Nomination for Congress Street Fire Station

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 JUL 2 | 1987 date enteredEP -3 1987 historic Congress Street Fire Station (preferred) and or common Boston Fire Museum 2. Location street & number 344 Congress Street N/A not for publication city, town Boston N/Avicinity of Massachusetts state code 025 county Suffolk code 025 3.

Classification Category xdistrict - building(s) - structure site object Ownership xpublic private both Public Acquisition N/Ain process - being considered Status occupied unoccupied work in progress Accessible X yes: restricted -yes: unrestricted Present Use _ agriculture commercial educational entertainment - government . industrial - military museum park private residence religious scientific transportation other: 4. Owner of Property name Boston Fire Museum, Inc. street & number 344 Congress Street Boston city, town N/Avicinity of 5. Location of Legal Description state Massachusetts 02210 courthouse, registry of deeds, etc. Suffolk County Courthouse Pemberton Square street & number Boston Massachusetts state city, town 6. Representation in Existing Surveys Inventory of Historic Assets of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts title BLC Survey has this property been determined eligible?

- yes _ no date June 1987 - federal state - county local depository for survey records Massachusetts Historical Commission city, town 80 Boylston Street, Boston #310 state Massacusetts 7. Description Congress Street Fire Station, Boston, Massachusetts Condition _ excellent x good] S fair Check one deteriorated _ ruins - unexposed -_ unaltered x altered Check one X original site -moved dateNA (see text) Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance

Description of the property

The Congress Street Firestation is located in the midst of a district of 19th and early 20th century wharf buildings, all owned at one time by the Boston Wharf Company. This large collection of low scale warehouses and industrial buildings is directly across the Fort Point Channel from Boston's Central Business District. The fire station is located on the corner of Farnsworth Street, ashort dead-end street, and Congress Street, a major roadway which begins at Government Center, transverses the Central Business District, goes over Fort Point Channeland ends in South Boston. The main facade of the buildingstands directly on the line of Congress Street; the western facade stands on the line of Farnsworth Street. The development of the Boston Wharf Company area occurred throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Originally, the area was dominated by mud flats; filling began in the 1830s and was completed after the Great Fire of 1872, when much of the fire's debris was dumped in this area. Approximately 90% of the buildings still standing were constructed before Today, many of these buildings which stood vacant for many years are used as artists lofts and are being converted to offices and condomin iums. One block west on Congress Street, at the edge of Fort Point Channel is a large renovated warehouse which houses the Boston Children's Museum and the Computer Museum. The fire house is trapezoidal in plan, thirty feet long in front and 47 feet long in the rear. It is approximately 86' deep. 1/2 stories high with a simple flat roof. A copper The building is 2 shed on the roof is visible from the street.

An indistinguishable structure, perhaps_pipes for a canopy, is visible in an 19th century photograph of the building; they are no longer extant. The walls are constructed mainly of brick, and feature granite details and trim. The structure is erected on piles and the foundation is stone. The main, or south elevation is divided into three parts. The first story is composed of two engine bays, separated by one heavy granite pier and flanked by two pilasters. The garage-type doors are not original, and were most likely installed accomodate new fire fighting equipment. The pier and pilasters are each constructed of five massive rusticated granite blocks and topped by carved composite capitals. A simple stone cornice separates the first from the second floors.

continued NPS Form10-900-a (3-82) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form Congress Street Fire Station, Boston, Massachusetts Continuation sheet Item number OMB No. 1024-0018 Expires 10-31-87 FOP NPG USB Oniy racaived date entered Page 1 The second floor has four window bays set in pairs on either side of the center. The window bays are divided into three parts: on the bottom are inset brick panels; in the center are rectangular two over two sash windows; and at the top are inset, multi-paned windows. The sections are divided by plain stone lintels, and a stone stringcourse serves as the window sills. The corners on the second floor are articulated with rusticated quoins. The third floor is separated from the second by a cornice with bracket-like modillions.

An unusual pediment and chimey combination is the focal point of the third story. The triangular composition projects slightly from the wall surface, which is covered with red tile shingles made to look like a mansard roof. The pediment is distinguished from the wall bybrick pilasters. Within the pediment there are three bays: the outer two house eight over eight double hung windows, while the central bay is filled in with brick. An ornate chimey stack rises from a foliated base at-the center of the pediment and projects several feet above the roof. chimey is constructed of brick and is composed of five small cylinders on each side which allude to chimney pots. The corners of the third floor are articulated by projecting piers which have foliated bases and decorative brickwork. The side elevations are much less ornate than the front.

The first story of the north elevation is composed of eight rectangular, two over two doub le hung windows, which are spaced asymetrically, and two plain doors on either end. Six of the windows are single bay, while the third and fourth windows form the northeast corner are double bays. Below the double bay windows is infill brick, which suggests that there may once have been a side door or loading bay. Each window has a granite sill, and a granite stringcourse serves as the window lintels. The windows on the second floor are also spaced asymetrically. They are similar to those on the first floor except for a small, multi-paned window over each double hung window. A corbelled brick cornice which supports a copper cornice creates a false roofline. The plane of the brick wall continues above the corbelled cornice and is divided into 3 sections vertically, by small brick pilasters.

The south elevation contains no windows. The original elevation, which was probably without windows, appears to be covered by a brick wall of a building which is no longer standing. The ghosts of the structural elements of this building are evident on the brick wall. There is a small parking lot directly to the south of the building. 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 Congress Street Fire Station, Boston, Massachusetts Continuation sheet Item number7 OMB NO. 1024-0018 Expires 10-31-87 For NPS use only received date antered Page The rear elevation contains an as ymetrical grouping of windows and doors. There are only four glazed windows, the other window open ings have been covered with wood.

Although the windows have various sizes and shapes, they are all defined by heavy granite sills and lintels. The rear elevation faces a wide paved driveway The plan of the interior is relatively well intact. The garage bays on the first floor have not been changed, and house several fire engines and other fire fighting equipment. The upper floors are suspended from the roof by an elaborate wooden truss system, allowing for an open space on the first floor with no colum supports. There appears to be exhibit and meeting space on the second floor, and storage space on the third. The exterior of the structure has sustained very few alterations during its conversion from a working fire station to a museum. The unusual fenestration of the main facade has not been changed, although the fenestration of the north and rear facades seem to have undergone some chan ges.

Alterations to these facades appear to have occurred earlier than the change of ownership. The building appears to be in very good condition, but could use cleaning. The Congress Street Fire Station covers the entire lot, therefore the archaeological potential for the site is greatly diminished.

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Significance conaress Street Fire Station, Boston, Massachusetts Period prehistoric 1400-1499 1500-1599 1600-1699 1700-1799 X 1800-1899 -- 1900- Areas of SignificanceCheck and justify below -_. archeology-prehistoric community planning landscape architecture archeology-historic conservation law agriculture economics literature -x architecture education military art engineering - music commerce ..exploration/settlement - philosophy communications industry X politics/government invention religion science sculpture social/ humanitarian theater transportation other (specify) Specific dates 1891 Statement of Significance

Statement of significance

(in one paragraph) Builder/Architect Harrison H. Atwood, Architecture The Congress Street Fire Station possesses integrity of location, design, materials and workmanship. It has local significance as an excellent example of civic architecture, designed using a creative combination of styles including Romanesque and Panel Brick, and is the best preserved 19th century fire station in South Boston. It is an unaltered example of the work of an important City Architect, Harrison H. Atwood, and is significant for its role in community development. meets criteria A and C of the National Register of Historic Places on the local level. The Boston Fire Department was founded in 1678, making it one of the oldest fire departments in the nation. The Boston Fire Department can claim the first fire alarm box system in the United States, designed in 1851 by a doctor and fire buff, William F. Channing.

Hand drawn pumps were used for almost two centuries until 1859, when a horse-drawn steam fire engine was first acquired for Engine Company No. 8. In 1910, fire engines became motorized, and in 1921, a high pressure hydrant system was completed. This building at 344 Congress Street was the 75th structure built or acquired by the Boston Fire Department for use as a fire station. It was the first and only fire station built in the Fort Point Channel section of South Boston,and its construction coincides with the rapid development of this area as a major warehouse location during the last few decades of the 19th century. Completed in early 1891, the building was occupied by the newly organized Engine 38-39 on May 31, 1891. An 1897 photograph from the Bostonian Society Collection shows Engine 38, an Amoskeag self-propelled steam fire engine with wharf buildings and a dock in the background.

Engine 38 was disbanded on February 4, 1947. Ladder 8moved here temporar ily from September, 1952 to September, 1953. Then, in 1953, Ladder 18 moved here from Pittsburgh Street. The station was deactivated on November 11, 1977. Since that time it has been under development as a Fire Museum, first by the Museum of Transportation with the assistance of the Boston Sparks Association Inc., and then exclusively by the Boston Sparks since transfer of the deed in May, 1983. The Boston Sparks Association was founded in 1938, in order to organize the many local "fire buffs" into a formal association. In 1955, the Boston Sparks Association formally received its charter from the International Fire Buffs Association. In19, the Sparks Association formally became associated with the Massachusetts Division of the Salvation Army, manning their Disaster Service Mobile Canteen Truck. 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 . Boston South UT M References ^L12 Zone 3/3,1/2,4,0 Easting 4/6 20/395 Northing E Quadrangle scale 1:25,000 Zone DLI F LLLLILILL Easting Northing LLLLL LILLL LuLu LiLJ Verbal boundary description and justification see assessor's map List all states and counties for properties overlapping state or county boundaries state N/A code county N/A code state code county code 11. Form Prepared By name/title organization Massachusetts Historical Commission Carol Huggins, Boston Landmarks Commission, with Betsy Friedberg, Director National Register date March 1987 street & number 80 Boylston Street telephone (617) 727-8470 Boston city or town 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 OMticer signature Vaurie A Talmage Executive Director, Massachusetts Historical Commission title State Historic Preservation Officer dato july 15,1987 For NPS use only Ihereby certify that this property is included in the National Register atich Andus date 9/3/87 Keeper of the National Register Attest: Bethi Chief ol Surge date 9/3/87 Registration GPO 911-399 NPS Form 10-900-a (3-82) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form Congress Street Fire Station, Boston, Massachüsetts Continuation sheet Item number 8 OMB No. 1024-0018 Expires 10-31-87 For APS use ant received date entered Page Prior to moving into the former headquarters of Engine 39 and Ladder 18, the Sparks Association operated out of 112 Dartmouth Street from 1943 to 1968, and 99 West 4th Street from 1969 to 1983.

Early in 1983, a fire destroyed the building on West 4th Street and the Sparks Association's collections. Since May 1983, the Sparks Association has made efforts to restore the firehouse and rebuild their collections. Their exhibits include a hand-drawn and hand-operated pump "Columbia" from 1863, two self-propelled "Christie" steam pumpers from 1889 and 1892, a hand drawn Amer ican LaFrance laddertruck from the turn of the century, a spring-raised water tower from 1902 with a 1924 American LaFrance tractor, and a 1945 Ward LaFrance pumper (former Engine 54). Many small artifacts, pictures and memorabilia are also on display. City Architect Harrison Henry Atwood (1863-1954) went to school in Charlestown, studied law, and practiced architecture at the office of S.J.F. Thayer and George A. Clough, Boston's First City Architect.

Atwood was also a member of the lower house of the Legislature, 8th Suffolk District between 1887-1889. During his term as City Architect, Atwood designed the fire stations at 16 Harvard Avenue in Allston, 60 Paris Street in East Boston, 157 Harrison Avenue in downtown Boston, 3089 two houses served by three entrance arches whose style evolves from Romanesque to Flemish Baroque. Also attributed to Atwood are: the Bowditch School in Jamaica Plain, Prince Primary School in the St. Botolph area, Adams Primary School in East Boston, the Horace Mann Schoo for Deat Mutes, the Municipal Building in Roslindale, the East Boston District Court and numerous houses in Dorchester, including his own at 61 Alban Street.

1 NPS Form 10-900-a (3-82) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form Congress Street Fire Station, Boston, Massaghusetts Continuation sheet Item number OMB NO. 1024-0018 Expires 10-31-87 For NPS uee unily receivec date entered Page 9. MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES Bunting, Bainbridge, Houses of the Back Bay, (Cambridge, 1967 ) Boston Directories 1893-1900. Boston Public Library, Architects File. Boston Sparks Association Pamphlet, (Boston, 1983). Bostonian Society "Fire Collection," two historic photographs. Building Permits, City of Boston, 344 Congress Street. "Fire Houses of the Boston Fire Department, " From booklet distributed at - Boston Fire Department's 106th Annual Ball, (Boston, 1985). Herndon, Richard, Boston of Today, (Boston, 1892).

Lyndon, Donald, The City Observed, A Guide to Architecture in the Hub, (NY, 1982). Southworth, Susan and Michael, A.I.A. Guide to Boston, (Conneticut, 1984). Werner, Will iam "Location of Boston Fire Stations Past and Present", (Boston, 1970).

Werner, William,History of the Boston Fire Department and Boston Fire N Congress Street Fire Station 344 Congress Street Boston, MA BRA Map 13E-24N Scale 1"= 100' AND POINT PIERHEAD 8125 8068 10,000 10,000 65,509 9000 SLEEP 8000 6500 320 322 324 326 CONGRESS 19,960 STREET 16,324 12,705 SLEEPER 6683 6199 6128 8742 8705 1250 293 254 256 260 262 266 Fo 272 274 SUMMER 283 263 269 8944 12,108 MELCHER 8800 2.823 8800 8800 NECCÓ COURT 8800 8800 5C 14,000 12,019 6035 4939 FARNSWORTH 28,281 RAILWAY AGENCY EXPRESS GARAGE 8753 5100 280 266 290 292 273 30, 30s 8459 STREET, 8300 8804 4000 AREA 1500 STREET 387 348 15,823 12,000 295 297 10,688 14,689 J02 BSC STREET STREET 5741 9061 10,301 320 87001396 WASO Form - 177 ("R" June 1984) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET Congress Street Fire Station Suffolk County MASSACHUSETTS resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Working No.

JUL 211987 Fed. Reg. Date: 288 Date Due: _ 8/20/83- 9/4/87 Action: _ACCEPT _ 9-3-8 -RETURN _ REJECT - Federal Agency: Substantive Review: L sample L request Jappeal A NR decision Reviewer's comments: Stuerer 19th-centuny fire staliem Accept sayeetual sistory - see continuation sheet _ technical corrections cited below (epresente ingoortant - substantive reasons discussed belon onidipal construckion effoit. Nomination returned for: 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? 7.

Description Condition J excellent good fair deteriorated ruins unexposed yes Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates boundary selection Status Accessible Present Use no Check one - unaltered altered Check one _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 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 CONGRESS STREET FIRE STATION 344 CONGRESS STREET BOSTON, MA CAROL HUGGINS FEBRUARY, 1987 DELIQUE VIEW, MAIN FACALE (SW) #1of3 CONGRESS STREET ELEVATION 344 LONGRESS STREET BOSTON, MA CAROL HUGGINS FEBRUARY, 1987 MAIN (SOUTHWEST) ELEVATION #2 of3 CONGRESS STREET FIRE STATION 344 CONGRESS STREET BOSTON, MA CAROL HUGGINS FEBRUARY, 1987 NORTH WEST ELEVATION #3of 3 P685548131 The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Office of the Secretary of State Michael Joseph Connolly, Secretary ECEIVE JUL 2 | 1987 Massachusetts Historical Commission Valerie A. Talmage Executive Director State Historic Preservation Officer July 12, 1987 Carol Shull National Register of Historic Places Department of the Interior National Park Service P.O. Box 37127 Wash ington, DC 20013-7127 Dear Ms.

Shull: Enclosed you will find the following nomination forms: Two Boston properties are being submitted: Congress Street Fire Station, 344 Congress Street New Riding Club, 52 Hemenway Street, HPCA #0618-84-MA- 85-0799 Concord, Mott Shaw, Thamas Estate, 317 Garfield Road, HPCA #10297MA Southbridge, Southbridge Town Hall, 41 Elm Street Wa 1 tham, Lawrence, Phineas House, 257 Trapelo Road All 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 to the nomination form. Sincerely, Betay Fridker Betsy Friedberg Na tional Register Director Massachusetts Historical Conmission BF/1s Enclosur e 80 Boylston Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116 (617) 727-8470