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. 1544 WALTHAM, MA MRA AREA FORM NO. AUG 2 1 1989 44.- WATIONAL Waltham, Massachusetts Town Address 82 Maple Street Historic Name Beth Eden Baptist Church Use Present church Original church DESCRIPTION Date 1888 - 1891 Source Shirley, Lilian S., "Beth Eden Baptist Church" , W.P.L. archives Style _ Romanesque Architect unknown Exterior Wall Fabric rubblestone and brick Outbuildings none 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 sce attached map UTM REFERENCE 19315640 4698830 USGS QUADRANGLE _ NEIVIDN SCALE :25,000 Major Alterations (with dates) design substantially the same Renovated : after fire in 1908 Condition good Moved Acreage no Date 0., 12,537 sq.ft. A 69-31-17 Located in densely Setting settled residential area of mid-late 19th century houses. Recorded by Rupert A.M. Davis Edward W. Gordon Organization Waltham Hist. Comm. Date June, 1986 revised by C. Jenkins 3/88 - NATIONAL REGISTER CRITERIA STATEMENT (if applicable) Beth Eden Baptist Church possesses integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and associations. It is significant as the oldest extant church on the South Side, reflecting the intense development of the area by the "Watch" in the late 19th century, and the heavily protestant bias of that development.
It has also been a strong focus of community activity throughout its history. Finally, it is a good local example of the Romanesque Revival style. The church 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. Designed in a Romanesque Revival style by W.M. Butterfield of Manchester, N.H., Beth Eden was opened for services in 1891. Constructed of brick with fieldstone course rising to the middle of the Ist floor, the church's distinguishing feature is its clock flanked by pinnacles. steepled belltower, housing a foursided simple tracery flank the entrance. Lrong ot tho e, The main entrance, comprised of a large round arch, shelters two doors surrounded by batten board panelling.
Romanesque windows with The high peaked roof of the nave is broken by projecting transeptal bays. The interior contains stained glass windows. Only minor design changes were made in a post-fire renovation of 1908. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE Explain the role owners played in local or state history and how the building relates to the development of the community. Apparently the oldest extant church in Waltham's South Side neighborhood, Beth Eden Church was formed by members of Waltham's first Baptist Church in 1887. Reorganised by the local Baptist Council in the same year, the congregation purchased land on Maple Street in 1888; and in 1891, the present building was completed, at a cost of $80,000.
While the congregation declined in the 1890's panic, and a fire in 1908 destroyed a large part of the building (rebuilding started immediately with accomodation for an organ in the sanctuary), by its 25th anniversary the membership in Beth Eden (meaning "House of Pleasantness") had reached 500. During the First World War, eleven memorial chimes, donated by Deacon George Hudson were installed in the tower. First played in December 1916, these bells were heard across the nation on NBC during the Hostage Crisis when they were rung at noontime for 444 days. Before the bells were put in place, a city owned clock was installed in the tower with funds raised by a Citizen's Committee. The clock was electrified in 1962. The first World War also saw Beth Eden serve as a center for eccumenical Red Cross activity.
In this century, Beth Eden has remained active a a spiritual force on BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES Shirley, Lillian S."Beth Eden Baptist Church", Shirley, Lilliar S.,N.D., Waltham Public Library archives "Twenty-Fifth Anniversary of Beth Eden Baptist Church, Waltham, Mass" 1912, author unknown, Waltham Public Library files. 8/85 WALIHAM, MA MRA Beth Eden Baptist Church #44 82 Maple Street HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE, Beth Eden Baptist Church, cont. the South Side. It has been involved with the Waltham council of Churches and the Conference for Church Unity. It supports such groups as the Battered Women's Support Committee, the Seaman's Mission and UNICEF. Recently the vacation Bible school, holding classes in July, has been revived.
Changes to the building have included a new roof, a new memorial window and a Casavant organ- From: T698 Binds-URVicH INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston WALIMAM, MA MKA Commmity: waltham, M7. Fonn No: 44 Property Name: 8 2. Mzple st Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. Vialthem Pubiie LPRARY BAPTIST CHURGH. 1891. Staple to Inventory form at bottom Beth Eden Baptist church, undated photo Collechon waltham rubhc Library WALTHAM, MA MRA A000 MHC #44 NF5 Form10-000- (8-86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number . Page OMB Agprovel No.
1024-0018 AUG 2 / 1989 Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group Name State Waltham MRA Middlesex County, MASSACHUSETTS Nomination/Type of Review Date/Signature Cover Subatantivo Revio® Keeper 15/ 1. American Waltham Watch Company Entered in tho -Keeper ( MeluusBgun Historic District National Register 2/2/57 2/25/84 2. American Watch Tool Company Attest UKeeper XulmuBgur 1/4/14 Entered in the National Register Attest 3. Andrews, Joseph, House Entered in the National Register AalamrBgaa 9/28/09 Attest 4. Baker, Charles, House Entered in the Hational Begister LReeper OplunByu 9/21/59 Attest 5. Baker, Charles, Property Entered in tha National Register Keeper AelvessSgun 9/28/89 Attest 6. Banks, E. Sybbill, House Entered in the National Reglster VReeper AlmuBgu 9/2569 Subatantive Review Sd. Barnes, Thomas, House DOF/OWNER: OBJECTION Attest Skoeper Cligible (etSreze 1/29/8 8.
Beard, Josiah, House intered in the Natlonal Begister LKeeper AilreByu 2/20/89 Attest S.R 9. Beth Eden Baptist Church Subatantive Revi. foKeeper Bethoy Sauge 9/28/89 Attest 10. Boston Manufacturing Company Housing (380--410 River St.) Entered in the National Register /Reeper Attest Tlou Ayu 9/=/5 NPS Form 10-900-a (8-86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet OMB Approvel No. 1024-0018 Section number .
Page - SUPPLEMENTARY LISTING RECORD for NRIS Reference Number: 89001544 Date Listed: 09/28/89 Beth Eden Baptist Church Property Name Middlesex County MA State Waltham MRA Multiple Name This property is listed in the National Register of Historic Places in accordance with the attached nomination documentation subject to the following exceptions, exclusions, or amendments, notwithstanding the National Park Service certification included in the nomination documentation. ButhVO of the Keeper 9/28/89 Date of Action Amended Items in Nomination: Section 8: Criteria considerations Criteria exception A is applicable for the property's religious function. This information was confirmed with Ann Tait, Acting National Register Director, MASHPO, by telephone.
DISTRIBUTION: National Register property file Nominating Authority (without nomination attachment) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET REQUESTED ACTION: NOMINATION PROPERTY Beth Eden Baptist CHuRaH NAME: MULTIPLE Waltham MRA NAME: STATE & COUNTY: MASSACHUSETTS, Middlesex DATE RECEIVED: DATE OF 16TH DAY: DATE OF WEEKLY LIST: 8/21/89 9/21/89 DATE OF PENDING LIST: 9/05/89 DATE OF 45TH DAY: 10/05/89 REFERENCE NUMBER: 89001544 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: Y NATIONAL: N N N COMMENT WAIVER: N ACCEPT RETURN REJECT 9/25/89 DADE ABSTRACT/SUMMARY COMMENTS: RECOM./CRITERIA Accept Ard REVIEWER Kistory DOCUMENTATION see attached comments y 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 OTHER COMMENTS USGS maps _photographs Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to Phone Signed Date presentation Beth Eden Baptest Churdh MHC#44 82 Maple st waltham.
us MRA STEVEN GYURINA STEVEN GYURINA MHtC #44 walthans, MA MRA- 82 Maplest. STEVEN GYURINA Beth Eden, Beptist Church MAC * 44 waltham, Mt. MRA 82 Maple st. Beth Eden Baptist church utte # 44 wattham, MA_ MRA-82 Madlest WNINAO NEAGLS 187.338 62. 02-76 3 89 4 75.01 8 5 227) 27.( 9/ 78 15183 157(3) 4.79 156.20 17 104 -46 47 59.5 4 5 42 5 59.5 5571 62 535 21 20 6/ - 64 66. 0.-63 MAPLE 713 67 50 921 31 53 5,0-340 726 ...350 72.6 2933 38 7 7.8 56 9 10 95 62.83 157, 6 60 2 A 90.04 154(5) 35.34|37.42 98-339 18 72.84 1457s) 75(s) 6 City of Waltham 71.59 (PRIVATE) 23-78 * [Royal Robbins 155 Schoot 1.83-374 154(g) -68 ur CHESTNUT 4 ,City of /Waltham 79.8 71 (s) -53 44 6 -57 42.83 59-61 32.17 -63-73 153.34 7 17 L565 City of Waltham 182 63 31 [44 53.5 8 76.67 .25 84 30 485 7557 82.7 73(3) 01:5 = 155(3) 17i(5) 5005 17 10(s Beth Eden 50 18 75 Baptist Churcs B8/r 82 81-85 94.5 69.5 16.
64.3 86-88. -87 -89 37 38 98-106 WALTHAM, MA MRA Beth Eden Baptist Church 82 Maple Street 1" = 100' 1975; updated to 1987 Waltham Engineering Dept. lot #69-31-17 90 -78 63-11 60 75. 66 10 66 29-91 89.8 29-780 13 89.8 66 82.5 66 130 12 T30 82.5 455-413 456-442 84.25 -467-457 MOODY -470:458 82.99 * 13 -469 474 95.2 58(8) 489 481 122.31 65: 2091 76.97 14 45 0/025 00 Wheeler Square -10Q.97 3754 3/5|316 19 317|318|319 50 0349.348 34,346 75 75 / 1417 3 3 1807 15 CHERRY 67 - -78 57.5 73- 57.5 --7Q EC A 75 83 14 34-86_ STS 75 10 08.55 11 Leityof Walthomim Fire Station/0/5 225 12 Immanuel Baptist Church 122.52 97.08 525-521-519 510 65.11 0937 120 or 13 #44 - 98 99R 56 9t-03 S715 100 99.1A. 86 56 67.15 1227 LESTNU L: 69.45 84.45 8T 48.4 22 83,4 662 4 122P 84 7908 168.: N*.
12217 20 205(s) 50 c 34 City of Waltham Sourh Junior High Sct -15 12957|8005 5 74:3 -:00 22.101 STA C MESTNUTA 59-6) 21 4417 5550L 5558 3860 17340 6477 28) 8100 1523 JBATISY j CHURCH 248 2795 J MAF MAPI E 523-52T SiT- S0% ST. 23 701 7050 10575 9550 KL100- OF WALTHAM FIRE STATION 66 3602 zes 8105 0456 20-22 HIGH CITY OF WF SOUTH JUNIOR HIC 96470 ALRER 00 METMODISTD CHURCH CHE 311575 23 12000 12000 23344 530 - 580 3457 3700 9097 546/ SSAT 4638 3608 1970 Atlas, City of Waltham Compiled by the Waltham Engineering Division Scale: 1 inch = 140 feet Waltham, Massachusetts MRA 82 Maple Street Beth Eden Baptist Church 5-H-2 Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000301