BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
FROM: WALTHAM : IneFdlTIer10,909 IlLUMINATING AUG 2 1 1989 NATICNAL REGISTER 1533 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 AREA FORM NO. 34 WALTHAM, MA MRA Town Waltham, MA Address 74 Rumford Ave. Historic Name O'Hara Waltham Dial Co. Use: Present Industrial Original DESCRIPTION same Date 1897 Source Sanderson Style late 19th c. brick industrial Architect _unknown - Exterior Wall Fabric brick Outbuildings none Major Alterations (with dates) towers added c.
early 1900's, north segment built (c1940) see reverse Condition good Works of the O'Hara Waltham Dial Company. 24 UTM REFERENCE 19/315240 /4692900 USGS QUADRANGLE NEWVTON SCALE 1:25,000 Moved no -- Date n/a = Acreage76-9-13 1.34.57,225 sq.ft. Setting Faces industrial area, w/turn of century residential area to the north rear wall overlooks Cram's Cove Recorded by Organization Date Edward W. Gordon Waltham Historical Comm. August 1986 revised by C. Jenkins NATIONAL REGISTER CRITERIA STATEMENT (if applicable) The 0'Hara Waltham Dial Co. occupies an important place within Waltham's remarkable collection of 19th century watch manufacturing related buildings.Founded in Waltham in 1897 by Daniel O'Hara of Cincinnati, Ohio, its well-crafted brick plant at 74 Rumford Ave. was built in 1897.
It was the only company in Waltham devoted exclusively to making plain and hand-decorated watch dials as well as a wide range of precision work on glass, enamel, china and porcelain. The 0'Hara Wältham Dial Co. possesses integrity of location, design (partial), setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association, and meets friteria A and C of the National Register of Historic Places. ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE Describe important architectural features and evaluate in terms of other buildings within the community. #74 Rumford Ave. is a somewhat altered example of a late 19th century brick industrial building. Essentially L-shaped in plan, the 3-story structure features distinctive panel brick corner towers. In general its main facade exhibits brickwork piers which extend from ground level to just above the second story.
The 5-bay segment to the north of the southwest corner tower exhibits a center entrance set within a graceful arch. In general windows contain multipane wood sash and exhibit header brick lintels. This building was originally enclosed by broad gable roofs--as indicated on the 1898 Bird's-eye-view map. Evidently the low, 1-story segment abutting the cove-side wall also had a gable roof. this plant's distinctive panelled corner. towers were added at some point after 1900, with the easternmost added first. Later and non-contributing additions include the one-story, dix-bay, brick west wing, rear wood sheds, and mid-20th century replacement sash at the second story. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE Explain the role owners played in local or state history and how the building relates to the development of the community. The 0'Hara Waltham Dial Co. was one of the late 19th c.
"spin-off" companies from the American Watch Co. It was founded by former A.W. Co. employees Edwin D. Wetherbee. and Daniel O'Hara. The former had been a watch dial maker while the latter had made solid gold watch cases. Wetherbee was born in Hanover, N.H. in 1857 and came to Waltham about 1878. He began to make watch 'ials on Moody St., but on the north side of the river. Daniel O'Hara was born in Newport, Kentucky and initially worked for the Duhme Jewelery Co., across the - Ohio River in Cincinnati. - set up shop on Bedford St., Waltham and operated under the name Waltham Dial Co. Eventually Wetherbee dropped out of the business and this company became known as 0'Hara Waltham Dial Co. Its brick plant was created in 1897 on the eastern shores of "the Island," a peninsula which projects from the Newton shore.
Besides making plain and decorated watch dials, this company made a great variety of even buttons for political campaigns. It was reported in "Representative Businessmen of Waltham" (1893), that"their (Wetherbee and 0'Hara) business does not compete with or in way injure that of such watch manufacturers as make their own dials; it is a distinct line in itself; requiring a special plant, special manipulation and special ability and training" etc. (cont) * BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES Maps--1874, 1886, 1898, 1911, 1915 "Representative Businessmen of Waltham"--.893 W.P.L. Collection Nancy Seymour--"The Emergence of Waltham's South Side, from the Seventeenth Century to the Mid-Iwentieth." E.L. Sanderson--Waltham Industries--1957 8/85 INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Commnity: waltham, Ma.
Form No: 34 Property Name: 74 Rumford Ave Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE (cont'd) Mr. O'Hara died in November 1912. Mr. Wetherbee died in January, 1913. On January 14, 1913, the 0'Hara Waltham Dial Co. was incorporated under the name of 0'Hara Waltham Dial Co., with Arthur Lyman president, Charles F. Stone, treasurer and Clarence F. French, Secretary The O'Hara Dial Co. experienced economic difficulties during the Depression. During World War I this firm reached its peak employment figure, about 2000. By the late 1950's the firm closed its doors, and the factory was taken over by Eagle Signal Corp., makers of traffic signals headquartered in Moline, Ill. Currently the building is owned by a luggage and canvas product manufacturer, Pantos Canvas Corp.
"The Island"'s Crescent Park was opened to housing and industrial development in 1890. In addition to the 0'Hara Waltham Dial Co., canal and bicycle builders found this location congenial too--Crescent Park had been the property of Stephen Cram until 1872--Cram is seen to have kept several piggeries on "the Island" REPRESENTATIVE BUSINESS MEN OF WALTHAN. -|393 WALTHAM DIAL CO., Dials and Enameled Goods of Every Description Mannfactured and Painted to Order in any Quuntity; Fine Watch Dials a Specialty; Waltham, Mass. - The enterprise conducted hr the Waltham Dial Company is of comparativels recent origin, it haring been inaugurated in September, 1890 ; but it is already firmly established and widels popular, for it sup plied a long-felt want in the watch trade, and it has been received in a war which sbows that the expectations of its founder were justifed br the facts.
He beliered that there was a feld in this country for a manufacturer of fine wateh dials, who conld furnish within ten days duplicates of the finest watch dials known to the trade, or make special designs for the same; and, having this belief, thes constructed in this citr a new and costlr plant for this specific work, embracing all the tools, methods and processes known to modern dial makers and enamel workers in this country and Europe. Their facilities for the manu- facture of dials and enameled goods of every description are sim- pls unequaled.
They have exclusive control of the most improved processes for making and painting dials in quantitr, and patented machines and derices pertaining thereto, and they accom- plish better and more lasting results than would otherwise be pos- sible ; inviting comparison of their work with that of other mann- It is worthy of note that their business does not com- pete with nor in any way injure that of such watch manufacturers as make their own dials ; it is a distinct line in itself, requiring a special plant, special manipulation and special ability and train- ing, and it has been welcomed by the leading members of the trade as a verj valuable assistant; the company supplying some watch factories with dials for their entire product, and otbers with dials for their high grade movements.
Althongh a specialty is made of the manufacture of fne watch dials, this work is by no means allowed to interfere with otber departinents of the business, and persons erperimenting on novelties in glass, china, porcelain, enamel, etc., which require painting and "firing," can have their ideas carried out by expert artists and specialists employed **he company. Orders for fne scales, indicators and gradations for horological, optical, chem- electrical, surgical and cxperimental purposes, and, in fact, any kind of work on glass, enamel, china and porcelain requiring accuraer and precision, will be performed at short notice and at moderate rates. The proprietor of this establishment, Mr. Daniel O'Hara, is a native of Cincin- nati, Ohio, and has had long and varied experience in the dial and enamel business.
He gives tbe many departments of the enterprise close and careful superrision, and is evidently determined to spare neither trouble nor expense in keeping it at the higbest attainable standard of excellence. Staple to Inventory form at bottom INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSEITS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Conmunity : wai thôm, Form No: 34 Property Name: O Hara Dial Co 24 RumFaRn Ave Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. ARTOT WALTHAM DIALCU. From: 1899 Birdi Ere view Map of waltham betore addision or towered seqments. Staple to Inventory form at bottom - (UPS Form 10000a 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 61. Mount Feaks Cemetery Date/Signature Entered in the Hational Register feaopor AuloeBgan 9/25/04 Attest Sutt 62. Mt. Prospect School for Boys Substantive Revie fikeeper Attest fatfd Sawage 3/9/10 Entered 1n 63. Murray, Robert, House National Begisten fikeeper Allour Byu 9pt/t Attest Sull 64. Newton Street Bridge Substantive Review fobkeoper BaHX Sauge 1/8/8. Attest 65. North Lexington Street Historic District tered in the jReeper 6 AelresDyan 1/28/84 National Regietos Attest 66. O'Hara Waltham Dial Company Entered in the National Register 67. Olcott, John E., House Intered 1n tha Nationai Register jutoper Aelruebgun zpe/44 Attest AiloueByen 1/2669 68. Oxford, The 69.
Peck, John M., House Keeper Attest Intered in the National Regiater fraepor HiloreByen 9/25155 Attest Eatered 1a tbe National Begistar futeeper AhlmuBgan 2/21185 Attest Sl 10.
Piety Corner Historic District fo Subataativa Review Keeper Bosh Sarge 79/90 Attest UNTTED STATRTDEPAPAROOEIATERIOR NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET REQUESTED ACTION: NOMINATION PROPERTY O'Hara Waltham Dial Company NAME: MULTIPLE Waltham MRA NAME: STATE & COUNTY: MASSACHUSETTS, Middlesex DATE RECEIVED: 8/21/89 DATE OF 16TH DAY: 9/21/89 DATE OF PENDING LIST: 9/05/89 DATE OF 45TH DAY: DATE OF WEEKLY LIST: REFERENCE NUMBER: 89001533 NOMINATOR: STATE REASONS FOR REVIEW: REQUEST: N SAMPLE: COMMENT WAIVER: N VACCEPT RETURN ABSTRACT/SUMMARY COMMENTS: PROGRAM UNAPPROVED: N SLR DRAFT: N NATIONAL: N _REJECT 9/35/89 oure Entered in the National Begister 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 STEVEN GYURINA Dial Cempayy MHC # 34 74 Rumfond Are wAltham Ma MRA.
GRAM'S A/K/A COVE PACKARD COVE 10 731.29 146.48 2. 1201 66 IN 119 / / 6 30-32 SRD 45- 11 60 46.34 52-- $56 AVE. 133,89 146.63 76.75 93.09 109.37 283-234 6 <5. 4 185.2 208 1 110 (s) 1-145 23.58 55.88 1835 4 40.04 CYCLE (PRIVATE) 57.17 ()In -92:81 59 3 B318) BUTTRICK 140(s) 377 +0:9 8 LA *N 198. 2 204 48.76 318.5 18 25 1 4642 3 15019317% EE: 000 (o, (8) 340() 250 19 City of Waltt -ROINO 250(3) 10(s) *381.5 263(s) 150 14 155(+) WALTHAM, MA MRA O'Hara Waltham Dial Co. 74 Rumford Ave. 1"'= 100' 1975; updated to 1987 Waltham Engineering Dept. lot #76-9-13 WALTHAM NEWTON #34 N Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000301