BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
1494 AREA FORM NO. FORM B - BUILDING AUG 2 1 1989 -114 MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION NATOINAL 80 BOYLSTON STREET REGISTER Town BOSTON, MA 02116 Address WALTHAM, MA MRA Waltham, Massachusetts 256 Charles Street Historic Name U. S. Watch Co./ Howard Clock Products Photo (3"x 3" or 3"x5", black and white) Indicate address of property on back of photo. Staple to left side of forn. Use Present industrial Original DESCRIPTION industrial Date 1886. 1901 Source Sanderson Style elements of Romanesque Revival Architect builder = Robert C. Glancy Exterior Wall Fabric - brick shed-NC Outbuildings powerhouse-C 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-sec a Hached sheet Major Alterations (with dates) Condition good none Moved Acreage Setting no - Date -n/a 95,689 sq.ft. 2.2A 59-28-1 located on large lot in densely settled residential area of mid/late 19th c. dwellings. UTM REFERENCE USGS QUADRANGLE SCALE 19/314820/4693370 NEWTON 1:25,000 Recorded by Edward W. Gordon Organization Waltham Hist. Comn. Date June, 1986 revised by C. Jenkins 3/88 Y NATIONAL REGISTER CRITERIA STATEMENT (if applicable) The former plant of the United States Watch Company represents a "spinoff" enterprise of the American Waltham Watch Company. It was built in two stages in 1886 and 1901. Together with the American Waltham Watch Company, this factory building provides an unspoiled glimpse of late 19th/early 20th cehtury Waltham's most profitable and politically influential industry - watch manufacturing.
Exhibiting elements of the Romanesque Revival style, this plant perpetuates the watch manufacturing factory format pioneered by the American Waltham Watch Company - narrow wings with aisles of work areas (cont) ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE Describe inportant architectural features and evaluate in terms of other buildings within the community. Architecturally, 256 Charles Street is significant as a medium-range, masonry, late 19th century Waltham manufacturing plant which provides an interesting contrast to its much more extensive "mother" factory - the American Waltham Watch Company on Crescent Street. Together, these factories tell the story of late 19th/early 20th century watch manufacturing in the United States and more speciiically in Waltham. Essentially I-shaped in plan, 256 Charles Street's main facade features a four-story clock tower flanked by 3-story wings.
Most of the architectural interest is focused on the clock tower with its round gauged brickwork outlined entrance, circular clock at the 4th level, deep corbelled cornice, and pyramidal roof-cap. This building's wings each exhibit 22 bays. Its regimental rows of tall windows contain 6/6 wood sash, rock-faced granite sills, and header brickwork lintels. The wings also display moulded metal cornices. (cont) HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE Explain the role owners played in local or state history and how the building relates to the development of the community. The American Waltham Watch Company spawned a number of watchmaking firms in Waltham, most of them short-lived. The former United States Watch Company has housed watch manufacturing or related enterprises from 1886 until the present day. It is the only timepiece-related industry still operating in Walthan.
In 1883, Charles Vander Woerd left his job as the mechanical superintendent of the American Watch Factory to join the recently formed Walthar Watch Tool This firm manufactured small machinery and dyes until it moved to Charles Street and erected the first wing of a projected two-wing, central-towered factory. The company purchased a tract of land on Charles Streetthat hadbeen part of the Town Farm's 17-lot parcel (see 1875 map). Measuring 160' x 25' described as "somewhat novel in design and competent judges state that it possesses considerable merit." The plant was closed in 1895 and remained vacant until it was purchased in 1901 by a new United States Watch Company (a New Jersey corporation headed by Theophilus Zebrugg). The Suffolk (cont) BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES Maps/Atlases - 1874, 1881, 1886, 1898, 1911 Barry, Ephraim L.
The City of Waltham, Massachusetts, Its Advantages to Manufacturers and as a Place to Live , Dinger, Paul- "Quality Clock Products", the New Tribune, Aug 8, 1980 Hurd, D. Hamilton History of Middlesex County, Vol III, 1890 of HAdLEsex ConET Sanderson, Edmund L. Waltham Industries, 195/ 8/85 WALIHAM, MA MRA United States Watch Company #114 256 Charles Street NATIONAL REGISTER CRITERIA STATEMENT, US Watch Company, continued adjacent to large windows provide ample illumination to facilitate the watchmaker's painstaking work. This property possesses integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association, and meets criteria A and C of the National Register of Historic Places.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE, continued Watch Company of Waltham was also purchased by Zebrugs, and its machinery and personnel transferred to the Charles Street plant, where the second wing was added according to the original plan. Having bought the rights to the "Howard" name from E. Howard and Company of Boston, the firm was known by 1910 as the E. Howard Watch Works. It was acquired by a new corporation which came to be called Howard Clock Products Inc.. Over time, this corporation has built up a successful business, making small parts, gear trains etc. It also manufactures repair parts for the many Howard clocks now in use, and has made complete clocks of the old Howard design. In 1977, Ronald A. Keeman sold the company to Richard Beckman. Keeman bought it back in 1978.
Dana Blackwell, company historian and clockmaker, persuaded the Keemans to pursue the reproduction antique clock business, turning from mass production, toward the re-issue of seven of their most popular wright driven, 19th century wall clocks. The U.S. Watch Company represents the work of the prolific late 19th/early 20th century Waltham building contractor Robert E. Glancy. In addition, he was a wholesale and retail dealer in "shingles, clapboards, laths, spruce frames and boards." He started his business in 1885. He was also an agent for the National Sheet Metal Roofing Company. By the early 1890's, his office was located at 53 Cushing Street, Waltham. School buildings were apparently Mr.Glancy's specialty. He built the Nurse's Training School Chauncy Newha11 School, Stearns School and Waltham Senior High School.
In addition he built the Moody Street fire station, ,the Urient Factory (bicycles), Emery Wheel Company's Factory, Dair's and Farnum's Foundry and many other Waltham buildings. ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE, continued Two dependencies stand behind the factory. A contributing one-story, brick power- house with smokestack is located behind and connected to the west wing. A non- contributing one story brick shed is centered behind the factory. Reerview collecticin: w.H.S.r ca.carly 2orhc. INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Wnu1al LLLO Community : Waltham, Ma. Form No: 114 Toperty Name: 4.5.Watch Co 256 Charlesst Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. ADVERTISEMENTS. 387 GLANCY, ITRACTOR AND BUILDER, WHOLESALE AND RETAIL DEALER IN 184 Shingles AND. Dimension,?
Timber, NAILS, BUILDERS' HARDWARE, -AXD- MOULDINGS. Agent tor THE NATIONAL SHEET Metal Roofing Company's Metallic Shingles. ESTIMATES GIVEN ON ALL CLASSES OF BUILDINGS. OFFICE, 53 CUSHINC STREET, WALTHAM, MASS WALTHAM/Watettocon DiRECTORT Staple to Inventory form at bottom E1899 - (aps Form 109001 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number Page OMB Approvel No. 1024-0018 AUG 2 | 1989 . Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group Name State Waltham MRA Middlesex County, MASSACHUSETTS Nomination/Type of Review Date/Signature Sul 81. St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church Complex NKeeper Substantiva Review 1/28189 82. Stanley, Leonard W., Hougetered 1n the Akeeper KelosesBgen 9/2/34 National Register Attest 83. Stark Building Entered in tha Natlunal Register /Keeper ( SuloresBeu 9/28/89 84.
Stark, Robert M., House Entered 1n the Natlonal Register 85. Stearns, Amos, House 86. Stewart, Henry, House 87. Swasey, James, House Entered 1n tha National Rerister 88. Iyler, Frank J., House Entered in the Natlonal Regiater 89. United States Watch Company interul 1a tha sational Regtater 90. Waltham Gas Light Company Entered in the National Register Attest fkeeper AelmnatDyen 9/884 Attest Intered in tha National Begister Akeeper Ailoersyen 9/28/54 Attest Entered in the Satared 1notistor f keeper Aelrußyan 9/25/84 Attest Hxooper Aeloreßogen 9/2569 Attest fReeper.
HelouBgu 7/269 Attest Jreoper Aelme Bgu 9/0582 Attest ftesper Aelmuyen2/2469 Attest UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET REQUESTED ACTION: NOMINATION PROPERTY United states Watch Company NAME: MULTIPLE Waltham MRA NAME: STATE & COUNTY: MASSACHUSETTS, Middlesex DATE RECEIVED: 8/21/89 DATE OF 16TH DAY: 9/21/89 ATE OF PENDING LIST: 9/05/8 DATE OF 45TH DAY: 0/05/8 DATE OF WEEKLY LIST: REFERENCE NUMBER: 89001494 NOMINATOR: STATE REASONS FOR REVIEW: REQUEST: N SAMPLE: COMMENT WAIVER: N VACCEPT RETURN ABSTRACT/SUMMARY COMMENTS: PROGRAM UNAPPROVED: N SLR DRAFT: N NATIONAL: REJECT Entered in the 9/2889 DATE BataDa Restistor 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 presentation OTHER COMMENTS Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to Phone Signed Date 25 l chanles st.i..
STEVEN GYURINA United states hatch Cempa waltheru, Ma. MRA. 256 Charles St # 114 256 Charles St watthan, Mà. MRA Vnitel Stales 58 172 .59 iP)09I 2230 L 1:88 s'00t 58-60 SOUTH 125 29 8/43 85 76 85. 166 78 69 po. 74 50 4496 166 155.82(d) 39 42 166(s) 98-643 114.93 98-643 49 66 49 N 8 32.86 50 3 3 55 89.3(d) 85(s) 93 * 34 93(d) 85(s 54.95| P) 42 98-618 9250 99-618 -43 ,1.34 9505 N°CHAR -70.99 41.72 98.37 101.92 73.25 65 65 105(s) 94 08 59.08 42 30 58 00 *99 105.5 25!½ 35 15 130.67 163.6 ST.
44 AVE *500 82-84 100 38 90(d) 95(s) 37 119 7905 273 36 23.56 36.05 -271-269 80 -265-259 74.08 -255-253 256 3.1233 40G0 134.58 23.64 THOSE 00067 28 5 360.38 35 3 848 20007 37-40-7 1,200 35 120 43 CITY OF WALTHAM, MAS MAPPING PREPARED BY: 57.65 48.5| 5322 N 10172 79.72 S8 S6 OL .69 2(s) * 22 45.98 27-2 21 102.59 -21-19- 34 34 99.29 17-15 16 : 12PRO 50 85(s) 68 74,5 34 21.201 66 80 23 36-38 60 - 39 2 50.25 100 100 80 100 * 100(8/99(0)155) 15(57 804170(s)/ 100 233 TOC(aT 9015) -251-245 234-230 70 65-5- HAMMER' 5,355) 8 79.85 345 34.5 330 42-14 50 50. 50 209E ST. 18-20- 50 22-24 79.05 4: 7.9.79 79.L 3- 40 1125 4 8 8 2 70 15 125 35 = 525-2300 WALTHAM, MA MRA U.S. Watch Co./Howard Clock 256 Charles Street 1" = 100' 1975; updated to 1987 Waltham Engineering Dept. #114 lot #59-28-1 N 98-795 OL -117.
Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000301