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Nomination for Reading Municipal Light and Power Station

The case file that argued this property on to the National Register: 1,109 words across 10 pages, filed in 1984. Reproduced in full, word for word.

Source document Held by the National Archives in Record Group 79 as reference 84002811, 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 -. 1 MASSACHUSETTS HISTU ICAL COMMISSION 294 Washington Stree . Boston, MA 02108 Area B Form no. 82 S Reading 226 Ash Street cic Name Reading Muniçipal Light & Power Station . )riginal Electrical Generation until 1925 resent Operating center, switching ship:[ Private individual Private organization Public Reading. Town of riginal owner_ Town of Reading :PTION: Date 1894 - Operating Sept 26, 1895 Source Memorial Volume Style Romanesque Architect George E. Abbott Exterior wall fabric Brick, slate roof Outbuildings Service building Major alterations (with dates) Removal of stack, bricking up of windows 1978. Removal of railway sidings. Moved No Date Approx. acreage 52,560 sg. ft. 1.3 acres. Setting_ Backing on B & M.Railroad.

.ates Co Date Date 1ssion SLD 30 6/82 1980 19/327380/4709220 (Staple additional sheets here) ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE (describe important architectural features and evaluate in terms of other buildings within community) This small hipped-roof municipal structure was completed in 1894 by George E. Abbott, an architect who lived in Reading and perhaps helped to design the water pumping station completed three years earlier. Built in a similiar style, the simple columns define interior functions. Larger windows, which form the principle decorative scheme, are topped by relieving arches and granite lintels repeated on the south projection in small *epeated on te windows. The central door is emphasized by granite facing.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE (explain the role owners played in local or state history and how the building relates to the development of the community) In 1891 Massachusetts passed an act enabling cities and towns to build gas and electric plants. Reading took advantage of the act, appointing study committees to determine whether to purchase a buta ehey ee aea on franchise or to build. They decided on the last course and, after voting a bond issue, elected a Municipal light and Power Board, purchased the lot on Ash Street near the train lines, and hired an architect and mechanical and electrical engineers. The Board provided tor a larger building and more capable equipment than the original bond 1ssue oi $50,000 would cover. It was not until 1903 that the board showed a profit on incandescent lighting. By 1912, Reading was servicing the communities of North Reading, Lynnfield, and wakefield.

BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES Municipal Light and Power Board Eaton, Memorial Volume, p. 339 Pitkin, Vignettes, p. 47 Town Reports, 1894/5, 1912 20M-2/80 INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Commnity : Reading Property Name: 226 Ash St. Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. Form No: B-82 GRITERIA FOR EVALUATION Reading Iunicipal Light and Power Station is significant (1) for its role in the electrification of the town; and (2) as one of the town's few examples of Romanesque architecture. It retains integrity -f location, design, settins, materials, workmanship, and feeling, and meets Criteria A,and C of the lational 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 stulgy 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 feeper aulumBgu 4-1-64 Attest fKeeper AelmeByun -1964 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 Natlonal Register fuKeeper Power Station Entered in the Nationel Register 79. Roberts House 80.

Rowhouses at 256-274 Haven Street Entered In t6e Nationel Beglistot Attest Entered in the National Register freeper OhlueByunt-18t Attest Entered In the National Register fReeper AelrerBgen7-196 Attest Entered in the National Register fokeeper AllvreByu 7-19+4 Attest Entered in the Natione? Beetster fokeeper SulorsBzen 719-84 Attest Entered In Nationa1 Roglstonftteeper AelursByu 71184 Attest AulureDyer 119-84 Attest fseeper OutirsByen +1954 Attest fkeeper delmuaBye 1-19-84 Attest WASO Form - 177 ("R" June 1984) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Ref#84002.841 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET Reading Municipal Light and Power Station (Reading MRA) Middlesex County MASSACHUSETTS resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Rew Reviewer's comments: Lsample request Working No. JUN 4 1984 Fed.

Reg. Date: 26/86 Date Due: 184-1/19/84 Entered in Atipo ACCEPT 719-84 National Register _RETURN_ REJECT- Federal Agency: - Jappeal L 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 I 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 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 oF READD ST: Relog -Mcnespad 4 U SA - M O4,Ha B-82 7%Ash St. Light-Pouser stattion. PLAT 45 5399 266.12 ,213 BOSTON & MAINE R. R. - 474.53 63 AO 10 2 Acres & 21,572 Sq.Ft. 52,560 115.43 12,000 356.45 140.54 - 230.12 103.90 WAY 66A1 5 27,362 32,256 80.49 70.0 150.0 ASH 6 0 . 12,303 101.451 > 134 236-238 173.40 240-242 15.0 246 43 #B-82 226 Ash St. Map 44, Lot 05 1983 Assessors Map 1" = 100° 121.67 -340- 96.81 14,938 Sq. Ft. 133.0 92.77 11 187.93 14,982 .33 88.12 191.88 12 10440 22,310 95.66 140.92 13 26,345 Sq.F+.

241.62 124.00 80.00 132.14 10,400 SaFtt 15 80.0 258-260 151.17 17 21,8545q.Ft 122.0 20a-106 Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000290