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 Photo (3"x 3" or 3"x5", black and white) Indicate address of property on back of photo. Staple to left side of form. AUG 2 1 1989 1543 AREA NATIO REGISTER FORM NO. 49 Town WALTHAM, MA MRA Waltham, Massachusetts Address 376 - 390 Moody Street Historic Name Harrington Block Use Present commercial block Original " DESCRIPTION Date - Source 1884 - 1885 Daily Free Press Style Panel Brick/ Queen Anne Architect C. F. Parks Exterior Wall Fabric brick Outbuildings _ 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 ztached shect Major Alterations (with dates) second story windows modern store front treatments (n.d.) Condition good Moved no - Date n/a: Acreagle,230 sq. ft. 0.23A 69-17-20 Setting key component in Moody Street commercial strip that is for the most part, heavily altered UTM REFERENCE 19/315 770/4693010 USGS QUADRANGLE NEWVTON SCALE 1:25,000 Recorded by Edward W. Gordon Organization _ Waltham Date June, 1986 Historical Comm. revised by C. Jenkins 3/88 NATIONAL REGISTER CRITERIA STATEMENT (if applicable) The Harrington Block possessesintegrity of location, design, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association. It is significant as an extremely well documented building associated with Moody Street's development as Waltham's most fashionable shopping district at the turn-of- the-century.
It is one of the earliest extant masonry blocks which came to replace the pre- vious mix of wood-frame shops and residences. It is also important as a good example of the Panel Rrick/Queen Anne style, and as a well preserved commercial block in an area of Moody Street that has been heavily impacted by drastic alterations. The Harrington Block thus meets criteria 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. The Harrington Block is a handsome example of a Panel Brick/Queen Anne commercial block. Although its original ground-floor store fronts have been altered by modern surface treatments, this building retains the masonry fabric of its main facade's upper floors. The original brick-work of its side walls are also intact.
Its facades are divided vertically by brickwork piers - four, two bay segments on its main facade, and six-bay segments on its Cushing Street wall. Brickwork courses in the form of angled bricks and raised stretcher bricks appear between floors two and three, and between the third floor windows and the parapet. The second floor windows of the main facade appear to have been widened. The other windows of the upper floors retain their original size. The third floor windows exhibit wooden enframements and are recessed within a segmental arched opening. (cont) HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE Explain the role owners played in local or state history and how the building relates to the development of the community.
Built in 1884/1885, the historical significance of the Harrington Block is threefold: first and foremost, this building is part of Waltham's small, but choice collection of Panel Brick/ Queen Anne conmercial masonry blocks. Secondly this building has important historical associations with Charles Harrington, Boston Manufacturing Company Bleachery employee, contractor and real estate speculator. Thirdly, his building provides a physical link with Moody Street's late 19th century period of emergence as Waltham's nost important commercial center. Construction of the Harrington Block began in October 1884 - at that tine the bomksoeateotasecidered be lalthastentined mportet te t lar from the center oi the city.
Moody Street, the Connelly Block (1878) was located closer to the Moody Street Bridge at the corner of Crescent and Moody Streets - later reworked in the Art Decco style as part of Grover Cronin's department store). At any rate, Nicholas Roach was responsible for the block's "solid wall foundation." The new block would have a frontage of 100'and measure 60'deep, standing three stories tall. The new block was built with four large stores with basements and two front stairways.
The second and third floors contained (cont) BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES "Waltham Souvenir", author unknown, 1905, see WPL archives Maps/Atlases 1874, 1881, 1883, 1900 Waltham/Watertown Directories - 1880's, 1890's Daily Free Press, October 4,1884; Sept 6, 1886 Obituary- Charles Harrington- Daily Free Press, June 1, 1888 Bacon, G.F., "Waltham and Watertown Representative Businessinen", 1893 8/85 MHC#49 waitnam, ra Harrington Block ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE, 376 Moody Street, continued The arch is composed of small, square, header-brick-like forms, which are recessed into the wall surface. Considerable architectural interest is concentrated at the cornice and parapet level with a stepped corbel table (broken by the brickwork piers) and central parapet gable, containing a brownstone plaque which reads "Harrington Block, 1885" in raised stone lettering.
The plaque is set within a blind-gauged brickwork arch. The parapet's center gable is flanked by short corbelled brickwork piers with stone caps. The piers, in turn, are flanked by low parapet walls which exhibit billet-work decoration. The Cushing Street wall's surface treatment are identical to those of the main facade. Four short chimneys rise from the Cushing Street Wall. In general, the Harrington Block's upper floors are characterized by slender, vertical and horizontal brickwork forms with large rectangular, recessed panels containing windows - still in evidence is quality design and craftsmanship. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE, continued five tenements of seven and eight rooms each. Each tenement was provided with "a convenient cellar in which to place coal or fuel. Each tenement featured "folding doors" between the two front rooms.
To the rear of the building was a courtyard which was designed as a clothes hanging area. Waltham's citizens involved in the Harrington Block's construction are well documented and include Nelson F. Libbey, foreman of the woodworkers (see form on the Libby House, 147-149 Weston Street); A. D. French, cornice and woodwork; Watson and Stearns, plumber; Mr. Kilbain, painting- drawn by Charles F. Parks. He is listed in 1880's Waltham/Watertown Directories as a civil engineer with house and office at Adams near Chestnut Street, on the South Side. The Harrington Block was named in honor of Charles Harrington. He was a resident of the Bleachery neighborhood (120 Willow Street) and for fourty-four years was in the employ of the BMC Bleachery. Mr.
Harrington, "early developed an interest in real estate transactions and purchased a large tract of land of the late George Lyman, comprising what is now (1888) the S. D. Warren either side of Linden Street from Beaver Street half the distance to Main Street." Harrington is credited with the construction of three houses on Linden Street - he was responsible for one half of Linden Street's construction, the other half was completed by the town. He was connected with numerous Waltham social and civic organizations including The Odd Fellow, Loan and Fund Association, Fire Brigade and Agricultural Society. He died in May, 1888. The Harrington Block has important historical associations with several late 19th/early 20th century Waltham commercial concerns. At least one of its commercial spaces was rented before this block's completion in October, 1885. Mr. Elmer E.
Tennison, druggist, rented space in this building a month or so before its completion. During the early 1890's, P.J.H. Lewis, a Boston candy kitchen was located here. Lewis, a native of Yarmouth, Cape Cod "manufactured only the purest confections." For many years E. Totman and Company, hardware was located in the Harrington Block. Iwo commercial concerns specialized in "high grade, thoroughly reliable hardware." This firm carried "builder's materials, mechanic's tools, fine cutlery, paints, oils, varnishes, brushes waicnam, MA MKA Harrington Block waltham, Ma 376-390 Moody st. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE, continued *49 etc." Mr. Totman began his hardware business in Maine. For many years he was a member of Waltham's Masonic Fraternity and Businessmen's Association.
As the Harrington Block neared completion in the fall of 1885, a reporter for the Daily Free Press noted that "the whole combined makes an imposing and handsome block, an investment which is beneficial to the city, and will be profitable to the builder. The building is rightly named Harrington's Block." .=: DREER 1t2. TE EE HIKKINGTON c. early 18705 WALThAM, MA 376-390 Moody st. Waltham, MA MRA Harrington Block THarrington Block MOODY STREET, FROM HARRINGTON BLOCK 1 17 FROM: WALTHAM IINUSTRATED-UNDATED- Waltham Pub. Library c. late 1880's/eary 189ó's 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 2 / 1989 Section number Page Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group Waltham MRA State Middlesex County, MASSACHUSETTS Nomination/Type of Review 41.
Hall, Henry C., House ntored 1n the Matioua Regiater 42. Hammond, Ephraim, House Substantive Revlew 43. Hammond, Jonathan, House Entered in the National Regiater 44. Hardy, Nahum, House Intered in the Mationad Regtator 45. Harrington Block Entered in the Nationad Register 46. Harrington, Samuel, Housfntered in the Matlonal Begiater 47. Hill, Rev. Thomas, Houseentered 1n the National Register 48. Hobbs Brook Basin Gate House a 1a tha aailound degiater 49. Holbrook, Richard, Houses antered in the Mational Register 50. Johnson, Edwin C., House Entered in the National Regiater Date/Signature F Kaopor Hulelyu 9/20/4 Attest Sarxeper Boskh.
Sauge ehels9 Attest /keoper AelmusByu 2/20164 Attest Vkeeper Aelrußyu 9p8/84 Attest Reeper 9/28/64 Attest VKeeper delmeßyum 164 Attest /Reeper Ahlmntyun 9/26154 Attest /Keeper HelreByur 9/28/84 Attest /Keeper_ KlelvesBgun 1/28/84 Attest Keeper SklrreBya 9/28/59 Attest UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET REQUESTED ACTION: NOMINATION PROPERTY NAME: Harrington Block MULTIPLE NAME: Waltham MRA STATE & COUNTY: MASSACHUSETTS, Middlesex DATE RECEIVED: 8/21/89 DATE OF 16TH DAY: 9/21/89 DATE OF WEEKLY LIST: DATE OF PENDING LIST: 9/05/89 DATE OF 45TH DAY: 10/05/89 REFERENCE NUMBER: 89001543 NOMINATOR: STATE REASONS FOR REVIEW: APPEAL: N DATA PROBLEM: N LANDSCAPE: N LESS THAN 50 YEARS: OTHER: N PDIL: N PERIOD: N PROGRAM UNAPPROVED: REQUEST: N SAMPLE: N SLR DRAFT: N NATIONAL: N N N COMMENT WAIVER: N LÁCCEPT RETURN REJECT 9/28/89 _DATE Entered in the National Registen 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 USGS maps _photographs _sketch maps OTHER COMMENTS Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to Phone Signed Date _presentation Vernon's SI 2ER HOOVER ASSABET Mute #49 Haniyton Block 576-390 Moody ost.
380 RFAUTYVILLE -DANCEWEAR -AEROBICS -SKATING RUSH ASSOC MANUFACTUR R'S Ver waltham, MA MRA MHtC #49 Haminton Block. 376-390 Moody st. 55078|5660/ 555 2 13809 WHITNE 10273 84 ST. 7800 1/3 6668 X3567 5500 12 000 705778 436 432 428 4i1 405 39 416 412 106 401 395 4 313 Tm A40ODY 353 311 337 331 329 301 370 350 GOR 25 8 23800 /35/9 7723 3200 8235 UNTON 7268 5000 TAYÜOR B3i 20-22 7000 3340 SHINF 19-21 4590 8 24737 0850 N *10 Hon 7 2150 20-33 29 5400 13500 6715- 33-35 a6ca 32490 7495 59/3 = 7900 3500 2793 Taao 48 - S0 4912 THLALL 60 18 6477 3533 5800 9000 ST.. s*T 20.
3620 1307 60 6300 116 -115 1970 Atlas, City of Waltham Compiled by the Waltham Engineering Division Scale: 1 inch = 140 feet Waltham, Massachusetts MRA 376-390 Moody Street 4-L-9 LOWEI 84.29 309-299 62.93 323-35 50 333-329 133.62 357-339 371359 38l:373 6 314-300 155.38 92 9B-757 318 45 0a 60.5 35 145 8 462 .82 59.99 34.96 83- 29-61 ruf .65 326-3 7 127.65 48.91 102.64 348:342 78 81 41.21 64.26 83-317 44 354- 83-317 38.86 102.7 12147 368-362 01.5 64.72 64,95 0370 35.5 15 90 61.5 14 90 14-16 6/ 37.S 24 82 69 GORDON 23-35. "12.58 509 94 102.88 (PRIVATE) 129 22 ST 76.02 WALTHAM, MA MRA Harrington Block #49 376-390 Moody Street 1" = 100' 1975; updated to 1987 Waltham Engineering Dept. lot #69-17-20 N .R.AUIA.
103 20 41 -10- 424-415-414 4126406 404:398 5158 167.73 98 - 751 2 50.601 102.5 112.5 8 22 gag 5123 64 50.49= 71 78.83 67 13 423 98R 86.43 98-411 50 4g 200 2900835 5015 71 76.51 436- 50.05 50/8 28.25 2 60 50.5 94 39 32 98 100 91-93 -442 456 56 56 99R 6715 99-101 69 87 86 2 INU 67.15 CHEST 122.7 69.45 34.45 98-754 105.44 80-753 1210 10 9 101.64 85 (s) 10175 Cathoiig (3) 162 DArehgisrao Boston Roman Catholic 60 50 Archbishop of Boston 85 (g) 23 603)g 160(s) FRomon Umoric (OTsT 90(s) Archbishop of ~* Roman Cath. 14-16 +3 60 63. 365 3 675 00 60 L:50 Boston Archbishop 85(3) -20 19 -24-24%-26 130 (s) of Boston 38.11 --23 29 32 87(s) -44 90 38 55 HOQ 48 39-4 101.4 65(s 0t1 100 I0O * 7 8 9 /Roman Cothoiil 36.64 9L44 55 Acsnbishos .38 Boston 5649 48 24 6119 298 60 65 (g) 100 815 100.46 80(sjl 100.54 Roman Cam 75.
10 Arch.of Boston 43(s) 47 44 484 14 100 70 4-6 5-+7 46 13 12 45.7 7(5 Roman Catt 35.3 28-30 Aranosta Boston 32 19025 34-36 60(s (e97(6) Q 50.00 209 102.79 88- 102.79 98- 46 53.00 28 .70 50.00 Roman Catholic Archbishop 19(3) of Boston 8 66 150 70 10 70 106 105 50.28 9 90 70 100 II°CHESTNUT 65 122 6Q ido 7 48.46 6 SNUTAVE 4o-.2 60 8 50 I0 90 058- Lim 1202 150 35.847 18.8 $39 99 64 c |1 0 O-. 10 58 Roman 9 19 Carolico -Arcribjis hop= 8 00 Bos ton 63.5 88 50 10 6.3 TAYLE 25 o 25 -3E. 80.8 I0 -50 808 768 38 66 3177 6 9 76.3 -60 56 624T 63-- HA 62R 1 742 CUSHING 58. 497 A 103.3 10A 58 63.38 62-60 FT3 98.6 66 8 64.98 2 20 104 4108 J03.3 7 JOL8 : 4 1019 10345 103.5 5 ST. Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000301