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Nomination for House at 79-81 Salem Street

The case file that argued this property on to the National Register: 1,333 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 84002676, 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.

FORM B - BUILDING MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION A-13 294 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02108 Area B Form no. 36 1oca oT. neares c cross streets and other buildings niacat Features Reading ress toric Name 79-81 Salem Street- --+ Original two-family dwelling Present_ two-family dwelling ership:X| Private individual Private organization Public Original owner_ Samuel R. Allen CRIPTION: Date c. 1840-1850 Source valuation book Style Federal-Greek Revival Architect Exterior wall fabric -clapboards Outbuildings Major alterations (with dates)_south extension and fenestration, including dormers Moved no Date: 13,917 sq. ft. Approx.

acreage Setting_faces north, toward an old street; sits close to that road Recorded by Organization Date Architectural Preservation Associates Reading, Historical CommissionED November 30, 1980 Date 2/14/84 UTM: 19/327600/4710150 (Staple idditional sheets here) ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE (describe important architectural features and evaluate in terms of other buildings within community) This house is essentially a Federal cottage that was given an unusually elaborate Greek Revival doorway treatment. The Federal details include the narrow cornerboards and cornice, and the short gable returns. doorway is unusual, in that many of the five-bay, one and one-half The story cottages in the area lacked a classical doorway surround alto- gether. This one is especially generous in proportion, with a tall entablature and pilasters enriched with a Greek key design.

The windows project from the plane of the wall, which is another unusual feature. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE (explain the role owners played in local or state history and how the building relates to the development of the community) Samuel Allen was a carpenter or house builder. He owned no property in 1840, but did own a house in 1850. Samuel died on November 13, 1853, and his widow, Lucy J., continued to live in one half of the two-family house for many years thereafter. other occupants ofthe house included cabinet-trade workers and a German family. Cabinetmaking was a major industry in the neighborhood. A planing mill was located on Salem Street to the west of this house. It was established in the 1840's by William Badger, and served the cabinet and furniture industry for many years. The mill was closed in 1906 and subsequently demol- ished (see form no.

B-32)- BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES 1854 map - Mrs. Allen (Mrs. Samuel R. Allen, or Lucy J. Allen) 1875 map - Mrs. Allen (Mrs. Samuel R. Allen, or Lucy J. Allen) 1889 map - Mrs. Allen (Mrs. Samuel R. Allen, or Lucy J. Allen) 1850 valuation book (Samuel R. Allen) 1855 census Reading vital records 20M-2/80 INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Commmity: Reading Property Name : Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. Form No: B-36 CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION This house is significant (1) for its role in the development of Salem Street as a 19th-century residential and commercial neighborhood; and (2) as a largely intact example of a typical Federal-Greek Revival cape-style cottage.

It retains integrity of location, design, setting, workmanship, and feeling, and meets Criteria A and C of the National Register. Staple to Inventory form at bottom (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 6ltlry date entered Page 547 Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group Name State Reading Multiple Resource Area Middlesex County, MASSACHUSETTS Nomination/Type of Review 41. House at 11 Beech Street Entered in the National Register Entered in the 42. House at 16 Mineral Street Nationa1 Register 43. House at 26 Center Avenue Entered in the Nationa? Begister 44. House at 42 Salem Street Entered in the National Register 45. House at 44 Temple Street Entered in the National Register Entered in the 46. House at 57 Woburn Street Natlona?

Begistor 47. House at 77 Howard Street Entered in the National Register 48. House at 79-81 Salem Street Entered in the National Register 49. House at 129 High Street Entered in the Hetione? Begister 50.

.House at 199 Summer Avenue Entered 1n thiet NAtLORBL Begister Date/Signature Täeeper Aubmpyan /0/81 Attest fKeeper AelveeByen 7/19/8 Attest h eeper dloußyen 7/19/8 Attest TReeper AelmnByan 2/19/8 Attest tkeeper AleluuaBzan +/19/84 Attest HKeeper AilmeByan 119/04 Attest Kkeeper AelonByen 110/8 Attest Kkeeper AelurAzen /19/85 Attest tseeper AliluusByun1/1918 Attest Hkeeper AlelnaByen 11/9/0 Attest WASO Form - 177 ("'R" June 1984) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE RJ.#24002676 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET House at 79-81 Salem Street (Reading MRA) Middlesex County MASSACHUSETTS resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: Reviewer's comments: Lsample request Working No._UN 1984 Fed. Reg. Date: 2 5L8 Date Due: _ 7 -54 Entered in thaction: ACCEPT National Register -RETURN REJECT.

Federal Agency: . 7-19-84 7-14-84 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 rair deteriorated ruins unexposed Check one - unaltered J 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 Keadling B-36 79-81 Salem St. 93.0 42 18,256 Sq.Ft. 71.0 17.68 50 550 29.44 90.03 51 15119 Sq.FA 182.29 800 52 4,105 54: Ft 186.32 180.0 OSBORNE 53 15,046 Sq. Ft. 180.632 10.65 80.00 6.0 43b 3 80 Sq. Ft. 30 154 10,080Sq.Fto 43 c 80 162 PLAT 87 ST. HARRISON 72.00 41b 18,116 9q R. SALEM 68.77 68.74 4la 41 15,3G0SqFl 13,917 420 Sasasar 90.33 2.9 80.0 ST. PEARL PLAT 93 ST. 102.0 22 62.72 40 4,3386g1 22 a 2.18 12,010 Sq.Ft 41.2/ 60 29 2, AVENUE 102.2 39 7,190 g45k oLL9 TORST 70.0 21594 580 38 7,150 48 15,650 Sq.Ft. 197.31 47 11,370 Sq.F. 117.33 46 13,797 s4. Fr 11.5 45 15.0289 33 19791 44 11,322 S4.50 15O.I 80.

43 d 10,559 59.Ft SATO 10,630 114 38 170 PLEASANT 1915 370 5708 54 F9 1080 37 3, 70 8 84,P4 La8.e 36 9701 430 35 F+ 198 34 5 702 54 Fr 2 108.0 10.0 1080 * 32 6050 8qF9 108.0 3 31 6,000SaF+ 106,3 14,662 Sq.Ft 101.5 146.5 23 a 8,940 Sq. Ft 142.70 8a 70 62.0 23 [23 b- 6630 Sq.Ft 05/455qR 6a04 630 I DE 90,99 24 :8,8.77 Sq.Ft. 119.23 24 c s. 8 47 5-54 11e.23 24b 1415-4+ 25 9,54 7 597+ 1l9.a3 26 5,541 9P+ 27 5,547 50=+ #B-36 5079-81 Salem St. Map 77, Lot 41 1983 Assessors Map 1" = 100' 184 11,580S,r. 88> 224 rCO. 20 12,525 Sar98 190 98.55 13,350S,r 19 7084 Sq. Fr 1000 12-4 ST. 29 46.63 6 a 6,4075,F7 90.07 18 8,921 Sq.Ft!

11a.25 17 6655 Sq.fti 110.92 16 6655 Sq.Ft 0 110.55 15 6,655 Sq.Fn9 10.03 Z 140 6,6646- Pe 10 .19 8 C625 SHA 35.75 9 Ncs8l sa.Fo A5 RO 10 5811S0M 25.71 4688 Sq.F* G6555q.m9 116,95 14 6,655 Sq.Ft 8 C6.9.4 558ESqR 12 10 13 88345474 LI9S 530 STREET Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000290