Nomination for US Post Office-Middleborough 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 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES FOR NPS USE ONLY SEP 4 1981 RECEIVED INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM DATE ENTERED FOR FEDERAL PROPERTIES SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES -- COMPLETE APPLICABLE SECTIONS 2 4 NAME HISTORIC UNITED STATES POST OFFICE AND/OR COMMON LOCATION MIDDLEBOROUGH MAIN POST OFFICE STREET & NUMBER 90 CENTER STREET CITY.

TOWN MIDDLEBOROUGH, STATE MASSACHUSETTS 02346 CLASSIFICATION - VICINITY OF CODE 0770 _NOT FOR PUBLICATION CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 9TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT COUNTY CODE PLYMOUTH 023 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 02173 LEXINGTON. - VICINITY OF LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION COURTHOUSE REGISTRY OF DEEDS, ETC.

PLYMOUTH COUNTY REGISTRY OF DEEDS STREET & NUMBER P. O. BOX 3535 CITY. TOWN STATE MASSACHUSETTS 02361 PLYMOUTH 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 CHECK ONE XUNALTERED -ALTERED CHECK ONE XORIGINAL SITE _MOVED _UNEXPOSED DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (IF KNOWN) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Description of the property

DATE_ The Middleborough Post Office, constructed in 1932, is located in the heart of the old commercial district on Center Street, one block from the main intersection in the town on the former site of the Pierce Academy. Center Street was, at that time, part of Route 44, the major East-West highway link in the area. The building diagonally faces a three story Victorian commercial block and is adjacent to a Victorian Gothic Episcopal Church across Union Street. The rear of the property is graced by several high-spired wooden churches and the Town Hall. Four Years after the Post Office was opened, the last major building in the neighborhood, the Art-Deco style Union School, was constructed 1937. The site is very well maintained, with large shade trees ringing the property.

The right, or West portion of the land contains substantial open green, well treed and planted with shrubs and a trimmed hedge that continues easterly to border the property line at the building's front facade. Rectangular in plan, some 96 feet long by 54 feet deep, with an attached rear mail platform, the building contains 5,540 square feet of first floor space. The full basement contains office space, carriers areas, boiler room and storage areas. The construction of this single rectangular mass consists of reinforced concrete foundations, brick faced on spread footings, reinforced concrete floor slabs, masonry bearing walls and a composite roof framing, with wood framing at the pitched hip roof surrounds.

The Middleborough Post Office is of Classical Revival design, featuring a five bay front facade, with the center entrance and single flanking fenestration ensconced in the quoined cornered central pavilion, typical of this period revival design. The foundation is clad with the same red brick, laid in Flemish Bond, as the wall mass of all four facades, but separated by a wide marble watertable and belt course that surrounds the building and accentuates the base. Iwo sets of granite steps are divided with a small mid-landing that leads up to a single entrance, centered in the three bay central pavilion. Each arched bay, trimmed with detailed marble surrounds and and marble keystones centering the outer, brick headed arches, contain fanlights surmounting the objective of the arch.

The center arch features a marble broken pediment that graces the somewhat less elegant but newer pair of aluminum entrance doors. The outer arches in the center pavilion house multi-paned, rectangular windows under the fan- lights and are seated on blind, segmented panels. The end bays of the front facade, slightly recessed from the central entrance, are centered NPS Form 10-000-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 received date entered Page 1 ... with depressed brick arches of equal size to the central fenestration, containing multi-paned windows, resting on narrow marble sills and capped with a flat brick lintel containing marble corners and keystones.

The fenestration on each side facade reflects the theme of the end bays of the front elevation with the recessed arches repeated on the odd alternate bays of the five bay side facade. A fine, marble string course, ornamented with guttae only over the fenestration in the central pavilion engirds the building at the entablature, separated from the plain, extended cornice by brick coursing. The cornice is crowned with a marble capped brick parapet that reduces the visual height of the hipped roof. The parapet is enhanced with turned marble ballusters over the entrance fenestration and blind marble panels atop the brick arched bays of the side facades and ends of the front elevation. The lobby, entered through the original wood muntined glass vestibule, is unaltered with the exception of newer fluorescent lighting.

The floor is surfaced with red and brown flashed tile, bordered with dark marble surrounds. The walls are faced with Vermont Brocaddillo marble wains- cotting , and the high plaster ceiling and walls meet at the molded plaster cornice.

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- -ARCHEOLOGY-PREHISTORIC ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC AGRICULTURE XARCHITECTURE ART COMMERCE -COMMUNICATIONS AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE -- CHECK AND JUSTIFY BELOW _COMMUNITY PLANNING _LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE -CONSERVATION -LAW -ECONOMICS _LITERATURE _EDUCATION _MILITARY -ENGINEERING _MUSIC -EXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT __PHILOSOPHY -INDUSTRY _POLITICS/GOVERNMENT _INVENTION -RELIGION _SCIENCE -SCULPTURE _SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN _THEATER -TRANSPORTATION _OTHER (SPECIEVI SPECIFIC DATES Designed Dedicated STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

Statement of significance

1931 1933 BUILDER/ARCHITECT James A. Wetmore, Sup. Arch't. R. W. Smythe & Co., Contrs. Constructed in 1932, the Middleborough Post Office possesses integrity of location, design, setting materials and workmanship, as well as association with the Public Works Act of 1926, ammended in 1931 and later placed under the New Deal's Public Works Administration, as a response to both Post Office needs of space requirements and an attempt to stimulate the local economy, producing work for the gravely affected construction trades. Additionally, this ediface is a product of the Federal Government's attempt to establish, or reestablish its strong image. It thus meets National Register criteria A and C. The economic outlook of Middleborough prior to the 1929 Depression was not strong.

Perpetual labor difficulties with the large shoe industry and the woolen mills negated the strong economic surge sweeping the country and, with the later closing of the Atwood Box Factory, the cranberry industry became the prime, although sporadic, labor base in the community. The advent of the Depression also drastically altered the implementation of the Federal Government's building program. While the calls of "Pork Barrel" still echoed in the halls of Congress, more consideration was now given to the actual Federal 'need' in local communities, and spatial requirements of agencies, ,1ogrolling'. Many communities with such as the Post Office Department took precedence over the earlier no previous federal association now received their first Federal structure, normally in the form of a post office.

Early in the Depression, the Hoover Administration attempted to present or improve the image of the Federal Government at the local level, while at the same time, open up a short-term labor market to ease unemployment. Middleborough had little commercial construction during the 1920's. With the exception of one-story commercial buildings on Center Street, the major projects consisted of St. Luke's Hospital in 1920, and McLean's Georgian High School in 1926, which replaced the romanesque building, located adjacent to Town Hall. The new Post Office was to be the only major, 'downtown' construction of this period, until the Union Street School was erected in 1937.

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 History of Post Office Construction, 1900-1940 July 1982 Bonanza 1980 10 GEOGRAPHICAL DATA ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY 0.580 A UTM REFERENCES A|1,9 ZONE CL L34,1|4,5,01 EASTING L4,6/3,914,0,01 NORTHING *ZÓNE EASTING NORTHING NORTHING Lulu VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION Beginning at a point on Union Street, thence running: Northeasterly 68' along Union Street Southeasterly 244' along Center Street Southwesterly 158' along Thatcher's Row (Ped...Way) Northwesterly 216' 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 FORM PREPARED BY NAME / TITLE E. Brett Heenan Preservation Coordinator ORGANIZATION March 21, 1986 DATE THE BOSTON PARTNERSHIP, INC.

STREET & NUMBER 48 INMAN STREET CITY OR TOWN TELEPHONE (617) 492-8866 STATE MASSACHUSETTS CAMBRIDGE, 02139 CERTIFICATION OF NOMINATION STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER RECOMMENDATION YES. X NO_ NONE. Value A aeruace 51l86 STATE HISTÓRIC PRESERVATION OFFICER 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 99 days in which to present the nomination to the State Review Board and to evaluate its significance. The evaluated level of pignificance is National -State FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE TITLE Realty Acquisiti DATE ton specialist, Principal 7/15/87 FOR NPS USE ONLY I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS PROPERTY IS INCLUDED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER #. ratrikd DIRECTOR.

GFFICE OF ARCHEOLOGY AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION ATTEST: DATE KEfPER OF THE WATIONAL REGIST DATE 10/9/5 10/19/87 GPO 899-214 NPSForm 10-200-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 OMBNo.1024-0018 Exp. 10-31-84 For NPS use only recelved date entered Page 1 The siteselected for the new Post Office, by the Treasury officials, is interesting and not in keeping with the standard policy for second class post offices. While the Treasury's normal requirements dictated that the location be ' not equal' to the prime, commercial locations in the community, the Middleborough Post Office is situated in what was the heart of the commercial area and one block from the town's main intersection.

Originally the site of the Pierce Academy, founded in 1808, the ancient building was is a state of disrepair. 5 Due va tà a Owned by the Central Baptist Society, the building had housed the Y.M.C.A., several fraternal organizations, the Temperence Union, the 4th District Court and the police station in its better days. Despite strenuous opposition by local merchants and the citizenry in general the Society, whose Church was immediately to the rear of this property, sold the site to the Federal Government. The building was designed in 1931 by the Treasury Architects, with James A. Wetmore, an attorney, as acting Supervising Architect. Louis A. Simon, later credited as the father of "Starved Classicism", was in control of this project as Office Supervisor however, and the plans were completed by Messrs. Morganstein, McDaniel and Bacon of the Treasury Staff.

Later attempts to use private architectural firms under the Roosevelt Administration, to create professional employment, would lead to enforced 'payless vacations' of one week per month for these Federal employees. The Middleborough Post Office is a splendid presentation of Late Renaissance Revival, with grand Palladian fenestration in the main facade but without however, the total, rigid formality demanded of his pure style. Impressive in its surroundings, this building contrasted its colonial, gothic and victorian neighbors and presents a bold scaled form of monumentality that compliments its surroundings while dignifying and stabilizing the locale. The building stands on its own merit. The marble ornamentation commends the familiar brick facades and presents a comfortable and reassuring symbol of stability and Federal Presence to the community.

The architects succeeded in presenting a classical ediface that expressed power and organization of the Federal Government in an eclectic, but not vernacular style. Centtai/ aatide scre ).Wéver Dan "Beaverdam Swamp STREETE U ECINCT Mëetinghouse "Swamp TRe Green MIDD CBORO WI yogkout BarderHi UNITED STATES POST OFFICE 90 CENTER STREET MIDDLEBOROUGH, MA 02346 BRIDGEWATER QUADRANGLE UTM: 19-3/41/450-46/39/400 4644 (PLYMPTON 6867/V NE Chanberry 80g 4643 55' REET 440 1039 4638 WASO Form - 177 ('R" June 1984) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET 87001774 US Post Office-Middleborough Main Plymouth County MASSACHUSETTS Setatentive Reviex resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Working No. SEP -4 1987 Fed. Reg.

Date:97 Date Due: - 10/1/23-10/19/82 Action: _ACCEPT - 10-19-87 - RETURN - REJECT Federal Agency: _ U SP_s Substantive Review: *sample request appeal - NR decision Reviewer's comments: rocally pigrificant Classical lerciral replctive of local Recom/Criteria ecegt AxC Prosans ofthe 1920p 9oriedisos. entertual /i5tery -__ see continuation 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? yes - no 7.

Description Condition - excellent good fair deteriorated ruins unexposed Check one J unaltered altered Check one -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 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 X13. Other I Maps eane inliente peaperty onfull usas map. 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 ER ency ZmUL A.R. Glidden & Son U. S. POST OFFICE 90 CENTER STREET MIDDLEBOROUGH, MA 0234 PHOTO DATE-JUNE 1985 VIEW FROM WEST RIGHT SIDE ELEV. NEGATIVES @ USPS-FREBO LEXINGTON, MA 02173 U. S. POST OFFICE 90 CENTER STREET MIDDLEBOROUGH, MA 0234 PHOTO DATE-JUNE 1985 VIEW FROM NORTHEAST FRONT ELEVATION NEGATIVES @ USPS-FREBC LEXINGTON, MA 02173 U. S. POST OFFICE 90 CENTER STREET MIDDLEBOROUGH, MA 0234 PHOTO DATE-JUNE 1985 VIEW FROM EAST LEFT SIDE ELEV.

NEGATIVES @ USPS-FREBO LEXINGTON, MA 02173 July 29, 1986 The Honorable John P. Bealey Town Manager, Town of Middleborough Town Rall Nickerson Avenue Middleborough, MA 02346 Dear Town Manager Healey: The 0.S. Postal Service in conjunction with the Massachusetts State Historic Preservation Officer in Boston has evaluated the Main Post Office in Middleborough and has determined it 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. He would, prior to our taking formal action, appreciate receiving your concurrence. If you concur with our proposed action, kindly return a signed copy of this letter in the enclosed envelope.

Sincerely, Gregory Gilleland General Manager Concur: Enclosure cc: File 0018E Reading EATES POSTA SERVICE UNITED 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. 119 Elm St., Worcester County, Millbury, MA 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

21/ Commerical St., Branstable County, Provincetown, MA 37 Taunton Green, Bristol County, Taunton, MA 2 Abbott St., Middlesex County, Woburn, MA 58 Church St., Worcester County, Whitinsville, MA 321 Main St., Middlesex County, Wakefield, MA 48 Waterford Rd., Middlesex County, Winchester, MA 15 Park St., Bristol County, Attleboro, MA 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, Nlliam Masae William S.1 voncrle Real Estate Specialist, Principal Enclosures CC: John Sorenson Realty Acquisition Specialist, Principal Washington, DC SEP 4 1981