Nomination for First Congregational Church of Blandford

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

NPS Form 10-900 (3-82) pN0110130-8 10-31-8 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 SEP 23 1985 date entered OCT 24 1985 historic First Congregational Church of Blandford and or common Old White Church 2. Location street & number North Street NA not for publication city, town Blandford state Massachusetts 3.

Classification Category Ownership district - public X building(s) X private structure .both site Public Acquisition object - in process NA being considered NA vicinity of code 005 county Hampden code 013 Status X occupied unoccupied work in progress Accessible _ yes: restricted - nes: unrestricted Present Use - agriculture commercial educational entertainment government industrial - military -museum park - private residence X religious _ scientific _ transportation -other: 4. Owner of Property name First Congregational Church of Blandford street & number Chester Road city, town Blandford NA vicinity of 5. Location of Legal Description state Massachusetts courthouse, registry of deeds, etc. Hampden County Registry of Deeds street & number State Street city, town Springfield state Massachusetts 6.

Representation in Existing Surveys title Inventory of the Cultural Resources of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has this property been determined eligible? - - yes Xno date 1980 Inventory #1 _tederal state county local depository for survey records Massachusetts Historical Commission, 80 Boylston Street city, town Boston, state Massachusetts 7. Description First Congregational Church of Blandford, Massachusetts Condition - excellent good X fair deteriorated . ruins unexposed Check one unaltered X altered Check one * original site -moved date Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance

Description of the property

The First Congregational Church of Blandford is located on North Street, at the top of a hill which overlooks the center of Blandford, Massachusetts, a rural, upland community on the western side of the Connecticut River Valley. The First Congregational Church is a two-story, rectangular structure, five bays wide by five bays long. A three-bay pedimented porch is centered on the main facade. The front-gabled roof is surmounted by a three-stage steeple Tocated close to the front of the building. The church was built in 1822, and renovated in 1866, although it was not substantially altered at that time.

The Blandford Congregational Church sits on a 1.2-acre polygonally-shaped The church is located in the northwestern corner of the lot, close to North Street, with its primary facade facing south toward the town There are no outbuildings associated with the church, and the remainder of the lot is either blacktopped (close to the church on the east and west sides) or open field. To the north of the site is a residence with a square plan and a hip roof, probably built or remodelled during the early 1900s. To the east is Watson Park, a town-owned park that is predominantly_open fields. A stone wall divides the church parcel from Watson Park. To the south of the parcel is also town-owned 1and, which was once the site of a late nineteenth-century brick school that was demolished in 1981. The site is now an open field.

Across the street from the Blandford Congregational Church is the town common, a grassy, open area where the first meetinghouse (begun ca. 1740, completed ca. 1805, probably demolished ca. 1822) was located. Just to the north of the common is the old burial ground. From grade to the tip of the steeple, the First Congregational Church is approximately ninety feet in height. There is no cellar under the building. The foundation is probably of fieldstone below grade, and is of granite blocks above grade. The low, rectangular deck at the front of the church has a rough fieldstone foundation. The original clapboard siding is retained on both the east and west side facades. The front facade is sheathed in flush boards. With the exception of some replacement in the pedimented gable, all the flush boarding is original.

The north facade of the church is clapboard, with some replacement due to the 1866 renovation and other alterations. Windows throughout the church have multi-pane double-hung wood sash, most of which presumably dates from the 1866 renovation. The roof is sheathed in tin, painted red. Continued NPS Form 10-900-a (3-82) OMB No. 1024-0018 Expires 10-31-87 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination Form First Congregational Continuation sheet church lassachusetsora, Item number For NPS usa anly received dale entered 7 Page The front (south) facade is five bays wide, with a central three-bay pedimented projecting porch. The corners of the church are graced with Doric pilasters. Four more pilasters are arranged symmetrically across the porch.

Al1 six pilasters support a wide frieze and double-outlined pedimented gable. The three bays of the porch consist of three entrances at the first level, anc three windows with 16/12 wood sash and blind, semi-circular heads above at the second level. The central entrance has double paneled doors, while the side entrances have single doors. All three entrances are surmounted by round-arched fanlights consisting of fourteen lights arranged in two concentric rows. Reeded soffits surround the fanlights. The outermost bays have a 12/12 window on the first level, and a 16/12 window with a blind semi-circular head above it on the second level. The most striking feature of the main facade is the steeple. The base or plynth of the steeple rests on the porch pediment's roof.

The base has a square plan, and is sheathed in flush boarding that is interrupted on each side with a blind, round arch filled with fixed, louvered shutters. : surrounded by a low, flush-board balustrade with The middle stage of the steeple has an octagonal plan outlined at the corners with engaged Ionic columns supporting a frieze. Between the columns, this section is sheathed with flush boards. The top section of the steeple consists of a smaller stage with an octagonal plan, with a recessed panel on each side, and a crowning convex and domed roof. arrow-shaped weathervane tops the church. The east and west facades are identical, each five bays wide with symmetrically placed windows on both first and second levels. The corners of these facades are marked by narrow cornerboards. The windows hold 8/8 sash on the first level, and 16/8 sash on the second level.

(The upper sash on this level is arranged in two rows of four panes topped by two rows of four very smal1 panes.) The second-floor windows were originally two feet taller, but were reduced in size during the 1866 renovation. Clapboard was applied over the top of the original window openings, and a semi-circular molding applied over the clapboard. The north facade is sheathed in clapboard. It is currently almost a blank wall, although there is an off-center entrance to the north on the first level, and a shuttered window in the gable. This facade seems to have originally had four windows on each level. Either during the 1866 renovation or within the next few decades, a shingled Queen Anne chapel was added to the north side of the building; this was removed in 1937, and clapboards now cover the opening. Two smal1 chimneys sit close to the rear facade on either side of the roof ridge.

Continued NPS Form 10-900-a (3-82) OMB NO. 1024-0018 Expires 10-31-87 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination Form First Congregational Continuation sheet Chussachfuseandford, Item number For NPS use only recaived date entered 7 Page 2 On the interior, there is a vestibule at the south end of the church, running nearly the entire width of the building. The sanctuary beyond takes up most of the interior, and is arranged with a platform and pulpit on the north end, galleries liningthe east and west sides at second-floor level, and slip pews arranged in two double tiers in the middle with slip pews placed on an angle under the galleries. Access to the galleries is by two corner staircases in the vestibule. A wide hall above the vestibule allows access to the two staircases from the galleries.

Within the sanctuary is a recessed "Orchestra" area between the vestibule and pews, while at the front of the sanctuary is an alcove (two feet deep and thirteen feet wide) behind the pulpit. The pressed tin ceiling was installed at some time during the late nineteenth century and incorporates floral and geometric designs. The tin ceiling conforms in shape with the coving of the original ceiling, as indicated by the lath and joists exposed in the attic. The interior changes of the $4,000, 1866 renovation were more far-reaching than those on the exterior. The original location of the pulpit had been at the south end of the church. In 1866, the pulpit was relocated to the north end. The middle slip pews were re-oriented, and the original box pews on the sides were replaced with slip pews.

The north wall was furred out several feet so as to hide the chimneys, and the gallery on the north wall was removed. The columnssupporting the gallery were replaced with the present Doric columns, and an "Orchestra" alcove was created on the south end of the sanctuary. Most of the original slip pews were reused, and additional pews were made in the same style as the originals. The reuse of the pews explains why this interior, although somewhat Victorianized, still retains a late Federal feeling. With the exception of the addition of some railing for safety reasons, and the addition and later removal of the Queen Anne chapel, (of which little is known), no changes have been made to the church since Some of the walls have received only one coat of paint since that time, while the grained pews in the qallery have not been painted in the past 118 years.

There is limited potential for historic archaeological resources associated with the First Congregational Church site. The west foundation was rebuilt in 1866 and an addition was built and removed from the north side, both of which would have disturbed any backfill. The porch on the south side was also rebuilt (1866). - The erosion/drainage problem on both the west and east sides vas such that in recent years the two areas were blacktopped. There is no indication of wells or trash pits, but there must have been a privy somewhere on the site.

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Significance First Congregational Church of Blandford, Massachusetts Period prehistoric 1400-1499 1500-1599 1600-1699 1700-1799 1800-1899 1900 Areas of SignificanceCheck and justify below archeology-prehistoric community planning archeology-historic conservation agriculture economics . architecture education art engineering commerce ... exploration/settlement communications industry invention . landscape architecture X. religion law science literature sculpture military social/ music humanitarian philosophy theater - politics/government transportation X other (specity) conmunity development Builder/Architect Isaac Damon Specific dates 1822 Statement of Significance

Statement of significance

(in one paragraph) The First Congregational Church in Blandford possesses integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association. The First Congregational Church is a well-preserved Federal-style New England meeting- house. Constructed ca. 1822, it is a distinctive example of the work of Isaac Damon, a prominent Federal-period architect/builder who worked primarily in the Connecticut River Valley. Damon is one of the very few early Massachusetts builder/architects of whom much is known, and his influence on the field of architecture as a profession was major. The church is also state and local level. Upland settlement in the Connecticut River Valley was spurred by numerous land grants made in the 1730s. The Town of Blandford was originally granted in 1735 to individuals who had formerly held common and undivided house lots in Sheffield, Massachusetts.

The six-mile-square private grant was surveyed and divided into lots the next year. Early settlement was primarily by Scots- Irish Presbyterians immigrating from Hopkinton, Massachusetts, who provided the inspiration for the plantation's name of New Glasgow. New Glasgow was incorporated as a town in 1741, and renamed Blandford after the ship that had carried newly-appointed Governor Shirley to Massachusetts. Running through Blandford was the primary native American trail across the Berkshire highlands to the Housatonic Valley. Use of this trail continued by Plantation and Colonial Period settlers. With the establishment of the town of Blandford, this route, known as the Great Road to Housatonic, was upgraded and called the 0ld Post Road. (The route still remains as Massachusetts Route 23, also called the Otis Stage Road and the Blandford Turnpike).

Blandford Center was established on the Great Road in the eastern half of the town. The local transportation routes developed as radial highways from the center along town division lines. Most of these roads still exist, including North Street, Russel1 Road, Second Division Road, Sperry Road, Herrick Road and Blandford Road. Blandford Center developed in a nucleated pattern, focused around a town common. A series of uniform, rectangular house lots were established on both sides of North Street. Early commercial and institutional construction in Blandford Center included "the village tavern" (ca. 1735) and the first meeting house (ca. 1740), located on the west side of North Street. Continued 9.

The rest of the file

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

Major Bibliographical References See Continuation Sheet 10. Geographical Data Acreage of nominated property 1.2 acres Quadrangle name Blandford UT M References Quadrangle scale 1:25000 Zone Easting dLLLILL 3 0 [416/7128140 Northing LLLL -L Zone Easting LLLL Northing ELI FLUJ LLILLL GLULIILL LILILIL LL LILLu Verbal boundary description and justification The property nominated comprises the entire lot historically associated with the First Congregational Church of Blandford. See attached 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 name/title Mary Kate Sampson with Lee Hamburg, Preservationist Consultant organizationMassachusetts Historical Commission date July, 1985 street & number 80 Boylston Street telephone 617-727-8470 city or town Boston state Massachusetts 12.

State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evaluated significance of this property within the state is: national X _ 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 jaluie A almac State Historic Preservation Officer title Executive Director, Massachusetts Historical Commission date Scpt.

12,1985 For NPS use only I hereby certify that this property is included in the National Register Entered In the elores National Peeistion date (0-24-f1 Keeper of the National Register Attest: Chief of Registration GPO 911-399 date NPS Form 10-900-a (3-82) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form First Congregational Church of Blandford Continuation sheet Blandford. Mass. Item number 8 OMB NO. 1024-0018 Expires 10-31-87 Far NPS use anly received date enterad Page 1 Al though the first meeting house was begun in 1740, it was not completed unti 1805. Because the earliest settlers were scots-Irish, the church in Blandfor( was Presbyterian, not the orthodox Congregational Church.

There is some suggestion that a religious controversy between the Presbyterians and later-arriving Congregationalists arose, and this may, in fact, have delayed the completion of the first meetinghouse. An account of the sixty-five year construction of the meetinghouse was given by Rev. John Keep, pastor of the church, in 1821. Al though Keep explicates the stages of interior finishing work on the meetinghouse, he does not describe the building's exterior form in any detail beyond noting that a steeple was constructed in 1789. A presbyterian form of organization was used in the church until 1801. In that year, the church adopted a congregational form of government.

It is not clear whether a Presbyterian faction moved to another location, but the new Congregational Church continued to use the first meetinghouse until 1822 or 1823, when the present First Congregational Church at Biandford was constructed. The new church was built on Town Street (now North Street) across the road from the site of the first meetinghouse. There is no record of whether the first meetinghouse was demolished or simply abandoned, but it no longer stands. The original burying ground that was located just to the north of the meetinghouse survives. The Blandford Congregational Church was designed by the prominent Connecticut River Valley builder/architect, Captain Isaac Damon (1/91-1862). Isaac Damon is an important figure in the architectural history of Massachusetts, for he is one of the few pre-1850 builder/architects whose work is well-documented.

He was important in the establishment of the field of architecture as a profession, particularly in western Massachusetts, and in the transition from the construction of vernacular buildings to designed buildings. While Damon is best known for his meetinghouse designs, he also built civic buildings and residences throughout the Connecticut River Valley. Damon was born in Weymouth ca. 1781. It is believed that he was a junior draftsman in the office of Town and Davis in New York in the early 1800s, but ne moved to Northampton, Massachusetts in 1811. In that year, he fulfilled his first commission as a builder for the First Congregational Church in Northampton (1810-1812, burned 1878), which was designed by Asher Benjamin. Damon went on to build at least thirteen meetinghouses in the Connecticut River Valley.

Five of Isaac Damon's churches are still extant, ,including the First Church, Springfield (1819); First Church, Blandford (1823); First Church Southwick (1824); Johnson Chapel at Amherst College (1826-1827); and Second Church, North Hadley (1834). Of these remaining meetinghouses, the First Continued NPS Form 10-900-a (3-82) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form First Congregational Church of Blandford Continuation sheet Blandford, Mass. Item number 8 OMB NO. 1024-0018 Expires 10-31-87 For NPS use only received date entered Page 2 Congregational Church of Blandford is one of the least-altered, and offers a good opportunity for the study of Damon's work.

Damon's influence on church architecture in the southern and central sections of the Connecticut River Valley continued though a number of his apprentices, who built the Unitarian Church, Deerfield (1824) and the First Church, Chicopee (1825). Damon himself also worked in Connecticut, designing the First Church, Simsbury (1830) and the stone church in East Granby. Besides ecclesiastical designs, Damon worked on a number of other public buildings in the Connecticut Valley, including the Northampton Town Hall (1823), the County Court House at Lenox (1824) and several other buildings at Amherst College (North and South Halls; 1821-1827). Damon was also active in the construction of bridges in the Connecticut River Valley, and is said to have focused on bridge construction in the 1830s and 1840s.

The tripartite steeple tower found on the Blandford Congregational Church is characteristic of Damon's work. The square base with recessed blind arches topped by two windowless octagonal stages, a small domed cap and a weathervane is duplicated exactly at the First Church, Southwick. Damon's churches also frequently show a two-story projecting front porch with a pediment, four pilasters or columns and round-arched entrances. The Blandford Church provides a fine example of these elements characteristic of Damon's work. Damon was undoubtedly influenced by Asher Benjamin. He had direct exposure to Benjamin's work in Northampton in the 1810s. Damon was also familiar with Benjamin's published works: the use of fanlights over the three entrances on the projecting porch of the First Church, Blandford is a virtual reproduction of a design in Benjamin's American Builder's Companion.

The Blandford Congregational Church was, of course, primarily used for church services. The church also served as the location for civil meetings such as town meetings. Al though a town house was constructing in Blandford in the Federal period, no particulars about it are known, and it is no longer extant. The First Congregational Church also has important symbolic significance to the town of Blandford. With its location on the brow of a hill overlooking Blandford Center, the church provided an important visual symbol for the community, marking the institutional focus of Blandford. Although a small mill village at North Blandford developed during the mid-nineteenth century, the civic activities of the town remained and still remain, at Blandford Center.

By the early twentieth century, the First Congregational Church had acquired the nickname "The Old White Church." and was seen by Blandford residents as one of the most important images of the town. NPS Form 10-900-a (3-82) United States Department of the interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form First Congregational Church of Blandford Continuation sheet Blandford, Mass. Item number 9 OMB No. 1024-0018 Expires 10-31-87 For NPS use anly received date entered Page 1 BIBLIOGRAPHY Davis, Maude E. G., "Historical Facts and Stories About Southwick," typed ms., Southwick, Mass., July 1951.

Hartiy News, chne 20, 190s Giant of a Man, Giant of a Builder," "Springfielo Hartily News, June 21, ryative Designer With Grand Ambitions," "Springfield Hayden, Doris W., compiler, "Historical Notes on the First Congregational Church, "typed ms., August 20, 1984. Massachusetts Historical Commission, Reconaissance Survey Report: Blandford, 1982. Massachusetts Historical Commission, Historical and Archeaological Resources of the Connecticut Valley, 1984. Withey, Henry F. and Elsie Rathburn Withey, Biographical Dictionary of American Architects, Los Angeles: Hennessey & Ingalls, 1970.

L5492 88°-00'-50" E -L1202 RIPLEY WATSON PARK ,S 5-28'-43"E 000 216.00' oc M88°-00501W TOWN OF BLANDFORD First Congregational Church o5 Blandford STREET 522º50:00E HIGHWAY 27.54 NORTH S e STATE T518 - 8i+270 Plot of Town Common Land given by daed to the First Congregational Church of Blandford by the Townof Blandfora 1961 Scale: 1" = 38' Carl M. Flynn Reg. Prot. Engr. 85003371 WASO Form - 177 ('R" June 1984) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET First Congregational Church of Blandford Hampden County MASSACHUSETTS L resubmission - nomination by person or local government - owner objection -appeal Substantive Review: -sample Reviewer's comments: Lrequest SEP 2 3 1985 Working No.

Date Due: LACCEPT Entered in tha RETURN National Register -REJECT- Federal Agency: Lappeal LNR decision Recom./Criteria Reviewer. Discipline Date 1/7/83 10-24-85 - 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? 7. Description Condition -excellent Dgood -fair - deteriorated -ruins -unexposed -yes - no Check one -unaltered Daltered 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 J summary paragraph - completeness L 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 State Historic Preservation Officer signature _local title 13.

Other date -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 First Congregational Church North Street Blandford, MA Photographer: November, 1984 Neg. file w/ Blandford His- torical Soclety Photo #1 of 4 View of front fascade from the southwest First Congregational Church North Street Blandford, MA Photographer: November, 1984 Neg. filed w/ Blandford Hist- orical Society Pnoto # 2 of 4 View of front fascade from southeast First Congregational Church North Street Blandford, MA Photographer: November, 1984 Neg. filed w/ Blandford His- torical Society Photo # 3 of 4 Front elevation First Congregational Church North Street Blandford, MA Photographer: November, 1984 Neg. filed w/ Blandford His- torical Society Photo $4 of 4 View of rear (north) fascade sle w/NR V SZ CC.APRIL.

10.T2 Unum nf Blandforn Maazarhusetta OFFICE OF BOARD OF SELECTMEN CA GOM LAN OS TOY RECEIVED JUL 17 1985 MASS. HIST. COMM. July 15, 1985 Ms. Valerie A. Talmage Executive Director State Historic Preservation Officer Massachusetts Historical Commission 80 Boylston Street Boston, Massachusetts 02116 Dear Ms. Talmage, In response to your letter regarding the consideration by the State Review Board of nomination of the First Congregational Church, North Street, Blandford, Massachusetts to the National Register of Historic Places, we approve and support such a nomination. certainly believe that the First Congregational Church of Blandford is worthy of preservation. If we can be of any assistance in this process, please do not hesitate to contact us. Thank you.

Sincerely, Casolps dayla Fames MMenna YaulPlasa Board of Selectmen khm CC: Brian Care Pastor, First Congregational Church, Blandford Cert.mail #P157 78/124 fur an Crac 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 September 12, 1985 Carol Shull National Register of Historic Places Dept. of the Interior, National Park Service P.O. Box 37127 Washington, D.C. 20013-7127 Dear Ms. Shull: Enclosed you will find the following nomination forms: Blandford, First Congregational Church of Blandford, North Street. Boston (Brighton), Engine House #34, 114 Western Avenue. All 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, Sarau Zimmenan Sarah Zimmerman Director, Preservation Planning Massachusetts Historical Commission SZ/dr 80 Boylston Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116 (617) 727-8470 Reed 96385 MEMORANDUM OF CALL TO: Carol T YOU WERE CALLED BY- Previous editions usable L YOUWERE VISITED BY- nea OF (Organization) Huse PLEASE PHONE- appropent AUTOVON 222-3481 WILL CALL AGAIN IS WAITING TO SEE YOU RETURNED YOUR CALL WISHES AN APPOINTMENT MESSAGE Status Chpessman- Silvio Conti's disoict RECEIVED BY NSN 7540-00-634-4018 * U.S.G.PO.: 1884-421-529/418 TOATE TIME T7o/ V.01 STANDARD FORM 63 (Rev. 8-81) rescribed b PMR(eCFR101-11. VIFE OVTE EV2E1 paufang GEGVET U.S.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR HERITAGE CONSERVATION AND RECREATION SERVICE TELEPHONE REPORT DATE 10/2/85 TIME OF CALL AM PM T. CALL SUBJECT, PROJECT NO., ET -Timi Shen 225-3481 Cry Cutis offei. DETAILS OF DISCUSSION Receni 1/23/0 -Lesting dals, 0/44-117/65 wone like to be palle int listra: 10/24/35 Callas Cn Cntis affice regureting licting 10/24/85 abso Betsy Frdber n.A sApoffice NAME OF PERSON PLAGING/RECEIVING CALL dsyus FHR-8-227 June 1978 TITLE OFFICE