BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
FORM B - BUILDING MASSACHIISFTTS HTSTORICAL COMMISSION Area Form no. 38 SKETCH MAP Draw map showing property's location in relation to nearest cross streets and other buildings narosnes or geographical features. Indicate north. Reading ess 10-12 Pierce Street oric Name Pierce Organ Pipe Factory Original_organ pipe factory Presentorgan pipe factory Irship:[ Private individual Private organization_Dennison - Organ Pipe Factory Public_ Original owner Samuel Pierce DESCRIPTION: Date 1852 Source Genealogical History Style Italianate Architectna Exterior wall fabric asbestos siding Outbuildings_barn across the street Recorded by Architectural Preservation Associates Organization_Reading Historical DaeNo- @4/1535910 Date 4/82 L.S Major alterations (with dates) extensions north 1854-75, west 1875-89, south 1889-1950 Moved Date Approx. acreage 22,291 sq. ft.
Setting Behind Pierce's house, this factory stretches along Pierce Street. 19/327840/4710270 (Staple additional sheets here) ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE (describe important architectural features and evaluate in terms of other buildings within community) The original factory looked very much like the houses of the time: gable end to the street over heavy granite foundations. The original building was 8 bays long and had a cupola. The south one-story addition is not seen in the picture of 1894, nor is the 3-story voicing room at the present north end. This is one of the few remaining industrial buildings from the 19th century in Reading, and the only one continuing its original use.
| HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE (explain the role owners played in local or state history and how the building relates to the development of the community) After an apprenticeship to George Badger, a cabinet maker of the town, and a stint with organ builders in Boston, Samuel Pierce moved to Reading in 1846 and the next year began making metal organ pipes in an ell of his house- This house was at 137/139 Salem Street, on the south side. In 1852 he opened a factory on Pierce Street. He expanded his manufacturing business to include the production of various organ parts as well as the metal pipes, and was a leader in this field, selling in the U. S., British provinces, Jamaica, and South America. In 1854 the building comprised 14.000 square feet of floor space, and the factory employed 50.
The close proximity of Pierce's new house and his factory continued the tradition in this section of Reading of combined workshop-living quarters, but elevated to an unprecedented scale. The Dennison Company succeeded Pierce's ownership. They began the manufacture of electrically powered organs, and built a number of console organs for movie theaters before "talkies" appeared. BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES 1854 map drawing on border 1875 map Organ Pipe Factory 1889 map Organ Pine Factory - Pierce Eaton, Genealogical History, p. 538 taton, Memorial Volume. PP. 163, 314 20M-2/80 INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Commmity : Readin Form No: =-30 Property Name: 1C-12 Pierce St. Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. CRIPARTA FOR EVALUABION The Pierce omran pipe factor!
is sirnificant (1) for its role in endin-'e rroduction of orrans and orcan pives; (?) for its connection ith succeseful businessman Samuel Pierce; and (3) as the hest surviving examole of Readine's 19th-century incustrial builrings. It retains interrity of location, desin, settins, and feoline, and meets Criterie A, D, and C of the Mational Pesister. 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 anly received cielyy date entered Page 8 49 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 fkcoper sueuBud4-1-84 Attest fKseeper AeluByen 19-64 73. Pierce House 74. Pierce Organ Pipe Factory 75. Pratt House 76. Pratt, Stillman, House 77. Reading Municipal Building Entered In the 78. Reading Municipal Light and Wationa1 Register f4reeper Power Station Entered in the Nationel Register 79. Roberts House 80. Rowhouses at 256-274 Haven Street Entered Nationa?
Beglistet Attest Entered in the National Register fteeper Attest Entered In the Nat1onal Register FReeper Attest Entered in the National Register fokeeper Attest Entered in the Nationel Register fokeeper Attest Entered In the Nat1ona1 Reglstenfakéeper Attest Attest fKeeper Attest teeper Attest OhlusByunt-19-t AelreByun7-158 debrBsun71984 AeloueBzen119-54 Ailarsßyun 7-1414 AulureDye 119+y eurByen 7495y AeluraByan 1-19-84 WASO Form - 177 ("R" June 1984) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE rel #84002795 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET Pierce Organ Pipe Factory (Reading MRA) Middlesex County MASSACHUSETTS resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: Reviewer's comments: -sample -J request Working No. _JUN Fed. Reg.
Date: 180 Date Due: _ 84- 7/19/84 Action: &ACCEPT - 779-84 Entered in the _RETURN National Register- _ REJECT - Federal Agency: _ -appeal LJ 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 Prere ( 10-12 Pierce St. PLAT 87 WILSON ST. 13381S 9565 ai 98 18 12 9240 9,375 22 91.30 161.10 13 15,98l 125.05 10,675 136.20 110 55.15 8215212 10775 036 144.65 PIERCE PEARL 102.80 6705 21 90.50 23 24 25 26 21,425 11,400 15,075 15,000 168.40 9117 91.50 7600 G7.45 91.20 132.45 8,340 10,160 21 18,080 20 87.4G 90.25 10 8a 20 IG 19 S8L6 41.14 81.00 0818 14 6,940 132.29 89.50 0058 1.65 140.20 22 SPRING 106.02 15 8764 104.33 66.15 66.15 22,29, 118.38 16 10,000 119.77 90.75 10,500 10,050 13,266 10 9 8 7 131.64 65,90 STREET 20 6585 92.70 26 #B-38 10-12 Pierce Map 88, St. Lot 10 1983 Assessors Map 1" = 100' 10 SE1Z SEILI 27 130.80 11,300 87.65 00'0g 4,385 28 50.00 87.80 33.
108.00 7,278 29 73.45 35 ORANGE 119.70 13,250 18 108.80 139.95 30 9250 17 8,500 87.20 6STF 7.99 108.65 107.73 45.33 53.32 5,316 11,665 136.80 6 53.00 30 80,00 80.00 73.35 95 STREET 70.00 73.90 S 95.23 37B 10,000 125.00 37C 10,000 125.00 140.15 30 11,0 140.C 12, 31 140. 32 9,1 140 140 2 9,8 C 140 10, 14C Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000290