BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
MAY 2 3 1989 FORM B - BUILDING MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION 80 BOYLSTON STREET BOSTON, MA 02116 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 DIM REFERENCE 19/328860/4707830 USGS QUADRANGLE Reading, Mass. SCALE 1:25,000 148 AREA FORM NO. 325 Town Address D Wakefield 39 Prospect Street Historic Name West Ward School Use: Present Original School School DESCRIPTION Date c. 1847 Source West Ward School-Woodbury Style Greek Revival Architect BA Exterior Wall Fabric Wood Clapboard Outbuildings None 1946-47 Major Alterations (with dates) South portico added; exterior enclosed stair on north.
1909 Condition Fair-Good Moved -NA Date NA Acreage Under 1 acre. Setting Approximately 175' frontage se- back approx. 50' from curb - level lot. Residential neighborhood. Recorded byArchitectural Preservation Associates Organization Wakefield Historical Commission Date March 1985 The sole survivor of 4 Greek Revival schoolhouses in Wakefield (South Reading), this building has remained substantially intact in both form and detailing since its construction and continues in its original use - both of which factors increase as significance. The building retains integrity of location, setting, design, materials workmanship, feeling and assoication, and meets Criterion C of the NRHP on the local level, and criterion A at the loa fever. ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE Describe important architectural features and evaluate in terms of other buildings within the community.
Of four Greek Revival schoolhouses built in South Reading in 1847 this is the only one remaining. It is two stories in height, presents its gable roof to the street and its boxed cornice makes full eaves returns to form a pediment. Full length panelled pilasters and a wide frieze complete the buildings' stylistic references to Greek temoles. An enclosed portico and a single window at the second story are the only openings in the south facade while three bays articulate the building's length. The relatively few exterior alterations to the building make it an important building in both our local and national architectural heritage. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE Explain the role owners played in local or state history and how the building relates to the development of the community. In the spring of 1845 South Reading's population was 1517.
That same year the B & M Railroad came through town connecting South Reading with Boston. By 1850 the population had almost doubled with Boston businessmen and their families. In response, four outer ward schools The four outer ward schools were identical. The structural members were cut on the town Common to the correct size then transported to their sites where they were erected. Each had a woodburning stove and 2 outhouses but no water supply for several years. By 1852 one teacher was teaching 54 children in this school on the Ist floor. A 2nd floor classroom was added in 1858 and the students divided into Primary and Senior Departments. Thirty seven pupils (3-9) were in the Primary and twenty seven (7-14) in the Senior Department. During 1863 the boy who swept out the school and built fires for the 42 weeks was paid $4 and the teacher $210.
Until 1884 there were 90 pupils in the two classrooms but the number was reduced to 75 when Hamilton School was built. In 1891 the school got lake water piped in. During the Depression it lost its cupola. Several times it has been threatened with closing but the town's residents have rallied and supported its use, so the school has been in continual use for 138 years. BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES Eaton, Lilley- A Genealogical History of Reading, Boston 1874. Wakefield Historical Society, Vertical Files, Schools. NPS Form 10-000e (8-86) United States Department of the Interior NationalPark Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet OMB Approvel No. 1024-0018 Section number Page Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group Name State Wakefield MRA Middlesex County, MASSACHUSETTS Nomination/Type of Review Date/Signature Sylör.
Wakeftold Park pr) suhatisite lo20 grkeoper Btgk Seuge 3/2/20 Attest /V 82. Wakefield Rattan Company suberantire Eovi Skeeper Bu Sauge 7//84 Attest Wakefield Savings Bank Clock ihatetttee avinr Qat/OWNER OBJECTISERET- R Attest 84. Wakefield Trust Company Entered 1n tbe Natlonal Bestater freoper Aelmpgen 1/6/89 Attest_ 85. Wakefield Upper Depot /keeper elarye 2/6/9 Entered in,the National Begtater Attest 86. Warren, H.M., Schoo1 Entered in the National Begister Ckaoper Aelou-Dee 1/6/89 Attest 87. West Ward School Entered in the National Register /Keeper Nelauaye 2/6/89 Attest Sur 88. Winn Street Railroad Bridge SuEstantive Revlew Keeper R 89. Winn, Suell, House 90.
Winship, Charles, House Attest Entered in the Natiohal Reglstaz latit frtoper AlelmurBjen 7/0/89 Attest fakoepor BoteSanze 7/6/89 Attest UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET REQUESTED ACTION: NOMINATION PROPERTY NAME: West Ward School MULTIPLE Wakefield MRA NAME: STATE & COUNTY: MASSACHUSETTS, Middlesex DATE RECEIVED: DATE OF 16TH DAY: DATE OF WEEKLY LIST: 5/23/89 6/22/89 DATE OF PENDING LIST: 6/06/89 DATE OF 45TH DAY: 7/07/89 REFERENCE NUMBER: 89000748 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: N REQUEST: N SAMPLE: | SLR DRAFT: N NATIONAL: N COMMENT WAIVER: N ACCEPT RETURN REJECT 1/6/89 DATE Entered Th tha National Register ABSTRACT/SUMMARY COMMENTS: RECOM./CRITERIA REVIEWER DISCIPLINE DATE DOCUMENTATION see attached comments Y/N see attached SLR X/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 D 325 39 Prospert 8t.
west ward Sched Wakfield MRAA 974 8052 CA 0.0 WESTERN 0010 8149 19C TAA 9B 3932 00 9 -12I7 39 PROSPECT STREET WALTUT: SCHLUL: 2.40 Acres : 002 :29.7* ,30. 59.53 33910 168.+3 17 31410 {45 20. 10250 AL0Z 5441 60 61 GIA L.C. 17800 62 133.66 OA 55. 76 37 76A 77B TES 78 13684 127,5 .19040 64 63 130.92 25 jc CB F 88 105.20 E 7041 -59.54 7291 *E 6882 117 NIC 94.16 88B 70.80 6724 11139 68.50 00.3 AVE. 91 90 89 152.2 T3.10 13416 GO ODWIN 14309 TTO 5900 6037 56. 60. 83.78 16 230 9339 92A 100-5 110 22 25989 13640 35 a4E 1007 63.20 94A 1455g 13250 84.82 6600 10744 54. 17714 1.43 Acres 193.66 84A 85 84.45 g4. 52 STREET 86 1a32 9880 87 9913 379 35463 School {733 93 98.35 243,33 69.66 84 234.24 3 D325 SCALE:I" '=80' Note: Lots with prefix letter "K"have numbers the some as shown on Kelsey Plan (BK.249PI.3) - Bartlet! Hill Plan (BK.216 PI.47) -W".
- Walton Plon (BK262P1.26) Numbers not used 10 -11-12 - 13 -15-16-17-18 -19 -20 -22-23 -24 -25-26-27-28-23 31-32-33-34 - 35-37 -38-39-41-42-48-49-50-51 - 52 -95 - K 56 -K 6 4 REVISED 1987 A.W.Carleton Civil Engr. 6 Scale: 1 inch equals 80 feet Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000300