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2752 NPS Form 10-900 (Rev. 8-86) OMB No. 1024-0018 RECEIVED United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NUV 4 :1988 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 other names/site number United Building evnrnuor unitta Biretarred nae) 2. Location street & number 401-405 Bridge Street city, town Lowel1 state Massachusetts code 025 N/A not for publication N/A vicinity county Middlesex code 017 zip code 01850 3. Classification Ownership of Property X] private public-local public-State public-Federal Category of Property X building(s) district site structure object Number of Resources within Property Contributing Noncontributing 1 buildings sites structures objects Total Name of related multiple property listing: Number of contributing resources previously N/A listed in the National Register - 4.
State/Federal Agency Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, 1 hereby certify that this Inomination request for determination of eligibility meets the documentation standards for registering properties in the National Register ofHistoric Places andmeetsthe procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36CFR Part 60. In my priilleproperty X mgets LI does not meet the National Register oriteria. [ see continuation sheet. Signature of certifying official Date 24/88 Executive Director, Massachusetts Historical Commission State or Federal agency and bureau State Historic Preservation Officer Inmy opinion,the property L Lmeets 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: Tentered in the National Register. See continuation sheet. determined eligible for the National Register. See continuation sheet. determined not eligible for the National Register. BxntSarge 12-19-88 removed from the National Register. other, (explain:) Ja signature of the Keeper Date of Action 6. Function or Use Varnum Building, Lowe11, Massachusetts Historic Functions (enter categories from instructions) Current Functions (enter categories from instructions) Domestic/multiple dwelling Domestic/multiple dwelling Commerce/Trade/department store Commerce/Trade/department store Ispecialty store /professional 7.
Description Architectural Classification (enter categories from instructions) Queen Anne Materials (enter categories from instructions) foundation stone walls wood: weatherboard roof other asphalt cast-iron cresting Describe present and historic physical appearance. The Varnum Building, at the corner of Bridge and Third Streets, is an imposing four-story wood-frame commercial structure with two stores on the first floor and twelve apartments above. Although the Varnum Building, built in 1882, is one of the oldest of the commercial buildings in this section of Centralville, the surrounding residential neighborhood of Third Street and other side streets contain a variety of single- and multi-family houses built as early as the 1840s.
The Third Street blocks adjacent to the Varnum Building contain a number of modest gable-front houses from the 1840s, though several display later Queen Anne derived modifications. At least three later residential structures on Third Street, Nos. 14, 16-22, and 24-26, were also built by the Varnum brothers and, though altered, still show architectural features identical to those in the Varnum Building. The Varnum Building is prominently located on the northern approach to the Central Bridge crossing of the Merrimack River. This approach, Bridge Street, curves slightly from the bridge alignment, exposing the corner of the building to view as one travels north across the bridge. This exposure and the building'sarchitectural embellishment at the corner combine tomake it the landmark of commercial buildings in Centralville.
Approximately 36 by 93 feet in plan, the Varnum Building is basically rectangular, with the western corner of the bullding, at Bridge and Third Streets, clipped to allow a full bay to be oriented toward the street intersection and the Central Bridge. This bay, flankedby paneled pilasters which rise the full height of the building, and topped by a square tower with a steep slate pyramidal roof, dominates the streetscape and is the most readily visible feature of the building as one approaches from the river. At the first-floor level the bay provides the entrance to the corner grocery store.Paired windows fill the bay in the three floors above. The second-floor windows are given emphasis with an elaborate window hood, clad in scalloped slates,supported by heavy turned brackets, and topped by intricate iron cresting.
These details are repeated elsewhere on the building, and are also featured on the Varnum-built residence on the adjacent Third Street properties. * See continuation sheet OME Approvel No. 10240018 MPS Form 10-000- (8-06) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number _ 7 Page -1 Varnum Building Lowell, Massachusetts The building's principal facade is that facing Bridge Street. The 36-foot long facade is four bays in width and dominated by the storefronts on the first floor. The central entrance leads to a small vestibule and a flight of stairs to the apartments on the upper floors. The store to the north, 405 Bridge Street, for many years was occupied as a real-estate office by the building's owner, Leavitt R.J. Varnum.
The storefront consists of a central entrance flanked by large plate-glass windows above a paneled base. The corner store, 401 Bridge Street, takes up the remainder of the facade (as well as the corner bay and a portion of the Third Street elevation). Originally occupied as a grocery store until World War I, it housed the drug store of kaymond webster until the late 1940s. Today it once again supplies groceries and other items to the neighborhood. A maior element of this elevation is the decorative hood extending the full length of the shop fronts facing Bridge and Third streets. it matches in almost all details the slated window hood noted on the second-floor corner bay. Its most distinctive feature is its fully intact length of iron cresting which lines the ridge. Theslates have either been covered or replaced by sheet metal.
Turned brackets similar to those described above support this hood. The facade of the upper floors is less embellished. Paneled pilasters mark the vertical edges of the elevation, across the top of which runs a dentil cornice beneath a paneled parapet. Large turned ball finials ornament parapet pedestals at each corner. Four windows with heavy molded lintels pierce the clapboard facade of each of the upper stories. The long Third Street facade extends six bays between corner pilasters. At the ground floor, two entrances are located at the Varnum Place end of the facade. This was the location of a third storefront, removed about 1960. Both are sheltered beneath slate-roof hoods identical to those noted above, although the iron cresting is missing. The doorways themselves contain modern panel doors.
The first bay of the Bridge Street end of the facade continues the storefront design noted on the adjacent elevation. On the upper stories, all but the sixth bay consist of narrow paired windows, with 1/1 double-hung sash beneath a common molded lintel. Fire escapes, probably installed about 1900, now link the central four bays. A rear seventh bay, facing the alley and set back slightly from the line on the adjacent bays, marks the location of rear porches and built-in sheds, lit on the three upper floors by smaller narrow windows. These porches may originally have been open, lined with railings. continued NPS Form 10-900- (8-88) United States Department of theInterior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number. Page .
- Varnum Building Lowell, Massachusetts On the interior, identical floor plans are used for the three upper floors, with four apartments on each floor: two on the north side of the central hall, and two on the south side. Much of the millwork remains intact, including open stairways with their original balustrades. In the hallways, match-board wainscots are employed. Door and window casings in the hallways and principal rooms consist of reeded standing and running trim with raised corner blocks. Casings and newel posts have similar design motifs. In 1985-86, the Varnum Buildings was rehabilitated to the Secretary of the The buirding was renamed the einited Buildiog"patnerithe deresopngnto cors. after the development company, inscribed, andrned, Puneted purapeng, thz corner bay, thedevelopers caused to be OMB Approval No.
1024-0018 NPS Form 10-900-a (8-86) United States Department of theInterior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number - 7 Page 3 OMB Approvel No. 1024-0018 Varnum Building Lowel1, Massachusetts Archaeological Description While no prehistoric sites are recorded on the property it is possible that sites are present. Al least six known sites are reported in close proximity (within one mile) to the property. In general, however, the potential for significant archaeological remains, either prehistoric or historic, seems low, as a result of the small lot size and the fact that the building, which has a full basement, covers nearly the entire lot. 8. Statement of Significance