historical Commission. 10M - 7/82 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 14/1/83 date entered Page 4ops Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group Name State Methuen Multiple Resource Area Essex County, Massachusetts Nomination/Type of Review 31. Old Town Farm Batered th Ere National Begieter 32. Park Lodge Macared Iu 1295 m0n1 Bepietar 33. Perkins, Joseph, House Aucered in the Meltonel Regieter 34.

Pine Lodge Substantive Review DOE/OWNER 03 1ECTI0 35. Searles High School artorod Lu tae wtoos1 Regietor 36. Simpson, James E., House Eatered in the Martioual Begieter 37. Spicket Falls Historic District Eatered in the National Register 38. Swan, Asie, House artrral To Ehe National Begietar 39. Tenny Castle Gatehouse Axrtered Tu Ele Mattopau: Beatbor 6| - 40.

Turnpike House Substantive Review HKeeper Date/Signature XelonaByand 1/20/14 Attest tkeeper AiluaBgur 1e/1v Attest Keeper Aelnaßyad /20/84 Attest Keeper Sx TÍ Attest fKeeper SelneBya 20/54 Attest fuReeper XilaneAyun1120/84 Attest fKeeper AelmeBzu a120/8 Attest /Reeper deloreByu:/20/84 Attest tieeper AlmesBryul 120/84 Attest Keeper Bauealatragel 120/09 Attest WASO Form - 177 ("R" June 1984) Ref#E4002431 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET Searles High School (Methuen MRA) Essex County MASSACHUSETTS resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: Reviewer's comments: - sample J request Mattone1 DEC - 7 1983 Working No. Fed. Reg.

Date -85 Date Due: 1/5/84 -1/21/84 ction: LACCEPT 1/20/84 RETURN Regteter - REJECT- Federal Agency: - -appeal -NR 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 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 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 searles High sihee Kethen MRA Ma 728 Searles High Sched. bethuen MRA, Ma 724 09-01 200 80 COCHRANE (PLI TOO 100 1 5 6 001 ,501 35.06/35 112 8B 17 10 8 .41 103. -. 60 9 12,000 34.6867.62 9 10,728 9,500 .-10.565 14,680 63 4100 3a. S,50aill PL 5-2-20) NC 7500%D (PL 11-3-23) 69 MIA 660 318 57500 100 WILLIAMS 200 37,810 8 . T41.6 14,250 IL65 103.41 ST WALNUT 86 5400 65.3 13 Y 5,418 79.77 JEIS 5,313 8, 7,562 18 (PL 26) 6,264 95 130 22 210 6 3 6,160 18 90.75 08 2 3,444 ST. -127N2 124 23,780 135 130.25 9, ST. 167 S> 21,390 90 130 24A PL 26 100.58 12 122. 16,500 165 100,5971 4 G 11,936 12,128 / 12-3-5 12. 121,943 122.91 94.15 23A 5 11,880 (PL 116 124A 16 123 14 =268 82.23 124B 12 123 ,546 198 -PLEASANT 125 89.3 126 126 333.28 124 C 31,872 8430 28 124D 23.9320 123,560 VINE. 129.04 3 72. 127 120 ST.

131 1.4 AC 27.35 ~ ,750 12 64 117 78.4 WHITTIER.: 345.6 8 Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000284