BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
FORM B - BUILDING MAY 1 5 1989 SOUTHBRIDCE MASS MHA AREA D 405 FORM NO. MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION 80 BOYLSTON STREET BOSTON, MA 02116 Town Southbridge Address 28-30 Dresser Street Historic Name H.C.. Wells Dowtll Honse Photo (3"x3" or 3"x5", black and white) Indicate address of property on back of photo. Staple to left side of form. Sketch Map: Draw map showing property's location in relation to nearest cross streets and/or geographical features. Indicate all buildings between inventoried property and nearest intersection(s).
Indicate north Use: Present residential Original DESCRIPTION residential Date Ca.1888-1894 Source maps Style Queen Anne Architect unknown Exterior Wall Fabric clapboards & wood shin gle Outbuildings carriage house/garage (1870-1878) (C) Major Alterations (with dates) none Condition Excellent Moved no Date Acreage lessthanone acte H/a Setting tree-lined residential street, mostly late-19th century single and multi- family houses. UTM REFERENCE 18/745 200/4662 020 USGS QUADRANGLE Soethbridae, Mass-Conn. SCALE 1125,000 Recorded by E. Woodford, S. Ceccacci ed. S. Ceccacci Organization Southbridge Historical Com- missioI Date Mav 1986 NATIONAL REGISTER CRITERIA STATEMENT (if applicable) The H.C.
Wells Double House is signifiCant as an example of multi-family housing constructed by the Welis family for the workers of the American Optical Company during the growth of the town's eastern section late in the 19th century. It meets National Register criteria A and C at the local level and retains integrity of setting, location, materials, workmanship, design, feeling, and association. The boundaries indicated on the attached assessors map are those of current ownership. ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE Describe important architectural features and evaluate in terms of other buildings within the community. This well preserved two family residence is unusual for late-19th century multi-family housing in Southbridge in its use of high style design elements and quality construction.
Built in the up-to-date Queen Anne style it is simpler than most single family Queen Anne houses in its basically rectangular plan and its symmetrical design. However, its broad, ample proportions and high quality materials are typical of the best Queen Anne style construction. Distinguish- ing features include the granite foundation, stained glass windows, diamond paned transom windows, large bay windows, swag ornamented window trim, end gable pent roofs, broad faceted roof dormers and the curved skirt at the lower edge of the second floor shingling. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE Explain the role owners played in local or state history and how the building relates to the development of the community. This house was built on one of two vacant lots left on this section of Dresser Street after it had been almost completely developed. It appears to have been built by Hiram C.
Wells, who lived nearby on the corner of Everett and Chapin Streets. Wells, like his brother George Washington Wells, was involved in the American Optical Company. During the same general period that he built this house, Wells also built at least two other houses. apparently intended as income properties. These other two were single family houses directly behind his own house. The 1898 atlas shows that the house built next door to the west of this one at about the same time was also owned by Wells. He also owned an earlier house across the street from it. Some years later (ca. 1898-1904), his brother, George, also built or purchased houses near his own home on Main Street (e.g., forms #B-212 and #B-211). By the early-20th century (ca. 1930's and/or 1940's?), this house served, along with many other houses scattered all over town, as official housing for company employees.
This was also true of several other houses known previously to have been owned by members of the Wells family or by other persons who had had an interest in American Optical. During this latter period, they seem to have been the property of American Optical rather than that of individuals BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES maps, atlases Card file of Houses Rented by American Optical to Employees, Southbridge Historical Society Collection 8/85 NPS Form:0-900 (8-86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet OMB Approvel No. 1024-0018 Section number . Page Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group Name State Southbridge MRA Worcester County, MASSACHUSETTS Nomination/Type of Review 71. Tapin, Eugene, House Date/Signature intered in the wa tuooa otstat Rsper NebneBgan 4/20/89 72.
Tiffany--Leonard House Attest rod in tha Natlonai Hegistof Keeper/ AeluresSgu 6/22/89 Attest 73. Iwinehurst American Optical Company. Neighborhood /Reeper AeluruBzun 622p4 NE.1. uai Attest 74. Upper Chapin Street Historic District Entered in the keeper lomßgua 0/12/09 National BegisterAttest 75. Vinton--Boardman Farmhouse Entered 1nthe National Begistar Keeper elulgu 4/22189 Attest Enter- thi 76. Vinton--Torrey House Nation, dAK10toc Hkeeper allnßyen 6/22/69 Attest 11. Wells,George B. and Ruth D.enHerse in the Ikeeper HlulorByu National RegleterAttest 6/22/24 Entered 1n the 78. Wells, H.C., Double House Natlonal ReglstoKeeper ( KlmsBgei 4/22/1, Attest 79. Wells, John M., House Datdw = /Heoper AulreBye 6/22A Attest 80.
Wheeler, Albert H., House Entered in the /Keeper Shlmeaßge Natlonal Begistes 6/22/84 Attest NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET REQUESTED ACTION: NOMINATION PROPERTY Wells, H.
C., Double House NAME: MULTIPLE Southbridge MRA NAME: STATE & COUNTY: MASSACHUSETTS, Worcester DATE RECEIVED: DATE OF 16TH DAY: DATE OF WEEKLY LIST: 5/15/89 6/16/89 DATE OF PENDING LIST: 5/31/89 DATE OF 45TH DAY: 6/29/89 REFERENCE NUMBER: 89000531 NOMINATOR: STATE REASONS FOR REVIEW: APPEAL: N DATA PROBLEM: N LANDSCAPE: N LESS THAN 50 YEARS: N OTHER: N PDIL: N PERIOD: N PROGRAM UNAPPROVED: REQUEST: N SAMPLE: N SLR DRAFT: N NATIONAL: N N COMMENT WAIVER: N LACCEPT RETURN REJECT 6/22/89 DADE Entered in the National Register ABSTRACT/SUMMARY COMMENTS: RECOM./CRITERIA REVIEWER DISCIPLINE DATE DOCUMENTATION see attached comments Y/N see attached SLR Y/N CLASSIFICATION _count resource type STATE/FEDERAL AGENCY CERTIFICATION FUNCTION historic current DESCRIPTION architectural classification materials descriptive text SIGNIFICANCE Period Areas of Significance--Check and justify below Specific dates Builder/Architect Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) 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 BIBLIOGRAPHY GEOGRAPHICAL DATA acreage UTMS verbal boundary description boundary justification ACCOMPANYING DOCUMENTATION/PRESENTATION sketch maps USGS maps photographs presentation OTHER COMMENTS Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to Phone Signed Date H.C.Wells Double Honse, D.105 southbridgeaMAunt ceccacci, 1986 southbriage Histoncal commission Roll #4 28-30 Dressel Street 28-30 Dresser street 163 D-405K 172 DRESSER 138 13!
1ELE 140 CHAPIN MI 142 STREET 143 144 145 ..%. 148 147 148 G8 2F 35/134 SOUTHBRIDGE MASS WitrM 53 MOE.DDORVELLE ASMCIATES AUBURN. : 219 214 183 1206 : 203 210 nae. 204 ExtuPr r001 "orenr 202 201 200 199 STREETI GB I2F BA -- cB) 2F HIA 36 GB 2F SOUTMORIOON 190 24 SOUTHBRIDGE, MASS csrac _M: 34 VALT 46 55 46 47 Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000294