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 Assessor's Map. WATSON BROOK WATSON RUAD UTM REFERENCE 18/554360/4590140 USGS QUADRANGLEEast Lee Quadrangle SCALE 1:25,000 AREA FORM NO. 5 Town Washington, Mass. Washinaton MRA Address Washington Mt.
Road Historic Name South Center School House Use: Present yacant Original school DESCRIPTION Date 1880 Source Washington Town Report, 1880 Style_Late Greek Revival Architect_Unknown Exterior Wall FabricClapboard Outbuildings none Major Alterations (with dates) New roof, 1970, other general repairs Condition excellent Moved no Date N/A Acreageless than one acre Setting The South Center School House sits on the west side of Washington Mt. Road, in a rural setting. Betsy Friedberg Recordedby Preservation Planner Organization Massachusetts Historical Comm. Date lune 1936 NATIONAL REGISTER CRITERIA STATEMENT (if applicable) The South Center School House, Washington's last surviving one-roomschool, retains integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association.
It is a simple structure whose design reflects a late vernacular interpretation of the Greek Revival. Sited midway between Washington's upper and lower districts, the school's location reflects the town's scattered linear development in the 19th century and lack of a fu11-fledged town center. The school served a diminishing local population over a 40-year period (1880-1922). It thus fulfils Criteria A and C of the National Register of Historic Places on the local level. ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE Describe important architectural features and evaluate in terms of other buildings within the community. The South Center School House is a simple rectangular structure with a gable roof, 1 1/2 stories in height. The wood-frame building rests on a rubblestone foundation.
The building's single entrance, located in the two-bay-wide gable end, is asymmetrically placed and surmounted by a broad lintel. A small 2/2 fixed window is located beside the entry while a round light is centered in the gable above. The building is two bays deep, with 6/6 sash. A simple narrow cornice and corner boards frame the building. The building contains a single classroom and two tiny cloak rooms. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE Explain the role owners played in local or state history and how the building relates to the development of the community. The South Center School House, the only surv iving one-room school in Wash ington, was constructed in 1880 on the site of the town's first (late 18th century) school. The construction of four small schoolhouses for each of the town's four districts was among the few building projects undertaken by the town in the mid to late 19th century.
The school cost $300, while $60 was spent on interior furnishings. In 1903, it was one of seven schools townwide, with a total of 100 pupils. As Washington's population dwindled in the early decades of the 20th century, the need for the school diminished. In 1921, it served nine students; in 1922, only one. At that time, the school was closed. It remained vacant until the 1970s, when it was refurbished by the Washington Historical Commission. BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES Elliot, History of Washington (1977) 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 Multiple Resource Area Thematie Group Name State Washington Multiple Resource Area Berkshire County, MASSACHUSETTS Nomination/Type of Review 1. Clark--Eames House 2.
Eames, Philip, House Entered in the Matione1 Iegiet4keeper Attest Entered Mationa fKeeper 3. Lower Historic District 4. Saint Andrew's Chapel 5. Sibley--Cocoran House Attest Tutozad 1e the Iattenet Rogister Fkeeper Attest v Xorten/4Keeper Attest Enterod in the Nat1oael Fegistefeeper 6.South Center School House Eutor Attest C29 Fsster fiKeeper Attest - 7. Upper Historic District Suleteattve Ierteyglk eeper Attest 8. Deming-Root-Messenger- subatattre Korier(ols eeper Schultz House DOE/OWNER OBJECTLONAttest Keeper Attest 10. Keeper Attest OMB No.
1024-0018 Expires 10-32-87 - 8/5/86 Page ( 4.1 dnr-11 9/12/8k Date/Signature AerByua 1i/n SenuBgu 112186 ddenneBzen 912/84 suept Patick Andus 4/2/84 Betto Savage 1l1z/e Semyen511416 dulneByan12186 Pateick Andens 9/2/87 R S betht.auas 92/87 Eliçible atick Andms 9/1a/86 Bethdi Surge 9/1-186 WASO Form - 177 ("R" June 1984) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE 86002144 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET South Center School House (Washington MRA) Berkshire County MASSACHUSETTS resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: Reviewer's comments: sample request Working No. AUG/ Fed. Reg. Date: 2/2/8 Date Due: - 9L4/56 - 9/22186 Action: - ACCEPT -.
9-12-86 Entered in the -RETURN_ National Begister _REJECT - Federal Agency: - Jappeal -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 excellent good fair deteriorated ruins unexposed Check one J 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 (A rtuor 2AT 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 South Center School House 1880 #5 Washington Mass Multi Resource Nomination Washington Mountain Road Washington, MA 01223 James N. Parrish 11/9/81 BCRPC Photo ll of 25 Ro1l 17 Frame 21A View N.W. of South gable and east elevation of the South Center School House. Wayhi OCT 78 17-23 Soute Cater, Shhoal Washingte. Ma. J. PARRise . Washimptm, Ma SOuTh CENTER SchaoL HoUsE - WAshiwgtow BuiLt Mid 1g" ceng. Washnla 1n 629 Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000302