Nomination for Larrabee's Brick Block

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 Larrabee's Brick Block For NPS use only received FEB 28 I984 date entered historic same and/or common 2. Location street & number 500-504 Main Street N/A not for publication city, town Melrose i/A vicinity of state Massachusetts 3. Classification Category Ownership district X public X building(s) - private structure both site Public Acquisition . object in process N/A being considered code 025 county Middlesex code 017 Status X.

- occupied unoccupied work in progress Accessible yes: restricted - yes: unrestricted no Present Use _ agriculture X commercial educational entertainment government industrial military museum park - private residence religious scientific transportation other: 4. Owner of Property name Edwin B. and Marie T. Wood street & number 107 East Emerson Street Melrose city, town N/A vicinity 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 title of the Conmonwealth of Massachusetts has this property been determined eligible?

1978 #229 date federal X _state Massachusetts yes X no county _ local depository for survey records Massachusetts Historical Commission 294 Washington Street, Boston Massachusetts city, town state 7. Description Larrabee's Brick Block, 500-504 Main Street, Melrose, MA Condition - excellent X good fair deteriorated ruins unexposed Check one unaltered X altered Check one _ original site moved date N/A Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance

Description of the property

Larrabee's Brick Block is located on a 6115 square foot lot on the west side of Main Street in Melrose's commercial business district. The structure is free-standing and abuts the sidewalk on its east side, a narrow passageway on the north, a small fenced in yard on the west and a one-story early twentieth century building on the south. Other buildings in the 1mmedlate vicinity include the 18/6 Bigbee-Barrett Block (the only other nistoric mansard- rooted structure in the town center), several two and three-story late nineteenth century masonry blocks, anda variety of altered and one-story early mid-twentieth century commer- cial structures. The town center was designated as a local nistoric district in 1979. The building is rectangular in plan, measuring approximately 35 X 63 feet. It stands three stories high with a straight mansard roof clad in slate constituting the third story.

The walls are faced with brick laid in stretcher bond. The building sits on a granite sill and has a full basement. Decorative treatment, which appéars on the cast (facade) and north elevations, includes a single course of alternating recessed bricks between the first and second stories and, at the cornice, three stepped rows of dentilwork and angled bricks. Scrolled brackets are located beneath the eaves. East elevation (facade): The ground story of the facade has two iron storefronts and, in the soutn bay, a recessed entry leading to the upper stories. A plain iron lintel excends the width of the facade. Each storefront has a recessed center entry flanked by plate glass display windows. Al though aluminum has replaced the original wooden frames and the apron of the right (north) storefront is now made of brick (ca.

1960), the three iron posts separating the bays remain; the two pests flanking the right (north) storefront, however, are currently encased in black carrera .1 p: 9lass: The second story contains a rectangular window of 2/2 sash set between a granite lintel and sill above the main entrance. A single angular bay window is also located over each store- front and has one-over-one window sash set within molded arcnitraves. .,The apron of each bay window has wooder panels, and the cornice is supported by brackets ornamented with applied bosses. The mansard roof originally had four dormers evenly spread across the facade. All but the soutnernmost one, which survives intact, was removed ca. 1910 when the second story bay windows were extended upward into the roof. These later bays closely match those on the second story, except that the wood trim is less ornamental.

The remaining dormer has a gabled hood wnich rests on an elaborately ornamented scrolled frame and contains two-over- two segmentally arched sash. North elevation: The north elevation, which faces onto a narrow passageway, continues the decorative brickwork of the facade. owara the rear, the tirst story contains two segment- ally arched windows with granite sills and, between them, is a wide segmentally-arched çoor opening tnat blocked 1 aoe i is ia aeo er te arn letrce ie seconi story. The mansard roof is punctured by six dormers that are identical to that on the facade. 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 Larrabee's Brick Block Item number 7 OMB No.1024-0018 Exp.

10-31-84 For NPS use only received date entered Page South elevation: The south elevation, separated from a one-story early twentieth century building by little more than one foot, is finished more simply. Toward the rear of che of the lower two stories are regularly spaces segmentally-arched windows. Four plain dormers light the mansard roof. The facade cornice continues along the east end of the elevation for approximately four feet before reverting to a simpler stepped cornice. West (rear) elevation: The west elevation has segmentally arched windows on the first and second stories. Two-over-two sash is set within a rectangular frame with a brownstone sill. A three-story partially enclosed wooden porch with simple stick-like balusters was aaded ca. 1930 and obscures most of the elevation. Interior: The interior of the building has been little altered since it was constructed.

The first story commercial space has paneled tin ceilings, embossed tin walls and maple flooring. The upperfloors, which are in residential use, have tongue and groove wainscot, iwo wood fireplaces with carved overmantles, compouna molded door and window surrounds on the second floor and flat board trim on the third, paneled doors and maple floors. Tne stair rail is mahogany and supported by turned balusters.

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Significance Period prehistoric 1400-1499 1500-1599 1600-1699 1700-1799 X 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) ,c3: Specific dates 1880 Builder

Statement of significance

/Architect John Eaton Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) Larrabee's Brick Block possesses integrity of location, design, setting, materials, and workmanship. It is representative of tne small mansard-roofed blocks built in commercial districts following the Civil war, and is architecturally significant in tnis community as one of only two unaltered nineteenth century commercial structures in downtown Melrose. Historical associations are with the building's first owner, a prominent local citizen, and with the development of Melrose's commercial center in the second half of the nineteenth century. The building thus meets criteria A, B, and C, of the National Register. Until the mid-nineteenth century, Melrose (part of the neighboring town of Malden until 1850) was a sparsely settled agricultural community whose economic base was supplemented by scattered shoe making shops.

In 1845, the advent of the Boston & Maine railroad to che community opened the area up to residential suburban development wnich took full ad- vantage of the town's craggy picturesque landscape. The population grew rapidly, increasing almost tenfold in the next twenty-five years. smal1 commercial center emerged along Main Street, consisting of approximately a dozen frame structures, many of which combined shops and living quarters. leveled the west siue of Main Street between Essex and Foster Streets. stood on the site of the nominated property, was the only salvagable building.c Rebuilt as Unity Hall, it was a two-story frame struçture çontaining a spacjous hall. It was soon apparent, however, that the building was an anomaly as the rest of the block was rebuilt in brick or in larger, more fashionable framestructures, many with mansard roofs.

In 1880 Unity Hall was, purchased by John Larrabee. The Journal reports that the hall was to be "reconstructed." Further articles and an examination of the building suggest nothing of the earlier hall reinains and that the entire present building dates from 1880. The Journal describes Larrabee's Brick Block as a "very handsome building" with two ron storefronts and tenements above. The completed building was cited as "a handsome improvement," "one of the best things ever done for Melrose both as regards good looks and utility. It was designed by Boston architect, John Eaton, about wnom nothing is known at the present time. Among the building's first tenants wnen it opened early in 1881 were C.G. Harris whose dry goods both men also resided in the building.

Phop was on tne ground floor and dentist Aaron Hil1; John Larrabee (1850-1929), the building's original owner, was a native of Melrose who, in 1867, bought the town's oldest drugstore in which he nad been a clerk. For the next forty- six years he managed the business and following his retirement it was continued by his when the drugstore finally closed in 1970, it was one' of the city's oldest businesses, naving been in operation 1ü3 years. üuring Larrabee's ownership, it was located in the adjacent building to the north of the nominated property. It was a three-story frame mansard-roofed structure built by Larrabee in 1870. (Though still standing, tne top floors have been removed and the ground floor extensively remodeled). Larrabee was active in civic affairs, serving as town clerk for twenty-one years, 1886 and 1887, Melrose's first city treasurer and mayor from 1901-02.

of several local banks and served on the State Board of Registration in Pnarmacy for e and saren on tne sate sara o eiseaston tn framac tor eard thirteen years. This commercial building best represents Larrabee's active involvement 1. Melrose Journal, 6/26/1880, 8/28/1880, 2/5/1881 9.

The rest of the file

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

Major Bibliographical References Goss, Elbridge Henry, the History of Melrose. Published by the City of Melrose, 1902. Cutter, W.R., Historic Homes and Places and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs relating to Families of Middlesex County, New York: Lewis PUblishing Company, 190, Vol. IV 10. Geographical Data Acreage of nominated property 6115 S.F.

Quadrangle name Boston North Quadrangle scale 1:25.000 UTM References A L119/ |3|310|1120| Zone Easting cLL L417/012/21210 Northing LILL B Zone Ei GLULLILIWILL LiLLLL Easting Northing LuLu LILLLLL FLU LILLL HLU Ld bLu Verbal boundary description and justification The nominated property includes the building and 6115 SF lot known as Parcel 67 as shown on attached ielrose Engineering Department map (Sheet C+7, 1932/rev.:1979)- List all states and counties for properties overlapping state or county boundaries state N/A code county code state code county 11. Form Prepared By Kathryn Kubie, Preservation Planner with name/title Elizabeth Durfee Hengen, Preservation Consultant organization Massachusetts Historical Commission code street & number 294 Washington Street date November, 1983 telephone* (617) 727-8470 city or town Boston -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.: : State Historic Preservation Officer signature Patune LWestouske State Historic Preservation Officer title Massachusetts Historical Commission date 2/22/84 For NPS use only I hereby certify that this property is included in the National Register Melaes Intered in the pis National Register date Keeper of the National Register 3/29/84 Attest: Chief of Registration 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 Continuation sheet Larrabee's Brick Block Item number OMB No.

1024-0018 Exp. 10-31-84 For NPS use only received dale entered 0 8 29 Page 1 in the life and affairs of the community. A key building in downtown Melrose, Larrabee's Brick Block remains today in its original use, containing small businesses on the ground floor and apartment units above. Continuation 9. Major Bibliographical References Kemp, Edwin C., Melrose, MA 1900-1950, published by 50th anniversary committee, 1900. Melrose Journal, December 1870-January 1881 Melrose City Directories, 1870-1930 Photograph collection, Melrose Public Library 1875 Atlas of middlesex County (Beers) 1889 Atlas of Middlesex County (G. Walker) 10,06 1,172 138s CHERRY 170.21 3.0 WEST 72 6oas 3990 FOSTER 00zg 5T. MYRTLE 158 9163 51770 1602 16,003 1.700 39,595 DILLS COURT MUNICIPAL PARKING AREA $,548 58760 3,957 772 MAIN 150 ESSEX ST. G00, Bnl09 518 ST.

UPHAM 10,753 11-39 954681 11.066 18,673 _CASTMAN 150.02 FIELDS COURT PLACE 1199 ",. PLACE TEVENS er LenL 96 EAST FOSTER ST. Melrose Engineering Department Map Sheet C-7, Parcel #67 1932, latest revision 1979 1"=100' 15Y WASO Form - 177 ("R" June 1984) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET Larrabee's Brick Block Middlesex County MASSACHUSETTS resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection L appeal Substantive Review: Reviewer's comments: Lsample Lrequest Working No. FEB 28 1984 ed. Reg. Date: 2/5/80 Date Due: _ 3/29/84-4/13/84 Action: LACCEPT 3/24/64 Entered in the _RETURN. National Register _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 Loriginal 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 J 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 Larrabee's Brick Block 500-04 Main St., Melrose, MA Photograph by Elizabeth Durfee Hengen December 1982 Negative filed at 45 Cabot St., Winchester, MA 01890 View looking southwest IJ/GF 18 Fairview Avenue Melrose, Massachusetts January 20, 1984 02176 Valerie Talmage, Executive Director Massachusetts Historical Commission 294 Washington Street Boston, MA Re: 500-504 Main Street, Melrose Larrabee's Brick Block RECEIVED .I* 251984 MASS HIST COMM. Dear Ms. Talmage: At a recent meeting of the Melrose Historic District Commission, I was very pleased to hear that Larrabee's Brick Block has been proposed for nomination to National Register of Historic Places. This building is very important to the Historic District of downtown Melrose. The structure with its nineteenth century character greatly enhances the commercial area.

The Melrose Historic District Commission has recognized the unity and diversity of the historic heart of Melrose, along Main Street, and we are aware of the benefits to be gained by protecting this important structure, which helps to give this city focus and identity. Bo saeonl zada slc nod rsca pimor dbe The importance of the owners of buildings such as Larrabee's Brick Block being interested in the historical aspects of their property must The owners of this block have shown such interest not only in their treatment of the building itself but also in hiring a consultant to prepare the nomination to the Massachusetts Historical Commission. I urge that the State Review Board look favorably on the nomination. Thank you for your attention. Sincerely yours, Mandm.Samky David M. crowley, Chait Melrose Historic District Commission DMC : dmd