BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
1547 FORM B - BUILDING MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION 80 BOYLSTON STREET BOSTON, MA 02116 AUG 2 1 1989 NATIONAL RECISTER AREA FORM NO. 106 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 Town WALTHAM, MA MRA Waltham, MA Address 741 Main St. Historic Name Francis Buttrick Library (Waltham Public Library) Use: Present Library Original DESCRIPTION Date 1915 Source Elizabeth Castner, Five Part W.P.L.
History Style Georgian Revival Architect Loring and Leland Exterior Wall Fabric brick, sandstone thin Outbuildings NONE Major Alterations (with dates) rear addition added in 1933 Condition good Moved_ Date _ n/a Acreage 67,200 sq.ft. 1.544. 60-13-8 Setting Faces well-maintained lawn, across from the Romanesque/Georgian Revival First Congregational Church. UTM REFERENCE 19/315590/4693780 USGS QUADRANGLE LEXINGTON SCALE 1:25,000 Recorded by Rupert Davis/Ed Gordon Organization Waltham Historical Comm. Date July, 1986 revised by C. Jenkins 3/88 NATIONAL REGISTER CRITERIA STATEMENT (if applicable) The Waltham Public Library has played a significant role in the educational/cultural/social life of the community since 1865. The present library building (1915) is an elegant example of the Georgian Revival style. It represents the work of Boston architects Loring and Leland.
It was built with funding from the estate of wealthy real estate speculator/ philanthropist Francis Buttrick. This building possesses integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association. It 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 by the firm of Loring & Leland (responsible also for the Beverly Farms Library and the Carter Memorial Hospital in Lancaster, Ma. among other buildings) in the neo-Georgian limestone, the principal block displays a semicircular portico, whose capitals are a composite of acanthus and papyrus leaves. Located behind the portico's columns, the main entry is surmounted by a broken pediment and flaming urn.
Other features include round headed windows with "Gothick" revival tracery, palladian windows at either end and a continuous roof balustrade. The interior is restrained with moldings and plasterwork in the same style. The left wing contains Children's room and the right the Fiction Room. Behind is the Sear's Memorial Gallery, an addition of 1933 by Charles G. Loring in the same manner. The library is the most outstanding public building of its style in Waltham. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE Explain the role owners played in local or state history and how the building relates to the development of the community. Established in 1865 as a free public library, the Waltham Public Library owed its inception to the offer of the Rumford Institute for Mutual Instruction to donate its library of 3,700 volumes to the Town with the stipulation that the Town should assume its support.
The Institute (organized in 1826) had itself received in 1830, the Manufacturer's Library, established in 1820 by a group connected with the Boston Manufacturing Company to provide 'a library of "useful and entertaining knowledge" for its workers. The library received a further gift of the Waltham Social Library, comprising 800 volumes, voted to the Town by . the Unitarian Society. In 1874 an agricultural collection was given by the Waltham Farmer's Club. The library was first housed in Bank Hall over the Waltham National Bank, at the corner of Main and Lexington Streets. In 1880 it moved to the Chester A. Welch The current building owes its existence to a bequest made in 1894 by Francis Buttrick. Born in Pepperel1, Massachusetts in 1814, Buttrick had come to Waltham in 1838 as a carpenter and journeyman.
In the later decades of the nineteenth century he became a respected citizen and the largest real estate owner in the city. Iwenty years elapsed before a suitable site for the construction of the new library was secured on Main Street from the Buttrick estate and construction began, the original bequest having grown to $123,700. The new site on Main Street, had been partly occupied by the old Central House. 'Öriginally built as a farmhouse, known as the Cutting Clark Farm, the building had become a tavern at the close of the eighteenth century. Well known as a venue for social gatherings, 'the tavern sported the addition of a large two-story piazza between the columns of its gable BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES (cont) Architecture Record: Jan-June, 1916, Vol. vxxxix. Castner, Elizabeth: Five Part History of the Waltham Public Library. The News Tribune, 1976 W.P.L.
Hurd, D.H.: History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Boston Traveler, May 26th, 1914. 8/85 WALINAII, PIA MAH Waltham Public Library #106 741 Main Street Historical Significance 741 Main Street (cont'd) end portico. The old Central House was demolished in 1914 to make way for the present structure which was dedicated December l1, 1915. In 1933 an addition , the Sears Memorial Gallery, was constructed to house the Charles H. Woodbury paintings, and to provide space for gatherings. In the twentieth century the library has continued to expand, opening several branches between the two World Wars. Orlando Davis, Librarian and Nathan Warren, Trustee, were among founder members of the Waltham Public Library. By the end of the nineteen sixties the library collections contained more than 165,000 volumes.
INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston wartam MH LIA Commnity : waitham. Ma. Form No: 106 Property Name: Waltham PublicLbrany Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. WALTHAM-CENTRAL HOUSE predecessor bidg on Library site Staple to Inventory form at bottom INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston _ Waltham MA MRA Community : Waltham, Ma. Form No: 106 Property Name: Waithan Publr Library 741 Mair Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. 0471 FU WALTHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY, WALTHAM, MASS. LORING & LELAND, ARCHITECTS ca.19/6 Staple to Inventory form at bottom INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston ALUK Commnity : Form No: 106 WALTHAM, MA.
property Name: WALTHAM Publi 2, brary-741 Mainst Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. READNG AND REFERENCE ROOM IN THE BUTTRICK NEMORLA! LIRRARY, MOLTIE ON, NEASS. From: Callection: Walthany Publie Lrbrary ca. 1910 Staple to Inventory form at bottom NPS Form 10-900- - (8-86) United States Department of theInterior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number Page OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 AUG 2 / 198 Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group Name State Waltham MRA Middlesex County, MASSACHUSETTS Nomination/Type of Review Date/Signature 11. Boston Manufacturing Company Housing (153--165 River St.) tered in the mad. Reginter Entered in the 12. Brigham House jattonad Reg-stez LkeeperZulusAgun Attest 4/26/4 L Keeper Aelmepgan 9/28/89 Attest 13. Building at 202--204 Charles Street 1.
Keeper -llcled in the National Register Attest /Keeper AhilmurBzun 9/28/59 14. Buttrick, Francis, Housentered in the National Register AelouBgua 9/28/09 Attest Sur 15. Buttrick, Francis, Library Subatantive Review M keeper 912/89 16. Byam, Charles, Houseantered in tha Natturad Regiator Attest /Keeper AulousByun 1/25/89 Attest 17. Central Square Historic Dertrict Entered the National Register -Keeper AilresByus 9/26/59 Attest 18. Charles Street Workers'Housing Historic District Entored 1n Lutiutih si Keeper ( TulaeDye 2/25/89 +DA SN 19. Christ Episcopal Church 20. Clough, Benjamin F., House Attest Substantive Review Soniceper BorepSenge 929189 Attest fKeeper emsaßgu 9/20/59 od 10 .w Rgintor Attest NPS Form 10-900-a (8-86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet OMB Approval No.
1024-0018 Section number _ Page . SUPPLEMENTARY LISTING RECORD NRIS Reference Number: 890Ø1547 Date Listed: 09/28/89 Buttrick, Francis, Library 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. Bithe Ságnatute laur the Keepe 9/28/89 Date of Action Amended Items in Nomination: Section #7: Materials Sandstone is the correct material for the trim, as indicated under "exterior wall fabric," but contrary to the description of limestone in the text of the "architectural significance" section. This information was confirmed by 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 NAME: Buttrick, Francis, Library 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: 89001547 NOMINATOR: STATE REASONS FOR REVIEW: APPEAL: N DATA PROBLEM: N LANDSCAPE: N LESS THAN 50 YEARS: N OTHER: N PDIL: N PERIOD: N PROGRAM UNAPPROVED:N REQUEST: N SAMPLE: N SLR DRAFT: Y NATIONAL: N COMMENT WAIVER: N ACCEPT RETURN REJECT 2/28/89 DATE ABSTRACT/SUMMARY COMMENTS: RECOM, /CRIIERTA Accept f+C REVIEWER = DISCIPLINE archwertunal Hiskory DATE 9/28189 DOCUMENTATION see attached comments y/see attached SIR ON 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 Buttrids Frencs, Lbrery 741 Maust w.p.L.
741 MAnst ute th 10% walthan, MA MRA 85 44-46. 77 62 41.43 62C3 14. .52 53 80 55 elV2-ZEXCHANGE CT 8Q 37.39 12.82 39.6 831 135 .ub of N* n, Inc. 290(s) -28 25-27 66 9 70 .85 1383 41,3% 9 5.16 18.67 95. S.tt 24 - E 89. . 99 837 75 98- 89.00 78.2 375 54a88 4 TV 349217 MEXCHÄNGE 295.42 Walthom Public Library 8 7 50 125 49 (s) 74C 23506 8983 640 68 69 14: 38-106 63.2:: 132(d) 96-7765 4311:00 536-350-40-431 82.75 140.73 50 53 83 53.8 70 105 33-35 - D 12 53(s) 52(s) 52.25 120 68 40.9 -456 68 48. 2-34 42.0 -2g 83.5 1g 4 175 MIDDLE STACT 83 106 82 42 7832 35 .29 -30 MIDDLE* 11=9 -26 221½-20 18 12 60.48. 22-24 1-21-23 77 68 68(s): 2 3 19 75 77! 104(5) 10.75 5 46 10.64 100 SPRING 1-8 17-17) 37.25 122 18 -68(s) ,66 :69.93 68 60 -136.09 122 B 37.5 17 122 52./6 5794 TOA. 52.68. 11-7. -215 55.05 208.4 212.641 3.36 124.17.
102 - 20 12 815 4 3 9n-43 4: 85 55 80 - 723-719 717-711 1E0-738 -59:64- 65 100.24 59 59 | tesr 2456 64.31 HRIVETE 65.9 .(PRIVATE) -122isj -1 N* ERR. First Congregatignal 66 262 (s) Church 6395 LON 284 (0) 300.55 36. 245 4 7- isks 67 3 2 7 (s)- 5 9.93 B 26 64.66 57.76 ZIsE BA_0d PA3IE 4649 153.5 52(3) STRAT 16818: 135 (s) 85 120(s) 104 6Its) 5755 -40 62211 23 49-83 -57-55 KR. =E 56.59 2 78(s) 6833 226 65 21 45 CHARLES 724-720 716 -50+4- 1L978 -58(S -12.0 8 Pivatet CUTLER COURT 3.: : 66: HALHA8 121.38 2699.-- 89T=68 MAIN 702 5.00 o 700-690 - 50.52 73.50 120.5L- 74.03 L148:68 :90-45 23-302 .2 50 39 478 16 20% WALTHAM, MA MRA Francis Buttrick Library 741 Main Street 1" = 100' 1975; updated to 1987 Waltham Engineering Dept. lot #60-13-8 #106 N 685-67 97.61 10C 279 . 37,6 73.85 83.9 521 L0
107 -51.33 648(s) 19 Norrit 7C3 THE CHURCH oF THE NAZARENE 37850 759 RANT 6060 A 6000 21S 210-216 314-212 4650 9570 5/66 19-15 EXCHANGE 9695 29058 BOYS K CLUB 7799 20790 10798 10 202-200 44 - 4C 39 CT ERCHANGE MEDICAL CENTER 5TB 5ta10o 4000 4866 2160 7590 6/50 4390 199-193 SCH00L 107-105 174 172-170 l0A 36C3 -4012 7784 8970 S 12000 36-38 2/4G 6754 ° 9680 3450 -2848 PUBLIC = LIBRARY 5382 5 1700 6500 1540 6919 Z 6298 RM 173 ICT 1 61.2 164-162 158 15C 15 152-150 5060 8190 16200 5a22e/a 7960 7500 6469 6800 HODLE 20 5775 4425 6930 1600g 7306 14500 4425 9200 723-719 717-71 105 703.
:695 MAIN 145 148 17420 N 3985/ 19039 697 =68 1970 Atlas, City of Waltham Compiled by the Waltham Engineering Division Scale: 1 inch = 140 feet Waltham, Massachusetts MRA L9/ Main Street Francis Buttrick Library 16-L-2 MHE#106 Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000301