BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
FORM B - BUILDING MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION 294 WASHINGTON STREET, BOSTQN, MA 02108 AREA MID CAM. MEORM NO. II C 2 USGS Map #16 Town Cambridge, Mass. Cambridge MRA Address 12 Divinity Ave. Historic Name Divinity Hall PHOTO: (3x3" or 3x5" ,black & white) staple to left side of form Photo number_ 78-15 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_ Original dormitory institutional DESCRIPTION: Date 1825 Source deed records, Harvard pub1 cation Style Federal/Greek Revival Architect Solomon Willard/Thomas h sumner Exterior wall fabric_ brick Outbuildings NA SEE ATTACHED MAP Major alterations (with dates) none Recorded by R. Rettig/T. Alduine OrganizationCambridge Historical Com.
Date_ 1968/1985 Moved no Date NA UTM 19/325890/4693760 Boston Nobht Approx. acreage -0358 acres Setting_ Divinity Hall occupies a tight but quiet site at the end Divinity Avenue: early 20th centi (1930) Biological Laboratories wI around it to the rear, formine a pleasant courtyard; the modern Herbaria stands to the north. The Peabody Museum (1859-1913) stand: (Staple additional sheets bere) across the street. RCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE (Describe important architectural features and evaluate in terms of other buildings within the commmity.) Divinity Hall was built in 1825 with an elongated rectangular plan and hip roof, the most popular contemporary form for institutional buildings. It is constructed of brick, laid up in Flemish bond, and rises three stories from a granite foundation to a slate roof.
Irim, which is confined to windows and doors, is brownstone; windows, in the main block, contain 6/6 sash. This simple building achieves a sense of monumentality through mass and proportion. Rigidly symmetrical, its main façade is organized around a projecting three bay center.pavi- Iion flanked by five bay sections. Entries are located in the next to ISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE (Explain the role owners played in local or state Continued history and how the building relates to the development of the commnity.) Divinity Hall was the first major college building constructed outside of Harvard Yard and it later served as a focus for development of the North Yard. Originally it served all the functions-of the - Divinity School at Harvard: classrooms, library and administrative offices. - De emate ne moe?
he was developing the Quincy Granite Railway and about to undertake the construction of the Bunker Hill Monument (1825-1843). His later commissions, all in granite, include the Bowdoin Street Church of 1830 in Boston, and St. Peter's of 1833 and the North Church of 1836, both in Salem. He was a pioneer in the use of granite as a building material, and Divinity Hall is notable as one of his few designs to be executed in brick. Divinity Hall is significant under Criterion A for its as- sociations with the development of Harvard University-. IBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES (name of publication, author, date and publisher) SEE ATTACHED BIBLIOGRAPHY 10M - 7/82 INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Community : Cambridge MRA Cambridge,Mass.
Form No: MC II C 2 Property Name: Divinity Hall Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued belaw. Architectural Significance con't. outer bays, and are highlighted by heavy Doric porticoes. Elsewhere, windows occupy each bay at each story; at the third story they are set into the cornice, at the second and first they are headed by architraves with corner biocks. The central pavilion maintains a similiar window treatment at the first story, but unites the upper stories with elongated round arched windows which illuminate a chapel. The rear elevation is a simpler version of the facade, maintaining the central pavilion and entry positions. Here however, the paviiion alevaslona are two bays each and sinply tsradeaat portoa. projects by oniy a tew wythes and the entries lack porticoes; windows have the simple flared architraves of the Federal Period.
The side Divinity Hall was built in the most popular mode for insti- tutional buildings of the Federal Period: an elongated rectangular form with intersecting central gable pavilion and hip roof. However, it retains a Greek Revival heaviness of detail, particularly evident in the brownstone Doric entrance porches. As one of the few sur- vivors of of this institutional style in the Boston region and as an example of the transitional Federal/Greek Revival style, Divinity Hall meets Criterion C. Staple to Inventory form at botton INVENTORY FUKM GUNIL MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Cambridge, Mass. MC II C 2 CambridaeM Property Name: Divinity Hall Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. Bibliography/References Cambridge Historical Commission.
Survey of Architectural History in Cambridae: -Volume East Cambridge (1965), out of print. Volume II, Mid Cambridge (1967), Cambridge, MA Volume III, Cambridgeport (1971), Cambridge, MA Volume IV, Old Cambridge (1973), Cambridge, Volume V, Northwest Cambridge (1977), Cambridge, MA Cambridge Historical Society, Proceedings (1906-Present), Cambridge, MA. D.A.R., Winthrop Chapter, An Historical Guide to Cambridge (1907), Cambridge, MA. Gillman, A. (ed.), Cambridge of Eighteen Hundred and Ninety-Six (1896), Cambridge, MA. Paige, L.R., History of Cambridge (1877), Boston, MA.; Suoplement (1930), Boston, MA. Rand, C., Cambridge, U.S.A. (1964), New York, NY. Rettia, R.B., Guide to Cambridge Architecture (1969), Cambridge, MA. Stillman, W.J. (ed.), Poetic Localities of Cambridge (1876), Cambridge, MA. Woods, R.A., and Kennedy, A.J. (Warner, ed.), Zone of Emergence (1962), Cambridge, MA.
Zaitzevsky, C., with the advice of the Review Committee members, The Harvard University Study of Historic and Architectural Properties in the Environs of Cambridge, (April 1983-December 1984), Cambridge, MA. Staple to Inventory form at bottom NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES ubstantive Reviev EVALUATION / RETURN SHEET Divinity Hall Property:CAmbadge muetiple Revorinu HRea State, County: MA- Middlerex Federal Agency:. United States Department of the interior National Park Service DOE/OWNER OBJECTION WorkingNo. 11-14-80-2862 Fed. Reg.
Date:- Date Due: Action: resubmission pomination by person or local government owner objection appeal 4/17/82 ACCEPT - IRETURN 6/10/8 - REJECT_ photos_L maps _ Substantive Review: - sample -request - appeal NR decision This building is nominated inder criteron C, yet there has been no local auchitectinal context proveded fram which to evaluate the segnificance e this property, nor is there jan explanation of what features this building possesses to make it distinctive enough, in compacison to Recom. /Crieria Keturn Reviewer latuck Anduus Discipline- Historian Date_ 6/10/80 - see, continuation sheet -Nomination returned for: _technical corrections cited below -substantive reasons discussed below 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification ppory Dwnership Pubiic Acquisition 4. Owner of Property Btatus Accosalble Prozem Use 5. Location of Legal Description 6.
Representation in Existing Surveys he this property been determined eligibte? 7. Description nditien excellent good teir .deteriorated ruins .unexposed Check eme unattered altered Check one _ original site moved date. seribe tim at and eriginal (il knewn) physical apposrance summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates boundary selection 8. Significance Parted Aroas ef SignificanceCheck and justity bole spocific datee Statement of Significance (in ene peraproph) Sulider Architeet 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 Acreege of nomineted property - Quecrengie neme UMT Reterances Verbal boundary doscription and justification 11.
Form Prepared By 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evsiuated significence of this property within the state is: nationa! -State .local Ptate Hietoric Prepervation Officer signature dete 13. Other Maps Photographs Other Patuich Andus Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to Signed Braukawy Date 6 ,10.82 8fz. Phone: 202 272-3504 Comments forany item may be continued on an attached sheet NPS Form 10-900-a (7-81) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form Continuation sheet Item number For NPS use only received date entered Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group Page /0 1/7 Name State Cambridge Multiple Resource Area MA Nomination/Type of Review -91. 1cummings, e. e., House Substaniive Mevler/ Keeper. Date/Signature Pomuc/ie=Dog,l 6-304, 2uN ative Keviow 92.
Divinity HallDOE/OWNER OBJECTION-Keeper munahjeten Sebst» Attest Attest 93. North Avenue Congregational Church Keeper Patiidk Andems 9/12/84 Barhf. Sauose 41nl Bar. phabog l6305. Attest "94. Prospect Congregational Church Keeper Substantiva Heview Leecan A Bracniam 413-82 Museum ,95. UniversitDOE/OWNER OBJECTION aune aajeten. 96. Old Cambridge Baptist Church Attest fal Keeper Patuick Audurs 9/12/86 BerrotSoogge 19/5 2/86 Keeper Willam /t.Bravko 413-87 Attest XWare Hal1 83.n3 Keeper papapradose Attest '98. Cambridge Public Library Keeper Wieliam H. Brachan 413.82 Attest 199.) Church of the New Jerusalem Substantive RevtoyKeeper Famca h2sArgl630 8 Auostantive Nevier n100.
Busch-Reischinger House DOE/OWNER OBJECTION Attest Keeper Attest Ret 6/10/82 Haward 86002071 WASO Form - 177 ("R" June 1984) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET Divinity Hall (Cambridge MRA) Middlesex County MASSACHUSETTS Substentive Hevlew JUL 3 0 1986 Working No._ Fed. Reg. Date: 2 2/88 Date Due: _4 2/18/86 Action: LACCEPT- 9-/2-86 resubmission ma, laune dby. nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal _REJECT _ Federal Agency: - Substantive Review: sample request Jappeal NR decision , inportant brulding mu the divelopment Carard Unwversity s Deiriiitey Schuol Rovamcarg.
Accept C, A transitional Dederal Discipline Archu Keek Revwal sustituitional gorm" etgle, a rar see continuation sheet sunerore ofthes Nomination returned for: - - technical corrections cited below type in the megion _substantive reasons discussed below Rexenn commenta have been adeguately adaressed. 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification Category Ownership Public Acquisition Status Accessible Present Use 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 J unaltered altered Check one J original site moved date Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates boundary selection 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 I 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 Divinity Hall 12 Divinity Ave. Canhridge MNA 78-15 Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000275