BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
FORM B - BUILDING MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION 294 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02108 Area B Form no. 44 PEED UMI7 30 Reading eSS 128 Salem Street- oric Name Original Pierce House Dwelling Present Dwelling rship:KX Private individual Private organization Public Original owner Samuel Pierce CRIPTION: Date 1875-1880 - Source Map 1875, Assessors valuation list Style Stick Style Architect George Abbott Exterior wall fabric Clapboards Outbuildings 2-car garage Recorded by Organization Date Major alterations (with dates)_1 1/2 and 1 story rear extension, fenestration TO on east altered. Moved Date Approx. acreage_ 10,775 s.f. Architectural Setting Faces south on a slight rise Preservalion Associates Reading Historical at corner of street named for its Nove EASED1980 Date 6/82 builder. Granite retaining wall - torders property.
UTM: 19/327840/4710220 (Staple additional sheets here) ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE (describe important architectural features and evaluate in terms of other buildings within community) This house represents a fairly elaborate Stick-style structure. Its asymmetrical composition is topped by a steeply pitched gable roof with rafter ends. Both end sables and the center gable feature gable screens, with the latter's displaying a cut-out floral design. Knee braces support the end gables at eaves level; the braces frame into vertical- board siding that fills the gable ends and continues around the house as a cornice. The elaborate front porch includes arches between chamfered posts on pedestals, scalloped trimwork, and eaves brackets. This is a display of the versatility of wood as material, and the jigsaw as its tool.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE (explain the role owners played in local or state history and how the building relates to the development of the community) Samuel Pierce was the owner of Reading's most important organ pipe and organ accessories firm. After apprenticing himself to George Badger, a cabinet manufacturer, he went to Boston to learn the organ pipe trade. Returning to Reading he began manufacturing in an ell of his house in 1847. He moved his factory to specialized buildings on Pierce Street in 1852 and greatly expanded his business, employing 50 men and selling widely. He built this house near his factory after 1875. He was a selectman in 1870 and also served in the lower House of the Great and General Court on many important committees, and was for many years Treasurer of the Old South Congregational Society.
From a farming family, he became a wealthy businessman, and a responsible figure in town, county, church and government. BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES 1889 map S. Pierce (Samuel) 1880 Valuation List Eaton, Memorial Volume, p. 314 and p. 163 photo 20M-2/80 INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Commmity : Readin" Form No: B-2.L Property Name: 120 Selen St. Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. CRIPROTA POR EVALUATIO! Che Pierce house is sinificant (1) for its role in Readinc's production o= or ens anc orran pines; (2) for its connection with successful businessman Samuel Pierce; and. (?) as ore of the toum's best exannles oR Stich-style architecture. It retains integrity of location, design, settin", materials, vorknanshin, and feelint, and meets Criteria A, P, and c of the Mational 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 atulgy date entered Page Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group Name State Reading Multiple Resource Area Middlesex County, MASSACHUSETTS Nomination/Type of Review 71. Parker, Joseph, House Entered in the National Register 72. Parker, William, House Entered in the National Register Date/Signature feoper AeuBru4-1-84 Attest fsseeper AelmuByun =19-14 Attest 73. Pierce House Entered In the National Register freeper Aulou Bzunh-19+1 Attest 74. Pierce Organ Pipe Factory Entered In the National Register fReeper AelrenBgu7-196 Attest 75. Pratt House Entered in thø National Register fokeeper AllreByun7-1564 Attest 76.
Pratt, Stillman, House Entered in ths Nationel Register fokeeper AuloreBzen 71984 Attest Entered In 77. Reading Municipal Building NatJona1 Roglstonfuféeper AulnaByu+12t4 Attest 78. Reading Municipal Light and Entered In the Power Station National Register f4feeper AulureDyur 11984 Entered in the Attest Nationel Register 79. Roberts House fKeeper OduusByen +1954 Attest 80. Rowhouses at 256-274 Haven Street Entered In Natione? Begiistet feeper AeluuaByan 1-19-84 Attest WASO Form - 177 ("R" June 1984) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Ry#E4002794 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET Pierce House (Reading MRA) Middlesex County MASSACHUSETTS resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: Reviewer's comments: -sample request JUN Working No. 4 1984 Fed. Reg.
Date: 2/6/85 Date Due: 7- 7-19-54 Action: * ACCEPT 7-19-84 Enteredin tha -RETURN National Regeesten - 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 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 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 I 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 SPEED LIMIT 30 PoCe1 Rediz 128 Salem St PLAT 87 WILSON ST. 102.00 -6tos PEARL 35:50 21 90.50 hoi LO'9II 23 24 25 26 59991 21,425 11,400 15,075 15,000 13381S 9,5,66 9240 168.40 9117 91.50 9,375 22 91.30 76.00 8,340 00-101 67.45 97.20 732.45 308E 21 20.25 10,160 20 18,080 da2o 5845 161.10 13 15,981 0518 125.05 41.14 *2) 98 18 12 31.00 14 6,940 132.29 89.50 10,675 1.65 140.20 22 SPRING 106.02 15 8764 10433 66.15 66.15 22,291 118.38 16 10,000 119.47 90.73 SI'9S 8215312 136.20 - 10,500 JLo 10,050 10775 13,266 8 10 144.65 PIERCE 9 8 13164 65.90 STREET 6585 92.70 zG #B-44 128 Salem St.
Map 88, Lot 11 1983 Assessors Map 100' SE1Z1 SE'ILI 27 11,300 4,3a5 28 67.80 ToB.00 7,278 29 119.70 13,250 18 139.95 30 3236 ost8 17 8,500 08.65 107.7 65EF 7.99 45.33 53.32 5,316 12.45 33 ORANGE 108.80 87.20 - 11,665 STREET --' 136.80 6 59.00 30 80,00 80.00 .95 .25 69.81 70.00 73.90 95.23 37B 10,001 125.00 37C 10,00 125.01 140. 30 1AC 31 14 32 1A 14 9,8 14 3 Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000290