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"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 See attached map. UTM REFERENCE 19/269950/4683670 USGS QUADRANGLE Worcester North SCALE 1:25,000 2406 AREA DEC 2 6 1989 FORM NO. 183U Worcester Town Address 140 Eastern Avenue John Johnson Three- Historic Name Decker Use: Present residential Original residential DESCRIPTION Date ca.
1894 Source Worcester House Directory Style Queen Anne Three-Decker unknown Architect Exterior Wall Fabric wood clapboard Outbuildings none Major Alterations (with dates) Porch balustrades replaced Condition good Moved Date Acreage Less than 1/4 acre : Setting Late 19th century, urban multi-family residential neighborhoor in a row of three-deckers. Recorded byMichae1 Steinitz Organization for MHC Date December 1988 NATIONAL REGISTER CRITERIA STATEMENT (if applicable) The John Johnson Three-Decker possesses integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association. It is significant for its association with the Scandanavian, working-class, multi-family residential neighborhood that developed north of Belmont Street in the late 19th century.
It is also an unusually well-preserved, well-detailed example of an early experimental variant of the Queen Anne locally during this period. The Johnson Three-Decker thus meets criteria A and C of the National Register of Historic Places on the local level. ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE Describe important architectural features and evaluate in terms of other buildings within the community. Architecturally, 140 Eastern Avenue is a ramarkably well-preserved, well- detailed example of local Queen Anne three-decker design of the 1890s. The house has the characteristic hip roof and side-hall plan. However, the building is quite unusual for the central placement of its front bay window, which creates a much more symmetrical facade. The single-story entry porch is supported by lathe-turned posts with an open balustrade.
Windows have 2/2 sash, and many retain decorative, sawtooth molding on their caps. wide roof cornice overhang shelters regularly spaced brackets, and heavier brackets in the corners. The house is clad in wood clapboard. An open, three-tier side porch appears to be an addition or a mid-20th century replacement. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE Explain the role owners played in local or state history and how the building relates to the development of the community. The John Johnson Three-Decker, built ca. 1894, was located in an early area of three-decker development on the hillslope north or Belmont Street, an area dominated during this period by families of Swedish, Finn-Swede, and Finnish extraction.
Many residents of the working-class neighborhood were employed at the nearby North Works of the Washburn and Moen Company (later American Steel and Wire), or in other local firms that employed skilled metal workers. The building at 140 Eastern Avenue was part of a row built ca. 1894. The owner through 1930 was John Johnson, a woodworker, who dia not reside here. Tenants in 1896 included Charles Gustafson, a wireworker; Charles Vnerstrom, a laborer; and John Carlson, a woodworker. In 1910, residents included Isaac Tavonen and Fritz Anderson, laborers; and Saari, a wireworker. A decade later, occupants included John Saari, now employed as an emoryworker; Alexander Luukko, a helper; and Gustaf Jacobson, a wireworker. Tenants in 1930 included William Warpula, a machinist; Thomas Warpula, a laborer; and Mrs. Martina Jacobson, a finisher.
BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES Worcester Directory, Worcester House Directory, 1894,1896,1910,1920,1930. L.J. Richards, Atlas of the City of Worcester, 1896, 1911, 1922. J. Callahan et al., Worcester Three-Decker Survey, 1981. 8/85 yp9. Fam 10-9000 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 10/26/89 Section number. Page- Worcester Three-Deckers MRA Worcester County, MASSACHUSETTS 31. Hall Charles A., Three-Decker intered in the Nationad Reglstep/ Keeper Attest FKeeper Date Listed Aelaußgen 2/9/91 32. Hirst, Samuel, Three-Decker Entered in the Matlonal Register AuluBgen 219/96 Attest 33, Houghton Street Historic District Substaative Bevier ArKeeper Befht Saurge 02:00-9 Attest Entered in the 34. Hunt, Daniel, Three-Decker Hat1onad Boglatos/Kéeper AlauByen 2/9/90 Attest 35.
Hunt, Davida Three-Decker Entered in the National Register / Keeper Attest AelomByan 2/9/90 36. Ingleside Avenue Historic District Reeper Entered in tbe Hational Registat Attest 37. Ingraham, Harry B., Three-Decketered in the National Register Keeper Attest 38. Johnson, Edwin, Three-Decker Entered in the National Rogister /Keeper Attest IKeeper AlelousBym 2/9/90 SulreByen 29/50 AelmuByu 2/9/96 39. Johnson, John and EdwnD, Threentere 1n the Hationai Ragister AelouBgen 29/90 40. Johnson, John, Three-Decker Entered in the Matdaari Ragistes Attest jKeeper Attest KelmuByun.
2/9/90 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET REQUESTED ACTION: NOMINATION PROPERTY Johnson, John, Three-Decker NAME: MULTIPLE Worcester Three-Deckers MRA NAME: STATE & COUNTY: MASSACHUSETTS, Worcester DATE RECEIVED: 12/26/89 DATE OF 16TH DAY: 1/25/90 DATE OF PENDING LIST: 1/09/90 DATE OF 45TH DAY: 2/09/90 DATE OF WEEKLY LIST: REFERENCE NUMBER: 89002408 NOMINATOR: STATE REASONS FOR REVIEW: REQUEST: N SAMPLE: COMMENT WAIVER: N VACCEPT _RETURN ABSTRACT/SUMMARY COMMENTS: N SLR DRAFT: N REJECT 2/9/90 DATE Entered 1n the National Register 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 OTHER COMMENTS USGS maps photographs presentation Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to Phone Signed Date JOHN JOtNSONTH 140 EASTERN AVI WORCESTER, MA MNC# 1830 wercesto Twree Decko!
soRcasTER Mass, HUL3 309- od un m Jonn 40 Lastern Ave., astero Vhrce-Decester MHC # 1830 308 310 HOOPER CELC00E Bana tlgelade EASTERN LaR(aL 221 432 118 JV "T 20° CATHARINE E KENDALL 3 2xa 2204T. 2KPa HERRIFIELO BELMONT un Cxe 8 1- 20 - RODNEY 12 310 m 100 FT Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000305