BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
FORM B - BUILDING MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION 80 BOYLSTON STREET BOSTON, MA 02116 Photo (3"x3" or 3"x5", black and white) Indicate address of property on back of photo. Staple to left side of form. Sketch Map: Draw map showing property's location in relation to nearest cross streets and/or geographical features. Indicate all buildings between inventoried property and nearest intersection(s). - Indicate north (SEE ATTACHED MAP) UTM REFERENCE 19.16130. 4088220 USGS QUADRANGLE_NEWTON, MASS. SCALE 1:25,000 AREA 85 FORM NO. W11 Newton, Mass. M.R.A. Town Newton (Waban) Address 1637-S/ Beacon Street (known as 2-12 Windsor Road) Historic Name Strong's Block Use: Present Original DESCRIPTION commercial block commercial block Date Source 1896 Water Records Style - Dutch Colonial Revival Architect H.
Bacon Exterior Wall Fabric red brick Outbuildings none Major Alterations (with dates)1635-39 Beacon St added, rebuilt 1922; 1629-33 Beacon St added-1923 Condition Good Moved no Date Acreage. 54, 198 sq. It. (1.25 acres) Setting Commercial center of village along major thoroughfare (formerly part of Sherborn Road) Recorded by Deborah Shea Organization Newton Historical Comm. Date 5/81; rev. by H.White 3/86 NATIONAL REGISTER CRITERIA STATEMENT (if applicable) Strong's Block is one of the city's few remaining intact nineteenth century commercial blocks, and possesses integrity of design and location. and exhibits a high level of workmanship and materials, therefore meeting Criterion C of the National Register of Historic Places. ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE Describe important architectural features and evaluate in terms of other buildings within the community.
Strong's Block is a distinctive two and one-half story commercial block built in a style reminiscent of Flemish architecture of the Renaissance period. The focal point of the design is the gable roof of slate with its stepped end parapets, a motif repeated in the center gable of the facade. Windows of the gable and second story are set beneath panels of decorative brick: flanking windows are set beneath jack arches. The building was designed by Lewis H. Bacon, a Waban resident, and partner in the architectural firm of Hill & Bacon. The upper floors were apartments with storefronts on the ground level. A rendering of the building appeared in the October 31, 1896 issue of American Architect & Building News. Sympathetically designed additions to the west elevation were made during the 1920s.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE Explain the role owners played in local or state history and how the - building relates to the development of the community. William C. Strong, a prominent local citizen who resided nearby at 48 Windsor Road, had this stylish commercial block built to serve the expanding population of the village which eventually became known as Waban. During the 1880s Strong was among those instrumental in bringing the Circuit Railroad through this area, and stimulating the suburban oToos Stronhis areantended development of the village. Strong intended to profit from the construction o1 the Circuit Railroad, and laid out Windsor Road on Moffatt Hill, where he offered ample houselots for sale. BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES Atlas: 1907 City Directories: 1895, 1897. American Architect & Building News. Oct. 31, 1896.
8/85 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 recelved 7/23/86 date entered Page Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group Name State Newton- MRA Middlesex County, MA Nomination/Type of Review 1l1. Souther, John, House 112. Staples--Crafts--Wiswall Farm 113. Stone, Ebenezer, House 114. Stone, Joseph L., House 115. Strong's Block 116. Thaxter, Celia, House 117. Thayer House 118. Ward, Ephraim, House 119. Wheat, Samuel, House 120. Woodward, John, House Entered in the National Register fkeeper Date/Signature Ailoubzu 91410 Attest Entered in the Jiationai Regis fReeper HelmByun 9/4/86 Attest.
Detersin atixe Ieriew !ECT10*|Keeper Faibe aluile Andur 9/4154 Attest Enterei in the lationci Rogister DeluaByan 911186 Attest Entareo in tne Aational Register/Reeper Aelreßzun 9141rs Attest Entiarod 608 Matlowel Rogie fKeeper Aelorußyun 214/06 intered in ue Mational Rogieter Attest 6Keeper SklmeByu 914184 Entored in tho Matioral Hogister Attest fReeper AeluredBya 9/4/86 Enteredin the Mational Register Attest fReeper Delrresßyan 9/4/16 but.93 Segistel. Attest FKeeper Sletreßyun 9/4/86 Attest = 86001891 WASO Form - 177 ("R" June 1984) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET Strong's Block (Newton MRA) Middlesex County MASSACHUSETTS resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: L sample Reviewer's comments: request JUL 23 1986 Working No. Fed. Reg.
Date: 2/3/37 Date Due: 8/21/86 Intered in tlAction: - LACCEPT - 9-4 -86 Iationai Regiatsn RETURN REJECT. Federal Agency: - -appeal -NR decision Recom./Criteria Reviewer Discipline Date see continuationsheet 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 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 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:- GPO 918-450 Comments for any item may be continued on an attached sheet LACT FRAME U FRAME WABAN HARDWARE Kyanize PAINTS THE PRACTICAL PL HIS & HERS APPAREL - ACCESSORIES - GI Streng's Bloce LC ISEd 1Eevitnny Mass, MRA - - 1637-51 Beacon St, Strong's Block MR-. - SECTION BLOCK 13 53 40 SECTION 53 BLOCK 29 6 3 WINDSOR ROAD 13 SECTION 53 BLOCK 32 UINMONTH ,553 4 ROAD STREET RIGHT M. B. T.A. ANGIER SCHOOL SECTION BLOCK 55 10 BEACON 19 SEVER_EASEMENT 12 WYMAN COCHITUATE City of Newton Assessor's Maps. Sheet /0/ Metric Series. 1979 Scale: UTM grid line interval = 100 meters (328 feet) Vewton, Mass. M.R.A. 1637-1651 Beacon Street, Wabar Strong's Block 53-29-2A SECTI( BLOC