Nomination for US Post Office--Winchester Main

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Form No. 10-306 (Rev 10-74) UNITEDSTATES DEPARTMENT OFTHE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE FOR NPS USE ONLY SEP 4 1987 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM RECEIVED DATE ENTEREBCT | 9 1987 FOR FEDERAL PROPERTIES SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES -- COMPLETE APPLICABLE SECTIONS 2 3 5 NAME HISTORIC UNITED STATES POST OFFICE AND/OR COMMON WINCHESTER MAIN POST OFFICE LOCATION STREET & NUMBER 48 WATERFIELD ROAD CITY.

TOWN WINCHESTER STATE - VICINITY OF CODE 1503 -NOT FOR PUBLICATION CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 7TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT COUNTY MIDDLESEX CODE 017 MASSACHUSETTS CLASSIFICATION CATEGORY DISTRICT XBUILDING(S) STRUCTURE SITE _OBJECT OWNERSHIP XPUBLIC _PRIVATE _BOTH PUBLIC ACQUISITION _IN PROCESS N/ABEING CONSIDERED STATUS XOCCUPIED _UNOCCUPIED _WORK IN PROGRESS ACCESSIBLE XYES: RESTRICTED _YES: UNRESTRICTED _NO PRESENT USE AGRICULTURE -MUSEUM _COMMERCIAL -PARK -EDUCATIONAL _PRIVATE RESIDENCE -ENTERTAINMENT _RELIGIOUS XGOVERNMENT _SCIENTIFIC _INDUSTRIAL -TRANSPORTATION _MILITARY _OTHER: AGENCY REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS: (lf applicable) NEW ENGLAND FIELD REAL ESTATE AND BUILDINGS OFFICE STREET & NUMBER 1050 WALTHAM STREET CITY. TOWN STATE MASSACHUSETTS LEXINGTON - VICINITY OF LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION 02173 COURTHOUSE.

REGISTRY OF DEEDS,ETC MIDDLESEX COUNTY REGISTRY OF DEEDS STREET & NUMBER 210 CAMBRIDGE STREET CITY. TOWN STATE MASSACHUSETTS 02141 CAMBRIDGE REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS TITLE NONE DATE -FEDERAL _STATE _COUNTY _LOCAL DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS CITY. TOWN STATE 7 DESCRIPTION CONDITION XEXCELLENT _GOOD _FAIR _DETERIORATED _RUINS _UNEXPOSED CHECK ONE XUNALTERED _ALTERED CHECK ONE XORIGINAL SITE -MOVED DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (IF KNOWN) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Description of the property

DATE_ Sited on the west bank of the Aberjona River, the Winchester Post Office is located on the corner of Waterfield Road, a perimeter street to downtown Winchester, and Thompson Street. The front facade overlooks Ginn Field, a town park enhanced by the planted and well landscaped roadway, and the right side is directly adjacent to a meandering footpath that follows the river. The far bank of the river abuts Manchester Park, the large, well-treed Commons area of the town. The expanding growth of the commercial area has extended from the original downtown commercial district to the rear lot line of the Post Office, with quaint shops and semi-covered walkways that maintain the aesthetic appeal of the locale. Almost square in plan, some 70 feet wide by 65 feet deep, the building consists of two stories on a full basement and contains 11,500 square feet of floor space.

The second floor is set back from the side facades of the building and, constructed with a two-way gable roof, reduces the visual height of the building while enhancing the classical theme expressed in the basic design. The building's solid brick foundations, sitting on spread footings, support the reinforced concrete first floor slab. Brick masonry walls, with steel columns and beams, carry the second floor and the wood roof framing members. The full range red brick exterior walls are laid in Flemish bond and are complimented by beige limestone panels, columns and trim. The bold limestone watertable caps the brick foundation and functions as a continuous stone lintel over the basement windows, a feature expressed, rather than concealed, in the design treatment.

The main facade, on Waterfield Street, reflects the classical portico enframement, with the simply denticulated limestone entablature and pediment carried by four freestanding Roman Doric columns that correspond to the limestone wall pilasters. The arched fan window, over the doors of the main entry bay, is flanked by small double- hung windows recessed in limestone surrounds, with architraves and blind panels over each window, reflecting a Palladian influence evident in this Neo-Classic design. The main entrance, with its classic, projecting portico mirroring the classical enframement of the entrance facade, is reflected on each side facade with a limestone central pavilion of similar proportion and pilasters creating the symbolic entrance motif.

The remaining multi-paned windows in the brick wall panels are symmetrically placed, discretely adorned with a plain,limestone key- stone centered in the flat brick arch. There is no exterior corner NPS Form 10-900-a (3-82) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form Continuation sheet Item number 7 OMB No. 1024-0018 Exp. 10-31-84 For NPS use only recelved date entered Page 1 -.. ornamentation on this building, perhaps reflecting the influence of the Classification System adhered to in this era of architectural design of governmental buildings. A simple limestone architrave band separates the brick entablature from the remaining facade, acting as a belt course, and a narrow limestone cornice surrounds the entire, primary roof line.

When constructed in 1927, the cornice carried a brick parapet, limestone capped, with stone ballusters corresponding to the locations of the pavilions and windows. The parapet was removed at an early, unknown date to combat leakage, and the remaining limestone parapet base is totally covered with metal flashing. The secondary, double gable roof is edged and articulated with crisp limestone detailing that surrounds the recessed pediments, reflecting the frieze of the main facade and unifying the structure as a single unit. The unaltered lobby was beautifully designed and detailed. The high arched transom of the front entrance is carried through the formal vestibule and, repeating itself in the arched openings of the formal interior that correspond to the exterior pavilions.

The forward section of the second level creates a dynamic clerestory element for the lobby, providing a steady flow of natural illumination that dramatically emphasizes the detail during daylight hours. A detailed plaster cornice, carried above the fanlight openings, gives particular identy and purpose to the clerestory.

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

SIGNIFICANCE PERIOD _PREHISTORIC - 1400-1499 - 1500-1599 -1600-1699 -1700-1799 _ 1800-1899 X1900- AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE -. CHECK AND JUSTIFY BELOW ARCHEOLOGY PREHISTORIC _ COMMUNITY PLANNING -LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC _CONSERVATION -LAW - AGRICULTURE -_.ECONOMICS -LITERATURE XARCHITECTURE -EDUCATION _MILITARY _ART _ENGINEERING -MUSIC _COMMERCE _EXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT _.PHILOSOPHY _ COMMUNICATIONS -INDUSTRY -POLITICS/GOVERNMENT -INVENTION -RELIGION -SCIENCE _SCULPTURE _SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN _THEATER _TRANSPORTATION -OTHER (SPECIEVI SPECIFIC DATES Constructed 1927 STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

Statement of significance

BUILDER/ARCHITECTJames A. Wetmore, Act. Sup. Arch't. John P. Curley, Contractor Edmund J. Rapoli, Contr. for Bonding Company The Winchester Post Office, constructed in 1927, possesses integrity of location, design, setting, materials and workmanship, as well with significant association with the commercial development of the Thompson Street and Waterfield Road area of the community. In addition, this building exemplifies the high standard of design set by the Treasury Architects in placing the monumentality of the Federal Presence in a smal1 community, without overwhelming the existing townscape. It thus meets the National Register criteria A and C. Originally a section of the Township of Charlestown, the Village of Waterfield separated from that community at the direction of the Puritan Church. The Church played an important role in politics at this time.

Subsequently, the village became South Woburn, growing from the tiny farming community, typical in its geographical proximity to Boston, to a suburb with Woburn's industry to the north and the metropolitan area of Boston to the south. The village, with the introduction of the Lowell Branch of the Boston and Maine Railroad, incorporated as the Town of Winchester in 1850. The first Post Office in town, then South Woburn, was established in 1841 with Dr. Moses C. Green appointed as Postmaster. Typical of the smal1 but growing communities at the end of the nineteenth century, the post office moved from one small storefront to another, at the pleasure, or need for additional space, of the Postmaster appointed by the Administration in power at that time.

With the advent of the automobile, and with substantial rail service from Boston, Winchester matured into an affluent "Boston Bedroom" and, at the beginning of the twentieth century, the need for a permanent post office to identify the town as a substantial, established community was recognized by the citizenry. In 1914, Congressman Samuel W. McCall, a resident of the town and representing this district in Washington, sponsored the ominbus housing bill that included monies for the new, permanent Winchester Post Office.

The rest of the file

Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.

MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES The Federal Presence - Craig, Lois A. MIT Press 1980 Field Guide to American Architecture, Rifkind, Carole Bonanza 1980 History of Post Office Construction, 1900-1940 July 1982 History of Winchester, Chapman, Robert G. Iwo Volumes- 1936, 1975 GEOGRAPHICAL DATA ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY UTM REFERENCES 0.228 A A[19| |3|2,4|22,0 ZONE EASTING cLL L4,710,118,9,0J NORTHING -elheLdbilu VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION Beginning at a point on Waterfield Road, thence running: northwesterly 88'$ along Waterfield Road northeasterly 115' southeasterly 115' along Thompson Street southwesterly 115' to the point of origin LIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNTY BOUNDARIES STATE CODE COUNTY CODE N/A STATE CODE COUNTY CODE 11 FORM PREPARED BY NAME / TITLE E.

Brett Heenan, Preservation Coordinator ORGANIZATION THE BOSTON PARTNERSHIP, INC. STREET & NUMBER March 25, 1986 DATE (617) 492-8866 TELEPHONE 48 INMAN STREET CITY OR TOWN STATE MASSACHUSETTS CAMBRIDGE, 02139 CERTIFICATION OF NOMINATION STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER RECOMMENDATION YES X NO_ NONE Valeue A aemace 5|1186 STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER SIGNATURE In compliance with Executive Order 11593. I hereby nominate this property to the National Register, certifying that the State Historic Preservation Officer has been allowed 90 days in which to present the nomination to the State Review Board and to evaluate its significance. The evaluated level of significance is - _National/- _Local.

FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE AusN TITLE Realty Acquisition Specialist, Principal FOR NPS USE ONLY I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS PROPERTY IS INCLUDED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER ratuck Anduus DIRECTOR. OFFICE OF ARCHEOLOGY AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION DATE 1-14.87 DATE 10/19/82 DATE KEEPER OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER GPO 899-214 NPS Form10-200-a (3-82) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form Continuation sheet - Item number 8 OMB No. 1024-0018 Exp. 10-31-84 For NPS use only received date entered Page 1 The onset of World War I however, and subsequent Federal Administrations hostile to the voters of the town, due to their party preference, delayed the action of the consideration of the new post office until 1926 when the Congressional Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, of which Mr.

McCall was now a member, appropriated sufficient funds for this project. Because of the continued pressure of a unified community, the Post Office became an important accomplishment for the citizens of Winchester. Following Federal prerequisites, the selected site of the new second- class post office must have less value than the prime real eatate of the commercial area. The new Post Offcie in Winchester was to be located on the site of an old plumbing shop, adjacent to the railroad depot but fronting on a newly established park. It was the desire of the town fathers that their "new, handsome government model" would stabilize and rejuvenate the Waterfield Road area, just one block from the central shopping district. Designed during the tenure of Acting Supervising Architect, but under the capable direçtion of Louis A.

Simon, and utilizing a variation of a standard plan, the Winchester Post Office represented the firm, solid Neo-Classic form of Federal stability that the town considered essential for its substantial identity, future growth and unification of the neighborhood. With its inherent warm brick tones, set off and articulated by the classical limestone detailing on the three facades viewed by the casual public, the Post Office is distinctive in its setting, contrasting the "kelly" brick, high metal corniced neighbors just to the north, and the romanesque and gothic civic buildings and churches dotting the community landscape.

To the satisfaction of the local government, later business and commercial development of the central shopping district expanded to the site of the Post Office, and this area became an intregal part of the shopping district, bounded by parks and the river, symbolizing the important and successful role of the Post Office in the development of the community. The building, as a separate entity, contributes to the local historic and architectural heritage of Winchester. Wrnnmere Winn- Hill UNTAN - Cummingsville Joger Mem.

- Jr High Sch 0 Shakerhill Radio : Zion HilL LOWELL BEDF0 Furla 50-3 WTe Rag BL Golr: Course Fire Sta Library ChoateMem.e Hospi Hor" Ponl Winter Jr High Sch Woodbrook Cem White B.U-R.N sndrrice Blueberry Mt Pisgah WT- 0 HIGH Noonan Jidhen Winchest E R ,Ga Wedgemere Sta- AbE UNITED STATES POST OFFICE 48 WATERFIELD ROAD WINCHESTER, MA 01890 LEXINGTON QUADRANGLE UTM: 19-3/24/220-47/01/890 Walnut Hill Müraco Lincol Sc NAPPRON BDX PEILS RESGIYATINT SSRR-PEIL ERVATION. 06 4 05 04 : 03 2 02 401 OSTON NORTHI 6768 / NE WASO Form - 177 ("R" June 1984) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET 87 US Post Office-Winchester Main Middlesex County MASSACHUSETTS SEP -41987 Working No.- ntave Rovien Fed. Reg.

Date: 2/7/89 Date Due: - 10/1/87- 18/19/82 Action: _LACCEPT -- 1017-82 resubmission -RETURN nomination by person or local government REJECT owner objection Federal Agency: - USPs appeal Substantive Review: Asample LJrequest Lappeal decision Reviewer's comments: Locally significant neo-Classicad Recom/Criteria Acaot ARC design assoriated co/earltphe Votk-contny grootle f westegglHtistany tocon . see continuatión sheet Nomination returned for: technical corrections cited below _substantive reasons discussed below 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? 7.

Description yes no Condition -excellent -good J fair deteriorated ruins unexposed Check one J unaltered altered Check one -original site moved date Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance J 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 J applicable criteria J justification of areas checked J 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 State Historic Preservation Officer signature -local date title ^3. Other [X Maps Heae mluete frapetyon full usas mayo 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 U. S. POST OFFICE 48 WATERFIELD ROAD WINCHESTER, MA 01890 PHOTO DATE-JUNE 1985 VIEW FROM SOUTHWEST FRONT ELEVATION NEGATIVES @ USPS-FREBO LEXINGTON, MA 02173 U. S. POST OFFICE 48 WATERFIELD ROAD WINCHESTER, MA 01890 PHOTO DATE-JUNE 1985 VIEW FROM SOUTHWEST FRONT ELEVATION NEGATIVES @ USPS-FREBO. LEXINGTON, MA 02173 U. S. POST OFFICE 48 WATERFIELD ROAD WINCHESTER, MA 01890 PHOTO DATE-JUNE 1985 VIEW FROM RIVER RIGHT SIDE ELEV. NEGATIVES @ USPS-FREBO LEXINGTON, MA 02173 U.

S. POST OFFICE 48 WATERFIELD ROAD WINCHESTER, MA 01890 PHOTO DATE-JUNE 1985 LEFT SIDE ELEV. VIEW FROM WEST NEGATIVES @ USPS-FREBO LEXINGTON, MA 02173 U. S. POST OFFICE 48 WATERFIELD ROAD WINCHESTER, MA 01890 PHOTO DATE-JUNE 1985 LOBBY CLERESTORY NEGATIVES @ USPS-FREBO LEXINGTON, MA 02173 July 29,1985 The Ronorable w. Chadwick Maurer Town Manager, Town of Winchester Town Hall 71 Mount Vernon Street Winchester, MA 01890 Dear Town Manager Maurer: The U.S. Postal Service in conjunction with the Massachusetts State Historic Preservation Officer in Boston has evaluater the Main Post Office in Winchester and has determined ft is significant from an historical viewpoint. In view of the above evaluation, the U.S. Postal Service intends to nominate this building to the National Register of Historic Places. We would, prior to our taking formal action, appreciate cecelving your concurrence.

If you concur with our proposed actfon, kindly return a gigned copy of this letter in the enclosed envelope. sincerely, Gregory Gilleland General Manager Concur: Enclosure CC: File 0018E Reading FATES POSTA U.S.MAIL SEKVICE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE FACILITIES SERVICE CENTER REAL ESTATE DIVISION WINDSOR, CONNECTICUT 06006-0330 September 1, 1987 Ms. Carol D. Shull Chief of Registration National Register of Historic Places National Park Service Department of Interior Washington, DC 20240-1002 Dear Ms. Shull: The Postal Service is pleased to submit nominations for the following Post Office facilities: 1. 2. 119 Elm St., Worcester County, Millbury, MA 217 Commerical St., Branstable County, Provincetown, MA 3. 37 Taunton Green, Bristol County, Taunton, MA 4. 5. 2 Abbott St., Middlesex County, Woburn, MA 6.

58 Church St., Worcester County, Whitinsville, MA 321 Main St., Middlesex County, Wakefield, MA 7. 48 Waterford Rd., Middlesex County, Winchester, MA 8. 75 Park St., Bristol County, Attleboro, MA 9. 90 Center St., Plymouth County, Middleborough, MA Some of these nominations were submitted previously and returned in order that full quadrangle maps could be included. This has been done in all cases. Should there be any questions concerning these nominations, please do not hesitate to call me on :203-285-7181. Sincerely, WhiamMannel William S. Moncrief Real Estate Specialist, Principal Enclosures CC: John Sorenson Realty Acquisition Specialist, Principal Washington, DC SEP 4 1987