BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
FORM B - BUILDING .MAY 1 5 1989 SOUTHBRIDGE MASS ! 555 MRA AREA A 105 FORM NO. MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION 80 BOYLSTON STREET BOSTON, MA 02116 Town Southbridge Address 42 Hamilton Street Historic Name Comins-Wall House Roll#1-10 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 Original DESCRIPTION commercial/residential residential Date ca. 1850 Source 1855 map.
visual analysis Style Greek Revival Architect Unknown Exterior Wall Fabric clapboards & asphalt shingles Outbuildings none - Major Alterations (with dates)_Queen Anne porch added late 19th century Condition Good Moved no Acreage Date NA less than one acre Setting mixed commercial & residential UTM REFERENCE 18/745 320/4662 300 USGS QUADRANGLE Southbridae, Mass-conn SCALE 1:2,000 Recorded by E. Woodford, S. Ceccacci ed. S. teccacci Organization Southbridge Historical Com- misSioI Date May 1986 - NATIONAL REGISTER CRITERIA STATEMENT (if applicable) The Comins-Wall House is significant for its association with Southbridge's Globe Village development and its regionally important gable-front, Greek Revival form. It meets National Register criteria A and C at the local level and retains integrity of location, materials, workmanship, and design.
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. Bab l Froe ryo esen vae he stos oeo sde c lis nous M SE bridge from the mid to late-19th century. Like many of these smaller versions of the Greek Revival cottage, this house does not have a complete facade pediment, but rather gable returns to give a pediment effect. Typical of the best examples of Greek Revival houses, the Comins- Wall House has substantial, broadly proportioned Classical trim. The well preserved house retains its original cornice, fileted frieze, paneled corner pilasters and large entrance with three quarter sidelights, a transom and a six paneled, raised panel front door.
The present HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE Explain the role owners played in local or state history and how the building relates to the development of the community. One of the only dwellings to survive early-20th century commercial expansion along the Main Street end of Hamilton Street, this structure is also a rare survivor of a fire which destroyed much of the area in 1863. It is thus one of the few remaining examples.of the middle and working class hoüsing which was built north of Main Street in Centre Village around the middle of the 19th-century. The earliest attribution of ownership appears on the 1855 Southbridge map as "J. Canims" It seems likely that this was a misspelling for some other name, possibly Comins or Commins. During the 1870's the house belonged to George F.
Wall, a merchant tailor and dealer in "Foreign and American woolens" Beginning as early as the 1890's and continuing on into the early years of the 20th-century, it was occupied by John I. Halpin, a dealer in provisions. BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES - maps, atlases, directories 8/85 NPS Form 10-900-a (8-86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number Page - OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group Name State Southbridge MRA Worcester County, MASSACHUSETTS Nomination/Type of Review 21. Comins--Wall House Substantixe Beview 22. Congregational Church 23. Cummings, E.B., House Entered in suc Mational Register Enterei 1n the National Register 24. Dani and Soldani Cabinet Makers and Wood Workers Factory Entered in the National Registar 25.
Dennison School House Entered in the Hational Begister 26. Dresser, Sylvester, House Entered in the #atlonal Regiater 27. Dunbar--Vinton House Entered in tha National Register 28. Durfee, Henry E., Farmhouseintered in the National Register 29. Elm Street Fire House Enteredin the National Register 30.
Evangelical Free Church Entered in the National Regieter Date/Signature Jor Keeper Betttsaunge 6-22-89 Attest eeper/ bpaps Attest Pxeopor steenByun 6/2/4 Attest Keeper AhlneByen 0/25/9 Attest tkeeper sllonabyen0/22/84 Attest Feeper alluByen 6/22/14 Attest /Keeper 6/4p9 Attest tkeeper alelesBzuns/2t/19 Attest Keeper AeluaByu 60/19 Attest /keeper Kelmußzen /24/5 Attest NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET REQUESTED ACTION: NOMINATION PROPERTY NAME: Comins--Wall House MULTIPLE NAME: Southbridge MRA 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: 89000555 NOMINATOR: STATE REASONS FOR REVIEW: APPEAL: N DATA PROBLEM: N OTHER: ( N PDIL: N REQUEST: N SAMPLE: Y LANDSCAPE: N LESS THAN 50 YEARS: PERIOD: PROGRAM UNAPPROVED: SLR DRAFT: N NATIONAL: N N N COMMENT WAIVER: N ACCEPT RETURN REJECT 6/22/84 OAPE ABSTRACT/SUMMARY COMMENTS: - oignificant gable-font teek Treal rsidence amorirted rrith Qeiat ndusteive Breeuy and RECOM./CRITERIA Aceept AXC REVIEWER ( DISCIPLINE Oerchite chura 6/22/89 Xastory 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 photographspresentation OTHER COMMENTS Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to Phone Signed Date comms-wall House 42 Hamilton St.
Southbridge, MA MRA ceccicio 1986 Sach bridge Historical Commission Rolia1-10 MRA :12971305 131 132 20,2p 125 119 MOTAR 126 69 . SOUTHBRIDGE MASS 100 118 109 106 BENOOL DEPARTMCOT ALF JOH E.O'OCHNELL A ASSOCIATES AHTHURH 42 Hamelton Street 30 172 O 171 li 190 102 101 36 A-105 29 23 80 STREET 19 1 48 SOUTHBRIDGE, MASS. 47 8X-SXEMPT -T0WN x 35 Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000294