BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
122/ FORM B - BUILDING MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION 80 BOYLSTON STREET BOSTON, MA 02116 AUG 0 4 1989 AREA FORM NO. 104 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 Town Somerville Address Alewife Brook Parkway at Historic Name Capen Court Mystic Water Works Use: Present utilitarian/water & sewer Original water works building DESCRIPTION Date 1863-1864 Source Style Samuels' Somerville Past & Pre- sent. Romanesque Revival/Mansard roof Architect unknown Exterior Wall Fabric brick Outbuildings (NC) brick warehouse/offices MajorAlterations (with dates) na Condition good See Attached Assessor's Map.
Z E N UTM REFERENCE 19 - 324/660- 4697/830 USGS QUADRANGLE SCALE 1:25,000 Boston North Moved no Date one acre + n/a Acreage - Setting East side of Parkway, across from brook and wooded area, some residential surroundings. Main through route Recorded byGretchen G. schuler Organization Nass. Historical Commissior Date September, 1988 NATIONAL REGISTER CRITERIA STATEMENT (if applicable) The Mystic Water Works retains integrity of location, design, materials, workmanship, and association with the development of the public water system in Somerville.. It is significant for its importance in the history of Somerville and for its architectural integrity. The Mystic Water Works fulfills Criteria A and C of the National Register of Historic Places on the local level. ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE Describe important architectural features and evaluate in terms of other buildings within the community.
Built on a granite block foundation the long low brick building with Mansard roof retains its massing, scale and early windows and double-hung sash with round headed glazed fans. slate roof has been replaced with asphalt shingles. The double doors that are panelled and have a fan-like transom fffom the south facade entrance. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE Explain the role owners played in local or state history and how the building relates to the development of the community. The Mystic Water Works was Somervillé's first water supply. The system was authorized in 186l when the City of Charlestown was granted the right (over much opposition) to construct a dam at Mystic Lake, an engine house, and a reservoir to supply Charlestown with water.
Initially only a small area of Somerville was supplied by the newly constructed system for Charlestown, however, in 1868 the State Legislature authorized Somerville to connect its lines with those of Charlestown. The availability of this water supply and a high service plant built in 1889-1890 (since demolished) contributed to the City's tremendous growth in the last quarter of the 19th century. In the 1880s, Charlestown became part of Boston and the Mystic Water System was taken over by the City of Boston. In 1898 Somerville's water supply became unified with that of Boston under the Metropolitan Water Board. BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES Hopkins, G.M. Atlas of the City of Somerville, 1874. Samuels, Edward, Somerville: Past and Present, 1897.
8/85 N VALLEY PARKWAY MOI 1'= 100' # 104 MYSTIC SHOPS ALEWIFE BROOK PKY SOMERVILLE MRA, MASS IRVINGTON ROAD 06.67 LOT 2O 1,4440 00.20 LOTIC 44077 13:00 48-17 48.00 13.00 LOT 4.00 13.00 30010 8 LOT 5 37341 LOT - LOT 4032 12.00 MYSTIC 3963 13.00 LOTS CAPEN ST. -27.0- CAPEN RIGHT DF WAY 58.70 CONWELL PUBLIC SCHOOL RYIA LOT O 3433 80.66 03.71 SOMERVILLE MSIGAUTHO MET. DIST MYSTIC SHO PARK & SEWPERAGE DIVISION HOUSII TOR THE ELDÉRLY 88,1428 118.40° NPS Form10-000-e (8-86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet OMB Approvel No. 1024-0018 AUG 4 1989 Section number- Page - Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group Name State SO MYALLe NX COUnLY. MASSACHUSETT. Nomination/Type of Review 51. Langmaid Building 52. Langmaid Terrace 53.
Lockhardt, Charles H.,Hors& in the National Register Date/Signature Entered in the National Register feper AulouByu 9/18/84 Attest Interedia tha National Register tkeeper KelomByua 9/15/84 Attest fkeeper AulruByu 4/18/89 Attest 54. Loring, George, House Entered in the National Register Keeper ( Delubyen 9/18/09 Attest 55. Lovejoy, A.L., House Entared in the Mational Begister Tkeeper AelrusBgen 9/18/84 Attest 56. Munroe, Robert, House Entered in the teeper AelruaBye 7/18/84 National Register Attest 57. Mystic Water Works Entered in tha Mational Regiatex 6 Keeper_ AilruAgun 9/18/84 Attest Keeper derutoze. 9/8/64 58. Nichols, John F., House Entered in the National Regtater Attest 59. Niles, Louville V., House Entered in the National Register Ikeeper AelreaBgu 9/18/84 Attest 60.
Niles, Louville, House Hkeeper SulresByue 9/18/84 interad in the National Regtater Attest UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET REQUESTED ACTION: NOMINATION PROPERTY Mystic Water Works NAME: MULTIPLE NAME: Somerville MPS STATE & COUNTY: MASSACHUSETTS, Middlesex DATE RECEIVED: DATE OF 16TH DAY: DATE OF WEEKLY LIST: 8/04/89 8/31/89 DATE OF PENDING LIST: 8/15/89 DATE OF 45TH DAY: 9/18/89 REFERENCE NUMBER: 89001227 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: N SLR DRAFT: N NATIONAL: N COMMENT WAIVER: N ACCEPT RETURN REJECT 918/89 _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 OTHER COMMENTS Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to Phone Signed Date presentation Alewife Brook Plwy (MDÇ) 1.
Alewife Brook RKwary 2. Somesuille, MA 3. C Zellie 4. 1980 5. Somerille cuty Hall 6. Loding north 7. Mystro Wath herts #104 sonerile unt, Ma Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: - 64500253