Nomination for Sutton 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 For NPS use only received AUG date entered SEP 7 1985 5 1985 historic Sutton Block (preferred) and or common Colonial Building 2. Location street & number 76-78 Main Street NA not for publication city, town Peabody NA vicinity of state Massachusetts 3.

Classification Category Ownership district public X building(s) X private structure both site Public Acquisition object in process NA being considered code 025 county Essex code 009 Status X occupied _unoccupied _ work in progress Accessible X 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 John A. Karahalis and Arthur Athas street & number 76-78 Main Street city, town Peabody NA vicinity of 5. Location of Legal Description state MA 01960 courthouse, registry of deeds, etc. South Essex Registry of Deeds street & number 32 Federal Street Salem city, town state MA 01970 6. Representation in Existing Surveys Inventory of the Historic Assets of has this property been determined eligible?

the Commonwealth yesx no date 1977 Inventory # 293 federal - state - county local depository for survey records Massachusetts Historical Commission city, town 80 Boy]ston Street, Boston state MA 7. Description Sutton Block, Peabody, MA Condition excellent X good fair deteriorated ruins unexposed Check one unaltered X altered Check one X original site - moved date Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance

Description of the property

The Sutton Block is located at 76-78 Main Street on the corner of Main and Wallis Streets. The building is a three-story Italianate commercial block. Trapezoidal in plan, the Sutton Block fills its entire lot, with its south elevation on Main Street and its north and east elevations on Wallis Street. The building's west elevation is a party wall, now partly visible as a result of the demolition of the adjacent building. The building is constructed of red brick laid in stretcher bond and the facades are trimmed with brownstone and granite. The building is crowned by an elaborate wood cornice, but the original hip roof has been removed and replaced with a flat roof. At the ground level of the Main Street or south facade, an entrance at the west corner of the facade retains its original rock-faced granite piers.

A mid-twentieth century storefront, constructed of metal panels and aluminum, consists of two recessed central doorways flanked by glass display windows. At the second- and third-story levels, the Main Street facade is six bays wide with evenly-spaced segmentally-arched window openings. The windows throughout the building have 6/1 sash framed by brownstone sills and segmentally- arched lintels with central keystones. On the first story of the east elevation, a portion of the Main Street storefront wraps around the southern corner of the facade, while beyondthis are three full-sized segmentally-arched windows. There is a single half-window at basement level. Above the first story, the east elevation is distinguished by a slightly more elaborate fenestration pattern. The four second- and third-story segmentally-arched windows are recessed within two-story brick segmental arched piers.

A two-story iron fire escape runs at an angle along the facade.sThe cornice on the east elevation is also slightly more elaborate than that on the Main Street facade; paired brackets are located on each of the four piers. A pair of brick chimneys rise above the roof-line. The sloping ground on the west side of the building makes the basement story asymmetrical on this rear or west elevation. Reading from the east, the first story consists of a segmentally-arched window, a narrow, segmentally-arched doorway, a square entrance, a the doorwaysn ta the upper levets are more regut ar, or th five symmetrically-arranged segmentally-arched windows at the first, second and third levels. The cornice duplicates that on the south facade.

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Significance Sutton Block, Peabody, MA 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 X architecture education art engineering X commerce exploration/settlement communications industry invention Builder Architect landscape architecture law literature military music philosophy politics/government religion science sculpture social/ humanitarian theater transportation other (specify) Specific dates 1859 Statement of Significance

Statement of significance

(in one paragraph) unknown The Sutton Block retains integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association. Erected in 1859, the building has historical associations with Ebenezer Sutton, a leading nineteenth-century industrialist in the woolen industry. ng nthe eemeh-centur Built by Sutton along a residential section of Main Street, this commercialblock foreshadowed the later nineteenth-century expansion of Peabody's commercial center. The Sutton Block is architecturally significant as Peabody's only Italianate commercial block. Thus, the Sutton Block meets criteria A and C for listing on the National Register of Historic Places, with significance at the local level. Born in 1803, Ebenezer Sutton was the son of William Sutton, a Peabody wool manufacturer who served as a State Representative and the first president of the South Danvers Bank.

When William Sutton died in 1832, his woolen factories in South Danvers (now Peabody) and in North Andover were inherited by Ebenezer Sutton and his brother General William Sutton. Four years later, Ebenezer bought his brother's interest in the NorthAndover woolen mills. Sutton appears to have made an astute decision, and to have operated the mills successfully, for in 1851 he was listed in Rich Men of Massachusetts with a fortune worth $500,000. Besides his business interests, Sutton was a Colonel in the Essex Regiment and a director of the Eastern Railroad. Sutton died in 1864. -Sutton's influence in Peabody continued after his death, for in 1866 his wife Eliza Sutton donated the Eben Dale Sutton Reference Library, located within the Peabody Institute, as a memorial to her son. In the mid-nineteenth century, the Main Street of South Danvers was almost completely residential.

Ebenezer Sutton himself had built his residence at 55-59 Main Street in 1854. (This large brick Italianate estate still stands, although it is obscured by a twentieth-century commercial addition.) The Sutton Block, built only five years later, was one of the earliest commercial buildings constructed along Main Street, and one of only a few strictly commercial buildings built along the street in the latter half of the nineteenth century. In the same period, a number of stores were also opened on the ground floor of buildings that had previously been single-family residences (for example, the John Upton House at 60 Main Street). Still, Main Street remained primarily residential through the 1910s. By that time, commercial uses extended between the corner of Park Street on one side, and the corner of Wallis Street, the location of the Sutton Block, on the other side. (Continued) 9.

The rest of the file

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

Major Bibliographical References Bastille-Neiley, "Downtown Peabody Historical Suryey of Structures," City of Peabody, 1980, pp. 112-114m 197-203, 216-219. "Peabody Correspondence," Salem Evening News, January 1-May 1, 1907. John A. Wells, The Peabody Story, Essex Institute Salem, MA: 1973. 10. Geographical Data Acreage of nominated propertyless than 1 acre--2116 square feet Quadrangle name Salem Quadrangle scale 1:25,000 UT M References AL119/ 13/411/8150/ 1417 /019/6160/ B Zone Easting Northing LIL Zone Easting LULL Northing LLLILLL GLy HLJ Verbal boundary description and justification The property nominated includes the entire lot of the Sutton Block, 76-78 Main Street, Peabody, bounded as follows: north by Wallis Street, east by Wallis Street, south by Main Street, west by property of Frederick M. Warner. See the enclosed assessors map.

List all states and counties for properties overlapping state or county boundaries state NA code county code state code county code 11. Form Prepared By Julie P. Johnson, Intern Peabody Historical Commission name/title Mary Kate Sampson with Community Development Dept., Peabody organization Massachusetts Historical Commission date May, 1984 street & number 80 Boylston Street telephone (617) 727-8470 Boston city or town state Massachusetts 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evaluated significance of this property within the state is: national state 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 Valuie A-Tdemage ttte Exeentre Direetr & shpo, mitc date For NPS use only July 12,985 I hereby certify that this property is included in the National Register selaees (o Keeper of the Mational Register Entered in the date 9-5-55 National Register Attest: Chief of Registration date U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1983 0 - 419-311 STREET -20% LOWELL 35% 10100 240 1000 239 STREET 5500 d6, 6568 COURT i% % RAILROAD 137105 13024 1/1000 COOLIOGE 30/s0 19, 109 CHESTHUT 1092 3/9830 20120 BOSTON : 3900 / 9080 11187 1.0AC. RasO (4) 8039 20 90- 4830 2 22. Tja 1i80 CHURCH 353g 7 10-- CHESTNUT 1903 STREET FOSTER OAA 2232g 4130 2010 AVENUE 381.28 1,80 AC. STREET 295% 1511750 STREEY * 22290 350° 12.52 17:00 STREET SUMMER Se SPRING . 136/9 34200 2o00g tr 25-804 23000 $,040 1660 1SÁC.

380- STREET 59.25 6380 04,29 1285 50c 100 WALMUT 26720 ,,SAC. 77700 3 6600 25 13840 STREET 4347 BOSTON '32 2/ 1240c 15340 5 -23, peeel 12575 1837s 5308 inuine WALLIS 2830 STREET 12800 :1000 g MAIN OFTIA L.HUAC. 19000 1010g .. o1es L21 2 STREET STREET 28380 12125 og9, L0142 SQUARE Br05so 159990'9A 0,120 120= 70100 -,30 E 10160 Pis 2o0030 1l 110 9100 2= 310 00%g ELLIOTT lo, 5300E 15c. "0%, PLACE 22164 -:30 1647 STREET WEBSTER :SAC. 1030 1S7.01 1065) 7.B- ba STREET 37 1.3AC 313o F9709 20970 33823 RAILROAD 15-140 320 10211 100m 1434 T07:387/100.20 26-182 *200g (30, 26-119 '00.

80 4e00 701 19920 P220 Sutton Block 76 - 78 Main Street Map 85 Parcel 71, Peabody Assessors Map Peabody, MA Scale: 1" = 80' NPS Form 10-900-a (3-82) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form Sutton Block, 76-78 Main Continuation sheet Street, Peabody, Mass Item number 8 With the exception of the ground floor storefront and the replacement of the original hipped roof, the Sutton Block retains its original exterior appearance with brownstone trim and an elaborate bracketed wood cornice. The building is important in Peabody's architectural history because it is the only commercial Italianate building in the city.

In addition, it is significant because it was newly built for commercial use rather than converted from an older residential building, as were many of Peabody's commercial buildings of the period. The Sutton Block originally housed commercial space on the first two levels. The earliest tenants of the building are not known. During the 1880s and 1890s, the ground-floor store was occupied by N. W. Edison, selling "groceries and provisions." Mayhew S. Clark and Edward Giddings,_local carpenters, were the building's owners in 1897. In 1907, Thomas O'Shea, a leading leather manufacturer and the largest property owner in Peabody in the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth century, purchased the building. The ground-floor tenant at this time was M. O'Keefe, a grocer, whose business remained in the building until the late 1920s.

Though the building was vacant in the 1930s, the commercial space has been continuously occupied since the 1940s. The current ground-floor tenant is the Peabody Music Box, while one of the owners, Alan J. Karahalis, has his law offices on the second floor. The third floor of the Sutton Block was built as a meeting hall. Sutton Hall has important associations with the development of several of Peabody'ssocial, religious and civic organizations. The room served as the town's principal dance hall during the nineteenth century. In addition, the hall served as a meeting place for the Knights of Pythias from 1890 to 1918, the Jewish Folk School and the W. P. A. office in the 1940s, and the Jehovah's Witness Kingdom Ha11 and Peabody Club in the 1950s. The hall is now vacant. OMB No. 1024-0018 Expires 10-31-87 For NPS use anly received date entered Page 1 8.

Significance Period Areas of Significance-Check and justify below Specific dates Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) Builder/Architect _summary paragraphja completeness clarity Japplicable 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 title date 13.

Other -Maps L Photographs -Other Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to - Signed Date - Phone: Comments for any itemmay be continued on anattached sheet WASO Form - 177 ("R" June 1984) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET o REF #t 85002012 Sutton Block Essex County MASSACHUSETTS resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: L sample Reviewer's comments: Jrequest AUG 7 1985 Working No. Fed. Reg. Date: 3-4-52 Date Due:_ 9/5/85 1/2/ 185 Iiatered in Actien: LACCEPT- -8 Ietlanal Register -_RETURN _REJECT - Federal Agency: Llappeal LNR 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 Iruins unexposed Check one J unaltered altered Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance summary paragraph completeness clarity alterationsintegrity dates boundary selection Status Accessible Present Use Check one Joriginal site J moved date Jon ATTORNEY-AT LAW PEABODY MisIc Box! HSTRUCTION PIANO ACCORDION CUITAR BASS BAILJO MANDOLIN Sutton Block 76-78 Main Street Peabody, MA. Julie P. Johnson, April 1984 Community Development Department, Peabody Photo #2 of 1 Main Steet, looking west Peabody Historical Commission CITY CLERK'S OFFICE, CITY HALL PEABODY, MASS. 01960 PEABODY THE LEATHER CITY RICHARD D.

HIGGINS CHAIRMAN ROBERT QUINN RUTH HILL Mary Leary RUTH O'KEEFE FRANCES RIGOL XENXODENDX Rosa Drysdale May 25, 1984 - RECEIVED JUN 1 1 1984 MASS. HIST. COMM. GEORGE PEABODY Massachusetts Historical Commission Office of The Secretary of State 294 Washington Street Boston, MA 02108 Dear Massachusetts Historical Commission: The members of the Peabody Historical Commission have reviewed and approved the attached applications for nomination of the Sutton Block and the John Upton House, Daniel Dodge House,and E. S. Upton House to the National Register of Historic places. ment. *oycne dhey of Feobody s Comuntey beve tapnere Dpart- The Commission feels strongly that the Sutton Block and the Upton and Dodge Houses deserve the recognition and protection afforded Dy Placement on the National Register of Historic Places.

We 1ook torward to a review by the Massachusetts Historical Commission. Sincerely, Higgins A. tiggene Chairman PEABODY HISTORICAL COMMISSION "LEATHER CITY" OF THE WORLD JOSEPH BOYCE, FIRST TANNER 1642 VE LHHAN The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Office of the Secretary of State Michael Joseph Connolly, Secretary Massachusetts Historical Commission Valerie A. Talmage Executive Director State Historic Preservation Officer July 18, 1985 Ms. Carol Shull National Register of Historic Places National Park Service Department of Interior 18th and C Streets NW Washington, DC 20240 Dear Ms. Shull: Enclosed you will find the following nomination forms: Hutchins, Oliver House, 79 Elm Street, Chelsmford, Massachusetts Converse Memorial Building, 36 Salem Street, Malden, Massachusetts Sutton Block, 76-78 Main Street, Peabody, Massachusetts.

Al1 have been voted eligible by the State Review Board and have been signed by the State Historic Preservation Officer. Owners were notified of pending State Review Board consideration 30-75 days before the meeting and were afforded the opportunity to comment. Comments received to date are attached to the nomination forms. Sincerely, Saran Zimmeran Sarah Zimmerman Registration Director Massachusetts Historical Commission SZ/1s AUG 7 1985 80 Boylston Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116 (617) 727-8470