BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
580 FORM B - BUILDING MAY 1 5 1989 SOUTHBRIDGE MASS MRA AREA B FORM NO. 208 MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION 80 BOYLSTON STREET BOSTON, MA 02116 Town Southbridge Address 18 Walnut Street Historic Name n/a Photo (3"x3" or 3"x5", black and white) Indicate address of property on back of photo. Staple to left side of form. geographical features. Indicate all buildings oateres trntcae sil al eination between inventoried property and nearest intersection(s). Indicate north Use: Present residential Original residential DESCRIPTION Date C.1898 Source maps Style Shingle Style Architect unknown Exterior Wall Fabric wood shingles Outbuildings - none Major Alterations (with dates) none Condition Good Moved no Date nla Acreage Less than one acre Setting residential/institutional UTM REFERENCE 18/745 740/4662 010 USGS QUADRANGLE Southbridge, MA.CT SCALE 1:25,000 Recorded by E. Woodford, S.
Ceccacci Organization Southbridge Historical Com- mission Date May 1986 NATIONAL REGISTER CRITERIA STATEMENT (if applicable) 18 Walnut St. is signifigant as an exampie of housing constructed by the Wells family for the workers of the American Optical Company ors or Xhe An oi an Opti 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 is one of .two cottages on Walnut Street which, despite their small size, are high style versions of the Shingle Style.
Built on very similar plans, but each distinguished by an individual roof type (one gambrel and one gable), the two houses have almost identical trim, window and door type and placement. While the overall appearance of the neighboring 24 Walnut Street has recently been altered by the unsympathetic addition of an attached garage on the north side, this house at 18 Walnut Street is little changed from its original appearance. 'Among its most significant features are its gambrel roof, gambrel facade dormer, front bay windor with diamond panes, the slate roof and shingle siding. The high quality of the design and materials of these two houses suggest that they were designed by an architect. No specific architect has, however, yet been linked with their design. Ie is possible that these houses and a two family house at 28-30 Dresser Street (form #D-405) were the work of the same architect.
The Walnut Street houses were owned by George W. Wells and the (see bellow) HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE Explain the role owners played in local or state history and how the building relates to the development of the community. Built across the street from the home of their original owner, these houses were likely built to serve as housing for employees of the American Optical Company. Although little is understoor about the history of the company's housing policy, it seems that the company itself did not or own houses for its employees before about 1910 or 1915. This survey has shown, however. that individuals with controlling interests in the company did build houses on their own property which appear to have been intended to house employees. - George W. Wells, who became president of the company in the 1890's built these two housesas well.
houses at 64 Main Street (form #3-212) (18481404) and at7o Main Street (form #B-211) (1893-190). His brother built 28-30 Dresser Street and two houses at the back of his own house lot in the Chapin Street Area (form #D-409). The large estate of A. M. Cheney on Chestnut Street was developed in the late-19th and early-20th century with the cottages and three deckers which housed company employees. About 1915, the company built factory housing on nearby Maple Street (form #B-210) and at Windsor Court (form #B-204) and Iwinehurst Place (form #A-103) Some houses built before 1915,by individual stockholders, are known to have been owned by the company as recently as the 1940's. Because complete records of company housing are not available, it is not known whether either of these two houses ever became part of the company's early-20th century housing.
BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES - maps, atlases American Optical Housing File, J. Edwards Library ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE (cont'd) Dresser Street house was owned by his brother Hiram C. Wells. The family relationship of the owners and similarities in the style and date of construction of the houses suggest that a single architect may have designed all three. NPSForm10-000- (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 41. High--School Streets Historic District Enteredin the National Register 42. Hodgsfon, William, Iwo-Family House Entered 1n tLe datiolai Begistar 43.
House at 18 Walnut Street Sntcred in tae National Registar Date/Signature Aoopr 6/2/04 Attest Hecoper helamBigun a/27/24 Attest /keeper_ 6/27/4 Attest 44. House at 3 Dean Street 4.: red ir detiutaa Le613.9I Heeper ZulneBigun 4/2/69 Attest 45. House at 34 Benefit Street Keeper AuhneByu 6/27/89 Matlonal Register Attest 46. House at 59--63 Crystal Street chicicd lh Luc Keoper AlbuBzen 6/22/69 Natludan Ieclalat Attest Dillcicd 1u Lie 47. House at 64 Main Street Matlonal Roglatox EKeeper Leluu Byu- 4/22/69 Attest 48. House at 70--72 Main Street intored in the Matlonal BegtaterReeper 6/22/09 Attest 49. House at 91 Coombs Street Entered in the National Register HReeper AlmByen4/22/69 50.
Judson--Litchfield House Entered in the bational Beglater Attest Axeeper LelmeaByun4/22/89 Attest NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET REQUESTED ACTION: NOMINATION PROPERTY NAME: House at 18 Walnut Street 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: 89000580 NOMINATOR: STATE REASONS FOR REVIEW: APPEAL: N DATA PROBLEM: N LANDSCAPE: NLESS THAN 50 YEARS: N OTHER: N PDIL: REQUEST: N SAMPLE: N N PERIOD: N PROGRAM UNAPPROVED: SLR DRAFT: N NATIONAL: N N COMMENT WAIVER: N ACCEPT RETURN REJECT 66/22/84 DATE 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 10 Walnut Street (B.208) sowthbridge, MA Ceccacci, 1986 Sauthbridge Historical Commission Roll#6 MRA 30 1519133 STIEEY LUPUC!
dANc 91029 127 127 G3 + 10mM Eacurt CNEUPT TOwn - 13=Y: -©19 ©17. 0I3. :123.220 240: 25 E1 SOUTHBRIDGE MASS 47 JOHHCILHELLASCOCANE AUBURH, MAIHE 18 walpurstreet 8OUTHBRIDGE. MASS. B-208 29 Ga MECHANIC- 46/ 37 PARÇELS OMIBTEO s2u2-0s se.ms,sa.uinin 36 Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000294