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NPS Form 10-900 (Rev. 8-86) OMB No. 1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Registration Form RECEIVED AUG 3 1 1987 NATIONAL REGISTER This form is for use in nominating or requesting determinations of eligibility for individual properties or districts. See instructions in Guidelines for Completing National Register Forms (National Register Bulletin 16). Complete each item by marking "x" in the appropriate box or by entering the requested information. If an item does not apply to the property being documented, enter "N/A" for "not applicable." For functions, styles, materials, and areas of significance, enter only the categories and subcategories listed in the instructions. For additional space use continuation sheets (Form 10-900a). Type all entries. 1.
Name of Property historic name Bunker Hill School other names/site number same 2. Location street & number 65 Baldwin Street city, town Boston (Charlestown) state Massachusetts code 025 N/A not for publication N/A vicinity county Suffolk code 025 zip code 02129 3. Classification Ownership of Property X private public-local public-State public-Federal Category of Property x building(s) district site structure object Name of related multiple property listing: N/A Number of Resources within Property Contributing Noncontributing buildings sites _structures objects Total Number of contributing resources previously listed in the National Register _ 4.
State/Federal Agency Certification sthe designated authority under the NationalHistoric Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, I hereby certify that this nomination Jrequest for determination of eligibility meets the documentation standards for registering properties in the National RegisterofHistoric Places and meetsthe procedural andprofessional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60. "Vleu ng property lmeets I does not meet the National Register criteria. [] see conthualion shaot. Signature of certifying official Executive Director, Date 8/24|87 Massachusetts Historical Commission, State Historic Preservation Officer State or Federal agency and bureau In my opinion, the property meets does not meet the National Register criteria. See continuation sheet. Signature of commenting or other official Date State or Federal agency and bureau 5.
National Park Service Certification 1, hereby, certify that this property is: Ventered in the National Register. See continuation sheet. determined eligible for the National Register. See continuation sheet. determined not eligible for the National Register. fattick W. Anduus 10/15/87 removed from the National Register. other, (explain:) - fa signature of the Keeper Date of Action 6. Function or Use Bunker Hill School, Boston (Charlestown) Historic Functions (enter categories from instructions) Current Functions (enter categories from instructions) Education - school Domestic - condominiums 7. Description Architectural Classification (enter categories from instructions) Second Empire - Mansard Materials (enter categories from instructions) brick foundation brick, granite detailing roof other unknown Describe present and historic physical appearance.
The Bunker Hill School, located at 65 Baldwin Street, Char lestown, was built in 1866. It is on a corner lot which is surrounded by a black iron fence. The ma in facade abuts the sidewalk and the remainder of the lot is covered in asphalt. This placement gives the school a prominent postion in the neighborhood which is predominantly brick townhouses built in the 1850s and 1860s. The Bunker Hill School is the only public building in the neighbor hood. It is a three-and-one-half-story Second Empire style brick structure with granite detailing, a mansard roof, and a rectangular plan. The school is seven bays wide with a three bay projection in the center of the east facade containing the main entrance. The basement level is asymmetrical as a result of the sloping site and is separated from the first story by a partial granite string course.
.The first floor has two arched 6/6 double hung sash windows with an exaggerated granite keystone. There is no string course on the first floor of the central section. The main entrance is surmounted by a triple-headed light set beneath a heavy segmental arch of stone, with exaggerated keystone. A pair of segmental-arched windows, 4/4 double-hung sash, with brick lintel, flanks the entrance. The second story replicates the first with two ma jor differences: the string course runs across the entire front of the building; the central section is composed of two 4/4 double hung sash flanking a 6/6 double hung sash,abovewhich is placed a granite plaque which says "Bunker Hill School 1866. The plaque and the string course directly above it areslightly raised beyond the central section. The third story resembles the second story with the exception of the plaque.
A cornice separates the third story from the mansard roof which has on either side of the central section two 6/6 doub le hung sash dormer windows. In the center the 6/6 window is flanked by two round windows with wedge-shaped panes. Marking both edges of the front facade is a truncated pilaster ending at the third story string course, with the string course developedinto an abbreviated capital. V tam th pha len ntorea ehin r rt gat , he right is a small door. On the first floor the second bay from the left is elongated and is a recessed french door with a railed balcony surmounted by a 4/4 arched window. The three other windows are arched 6/6 double hung sash without the granite keystone.
XSee continuation sheet NPS Form10-800-a (8-88) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet 7 1 Section number Page - OMBApproval No. 1024-0018 Bunker Hill School, Boston Massachusetts On the second and third floors, both of the center bays are french doors while the two outside bays are 6/6 sash. The cornice continues uninterrupted around the whole building and the mansard roof has four 4/4 sash windows on this fa ca de. This facade is without granite detailing except where the pilasters from the east facade wrap around the corner and the window sills of the 6/6 windows. The rear, west facade is the only facade with a full basement above ground Tevel. The rear entrance is a set of double doors at the basement level. Directly above these are another pair of double doors.
Originally there was a wooden double staircase leading to the upper doors. There are no granite string courses on the rear facade but the pilaster has granite detail ing at the top and the bottom. The windows have granite sills, but not granite keystones. The mansard fenestration is the same as the front facade. The south facade is exactly the same as the north facade,except for the basement level, where the two right hand bays are doors surmounted by windows, the left hand one square, the right hand one arched. The school had a central stairway plan with the classrooms located in the corners to provide maximum window space. The basement housed the restrooms, voting rooms, and boiler room.
On the first and second floors there were three classrooms and the other area was devoted to administrative offices, nurse's office, and storeroom; on the second floor, there was a teachers' room and sewing room. The third floor had four classrooms and the fourth floor under the mansard roof was two classrooms and an assembly hall. In 1986, the Bunker Hill School was rehabilitated in accordance with the Secretar y of Inter ior's Standards for Rehabilitation of Historic Structures as condomin iums. Several ma jor alterations have occurred in the history of the school. In 1938, the mansard roof and the cornice beneath it were damaged by a hurricane and were removed. This roof was replaced in 1986. The developer used W.P.A. measured drawings which predate the 1938 removal of the roof to restore the building to its original appearance.
Al though the roof was at one point crowned by a centrally located belfry,this was not replaced. At this time,the fire escapes on the north and south facades were also removed. Most of the original plan was retained in the inter ior. The central hallway remains and the classrooms have been converted into 1iving spaces. Where possible, the developer has retained the original chalkboards as a way of preserv ing the identity of the building as a former school. continued NPS Form 10-900-e (8-86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number _ 7 Page 2 OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 Bunker Hill School, Boston Massachusetts Archaeology while no archaeological sites are currently recorded on the property, a slight poss ibility exists that sites are present.
At least two sites have been recorded in the general area (within one mile). The physical character istics of the property, high ground overlooking the Mystic River and Boston Harbor, would have made this an attractive area for native settlement and subsistence activities. Urban development and building construction may, however, have destroyedany remains that may have been present. There is also some potential for significant historical period remains on the property although like the potential prehistor ic remains, these too may have been destroyed. Background research, controlled testing, and excavation may help to determine whether or not building related features exist,as well as ev idence of 18th and 19th century occupation in the area.
Little documentary information exists regarding the area of this parcel dur ing these per iods, leav ing archaeological investigations as the primary means for our under standing of the past land-use in the area. 8. Statement of Significance