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 Form no. 37/189/32 PHOTO (3x3"' or 3x5"', black & white) Staple to left sideof form Photo number SKETCH MAP Draw map showing property's location in relation to nearest cross streets and other buildings oI geographical features. Indicate north: See attached map. Newton Quadrang-e UTM References : Map #: 13 19/324820/4688480 Town Brookline MRA Address 112 Cypress Street Historic Name Ritchie Building Use: Original Office and "Manufactory of philosophical and nautical in- -Present Offices struments Ownership: Private individual Private organization Brigham Surgical Group Foundation Public Original owner E, S.
Ritchie & Sons DESCRIPTION: Date 1883 Style Source Tax lists Panel Brick elements Architect Information not available Exterior wall fabric Brick Outbuildings None Recorded by Leslie Larkin Organization Brookline Historical Comm. Date Fall, 1980; revised May 1982 Atlas ref. 37/189/32 Major alterations (with dates) 1918-One story addition 27x37 1953-Hydraulic loading dock built, side door and metal steps added 1955-window replaced by door, foot bridge from sidewaik constructed * IvoreaFire escape built, baterior re- modeled. Approx. acreage 9 acre + Moved na Setting Situated next to the MBTA tracks, this building's original ent- rance was at ground level. A wooden factory building standsnext to it.
(Staple additional sheets here) While this building is plainer than the Panel Brick buildings in Brookline Village and along Boylston Street, it has several elements in common with 112 Cypress Street is a flat roofed, three story building with a one story addition on the left side. Originally the Cypress Street cross- ed the railroad tracks at grade level, but when a bridge was built over the tracks, the building's second floor was made level with the raised street. ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE (describe important architectural features and evaluate in terms of other buildings within community) In 1955 a doorway replaced a window at that level and a footbridge was constructed to the sidewalk, probably the other bridge was built earlier. A handsome iron fence fronts the sidewalk and edges the footbridges.
The désign of the building is very simple, with brickwork in dentils and a string course, resembling an entablature, at the cornice. Bricks are set on end in a radiating pattern over the windows which, except at the third floor, have segmental arches. In 1973 the interior of the Ritchie Building was altered to provide small offices. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE (explain the role owners played in local or state history and how the building relates to the development of the community) Edward S. Ritchie built this structure in 1883, relocating his manufactory of "instruments and apparatus pertaining to physical science" and navigation instruments, particularly compasses, from Panter's Building at the intersec- tion of Harvard and Washington Streetsin Brookline Village. He had started the business in 1850, moving it from Boston to Brookline in 1868. According to Burton C.
Sherman, of Ritchie Navigation Instruments, now located in Pembroke, Mass., -.."Edward S. Ritchie, whom we understand was a physicist from Scotland, settled in the Boston area and began the manufacture of lab- oratory instruments and equipment. His entry into the compass business came about as a result of the work he was doing for the Charlestown Navy Yard. that time, no one in this country manufactured ship's compasses and therefore, most vessels were equipped with instruments made in England. When Ritchie was asked to repair some that were installed on U. S. Navy ships, he began consider ways to improve them.
He eventually went into the manufacture of a complete line of magnetic compasses for all types of vessels..." Harriet Woods, writing in Historical Sketches of Brookline, published in 1874, states, referring to industry in the Town, "The only other business, not local, of a mechanical kind, is the manufacture of philosephical in- struments, by the Messrs. Ritchie...-Iheir establisment has been for many years the largest manufactory of instruments and apparatus illustrative of physical science, particularly in the higher grades, for colleges, etc., in the country. In later years the principal branch of their works has been the manufacture of marine compasses, particularly of such as are known as liquid compasses, invented and patented by the senior member of the firm, and which Continuedoon attached sheet Woods, Harriet, Historical Sketches of Brookline, 1874, P.
404 BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES Atlases, 1874, 1884 Brookline Directory, 1868-1895 Boston Directory, 1867-71, 1895, 1910 Tax lists, 1882-1883 Correspondence, 11/4/80, with Burton L. Sherman, sales manager, Ritchie Navigation Instruments, Oak Street, Pembroke, Mass 02359 Driscoll, James, "Industry in Brookline", BHS Proceedings, 1952 20M-2/80 INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Commnity: Brookline Form No: 37/189-32 Property Name:Ritchie Building Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE are now solely used by the Navy of the United States, and very largely by the mercantile marine of the country." James Driscoll, in his article, "Industry in Brookline", wrote " On Sept- ember 9th, 1862 [Ritchie] took out his first patent on a nautical com- pass and another in April 1863. The Monitor, in its famous battle with the Merrimac used a Ritchie compass." Ritchie moved his family from Boston to Brookline in 1855, renting the Italianate style house at #5 Lincoln Road from Samuel Crafts, and buying it two years later. Lincoln Road had not yet been laid out, and Stanton Road, with which it intersects, was then called Cypress Place. Miss Woods again: "The Messrs. Ritchie have lately built a magnetic observatory on Gorham Avenue the street behind Ritchie's house] ; a neat octagon build- ing, designed by I. P.
Chandler, Jr., for the use of the Bureau of Naviga- tion, of the U. S. Navy. It is built of wood and copper, no iron being employed, and is furnished by the Bureau, with the most delicate instru- ments known to science, for the adjustment and testing of compasses. A11 such instruments used by our Navy are here inspected and tested by the Superintendent of Compasses of the Navy." Although Ritchiedmoved his factory to Brookline in 1868, he kept his Bos- ton office, which was then at 313 Washington Street. The firm then con- sisted of Ritchie himself and his sons John and Thomas. By 1871 the office address was 150 Tremont Street and Andrew M. Ritchie, the youngest son, had joined the firm, which was listed in the Brookline Directory as making "philosophical apparatus and compasses". The compasses were always mark- ed E. S. Ritchie Co., Boston, Mass., rather than Brookline.
When the Harvard Square location proved too small for his operation, Ritchie purchased former farmland from the Moses Jones estate (see 23-25 Elm Street inventory form) next to what was then the New England Railroad's Woonsocket line. This beeame the Boston and Albany's Newton Highlands line in 1890. The location was undoubtedly chosen because spur tracks and a turntable al- ready existed nearby, on the present site of the MBTA's Brookline Hills parking lot. The brick structure Ritchie built was the first such to be built outside the Village or Boylston Street area. In 1885 a small wooden factory where fishing tackle, lines and flies were made was built next door, but the area never became intensively developed commercially. Edward S.
Ritchie died in 1895; the business continued to be family owned until 1936, when it was sold to John Negus of New York, also a manufacturer of nautical equipment, who ran the company from there. In 1951 the firm was again sold and the offices and factory moved to Pembroke where, under the name Ritchie Navigation Instruments, it continues. The building was next used to manufacture hardware items, such as bolts, and at present houses offices. Stapte torhventory form at bottom *Massachusetts INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Commmity : Brookline Form No: 37/189-32 Property Name Ritchie Building Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below.
112 Cypress Street meets criteria A, B, and C of the National Register, representing one of the few surviving examples of Brookline's industrial history; displaying elements of the Panel Brick style; and being the factory building of E.S. Ritchie, a well known inventor and creator of nationally distributed compasses and other navigational instruments. Staple to Inventory form at bottom NPS Form 10-900-8 (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 9/4/03 recelved date entered Page Multiple Resource Area Thematie Group Name Brookline MRA State MASSACHUSETTS Nomination/Type of Review 61. Milestone (Boylston St.) 62. Murphy, William, House 63. Orrock, Rev. John, House 64. Paine Estate 65. Perkins Estate 66. Reservoir Park 67.
Ritchie Building 68. Roughwood 69. Saint Aidan's Church and Rectory 70.
Saint Mary of the Assumption Church, Rectory, School and Convent Date/Signature Entered in the National Register TKeeper Alge 10/210 Attest &Keeper Eatered in the Natiomal Regieter AelomByen 1/01181 Attest Entered 1x fKeeper National Register Entered in tle Natiozel Begiater Attest fTseeper Entered in the National Register Entered in tha Nationa1 Begtatien Entered im the Natiomal Register Entered in the Nationel Register Tarbinoc s&l Ia td: oaca1 Attest freeper Attest freeper Attest fKeeper Attest fkeeper Attest Tikeeper Iegister Attest fiseeper Attest Fabered La the Matiomal Register AelmBya 1/031 zelusByenl205 AllamByun10/265 AelmaByun 10/1/55 NeenBgu1412/55 XelmnBgen 10/2/85 AelmesByen 10/2/05 Delanßgen 14/21/85 WASO Form - 177 ("R" June 1984) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET 85003308 Ritchie Building (Brookline MRA) Norfolk County MASSACHUSETTS resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: Reviewer's comments: sample -request Working No._ 4 1985 Fed.
Reg. Date:2/3/8 Date Due: - 10/3/85 1u/1/ds Action: «ACCEPT 10 -<7-8) Entered in the RETURN_ National: Register _REJECT. Federal Agency: J 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 - 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 justification of exception other bers tua 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 Ritchic Burlching 112 Cypess Srooklie' MRA, MA NOV 1980 Prestige Print by Berkey 1ODNED Ritchie Building 1 (37/189-32) rooklne (Ma) MR Town o Brookline Map Jau'81 Scale(z"= 200 TOWN BROOKLINE FRI ARY RAWSON AKE CAIGES GRIGGS PLAYGROUND 22200 2z24 SOMERSET RO WELLAND HIGH SCHOOL NOU eo MEYPRESS PLAYGROUND STREET ORHAM REE DANA SS 2,20/000 CREENOLCHEI LINFOLN ROAO 1000 EN PIERCE PLAYGROUND OL 01D022 ROAD 200 00- TPORD 51 RK D AST MILTON R B000 to HOU: S IBRARY CE TOWN HALL EMERSOM GARDEN 0/0 STREE BOYLSTON PLAYGROUND AVIS 10080 STREET WALNUT