BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
AREA FORM B - BUILDING MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION 8O BOYLSTON STREET, BOSTON, MA 02116 FORM NO. 325 North Adams MRA Town Address 932 South Church Street Historic Name Carles Browne House PHOTO: (3x3" or 3x5", black & white) staple to left side of form Photo number SKETCH MAP Show property's location in relation to nearest cross streets and/or geographical features. Indicate all buildings between inventoried property and nearest intersection. Indicate north. Use: Present_residence Original residence DESCRIPTION: Date '1869 Source Family History Style_Italianate Architect_Unknown Exterior wall fabric_Clapboard Outbuildings Garage Major alterations (with dates) Wooden porch posts replaced with wrought iron. small porch added on east side (20th centur Moved Nö .Date N/A Approx. acreage 2 1/3 acres Setting_The house is located on a small Recorded by_Betsy Friedberg Organization Mass.
Historical Conmission Date July, 1985 wooded lot at the base of the Hoosac Mt. Range. A mixture of scattered residences, Industries, and commercial properties are located nearby. North Adams Quadrangle UTM reference: 18/655860/(S2698 additional sheets here) OCT 25 1985 ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE (Describe important architectural features and evaluate in terms of other buildings within the conmmity.) The Charles Browne house is a simple example of an important regional variation of the Italianate design, which was popular in NorthAdams after the Civil War. The Shallow hipped roof, brackets and polygonal side-bay window are characteristic of the style, aswell as the three-bay main facade, side-placed entryway sheltered by small porch, and essentially square plan.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE (Explain the role owners played in local or state history and how the building relates to the development of the conmmity.) This building is historically significant as the home of Charles A. Browne, a noted local inventor who made several important contributions to the construction of the Hoosac Tunnel (NR 1973). Browne's home, which he built in 1869, was constructed not far from the west portal. As an inventor, Browne's most important work was the perfection and manufacture of an electric blasting cap fuse, a device that proved invaluable to safe and efficeint construction where explosives were required. Born in the Town of Adams in 1842, Browne worked at various jobs before he began his first association with the work on the Hoosac Tunnel in 1863.
*he mabon contractons W At that time, he worked for Holbrook &Hawkins, the mason contractors who supplied the brick. Apparently, through this connection, he next worked in Maryland for the UIS. Blasting: Oil Company in the construction of a railroad. These jobs must have provided him with experience in working with explosives, for by the late 1860s, he was in New York City trying to perfect an electric fuse. The problem that most concerned him was to devise an electric fuse that could operate in the damp conditions of the Hoosac Tunnel. While working on various jobs associated with the tunnel, he continued to experiment on developing a safe, efficient electric fuse. In 1869, while experimenting with fulminate of copper, there was an accidental explosion that eventually cost Browne his eyesight. Browne obtained, in 1870, a patent for an electric fuse.
His brother, Isaac, described the device in (continue BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES (name of publication, author, date and publisher) Record of Deeds, Adams, MA "Charles A. Browne and Brother," paper written.by Isaac S. Browne, 1928 United State Patents, Patent Numbers 108,324; 125,558; 128,945; 151,004; 152, 790; 158,672. Material in possession of Miss Ruth Browne, North Adams, MA. 10M - 7/82 INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Commnity: North Adams Form No: 325 Property Name: Charles Browne House Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. Historical Significance the following manner: "Iwo insulated wires, terminating in the chamber of a small wooden plug, were separated at their points about one sixteenth of an inch.
In this chamber was deposited a few grains of fulminate of copper, held in place by a small pasteboard disc. This plug was then inserted in an outer shell, containing the bursting charge. It iIntended tor a high explosive, like Nitro Glycerine, fulminate of mercury was used, while for powder ignition a less powerful powder was employed, usually a cholrateof potash preparation." Fulminate of copper was sensitive to electrical influences, and deteriorated with age. Charles Browne developed a priming that avoided these difficulties. With the patent obtained, Charles and Isaac established a firm, Charles A. Browne and Brother, to manufacture the device. They constructed a small factory across from Charles Browne's house around 1870.
(The factory is at 949-953 Church St., but is extensive ly altered and no longer retains integrity.) The contractors in charge of the Hoosac Tunnel construction became the Brownes' best customers. Thus, it was not coincidental that the factory, and Browne's house, were located near the road to the west portal of the tunnel. use of his sight. Patents were also secured for the following items: Box for ( To a)s Lectred l Condenaor seidlitz-powders (January 9, 1872); Electrical Condensor (May 19, 1874); Explosive tools for work on the tunnel. Charles A. Browne and Brother had a special arrangement with the Laflin and Road Powder Co.by which they suppliedblasting cap fuses exclusively to that firm. Exceptions were made only to the Hoosac Tunnel contractors and two other clients.
av coo an sostaem i aont This association ended in the early 1880s when Laflin and Rand took on another client and undersold the Brownes. When work on the tunnel was finished, the Browne brothers were unable to compete and went out of business. In 1882, the Iactory and all its machinery was sold to a.C. Houghton, principal owner of the Arnold Print Works. It is not known what use they made of the building, although it was still used as a factory as late as 1929. With his business ended, Browne retired to manage his farm. He died in 1907, leaving the house to his son, William. William C. Browne was a noted local historian. This tradition has been car- ried on by his daughter, Miss Ruth Browne. Criteria for Evaluation The Charles A.
Browne House,awell-preserved example of a regionally specific form of Italianate-style architecture, retains integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, and feeling, as well as association with a central figure in the development of the Hoosac Tunnel, inventor Charles Browne. The building thus fulfills Criteria A, B, and C of the National Register of Historic Places. 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 Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group OMB NO. 1024-0018 Expires 10-31-87 or NPS uea only ecalved gayes date entered Page /1 2 dnr-11 Name State _North Adams MRA Berkshire Co., MASSACHUSETTS Nomination/Type of Review Conn Date/Signature twups7 1.
Monument Square Historic SuishanHare KevIew Keeper District (B.I) T-. Attest Entered in tlia 2. Church Street-Caddy National Regiater Hill Historic District (B.I) zoststor frteeper Aulntagun a/zto5 Attest 3. Blackinton Historic District Entered ia tha National Register fKeeper AueuByui2t165 Attest 4. Freeman's Grove Historic District fReeper Entered in the National Begister AitousByu Livlster 5. Normal School Historic District Attest 6Keeper Entered in tae National Register AlelmBge/odatti 6. Armstrong House 7. Arnold Print Works 8. Boardman (The) 9. Browne, Charles, House Entared in tla Attest dhluaBguwkster National Register Attest Suanbantire Kentogficeper Buce,ha Pmgd 102585 Attest Entered 12 thic National Register Keeper AeueBjen1025185 Attest Entered in the National Hegister (Keeper AulmeBgun 11145 10.
Crowley House Entered 1n the National Register Attest fKeeper Attest AilrurBogun 10125/85 WASO Form - 177 ("'R" June 1984) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET Browne, Charles, House (North Adams MRA) Bershire County MASSACHUSETTS consaitingi? 85003413 resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: Reviewer's comments: Lsample -request SEP ,1 2 1985 Working No.- Fed. Reg. Date 2/3/8 Date Due: 10/10 85 Entered in Action: ACCEPT the National Register -_RETURN -REJECT_ Federal Agency: _ appeal -NR decision Recom./Criteria. Reviewer - Discipline_ Date _ see continuation sheet 85 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 J 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 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 J Photographs Other Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to - Signed - Date Phone: - Comments for any item may be continued on an attached sheet C.A,Browne House 932 South Church St. North Adams, Mass. Southwest view. Photo by R.Reed, 1983. Negative at NAHC - N Charles Browne House 932 South Church Street North Adams, Mass. North Adams MRA Sketch Map CMALA =3= ==== 2.56 5:42 // chas. A. BRauve HlousE T.H 6 Charles Browne House 932 South Church Street North Adams MRA North Adams Assessors' Map, ca.
1915 11=40 33.8 144 790 /x E724 6.,