Nomination for Exchange Hall

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

NPS Form 10-900 (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 See instructions in How to Complete National Register Forms Type all entries-complete applicable sections 1. Name For NPS use only received MAY |2 1986 JUN |3 1986 date entered historic Exchange Hall and or common same 2. Location street & number Quimby Square (School Street at Main Street) N/ A not for publication city, town Acton N/ Avicinity of State Massachusetts 3. Classification Category Ownership _district - public X building(s) X private - structure both site Public Acquisition .

object - in process N/Abeing considered code 025 county Middlesex code 017 Status occupied unoccupied work in progress Accessible X yes: restricted - yes: unrestricted no Present Use - agriculture Xcommercial - educational X entertainment - government industrial - military museum park private residence religious scientific transportation other: 4. Owner of Property name Wilbur Jones Tolman street & number 77 Willow Street city, town Acton N/ A vicinity of 5. Location of Legal Description state Massachusetts courthouse, registry of deeds, etc. Middlesex South District Courthousee street & number Cambridge Street city, town Cambridge state Massachusetts 6. Representation in Existing Surveys Inventory of the Historic Assets title of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts#18 has this property been determined eligible?

- yes X no date 1973 _ federal X state - county local depository for survey records Massachusetts Historical Commission, 80 Boylston Street, city, town Boston. state Massachusetts 7. Description Exchange Hall, Acton, MA Condition excellent X good 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

exchange Hall, Acton, dominates Quimby Square in the southern part of this small 1ndustrial town 25 miles northwest of Boston. Built in 1860, it is a richly embellished Italianate-style building. The building faces south on a gently sloping site and is surrounded by a mixture of modest residential and commercial buildings whose construction dates vary from the mid 18th century into the 20th century. Most of the older buildings have been substantially altered or are quite neglected. Exchange Hall is set back about 15 feet from School Street to the south and 50 feet from Main Street to the west. Several hundred feet to the south, crossing Fort Pond Brook, run the tracks of the Boston & Maine Railroad. The overall plan of the building is rectangular, measuring 38 by 70 feet, with porches on its southern and western sides.

The building is 3 1/2 stories height and, due to the slope of the land, the basement is expressed as an additional full story on the south. Its slate-covered pitched roof, with south and north gable ends, is surmounted by a two-stage, hipped-roofed cupola at the south end. The chimney is at the north end of the west slope, and the east slope has a roof hatch leading from the attic. The building is sheathed with clapboards, except for the recessed portion of the south front and the cupola, which are flushboarded. The foundation is original, brick on the exposed south side and elsewhere dressed stone above grade and rubble stone. The exterior of Exchange Hall displays a thoroughly realized interpretation of the bracketed Italianate style. The cornices at portico, piazza, and roof are composed of scrolled and panelled brackets, each with a turned drop.

Corner pilasters, square piers, and columns have recessed, arched-top Italianate panels let into their sides. Window surrounds are plain architraves with crown moldings, except beneath the front portico and west piazza, and in the gables and cupola, where, as around the doors, a simple molded architrave is used. The front (southern) elevation is a three-bay composition. A balconied portico effect across the full width of the facade is formed by the recessed plane of the basement, first, and second stories crowned by a cornice at the third-story level; its four square piers are linked at first- and second-story levels by turned balustrades. The wall and gable above are defined by panelled pilasters and bracketed cornice returns and barges. The wide central basement door is flanked by a large window at each side.

At first-story level, the main entrance, topped by a flat lintel, is set slightly off center. It is flanked by large display bay windows at either side and, at the east corner, the entrance to the hall stairs. The glass-paned central door at the second story is flanked by large, simply enframed 6/6 sash windows. At the center of the third story, a segmental-arched blind window with eared hood is likewise flanked by 6/6 windows, taller than those below, and above it is a 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 OMB No. 1024-0018 Expires 10-31-87 For NPS usa onh received date entered Continuation sheet Exchange Hall, Acton, MA Item number 7 Page 1 round-headed 6/6 window centered in the gable.

The two-stage flat-roofed cupola surmounting the gable peak has a louvered round-headed opening on each side of the second stage, which has corner pilasters and bracketed cornice. A segmental cartouche above the third-story windows formerly contained the words "EXCHANGE HALL" in gilded wooden letters, now virtually obliterated. The otherwise blank frieze between the piers at the second-story level at one time had gilded letters naming the goods sold within. Originally, access to the main entrance was by flights of steps projecting forward from either end of the portico: a straight flight stood at the eastern end, while at the western end, a flight turned to the northwest to follow the line of the piazza. These have been removed, with access now provided by staircases at either end of the portico extending at right angles to the building.

The east and west (side) elevations disposition, and framed within panelled pilasters and bracketed roof cornice. , sere tat ter chad are both six bays deep and of similar The third-story windows are taller than those below, all with 6/6 lights and flat lintels. Extending the length of the west side is a one-story piazza whose southern end curves in a quarter circle to join the portico. This elevation also includes a minor entry at its northwest end (added ca. 1960 and originally a window) and a flight of stairs leading to a two-bay hipped-roof porch and entry (both ca. 1940 additions) on the second story. On the eastern elevation, two bays, on the first and second story, are blind. The rear, northern elevation 1s three bays wide, framed by panelled pilasters, bracketed cornice returns, and gable barges.

Loading doors are in the center of first and second stories, and a round-headed window is centered in the gable. All windows are 6/6, and identical to those on the side elevations. The building's interior plan originally consisted of open retail store space on the first and second stories, with adjoining small rooms at the north end (those on the first floor for offices and on the second for sleeping space for adjoining rooms, and includes stairs to the attic at the north. The principal stairway to the of the interior finish is evidently original. The most notable features occur in the third-story hall: the molded plaster ceiling rosettes (now obscured by a building code-ordered suspended ceiling) and the spring dance floor (the uo pented ce lng) and tne latter installed ca. 1900).

With the exception of the loss of the entrance steps, and the removal of the window blinds, the exterior retains virtually all of its original material. 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 OMB NO. 1024-0018 Expires 10-31-87 For NPS uee only eceived date entered Continuation sheet Exchange Hall, Acton, MA Item number 7 Page 2 The most significant external alteration was the addition of the fire escape on the west side, which was consciously planned to be as little disruptive as possible. Archaeology While no prehistoric sites are currently recorded on the property, it is possible that sites may be present. One site (19-MD-147) has been reportec directly across Fort Pond Brook from the property.

In general, however, the historial for siguificant archaeological remains, ei ther prehistoric or seems low, a result of small lot size, extensive disturbance of the ground surface around the building, and the presence of a full basement.

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Significance Exchange Hall, Acton, MA Period prehistoric 1400-1499 1500-1599 1600-1699 1700-1799 1800-1899 X 1900 Areas of SignificanceCheck and justify below archeology-prehistoric community planning archeology-historic conservation agriculture economics X architecture education art X engineering _ commerce exploration/settlement communications industry invention landscape architectureX - religion law literature military music philosophy politics/government science - sculpture social/ humanitarian _ theater - transportation X other (specify) community development Specific dates 1860-1904 Builder

Statement of significance

/Architect unknown Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) Exchange Hall, Acton, retalns integrity of location, design, materlals, workmanship, feeling, and association. The building is distinguished for its wel1-executed Italianate design and is the most elaborate example of this style in Acton. It was constructed in the mid 19th century at the core of Acton's increasingly prosperous commercial district by a group of successtul local entrepreneurs. Prominently sited above the railroad line, Exchange Hall served Acton well into the 20th century, playing both a mercantile and social role, and holds direct associations with the town's development. Exchange thus fulfils Criteria A and C of the National Register of Historic Places on the local level. Exchange Hall was built in South Acton in 1860 to serve a variety of functions, primarily commercial.

South Acton, with small milling operations and an ironworks established along Fort Pond Brook, had been a locus of settlement since the earliest years of the 18th century. While the town's Village center evolved to the north (the location of the tirst meetinghouse, demolished, and other institutional buildings), South Acton remained the site for industrial and economic development into the 19th century, spurred by the arrival of the Fitchburg Railroad from Boston in 1844. With a direct link to Boston markets, South Acton's industrial enterprises flourished, and businesses prospered accordingly. On the eve of the Civil War, South Acton supported a number of thriving businesses, most under the aegis of three men: James Tuttle (1818-1898), his brother Varnum Tuttle (1823-1904), and Elnathan Jones Jr. (1829-1904).

latter was the great-grandson of Samuel Jones, who established a successful tavern and store across the road from the site of the nominated property in 1750 (extant and nominated to the National Register). James Tuttle was Elnathan Jones' brother-in-law, and both men worked in the family store, with Elnathan specializing in fancy goods. James Tuttle had opened a small store in South Acton in 1839; he inherited the tavern and store in 1845, just as South Acton was beginning to enjoy the prosperity accompanying the presence of a rail link to Boston. As James Tuttle and Company, the trio vastly expanded the existing business, erecting store buildings near the tavern to accomodate the business' various depar tments.

In 1860, at the cost of $10,000, they financed the construction chose astheirsitees pred tentespetastthefintersecttonrMain asdhoThey Streets, directly opposite the railroad tracks and only a few feet from the Tavern. The site had previously held the Jones Cooperage, erected ca. 1760. faiaf8agant 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 less than one acre Quadrangle name Maynard UT M References AL1,9 L2/9,8/1,5,0 Zone Easting [4,7/013|2,6,01 Northing Quadrangle scale 1:25,000 Zone LLILN Easting D F LILILLL Northing LLLL LLLL GLL LLL Verbal boundary description and justification See attached assessor's map List all states and counties for properties overlapping state or county boundaries state N/A code county code state code county code 11. Form Prepared By name/title Betsy Friedberg, Preservation Planner, Massachusetts Historical Commission, with kobert H. Nylander, Acton Historical Commission organization Massachusetts Historical Commission date February, 1986 street & number 80 Boylston Street OS COT 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 _ state X 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 Valme A Taemage title Executive Director State Historic Preservation Officer date Mau5, 1980 For NPS use only I hereby certify that this property is included in the National Register uelaredl Entered 1a date 6-3-86 Keeper of the National Register National Hlegister 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 OMB No.1024-0018 Expires 10-31-87 or NPS UaE Bceived date entered Continuation sheet Exchange Hall, Acton, MA Item number 8 Page P 1954. Al though the architect for Exchange Hall is unknown, local belief has it that Elnathan Jones Jr., who was interested in architecture, may have been involved in the building's design.

While serving as the visual focal point for the group of business, Exchange Hall was also designed to provide retail and storage space for dry goods and clothing as well as display areas for the furniture and home furnishings the fulcrum, served as a forerunner of the modern department store. From ca. 1860 to ca. 1900, the company was one of the most extensive of its kind to serve Massachusetts' smaller industrial towns. In addition to its commercial space, Exchange Hall also provided room for community functions. The hall on the third floor served as the meeting place for the South Acton Universalist Church--South Acton's first religious society--from ca.

1860 to 1878 (at which time they built their own Stick Style building nearby) and was later used for a wide range of public functions, including dances, concerts, lectures, political caucuses, conventions, and theatrical and vaudeville productions. The third-floor spring dance floor is one of only a few remaining in New England. It is still used occasionally for dances - Among those who spoke in Exchange Hall during its heyday were Henry David Thoreau (ca. 1865) and Henry Ward Beecher (ca. 1875). In 1867, the Tuttle Company admitted a new partner, Jonathan K. Wetherbee. A well-known Acton citizen, Wetherbee served as town treasurer for 31 years and postmaster for 15. As Tuttles, Jones and Wetherbee Co., the partnership endured until James Tuttle's death in 1898. The entire property was then divided, with Elnathan Jones taking title to Exchange Hall. Mr.

Jones continued the dry goods and furniture business until his death in 1904, after which, until 1933, it was operated by the firm of Finney and Hoit. From 1933 o 1950, when the business was finally closed, it was carried on under the name of South Acton Department Store by Jones' grandson-in-law, Otis J. Reed. The South Acton branch of the Acton Memorial Library was located in the upper floors of the building for a part of the latter period. It is currently occupied by a number of small businesses.

Exchange Hall is the most richly delineated interpretation of the bracketed Italianate style in Acton; other local buildings of its type and period are more restrained in their use of the decorative vocabulary of the style (for example, Acton Town Hall, 1863 [NR 1983]), use few of its elements, or are utilitarian in detail (such as the now-altered Tuttles, Jones and Wetherbee 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 OMB No. 1024-0018 Expires 10-31-87 CENPS Ue Ony date antered Continuation sheet Exchange Hall, Acton, MA Itemnumber 8 Page 2 Grocery Store, 5-7 School Street, 1866). In its exuberant architectural detail, the building illustrates the use of a popular and significant style in American architecture of the mid-19th century.

In its siting overlooking Quimby Square (originally South Acton Square) and the tracks of the Fitchburg railroad, the building reflects an emerging awareness, in a rural community, of the use of architecture as an element in community planning, as well as the prosperity and optimism of an age directly related to the success of the railroad. The primary period of significance of Exchange Hall runs from 1860, when the building was first constructed, to 1904, when the last of its original proprietors died. The building continued to be significant to South Acton's commercial livelihood through 1950, when the business closed.

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 Exchange Hall, Acton, MAItem number 9 MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES OMB No.1024-0018 Expires 10-31-87 For NPS uee only received date entered Page 1 Fletcher, James, Acton in History (Philadelphia and Boston: J. W. Lewis and Co., 1890)- Phalen, Harold R., History of Acton (n.p.: 1954) "South Acton in 1840" (n.p;n.d. [c. 1880]). "The Past and Present of a Notable Firm in South Acton" (n.p.: 1885) Iron Work Farm in Acton, Inc. Files: Title and reference notebooks, Vol.

1 86001327 WASO Form - 177 ("R" June 1984) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET Exchange Hall Middlesex County MASSACHUSETTS resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: Lsample Reviewer's comments: - request Working No. MAY | 2,1986 Fed. Reg. Date: Date Due: _ 6/13/86 218 - 2612 Iavecet 1x Action: _LACCEPT- 673-86 Matiomil Rogister -RETURN _ REJECT. Federal Agency: 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 J 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 Builder/Architect Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) summary paragraph completeness clarity applicable criteria justification of areas checked relating significance to the resource context relationship of integrity to significance justification of exception Iother 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:_ GPO 918-450 Comments for any item may be continued on an attached sheet WOODWORKS EXCHANGE HALL Quimby Square School St. at Main St. s. Acton, Mass. 01720 Wm. A. Klauer, photog. March 1984 Neg. filed with Acton Historical Commission, Acton Town Hall, 01720 Photo #1 of 4 Front (south) facade and west side. EXCHANGE HALL Quimby Square School St. at Main St. S. Acton, 01720 wm. A. Klauer, photog. March 1984 Neg.

filed with Acton Historical Commission, Acton Town Hall, 01720 Photo #2 of 4 West side. EXCHANGE HALL Quimby Square School St. at Main St. S. Acton, Mass. 01720 wm. A. Klauer, Photog. May 1984 Neg. filed with Acton Historical Commission, Acton Town Hall, 01720 Photo #3 of 4 Rear (north) of building. EXCHANGE HALL Quimoy square School St. at Main St. S. Acton, Mass. 01720 wm. A. Klauer, Photog. May 1984 Neg. filed with Acton Historical Commission, Acton Town Hall, 01720 Photo #4 of 4 East side. TIVE LABAD The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Office of the Secretary of State Michael Joseph Connolly, Secretary (093545988 Massachusetts Historical Commission Valerie A. Talmage Executive Director State Historic Preservation Officer May 5, 1986 ECENVS MAY 12 Carol Shull National Register of Historic Places Department of Interior, National Park Service P.O.

Box 37127 Washington, DC 20013-7127 Dear Ms. Shull: Enclosed you will find the following nomination forms: Acton, EXCHANGE HALL, Quimby Hall (School Street at Main Street). Acton, JONES TAVERN 128 South Main Street. A11 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 nt: Comments to the nomination forms. Sincerely, arah r Zimmerman Director, Preservation Planning Massachusetts Historical Commission SJZ/1s 80 Boylston Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116 (617) 727-8470