BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
AREA FORM B - BUILDING MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION 80 BOYLSTON, STREET; BOSTON, MA 02116 FORM NO. 321 Iown North Adams MRA Address_School Street Historic Name.Tohnson School 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 iaventoried property and nearest intersection. Indicate north. Use: Present_Schoo] . Original School DESCRIPTION: Date_ 1896 Source Date block Style_ Romanesque Revival Architect Edwin Thayer Barlow Exterior wall fabric_brick, granite, sandstone Outbuildings None Major alterations (with dates) Metal and glass doors replaced original, ca. 1970: two-story addition on north side, 192 Moved Date N/A Approx.
acreage less than one acre Recorded by Betsy Friedberg Setting_The school stands on a hill over- Organization Mass, Historical Conmission looking the central business district. Date Tu1y, 1985 Surroundingthe schoolare Late nineteenth and early twentieth century residential North Adams Quadrangle buildings. UTM reference: 18/654070/4729550 (Staple additional sheets here) OCT 25 19 ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE (Describe important architectural features and evaluate in terms of other buildings within the commmity.) This building is important as the work of Edwin Thayer Barlow, the city's preeminent late19th architect. The school remains substantially unaltered with many fine architectural features. It is of brick construction and stands on a foundation of ashlar granite with a red sandstone water table.
The metal roof is hipped with pedimented wall dormers delineating symmetrical entrances on the east, south, and west elevations. The principal (south) elevation is nine bays wide with a three-bay center section that is slightly recessed. Ihe entrance vestibule is behind a round arch of red sandstone and terracotta capitals with foliate designs. Red sandstone is also used for the lintels and sills of HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE (Explain the role owners played in local or state (continued) history and how the building relates to the development of the commmity.) The Johnson School is historically important as the last surviving neighborhood school in North Adams. It was constructed in 1896, a period whèn the city's population was growing very fast and many new residential neighborhoods were being created. By 1900, the Johnson School was one of 14 neighborhood schools in North Adams.
It was built for grades three through nine, with over 300 students and eight teachers. The Johnson School District consisted of Houghtonville Street and both sides of Marshall, Brooklyn, and Liberty Streets. The hilly Houghtonville area, known in the late 19th century as Brooklyn, was a neighborhood of single- and two-family dwellings whose middle-class residents worked in the mills below. Although still used as a grade school, a declining population puts the building's future in doubt. Criteria for Evaluation The Johnson School, a well-preserved and finely detailed example of the Romanesque Revival style by a well-known local architect, retains integrity of setting, desiga, Location, materials, workmanship, and feeling, as well as associations with North Adams' late 19th century growth. The building thus fulfills Criteria A and Cof the National Register of Historic Places.
BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES (name of publication, author, date and publisher) Original drawings, City Engineer's Office, North Adams, MA North Adams and Vicinity, H.G. Rowe, No. Adams, 1898. 10M - 7/82 INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Commmity : Form No: North Adams Property Name : Johnson School 321 Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. Architectural Significance, continued the window on either side and directly above, as well as for the coping on the dormer. Segmental-arch windows, a decorative frieze, and an overhanging cornice distinguish the three bays on either side of the center section. The north and south elevations are five bays wide and have simialr decorative treatment. A 1924 addition, designed by Springfield architect Newton C.
Bond, is sympathetic to the original design in that it is constructed with similar building materials. The interior of the school is also largely intact. Original oak woodwork can be found throughout the building. This includes the wainscotting, the door and window trim, the staircase and, on the third floor, an assembly hall complete with a stage. The assembly hall also has the original maple flooring and a skylight. Metal ceilings, cast iron radiators, and mobile wooden coatracks are also present in the building. 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 Expires 10-31-87 For NPS uee onl ccaved 9/11/8s date antered Page 2 /2 Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group Name State North Adams MRA Bershire County, MASSACHUSETTS Nomination/Type of Review 11. Hathaway Tenement 12. Johnson School 13. Johnson Manufacturing Company 14. Norad Mill 15. Sherman, William B., Farm 16. Sykes "House 17. Wells House 18. Phelps House 19. 20. Enbored in tlic National Register Entered in the National Register Date/Signature fReeper AueuByu 4/20165 Attest f Keeper AueuBge10/25/85 Attest fKeeper Entered Ix National Megtsben AlemByun 10/25/05 Entered in the National Register Attest foKeeper Attest /Reeper OtelouBgan 0/256 Entered in the National Register AlluuBogun 10/2% Zrtared in tha Tational Regieter Attest &Keeper AlnerBgen 210/2510 Attest /Keeper deluBgenl10/25/05 intered in the Notionel Register Attest 5.
Remea Keeper Attest Keeper Attest Keeper Attest WASO Form - 177 ("R" June 1984) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET 85003416 Johnson Sehool (North Adams MRA) Bershire County MASSACHUSETTS resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: Reviewer's comments: -sample -request Working No.- Fed. Reg. Date: 24.3/8 Date Due: 10/10/85 Action: LACCEPT Eabered in the -RETURN National Registez _REJECT- Federal Agency: - × 2 1985 10/27/85 10-25 Jappeal 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 -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 Loriginal site L 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 Johnson School School St. MRA North Adams, Mass. West elevation. Photo by R.Reed, 1983. Negative at NAHC Johnson School School St. North Adams, Mass. Southwest view. Photo by HCRC, 1978. Negative at NAHC Johnson School School St. North Adams, Mass. Detail, south entrance. Photo by R.Reed, 1983. Negative at NAHC 78 & 4*] Johnson School School Street North Adams, Mass.
North Adams MRA Sketch Map ST NAL SCHOPL ST 732 schoo Survey 1so Deed 7983 Deed School Survey 157.25 CITY OF NORTHADAMS 7/ SCHOOL 50 70 3200 5772 1785 Johnson School 71-12 a.m au 76 Johnson School School Street North Adams MRA North Adams Assessors' Map ca. 1965 1'=401 d 20