BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
AUG 0 4 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 See Attached Assessor's Map UTM REFERENCE Z E 19 327/250 N 4694/670 USGS QUADRANGLE SCALE 1:25,000 Boston North 1261 AREA FORM NO. 142 Town Somerville Address 93 Highland Avenue Historic Name Somerville High 5chool Somerville Iown Hall / City Hall Use: Present_institutional/city offic Original educational / institu- tional DESCRIPTION Date 1852 / enlarged & altered 1896, 1902, 1924. Source Samuels, Somerville Past and Present.
Style Georgian Revival Architect cuftent facade by & Taylor Ritchie, Parsons Exterior Wall Fabric _ brick Outbuildingsnone Major Alterations (with dates) additions and alterations - 1896, 1902, 1924. Condition good Moved no Date n/a Acreage less than one acre Setting stands on a lot adjacent to ather* public buildings oi City at Central Hill, on main transportation route. Recorded by Gretchen G. Schuler Organization Mass. Historical Commissi. Date September, 1988 NATIONAL REGISTER CRITERIA STATEMENT (if applicable) The Somerville City Hall retains integrity of location, setting, design, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association with the development of the civic life of Somerville. It is significant for its importance in the history of Somerville and for its architectural integrity.
The Somerville City Hall 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. The present Somerville City Hall is a result of a series of alterations, and adaptive reuse additions made to a building originally on Central Hill as the High School in 1852. That structure in the Greek Revival tradition was a two-story building of pressed brick. The first major enlargement occurred in 1896 when a rear wing added (the portion projecting towards Highland Avenue). The addition occurred in 1924 when the entire building, orientation, changed. The new,large north wing restored the symmetrical facade. The gable end pediment of the original building was removed and a third story was added.
The entrance was relocated to the original block (where it remains), and Georgian Revival details, including the two colossal Ionic columns set in antis, the broad wood spandrels between first and second story windows, and the clock tower, HISTORIERL 'SGNRFICANEEh expratn' the role owhers piaged 9241dcahadr btate h9story and how the building relates to the development of the community. The Somerville City Hall rests on historic Central Hill where it is an integral part of the Highland Avenue streetscape and the civic center of the City.
Built first as a Greek Revival high school in 1852, the building eventually housed the town offices in 1867 when the Forster Schoolhouse on Sycamore Street, the location of the Iown Hall offices, In 1872 the new Latin High School (no longer extant) was built on Central Hill to accommodate the expanding school age population, the of Somerville was incorporated a City and the 1852 High School building became the City Hall. In 1873 a Public Library was opened at the rear of the building in an area vacated by the police who moved to the newly constructed Police Station in Union Square. The 1896 expansion of the City Hall was in response to the rapid growth of the city government. T.M.Sargent. Plans were drawn by, Boston architect, Thomas. By this time the entire building was needed for city government. The library had moved to its own building in 1885.
The 1924 renovation and enlargement of the City Hall was done by Boston based architects, Ritchie, Parsons and Taylor. BIBLIORAPHY randMar RFFERENAPS. Map of Somerville, 1852- Hopkins, G.M. Atlas of the City of Somerville, 1874. Samuels, Edward, Somerville: Past and Present, 1897. Somerville Journal. 8/85 INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Commmity: Somerville Form No: 142 Property Name: Somerville City Hall Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. Historical Significante (Con't) The Somerville City Hall, a building of firsts, the first Somerville High School, the first Somerville City Hall, and the first Somerville Public Library, is an important building in the development of Somerville. The building is the functional and symbolic focus of local government activity for the community.
Boundary Description and Justification The boundary surrounding the Somerville High School(Present City Hall) include only the immediate surrounds using a 12.5 feet line of convenience. (see Assessor's map which is attached) Staple to Inventory form at bottom 13,244 d MARSH 3287 - 2575 M1SA 840 2213 859 PEARL ST 29,132- .6146 34.62 LOT A 18,2260 279.13 284.14 11,14- 3 35 BOSTON 18.40 AND MAINE RAILROAD 046.37 390 37,947 - O 279.17 SOMERUILLE HIGI SCHUOL SUMZAUILLE 328.22 IGHLAND AVE. #142 City Hall 93 Higland someville (MRA), Mass. 1'=100' NPS Form 10-900a (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 Somerville MPS Middlesex County, MASSACHUSETTS Nomination/Type of Review 61.
Old Cemetery Entered in the Hatlonal Register Date/Signature Reeper Aloeya 9/8/89 Attest 62. Otis--Wyman House Entered in the Natlopad Register fokespor sulouByan 2/16/61 Attest 63. Parker--Burnett House Entered in the National Reglater topor dulmnbyu 21e9 Attest 4. Prescott, Gustavus G. »House tered 1n +bc Mationad Reristsr TooporXlmByun 4/1/64 Attest_ 65. Russell, Philemon, House Entered in the National Register Hkesper AilruByun 2/8/89 Attest 66. Russe11, Susan, House Entered ta the Natloval Register Vreeper Kubmeogun 2/2169 Attest 67. Schuebeler, Charles, House Ixeoper AelouBga 9/13/89 Entered in the National Register Attest 68. Snow, Lemuel, Jr., Housetored In the Natlonal degister Heepeelyu 9/x/69 Attest 69. Somerville High School Fatered In the Mational Register (keoe delauByu 2/0/44 Attest 70. Somerville Journal Building Fatare?
in ta Meepo AuloneZyun 9/6/69 Natl rini Roriater Attest UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET REQUESTED ACTION: NOMINATION PROPERTY NAME: Somerville High School 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: 89001261 NOMINATOR: STATE REASONS FOR REVIEW: APPEAL: N DATA PROBLEM: N LANDSCAPE: N LESS THAN 50 YEARS: OTHER: N PDIL: N PERIOD: N PROGRAM UNAPPROVED: REQUEST: N SAMPLE: N SLR DRAFT: N NATIONAL: N N N COMMENT WAIVER: N ACCEPT RETURN REJECT 9/8/89 DATE Entered in tha 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 DESCRIPTION current 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 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 _verbal boundary description UTMS boundary justification ACCOMPANYING DOCUMENTATION/PRESENTATION sketch maps _USGS maps _photographs OTHER COMMENTS Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to Phone Signed Date presentation 43 ltrghland 1.
93 Highlard Avenue 2. Somewille. MA 3. C. Zellre 4. 1981 5. somewille Cely Hall 6. looking west 7. #142 Senerville High Schec Senerille NnA Ma Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64500253