BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
AUG 0 4 1989 1301 FORM E - BURIAL GROUND MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION 80 BOYLSTON STREET BOSTON, MA 02116 AREA FORM NO. 800 Town Address Name Ownership: Somerville Somerville Ave. at School St. The Old Cemetery Public Private Photo (3'x3" or 3"x5", black and white) Identify 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 other buildings and/or geographical features. Indicate all buildings between inventoried property and nearest intersection. Indicate north. DESCRIPTION Approximate number of stones Earliest death date 1804 Latest death date unknown Landscape Architect (if known) n/a 100 Condition fair/good See Attached Assessor's Map UTM REFERENCE USGS QUADRANGLE SCALE 19 - 326/550 - 4694/070 Boston North 1:25,000 Acreage less than one acre Setting South side of Somerville Ave.
near commercial and industrial propert; main thoroughfare, heavily travelled route Recorded by Gretchen G. Schuler OrganizationMass. Historical Commission Date September, 1988 NATIONAL REGISTER CRITERIA STATEMENT (if applicable) The Old Cemetery is the only pre-20th century cemetery in Somerville. It retains integrity of location, design, materials, workmanship, and association with the 19th century development of Somerville. The Cemetery fulfills Criteria A and Cand Exception D of the National Register of Historic Places at the local level. GENERAL ASSESSMENT OF ART WORK Describe materials used, designs, motifs, symbols that are either common or unusual, known carvers. There are many early-19th century gravestones with some ornamentation, however, most are not distinguished examples of the early-l9th century stone cutters art.
Of note is the Civil War monument erected in 1863 The ornate cast iron fencing that surrounds the lot is well maintained and is one of the few extant examples of 19th century iron work in Somerville. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE Explain religious affiliations, major period of use and evaluate historical importance of burial ground within the community. The Old Cemetery is the first and only pre-20th century burial ground located in Somerville. The Cemetery was built on farm land donated by Samuel Tufts in 1804. The Cemetery was used by a number of early Somerville families, however, the numbers were small because most used the nearby Phipps Street-Charlestown Burying Yard. Also the 1832 Mt. Cemetery in Cambridge was many Somerville residents. Thus, the Old Cemetery is relatively small. Somerville Avenue was known as Milk Row in the 19th century.
The Milk Row School (1796-1849) stood on the east corner of the cemetery lot. Nearby on Milk Row was the Middlesex Bleachery a large industrial complex of the 19th century. BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES Cemetery Records, Somerville Historical Society. 8/85 INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Commmity: Samervilde, MA Form No: 800 Property Name : Somerville Ave. "The Old Cenetery Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. Staple to Inventory form at bottom Shouend j" '= 100' someiville Senneville (MRA), Mass DANE ST. SOMEROIÜL MEnuE #800 AMVEEY 10.5140 24,7410 57,030 s63rs! OMERVILLE CEMETERY 31,230 - RIGHT OF WAY of nito. M.L0T 5560. (325394 10 FITCHBURG OMISION - P. LOT i eTS- ALOynaIs 000- DANE AE. 10.376 0 HODODON PL. G. LC 090 DANE AVE. 10 111.62 11.M.
# LOT 8 5000 *t -6iTT- B095 etti NPS Form 10-000# (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 Date/Signature Entered in the Hational Register pxosper Aulmusyur 9/18/8 Attest ntered in the 62. Otis--Wyman House Natlopal Register foeoper sulouByan 9/15/64 Attest 63. Parker--Burnett House Entered 1n the National Reglster HRoeper AlunByun 9/10/64 Attest 64. Prescott, Gustavus G.gHouse 1- +bo Natiorad Reniater Theeper AulumByun 4/1/64 Attest 65. Russel1, Philemon, House Entered inthe National Register preoper AulruBzen 2/18/69 Attest 66.
Russell, Susan, House Intered La the Natlobal Register Vneoper KebueByun 2/269 Attest 67. Schuebeler, Charles, House Entered in the National Register Ixeoper duloeBga 9/13/89 Attest 68. Snow,Iemuel, Jr., Housetored 1n the Natlonal degister Attest 69. Somerville High School Intered 1n thg Batlonal Register IxeoperDelouyun 3/10/64 Attest 70.
Somerville Journal Building Entored in thie KeeperAulon Jyun 2/15/89 Natinnal Rerlater Attest UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET REQUESTED ACTION: NOMINATION PROPERTY Old Cemetery 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: 89001301 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 2/18/8%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 _photographspresentation OTHER COMMENTS Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to Phone Signed Date somante cometen somerite Are 1.
Old Conetsny Simerulletve 2. Someruille?esna 3. C. Zelhe 4. 1985 5. Someruille Cety Hall 6:l00kang southecest #860 THOMAS EAND icd Warae somenille Comcten 1. Old Cemnetuy, Somwilte Ave 2. soerville, MA 3. C. Zelle 1.1985 s. Somerulle as, Hall 6. los vew of stines-detud 7. #800 Somonolle cemelery 1. Ol cenetiny, Someruille Are 2. Sonewille dTA 3. C. Zelle 4.1985 5. someruile City hall 6. yren of stere -detall somenille Cemeteny Somenitle Are 1. Old Conetzru .Somenulle Ave 2. Somerville MA MRA 3. C. Zelle 4.1985 5. Someruille Caty Hall. 6.1ookrg north 7. #800 Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: - 64500253