BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
AUG 0 A 1999 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 Map UIM REFERENCE USGS QUADRANGLE Z E N 19-327/580 - 4694/520 BOSTON MORTH SCALE 1:25,000 1274 AREA Chntral 141 FORM NO.
Town Sonerville Address 79 Hiahland Avenue Historic Name Central Library Use: Present Library Original Library DESCRIPTION Date 1914 Source Documents style Second Renaissance Revival Architect Edward Lippincott Tilton Exterior Wall Fabricbrick Outbuildings none Major Alterations (with dates) renovation 1970s: some entry alterations interior alteration Condition Excellent Moved no Date n/a Acreage lass than one acre Settingon Central Hill views to Medford and Union Square. Recorded by Betsy Friedberg, Preservation Planner Organization Mass. Historical Commission Date June 1986 NATIONAL REGISTER CRITERIA STATEMENT (if applicable) The Central Library Somerville, is a finely proportional architect-designed building in the Second Renaissance Revival style. In plan and detail, the building displays the influence of the work of McKim, Mead, and White upon its architect, Edward Tilton.
Its construction on Central Hill in 1914 was part of a 50-year municipal building program and is significant as a reflection of the city's vast growth at the turn of the century, as well as its concern for providing its residents with urban amenities. Retaining integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association. The library fulfills Criteria A anc 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. This two-story yellow brick library is a fine example of the Renaissance Revival style. Architect Edward Tilton's experience with the firm of McKim, Mead and White shows in the building's relationship to the design for the Boston Public Library. The truncated hipped roof is finished with green pan tiles.
Nine bays wide, the building is lit on its second story by large round-arched windows. Classical trim includes terra cotta panels and limestone window surrounds, stringcourses, and quoins. The center entry is ornamented with a shallow Doric-columned porch supporting an elaborate terracotta shield. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE Explain the role owners played in local or state history and how the building relates to the development of the community. The Central Library site was formerly occupied by the Somerville's first engine house, built in 1871 and designed by well-known architect Shepard S. Woodcock, a Somerville resident. The outstanding Victorian Gothic fire station one of the first municipal structures on Central Hill Park was demolished for construction of the library. An earlier Romanesque library (1884) was located on the park near the present-day City Hall.
That building was one of the first commissions of prominent architect George A. Loring; it, too, was demolished. The Central Hill site has always been devoted to civic and religious buildings! The Central Library is representative of the scale of civic structures created by nationally-known architects around the turn of the century. Its architect, Edward L. Tilton (1861-1933) was a noted designer of "modern" libraries; he was commissioned for the Somerville Public Library shortly before the First World War. Born in New York, Tilton was trained at the Ecole des Beaux Arts Parish. He worked for McKim, Mead, and White in New York prior to establishing his own practice with William A. Boring. Boring and Tilton produced the Ellis Island Immigrant Station in 1900 they were noted as designers of "modern" public libraries. Springfield, Massachusetts, is the site of another Tilton library.
BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES Newspaper file, Somerville Historical Society City of Somerville Records. 120 SKILTON AVE 3." 237 7554 233 227 11=10 230 -O LOT LOT 2 º 243009 23602° LOT 3° LOT 4 2380+R 34 164.05 REG. LOT T,464a g LOT 23800 LOT 15 2800 LOT EPT LOT 15 80T SKILTON AVE 10NT "PEARL"ST. LOT B 3150- LOT 7 2000° PT.LOT, 9 7279 PTLOT-S 8 10 3254° LOTA 3992 LOT 037- OT 2 4295- LOTS 3,4 & B 14,664 *141 410 SOUTHERN 133.07 GMAY'ST.- LOT/ 265500 DIVISION REG.LOT 2225 - LOT REGLOT B 4219 REG.LOT A 34260 100 MEDFORD Centkal LibRazy 79 Highland Ave. Somerville.(MRA), MAss. WALNUT ST. HIGHLAND AVE. 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 Section number Page - Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group Name State Somerville MPS Middlesex County, MASSACHUSETTS Nomination/Type of Review Date/Signature 11. Adams--Magoun House Entered 1n the Natlonal Registex Keeper Ahlonagun 9/10/86 12. Bacon, Clifton, House Attest Entered in the Wational kegtstokeeper S Auloseyu 9/10/64 Attest forkeeper S.rL13. Barnes,Walter S. and Melissa E., House Substantive Revlew Bitk Sause 318/20 14. Brackett, S.E., House Entered 1n the National Regiater Keeper AleByu 1/18/64 Attest 15. Broadway Winter Hill Congregationan the Mitere Church National Register trpor kuemBgu k/et9 Attest 16. Brooks, James H., House Entered in the National Regiater teoper aulonsBgen 1/0/4 Attest 17. Central Library Entered 1n the National Register Tkeeper SuloreByu 2/15/89 18. Cliff, Z.E., House 19. Cook, Thomas, House 20.
Cooper--Davenport Tavern Wing Entered in the Mational Regiater Attest Entered in the National Register Hooper AuluesBgu9/16/84 Attest Entered in tbe National Register theoper Aulmebyun 9/18164 Attest Hkeeper AelveByua 9/18/19 Attest UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET REQUESTED ACTION: NOMINATION PROPERTY Central Library NAME: MULTIPLE Somerville MPS NAME: 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: 89001274 NOMINATOR: STATE REASONS FOR REVIEW: APPEAL: N DATA PROBLEM: N LANDSCAPE: N LESS THAN 50 YEARS: OTHER: N PDIL: REQUEST: N SAMPLE: N N PERIOD: N PROGRAM UNAPPROVED: SLR DRAFT: N NATIONAL: N N N COMMENT WAIVER: N ACCEPT RETURN REJECT 5/1/65 _DATE Entered in the National Register ABSTRACT/SUMMARY COMMENTS: RECOM./CRITERIA REVIEWER DISCIPLINE DATE DOCUMENTATION see attached comments Y/N see attached SLR ./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 79 Highland 1.
79 Heghland- Somenuille Cestral 2. Somerville, MA LIb. 3 Carol Zallie 4. 1983 5. Somerville Cuty Halll b. lookung north 7.#141 Catrallibrery Sinernilo. Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: - 64500253