BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
FORM B - BUILDING XXX!! 25 MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION 294 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02108 Area C Form no. 192 SI2CODC,1 89 LCRNCIIOU ion to nearest other buildings eatures. Reading ess 64 Middlesex Avenue oric Name Highland Schoo1 Original School Present_ School ership:[ Private individual Private organization Public Town of Reading Original owner Town ef Reading -CRIPTION: Date 1896-97 Source Town Report 1896-97 StyleSecond Renaissance Revival Architect Horace G. Wadlin Exterior wall fabric brick, concrete Outbuildings_ None Major alterations (with dates). turretsremeved 1960's towers' Moved no Date Recorded by Architectural Preservation Associates Organization_Reading Historical Commission Date NovemRE\ISED28Q Date 6/82 Approx. acreage 1 acre Setting Set on a corner plot, on a good-sized hill, the school commands the site.
UTM: 19/326620/4710720 (Staple additional sheets here) ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE (describe important architectural features and evaluate in terms of other buildings within community) A well-built school structure, the building is 2 stories on a high basement, with center pavilion and porte cochere with flanking blocks. The educational floors are emphasized by thin, light-yellow brick, while the basement is dark-red brick. An egg-and-dart string course divides the two. Fenestration on the main facade has arched tops; granite keystones punctuate the larger openings. Four massive ch mneys enliven a low hipped roofline. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE (explain the role owners played in local or state history and how the building relates to the development of the community) The Reading Highlands describes roughly the northwest section of the town lying between Mt.
Vernon, Lowe11, Bancroft, and Prospect Streets. The 1875 map shows significant settlement in this area only along Mt. Vernon and High Streets, but population growth was expected and en- couraged. The Highlands Depot was built in 1873 and streets laid out over the old Bancroft family holdings. Streets were cut through Mannings large nursery. In 1902 Highland School had grades 4-8, Class size was much larger than today--with the peak of 54 and the low of 39 registered in each classroom, though average attendance was much lower. In 1912 electric light was installed in 2 classrooms here: why not in all, it is hard to say. In that year, the boys and girls were given separate, organized recesses, a measure in part to decrease congestion in the schoolyard. The junior high occupied the first floor from 1915-1927.
The solidity and continuing use of this school reflects the importance Reading placed on its school buildings at the turn of the century. (The building was built in 1896-7 for a cost of about $55,000 for both land and construction.) School use was discontinued in 1981. BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES Bishop, Vignettes, p. 90 Town Report: 1896-7 How Reading Grew Up by Reading College Club, 1978 20M-2/80 INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Commmity: Form No: Reading C-192 Property Name: 64 Midalesex Ave Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued belor. ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE On the west facade, a central arched opening is flanked by oval windows. Windows are deep-set and grouped horizontally. A large third-floor window over the arch has a leaded glass fanlight.
This is Reading's architecturally most distinguished school building. It is thoughtfully composed, finely constructed, and well placed on its site. CRITERIA FOP EVALUATION The Iighland School is significant (1) Ior its role in the residential development of the Reading Highlands area; (2) for its connection with the prominent local architect Horace G. Wadlin; (3) for its commanding presence in its neighborhood; and (4) as an excellent example of the Second Renaissance Revival style. The school retains integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, and feelins, and meets Criteria A, 3, and C of the National Register. Staple to Inventory form at bottom 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 OMB No.1024-0018 Exp.
10-31-84 For NPS use only received 4910y date entered Page 4/0/9 Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group Name State Reading Multiple Resource Area Middlesex County, MASSACHUSETTS Nomination/Type of Review 31. Damon, Joseph, House Entered in the National Register 32. Damon, Washington, House Entered in the National Register 33. Dewey Place Entered in the National Begister 34. Durgin House Entered in the Hatfere? Regiatar 35. Eaton-Prescott House Entered in the National Begister 36. Elliott, Luther, House Entered in the National Register biicied in the Natlonel Hegister 37. Hall, Stephen, House 38. Hartshorn, Timothy, House 39. Hartwell House 40. Highland School Entered in the Natlone?
Hogiater bnicied in the National Register Entered in the Natiopel Begister Date/Signatúre Feeper Aeloußyan 119104 Attest fKeeper AtlonaByen 1/29/84 Attest tkeeper AelmuaBgea 7/96 Attest Tkeeper diluaByen 7/9/84 Attest fReeper delueByen 1119/35 Attest Keeper AulreBzun 1/915 Attest fKeeper debreBgen 114/r Attest tkeeper dlvusByen 1119/64 Attest fukeeper AelmesBzun111/64 Attest Kkeeper dleluuBye1119/84 Attest WASO Form - 177 ("'R" June 1984) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Ryf. #84002643 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET Highland School (Reading MRA) Middlesex County MASSACHUSETTS resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: Reviewer's comments: Lsample request Working No._ JUN 4 1984 Fed. Reg. Date:( 2, 6/85 Date Due: .
184 - 7/19/84 Entered In thAction: Y ACCEPT - 2-19-54 Nationel Regiestisz -RETURN. REJECT_ Federal Agency: _ -Jappeal -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 Builder/Architect Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) 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 Highland Scheel Reading MRA, Ma 64 Middlesex Ave FAFEI Middlesex Ave Highland Scho 33 84.30 46 6.30 - 13,5G0 83.50 9.50 11.100 5.90 11,530 3.50 41,390 .50 50.0 3 6,590 8 42 50.0 12 .100 L0 (g 925 SI BGO PLAT 0/0 99 Lo 0LD 135 103.0 26 SL 27 8.044 85.07 10175 188S 86.0 5,000 260 85.0 171 11,795 28 166.0 11,900 29 159.50 11,800 30 162.50 12,100 31 166.25 11,400 32 16985 11,320 33 173.45 13,150 34 177.85 87.90 89,95 8,364 8,636 36 35 98.90 14 89.23 18 SCHOOL 74 ,51 74.50 23 EL9L osol of8 STREET 199 1310 145-147 25° 110.0 25 13500 152.68 88.25 7325 19 88.25 4 GRAND 58.10 58.10 15,2.00 24 115.42 OEGIL 228c1 11.30 9,100 9,50 84.0 84.0 42.0 42 0 2.527 5.623 5,100 115.1E goso 01 240 88.43 7,320 19 a 81.37 10 630 12 DSO1 6.310 600 6,310 VI-S01 20 46.10 21 565 ST.
22 83.95 94 10.30 18 8,ICC 85.60 108.0 76.67 MIDDLESEX 99'19 62 A37O0O 099 EE 6,105 6,105 58.10 58.10 116.20 ES'2S 6,105 22 116.20 6,105 116.20. DEERING 11c 80 O'8S 6 6.755 116.20 8 6 6,720 941 115.51 0'09 5 6,915 114.93 2629 7.312 9209 114.54 921 27 0'99 3 7,520 113.90 9,800 14 100.0 1G 108.4. 1.4.30 17 9300 124.20 16 9,150 124.10 9,125 15 124.0 766T 13 60.0 10 72.50 ST. 232.00 60.0 7 09911 1.633 Acres 10,560 10918 Gao Highiand School 25221 2 60.10 32 235.35 STREET #C-192 " 64 Middlesex St. Map 73, Lot 01 1983 Assessors Map 1" = 100° PLAT AVE. PL Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000290