BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
FORM B - BUILDING MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION 80 BOYLSTON STREET BOSTON, MA 02116 AUG 2 1 1989 1531 NAT. RECISTER 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 su aHtached map AREA FORM NO. 51 Town WALTHAM, MA MRA Waltham, MA Address 96 Pine Street Historic Name Waltham Gas and Electric Co. Generating Plant Use: Present Electric substation Original DESCRIPTION Electric Generating Date 1900~1909 Source Patrick Korrell. Boston Edison Style early 20th c.
utilitarian Architect unknown-- Exterior Wall Fabric Poured, scored concrete Outbufldings _Transformer house to rear - NC Major Alterations (with dates) Windows fillec with concrete N.D. Condition good UTM REFERENCE USGS QUADRANGLE SCALE 1:25,000 19/316100 /4693150 NEIVTON Moved - Date n/a -- Acreage 0.19.A 40,049sg.ft. 69-3-3 Setting Faces residential street, to rear are mid-19th c. bldgs. of Waltham Gas Light Co. Recorded by Organization Ed Gordon Waltham Hist. Comm. Date July. 1986 revised by C. Jenkins 3/88 NATIONAL REGISTER CRITERIA STATEMENT (if applicable) 96 Pine St. is an interesting, essentially intact example of an early 1900's electric generating station. It was initially operated by the Waltham Gas and Electric Company.
96 Pine Street satisfies criteria A and C of the National Register of Historic Places, and possesses integrity of location, design, materials, workmanship, feeling and asso- ciations. ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE Describe important architectural features and evaluate in terms of other buildings within the community. This electric generation station is composed of poured and scored concrete. Its boxy rectangular form and rusticated walls are reminicent of a truncated Italianate palazzo. The nine bay Pine Street facade is symmetrically composed with long first story windows aligned with squared second story windows; all are headed by splayed lintels derived from the Federal style. The rear elevation is similiar and gains an exposed basement story due to the sloping site.
The side elevations are also similiar to each other, exhibiting a more random fenestration pattern along with entries in the outer bays. The window openings toward the front of the building are at a higher level. All window openings have been filled with concrete. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE Explain the role owners played in local or state history and how the building relates to the development of the community. The Waltham Gas and Electric Company built this electrical generating plant at some point between 1900-1909. The building's site appears vacant on the 1900 Atlas. At that time three residences were located on this parcel including 62-64, 68-74 and 100 Pine St. (all of these buildings are no longer extant). According to Patricia Korell of Boston Edison, the Waltham Gas and Electric Co. sold the plant to Boston Edison in 1909. The Waltham Gas Light Co. was incorporated in 1853.
In 1886 an electric plant was added to the equipment and on Dec. 24 of that year the electric light was first used for street and store illumination in the city. In 1890, a contract was made to supply power to the Newton St. R.R., over the next two decades there would be an increasing demand for power for industrial pursuits. To meet the needs of the young and growing municipality (Waltham was incorporated as a city in 1884) new buildings were erected by the Gas Company--including the electric generating substation at 96 Pine St. In 1917 the steam apparatus was retired and the building became a substation. Although the original brick gas company buildings are now used as a paperbag factory, this later building continues the site's 130 year association with the illuminating industry. Pine St. ranks among the oldest streets on Waltham's South Side.
In 1854, it was one of only two east-west streets east of Moody St. Pine St. linked Moody St. with Newton St. It was probably laid out after the completion of the Moody St. bridge in 1846. BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES Priscilla Korell--Boston Edison Edmund Sanderson--Waltham Industries, Waltham Historical Society, 1957. D.H. Hurd--History of Middlesex Co., 1890 Atlases--1900,1911, 1915 8/85 'NPS Form 10900a United States Department of the Interlor 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 91. Waltham Gas and Electric Company Generating Plant Entered in the National Register 92.
Waltham High School Entered 1n the National Repister Date/Signature Fcopor Aelmpyu qpe4i Attest_ fokeeperSulouByeu 9/28/69 Attest 93. Waltham Water Works Shop Jokeeper 6 Aelmepjen 9/0/54 Attest Set 94. Warren, Machan, House subatuatiye lovion fürkeoper Setf Sauage 319/201 Attest 95. Wellington, Benjamin, House entered in the National Register fKeeper AulrerAjas 9/25/89 Attest 96. Wellington, William, House Entered in tbe National Register foxeepor@Delau1Byen 9/24684 Attest 97. Wellington--Castner House fokeeper ShilouAyen 9/24 Attest 98. Wetherbee House Entered in the National Register fokeeper ShlmByeu9/28164 Attest 99. White, Warren, House Entered in the Natlonal Ragister foseeper. AelrerByan 9/2444 Attest 100.
Whitney--Farrington--Cook House farkeeper Aelorbgun 9/21/59 Attest =*.011::11 Bojisüsz UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET REQUESTED ACTION: NOMINATION PROPERTY Waltham Gas and Electric Company Generating Plant 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: 10/05/89 DATE OF WEEKLY LIST: REFERENCE NUMBER: 89001537 NOMINATOR: STATE REASONS FOR REVIEW: OPPERL: N PATA PROBLEM: N TANDSCAPE: N LESS THAN 50 VEARS: N PDIL: PROGRAM UNAPPROVED: N REQUEST: N SAMPLE: N SLR DRAFT: N NATIONAL: COMMENT WAIVER: N LACCEPT RETURN REJECT Entered in the 9/25/89 DATE RAterna Rogietez 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 photographs presentation OTHER COMMENTS Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to Phone Signed Date WalthamGast Electric c.
Gavetig Pleat 9o Pine 8r ute 61 walthaw Mnt Ma 3.002 15 56(3) 8 92 100 7 60.4 25 -100 6 100 63. 23-210 23 17-15 100 38(Plan) 4 100 864 6(L77( 652 3(82) 2. 101.4 58.5 -57:50 ST. 7.6 63=55 COOPER ,81.59 16191 ST. (PRIVATE) 116,66 2 tham 242.32 224.47 198.39 212 8065 Boston * 3 Edison Company 69-7 80 7-79 255 96 -8083 60 85=87-- 5332 3 79. 78.62 1aNg -.58 74.94 .23 63 30 4 54.05 15 55.1)8 59.83 169.8 LOWEL 1605 (PRIVATE) PL 146:8 6 80 226.98 100- 100 100 10U 59.5 100 65 60 66-68 80 65- 70 62 578-80 8 70 100 L50 5 84-86 81-8: 60 65 es 68 gin 151.5 P/O 60-32-1 City of Walth BOSTON 173.37 1,31 5 50 180 173.24 MAINE, B.R.- 149.96 83-124 83-339 66 821 2 French-American {OEI Victory Club, inc 1S 85030 10533-339 French-Americon Victory Club,inc 3 SI991 E61 4 -N5193 2174 85.5 103.6 10; 40.36 1.99 88j 83 -103-105-107-109 55.g 3c3 3 -12-10 731 16:/g 75:15 55 47 79.9 45.
93.6 65 6 104 35057 17.25 5 12 GORHAM 65 4 53.33 WALTHAM, MA MRA Waltham Gas and Electric Co. Generating #51 Plant 96 Pine Street 1" = 100' 1975; updated to 1987 Waltham Engineering Dept. lot :#69-3-3 13 7500 15 STONEY BATTER PLAYGROUND 137650 A NAI 1203 17600 MC WHITCOMB 11000 BENEFIT 23933 15000 LM LCOURT 20700 FITCHBURG 14830 5000 10000 5808 S L 5 ST 7800 (kn) 6835 Ds6x 4000 773M07 Div) ST 5000 000 4S00 1901 zos B000 58715 16200 (600c 4 1970 Atlas, City of Waltham Compiled by the Waltham Engineering Division Scale: 1 inch = 140 ft. AN 3985 Bsia TSt 4730 6110 2020 Y3 Waltham, Massachusetts MRA 96 Pine Street 3-B-8A MHC #51 ZEF Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000301