Nomination for Claflin 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 JUL | 6 1984 date entered AUG | 6 1984 historic The Claflin School and/or common 2. Location The Claflin School street & number 110-112 Washington Park N/A not for publication city, town Newton state Massachusetts 3. Classification Category Ownership district public X building(s) private . structure both site Public Acquisition object N/A in process _ being considered code N/A vicinity of 025 county Middlesex code 017 Status occupied unoccupied work in progress Açcessible yes: restricted yes: unrestricted .

no Present Use - agriculture commercial educational entertainment government .industrial military museum park private residence religious scientific transportation other: 4. Owner of Property Penthouse Associates name street & number c/o Paul F. McDonough, Jr., 28 State Street city, town Boston N/Avicinity of 5. Location of Legal Description state Massachusetts courthouse, registry of deeds, etc. Middlesex County Registry of Deeds street & number 208 Cambridge Street city, town Cambridge state 6. Representation in Existing Surveys Inventory of the Historic Assets of title the Commonwealth #2545 has this property been determined eligible? Massachusetts yes X no date 1984 federal X state _county local depository for survey records Massachusetts Historical Commission city, town Boston state Massachusetts 7. Description Claflin School.

Newton, MA Condition X excellent good fair deteriorated ruins unexposed Check one unaltered _ altered Check one X original site moved date Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance

Description of the property

The Claflin School is a late Victorian masonry structure (1891, J. Merrill Brown) that faces north on a corner lot at the intersection of Washington Park and Walnut Street in Newtonville. It is located on a relatively flat plain bounded on the west by West Newton Hill and on the east by the Commonwealth Avenue Hills. It is about one mile north of Bullough's Pond, the geographical center of Newton. The school is set back approximately twenty-five feet from both of the streets on which it faces. Part of the village of Newtonville, it is situated on a large lot in an area which retains its 19th century suburban streetscape. The surrounding neighborhood consists of residential buildings on Washington Park and civic and low rise commercial buildings on Walnut Street.

The building, essentially rectangular in plan, rises three stories to a rather complex roof- line which is punctuated by two prominent chimneys on the east and west, and several trans- verse gables of different sizes that rise from all four elevations. Standing on a granite foundation, the school is sheathed in brick and capped by a steeply pitched hip roof covered in slate with copper ridges. Particularly rich in decorative detail, the school is encircled by a corbelled brick cornice and a rusticated brownstone watertable. Pressed yellow brick and brownstone are also often used as trimming elements surrounding window and entries. Throughout much of the building, fenestration is arranged in groups of three with rectangular and arched openings glazed by 1/1 sash. Windows are generally headed by brownstone lintels and brick corbelling orby yellow brick, voussoirs.

The north elevation is the facade of the building. Three symmetrically aligned gable pavillions are its most distinctive feature. The central or principal transverse gable is flanked by two secondary ones. Within the major pavilion is a set of three windows on each floor. They include a group of arched openings on the first story, rectangular windows on the second level, and a tripartite Palladian in form arched opening on the third floor..Also of note, below this third set group of windows is: a brownstone plaque on which is carved "Claflin Grammer. School." The secondary gable pavilions contain windows similar in form to those on the main pavilion. with the exception that the ones here are placed only on the second and third story, and the central opening in a cluster of windows is larger than those flanking it.

Located between the pavilion: on this elevation are the two principal entries to the school. They are framed byrusticated brownstone blocks and headed by pressed yellow brick voussoirs which contain semi-circular lights within their arches. Now recessed, doorways were originally set flush with the brownstone entry surrounds. west elevations form the sides of the building and are identical in composition. Asymmetrical in formåt, the dominate feature on these elevations is a transverse qable located on the southern end and similar in design, detail and fenestration to others found on the building. The south elevation is the rear of the building. Similar in design to the principal facade, it contains a central gable pavilion flanked by two smaller ones. On these secondary secondary pavilion, however, a hip roof is used rather than the gable form that is found on the facade.

Fenestration on this face consists of five bays on the central 8.

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Significance The Claflin School, Newton, MA 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 agricuiture _ economics architecture X education art _ engineering commerce exploration/settlement communications _ industry _ invention landscape architecture law literature military _ music philosophy ne politics/government religion science sculpture social/ humanitarian theater transportation other (specify) Specific dates 1891 Statement of Significance

Statement of significance

(in one paragraph) Builder/Architect J. Merrill Brown The Claflin School possesses integrity of design, location, setting materials, workman- ship and feeling.as well as associations with Newton's suburban development in the late 19th century. It is also significant as a fine example of late Victorian institutional architecture as designed by the locally prominent architect, J. Merrill Brown, who is known primarily for his school and residential designs in late 19th century suburban The Claflin School thus meets Criteria A & C of the National Register of Historic Places. The Claflin School is located in Newtonville, one of thirteen villages in the City of Newton. Located on one of its major north/south thoroughfares, Walnut Street, it stands near the historic center of this community which developed in the second half of the 19th century as part of Boston's suburban movement.

Newtonville particularly attracted residents because it combined a fine transportation system with an excellent public school program. Constructed in 1891, the Claflin School was built during a period of major growth in Newton which had begun in the 1880s and continued through the early 20th century. The school, in fact, is named for a successful Boston businessman and politician, William Claflin, who settled in Newtonville in the 1850s and was responsible for the subdivision of much of the area's farmland. EG:.0:) The need for the construction of this school in 1891 came from an expansion in the school- age population which had increased by almost 1000 pupils from: 1831-1899: When new, the school was considered a model educational structure and reflected the city's commitment to the development of an excellent school system.

The building contained six classrooms and was used by the upper grammar school grades. In 1953, having outgrown the facility, the student body moved to a new schoolhouse, also called the Claflin School. The older building was subsequently purchased by Newton Junior College which remained here until the facility closed in 1976. Now the oldest school in Newton, Claflin was the first to be built of masonry. It takes its place within a slightly larger context of public buildings designed by architects trained in the offices of H.H. Richardson and Peabody and Stearns. The Claflin School is on a modest scale, but clearly manifests its architectural antecedents. Its architect, J. Merrill Brown (1853-1909) was one of the early students at the MIT School of Architecture before work- ing in the offices of H.H. Richardson and Peabody and Stearns.

_His own practice began in Boston in 1882 and for many years he designed mainly residential buildings in the Boston suburban area. In addition, he designed Gov. Flower's Watertown, NY home as well as the commercial Massasoit National Bank in Fall River and the Eddy Building in New Bedford. Brown was a well respected late 19th century Boston architect who managed to adapt his Beaux-Arts training and Richardsonian experience to the practicalities of educational, residential, and commercial buildings without sacrificing the period's high standards of design. (continued) 9.

The rest of the file

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

Major Bibliographical References Boston Public Library, Department of Fine Arts, Architects' File, "J. Merrill Brown." City of Newton, Public Documents, 1886-1891. Historic Newton Inc., Newton's 19th Century Architecture, Newtonville, 1980. 10. Geographical Data Acreage of nominated property 80.981 sq. ft. Quadrangle name Newton Quadrangle UT M References A 19 Zone L$1$240 Easting EL1 4690659 Northing LILL LLLL Quadrangle scale 1:25000 EasinL Easting Northing LLIL Verbal boundary description and justification See Attached Assessor's Map List all states and counties for properties overlapping state or county boundaries state N/A code county code state code county code 11.

FormPrepared By name/title Kathryn Kubie, Preservation Planner withArchitectural Preservation Associates organization Massachusetts Historical Commission date February, 1984 street & number 294 Washington Street telephone (617) 127-847.0..:c Boston city or town 1ca -State -. Massachusetts 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evaluated significance of this property within the state is: national state X 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 criteria and procedures set forth by the National Park Service.

sp/w1023 State Historic Preservation Officer signature Vatuu Zweslowske State Historic Preservation Office title Massachusetts Historical Commission date 4/10/84 For NPS use only I hereby certify that this property is included in the National Register Entered in the Hational Regtstet faceper of the National Restae Attest: Chief of Registration, : date 8-16-84 date NPS Form 10-900-a (3-82) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form OMB No. 1024-0018 Exp. 10-31-84 For NPS use only received date entered Continuation sheet Claflin School Item number 7 & 8 Page 1 bays on the smaller ones. Windows are simply treated and are generally rectangular in form except for the arched tripartite opening which is found within the central gable.

The building has generally remained intact over the years with only a door added in the 20th century at the basement level on the east facade. Recently, however, the school was rehabilitated and converted into apartments. This reconstruction followed the Secretary of Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation and the work was certified by the National Park Service in 1983. Section 8 Significance (Con't) A stylistic blend of Richardsonian Romanesque and High Victorian Gothic which were current in Newton and Boston at the turn of the century, the exterior of the building remains intact as it was constructed. Minor exceptions are a new door on the east facade, an elevator penthouse on the roof, two recessed dormers on the west roof and new entrance stairs and rails.

The only loss on the exterior is a band of decorative corbelling on the entrance arches which was removed to attach wooden porticoes in the early 20th century. Exterior alterations throughout the building's history have been minor and reversible. The interior of the building retains only a few original details such as the Assembly room trusses. Although vacant since 1976, the building remains generally intact. It has re- cently been converted through private development into residential apartments with the rehabilitation work certified by the National Park Service in 1983.

345 355 363 WALNUT STREET L 7460 693 344 346 8494 3 378 LS 10300 957 110 105 WASHINGTON PARK 97 20 81458 7568 789 6848 9 5 CLAFLIN x 12 8 636 4360 405 5|14 11 15 17 PLACE 14 6755 13 628 Plan page 44 NE Scale 1" = 40' Section 22, Block 17, Lut 20 The Claflin School 15 WASO Form - 177 ("R" June 1984) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET Claflin School Middlesex County MASSA C HUSETTS resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: Reviewer's comments: Lsample J request JUL 1,6 1984 Working No. Fed. Reg.

Date:a2 Date Due: _ Action: LACCEPT - Entered in _RETURN National Regegter REJECT- Federal Agency: appeal - NR decision Recom./Criteria Reviewer - Discipline _ Date _ see continuation sheet 8/30/84 16-89 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 j 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 LOGnOG YIDUC 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 The Claflin School 110-112 Washington Park Newtonville, Massachusetts View from northwest Architectural Preservation Associates December, 1983 HISTORICAL COMMISSION ONAKO CORPORATED ATOHT Barbara Thibault Chairman City of Newton, Massachusetts Incorporated 1873 CITY HALL I000 COMMONWEALTH AVENUE, NEWTON CENTRE 02159 TELEPHONE (617) 552-7135RECENVED JUN =819E4 MASS. HIST. COMM. 4 June 1984 Ms Kathryn Kubie, Preservation Planner MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION 294 Washington Street Boston Massachusetts 02108 Re: Claflin School - National Register Nomination Dear Ms Kubie: Enclosed is a copy of a motion passed at our last meeting supporting the nomination of the Claflin School to the National Register.

The school is the finest of Newton's remaining 19th Century Schools and has been sensitively and appropriately adapted for multifamily housing. We hope that our support of this project will encourage other developers to follow suit. Sincer Leume C. Dau aue Lawrence : Bauer, Secretary Newton Historical Commission sg ) HISTORICAL COMMISSION City of Newton, Massachusetts Incorporated 1873 CITY HALL 1000 COMMONWEALTH AVENUE, NEWTON CENTRE 02159 TELEPHONE (617) 552-7135 Barbara Thibault Chairman RECORD OF ACTION MOTION NO.

84-6 DATE: 3 May 1984 SUBJECT: Claflin School - National Register Listing AT A MEETING on 3 May 1984 the NEWTON HISTORICAL COMMISSION, by a vote of 5 to 0 _ passed the following motion: Resolved, that the Newton Historical Commission in recognition of an admirable job of adaptive reuse of one of Newton's finest nine- teenth century school buildings, wholeheartedly supports nomination of the Claflin School to the National Register of Historic Places. MEMBERS VOTING: Thibault, Bauer, Arthur, Husher for Berkman, Schilder for Pauler. FURTHER ACTION REQUIRED: Jane Secretary of the Commission COPIES TO: Kathryn Kubie Massachusetts Historical Commission