BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
FORM A - AREA MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION 80 BOYLSTON STREET, BOSTON, MA 02116 JAN 0 2 1990 54 Area Letter B Town Name of Area (if any) Present Use Form numbers in this Area See district data sheet Swansea, Mass. MRA SWANSEA LUTHER'S CORNER Residential Photos (3"x3" or 3"x5" black & white): Indicate on back of each photo street addresses for buildings shown. Staple to left side of form. General Date or Period 1800-1907 General Condition Good Sketch Map. Draw a general map of the area indicating properties within it. Number each property for which individual inventory forms have been completed. Label streets including route numbers, if any. Indicate north. (Attach a separate sheet if space here is not sufficient). Acreage Recorded by Organization Date 1-1/2 acres K.
Preservation Plus/Broomer Swansea Historical Commission March 1988 / October 1988 (see attached map) JTM REFERENCE 19 315050 4623630 JSGS QUADRANGLE SCALE Fall River, MA - R.I. 1:25,000 NATIONAL REGISTER CRITERIA STATEMENT (if applicable) The Luther's Corner Historical District. represents a well-preserved cluster of 19th century commercial/residential buildings that was once the commercial hub of the town from 1830 to the turn of the 20th century. The district retains its integrity of location, setting, design, workmanship and association significant to the early commercial district that thrived here in the 1800's. This district fulfills criteria A and C of the National Register on the local level. ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE Describe important architectural features and evaluate in terms of other areas within the community.
Luther's Corner Historic District includes the four buildings located on each of the corners of Old Warren Road, Maple Avenue and Pearse Road. This district became the commercial center of the town during the mid to late 19th century because of the "Great Road", (01d Warren Road), which was the main route through the central section of the town, and travelled first by the colonists, and then by the stage and later by the Providence, R.I. and Old Fall River Station railroad. The four contributing structures which make up the Luther's Corner District were all built during the 19th century. It is because this center grew together in a cohesive manner, that the architectural features and details are similar. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE Explain historical importance of area and how the area relates to the development of other areas of the community.
The Luther's Corner District was the commercial center of the Town of Swansea, MA. during the 19th century. This particular area formed because of:the need of a transportation center during that time. During the early 19th century, when travel was still primarily by horse and stage, the need for rest stops (stage stops), along a well-marked route offering "convienences" was necessary, as well as found to be profitable to those living near to the area. At the junction of Old Warren Road, Maple Avenue and Pearse Roads, which formed a "turnstile" in the roads, it was logical to make this the stopping place for the stages from Providence, R.I. and Fall River, MA. (east-west), as well as to North Swansea and the Cole the vicinity of Luther's Corner.
Luchete Corneps 61 as much of the activiey in Srandea Conter, occurting dn BIBLIOGR.APHY and/or REFERENCES see continuation sheet 8/85 INVENJUKY FUKM CUNTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Commnity: SWANSEA, MA Form No: see DDS Property Name: Luther's Corner Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. Architectural Significance (cont'd) The first structure built at the corners is located on the northeast corner. It is the James Luther Tavern, 159 Old Warren Road (MHC #B19, Photo #2). It is a 2½-story, 5-bay Federal structure built ca. 1800. There is a central offset chimney and a rear ell with a large brick chimney. The window glazing is 6/6. There is a hood over the central door supported by Doric columns, added ca. 1910. This house served as a tavern as well ms, adadd ca. 19n0.
6/8 as a residence until remodeled solely as a private home in 1857. The original clapboards have been covered in asbestos shingles; the fieldstone foundation is still intact. On the northwest corner is the John Brown-Luther House, 2 Maple Avenue (MHC #B21, Photo #2). It is a 2½-story, 5-bay clapboarded structure in the Federal style with a large central brick chimney, built ca. 1811. Facade fenestration is symmetrical. Architectural details include: gable-end eave overhang, a semi-circular fanlight with decorative pilasters in the door surround, and splayed window lintels. The interior contains six fireplaces and two brick beehive ovens. The Luther Store, 160 Old Warren Road (MHC #B17, Photo #1) was built in 1815-1818 by Mace Luther. It is the only brick structure on the corners (brick veneer on a wood frame).
The 2-story, 5-bay Federal has two doors on the facade, in the 2nd and 4th bays. There is an interior chimney at each gable end. The original fixtures of the general store are in place: solid mahogany counter for groceries, drawers which still contain spices, a bar under the staircase, the desk where Mr. Luther kept his accounts, household items, and some Indian artifacts found in Swansea. The back room housed farm implements and musical instruments for sale. A narrow staircase leads to the second floor where undertaking supplies, shoe making and repair implements, a small library, pictures, furniture, and hand-woven spreads are stored. The store operated until 1903, when the last Luther closed its doors. In 1935, at a Town Meeting, it was voted to accept the building from the heirs as a historical monument. In 1942, the store was deed to the Swansea Historical Society.
The store was moved approximately 50 feet back from the corner in 1937 due to road widening. At the southwest corner is the Seth Wilbur Eddy House and Store, 174 Old Warren Road (MHC #B18), built in 1871. The vernacular building is 2½ stories, 5 bays, with a gable roof. It is clapboarded with a fieldstone foundation. The asymmetrical facade is unremarkable in its architectural details, although a one-story porch with plain posts spans the eastern end. Built as a residence and store, the building housed the Swansea Post Office in 1889. By 1930, the building was remodeled for use solely as a residence. Staple to Inventory form at bottom INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Commmity : SWANSEA Form No: see DDS Property Name: Luther's Corner Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below.
Historical Significance (cont'd) Old Warren Road is a colonial road connecting Swansea to Warren, Rhode Island. During the Federal period (1775-1830), a stage stop and tavern were established where the Warren road met Pearse Road, or the road north from the Cole River. This centrally located crossroads soon became known as Swansea Center and alternately as Luther's Corner, for the Luther family played a major role in the development of the area in general and the intersection in particular. James Luther, a farmer, was also owner of the tavern and stage-stop at 159 Old Warren Road (ca. 1812, MHC #B19). The tavern was considered a "strictly temperance home" and served all the comforts of home. During the same period, James Luther's son-in-law John Brown (1794-1823) built his home at the crossroads (2 Maple Avenue, ca.
1811, MHC #B21) and had his brick store built by cousin Mace Luther diagonally across the street from his house (Luther Store, 160 Old Warren Road, 1815, MHC #B17). At the death of John Brown in 1823, his brother Joseph Gardner became merchant at the store and was willed Brown's home as well. The southwest corner of the intersection had a small wood structure that housed the shoemaking and mending business cf Henry Luther until mid-century. Luther's Corner became an important mercantile area during the Early Industrial period (1830-1870). Luther's Store was a very profitable business venture and plans were made for constructing a dry goods store on the site of Henry Luther's shoe repair shop, which had been dismantled when Henry left Swansea in pursuit of other business ventures. Seth Wilbur Eddy built his meat and dry goods store and residence on the site ca.
1871 (174 Old Warren Road, MHC #B18). By then, James Luther, owner of the tavern stage stop, had already converted his building back into a private residence. In light of the increasing popularity of traveling on the Fall River, Warren, and Providence Railroad (1866) south of the village, there was less of a need for a stage stop at the Center. A bandstand set on a green occupied the center of Luther's Corner, where it was customary for the Swansea Brass Band to give concerts on summer evenings. The former green at the center of the crossroads was removed in 1901 to make way for the "Snake Line" electric trolley cars running between Fall River, Mass. and Providence, Rhode Island. In 1889, the Swansea Center Post Office was housed in Eddy's store, and Seth Eddy served as postmaster until the branch office closed in 1907.
John Baker Eddy, his son, operated a watch and clock repair shop in the ell of the store in the last decades of the 19th century. John, a very successful jeweler, was also an agent for Briggs and Jewett In these years, the Luther's Corner community consisted primarily of farmers. Interest in agriculture led to the organization of the Swansea Agricultural Library Association, which established and maintained its own agricultural library in Luther's Store. The organization disbanded in 1902 and donated its books to the Swansea Free Public Thebuildings at Luther's Corner recall the intersection's importance as a thriving commercial center in the 19th century. Luther's Store closed in 1903 and Eddy Store closed following the death of Seth Eddy in 1916. The former was conveyed to the Swansea Historical Society in 1942, and the latter remodeled into a private residence.
Luther's Store was listed in the National Register in 1978. Today, the intersection is dominated by automobile traffic between U. S. Route 6 to the north and State Route 103 to the south. The buildings at the intersection are in a good state of preservation and are well maintained, their owners sympathetic of the area's history. Staple to Inventory form at bottom INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION -Office of the Secretary, Boston Conmunity: SWANSEA Form No: see DDS Property Name: Luther's Corner Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. Bibliography and/or References (cont'd) Swansea Town Hall, assessor's records. Registry of Deeds, Bristol County, Fall River, MA. Fall River Herald News, Jan. 1899. Fall River Herald News, Sept. 24, 1937. Swansea Tercentenary 1667-1967, brochure. Swansea Stagecoach: A Local History.
Swansea Historical Society, 1976. The Luther Store, Swansea Historical Society brochure. Luther Family Genealogy (at Swansea Public Library). Luther, Leslie. The Luther Family in America: Descendants of Capt. J. Luther. Moravia, New York, 1976. wright, O. O. History of Swansea, Mass. Town of Swansea, 1917. Verbal Boundary Description and Justification The boundaries of the Luther's Corner historic district are drawn to include the properties at each of the four corners created by the intersection of Old Warren Road, Maple Avenue, and Pearse Road. The district includes the entire lot for each of the four properties. The district is distinguished from surrounding residential construction which dates primarily to the mid-20th century and lacks the visual unity necessary to convey the character of the larger historic village.
Staple to Inventory form at bottom Map* 76/1 61/2 61/3 MHC.* B19 B21 B18 61/4 B17 District Data Sheet Luther's Corner Historic District, Swansea, Massachusetts Historic Name Jas. Luther Tavern modern garage Brown-Luther Hse. stone wall stone post Eddy Hse. and Store tool shed stone wall Luther Store Street Address 159 Old Warren Rd. 2 Maple Avenue 174 Old Warren Rd. 160 Old Warren Rd. Date of Construction Status ca. 1812 ca. 1950 ca. 1811 mid-19th cent. mid-19th cent. ca. 1871 ca. 1950 mid-19th cent. 1815-1818 C NC C C C NC C Style Resource Federal B Federal B St. 0. 19th cent. B vernacular --- B -- St. Federal Key: Map * -sheet number of assessor's map/property number in district C=contributing NC=noncontributing B = building Si. =site St.
= structure 0 =object contributing noncontributing Buildings Sites Structures Objects Total 2 0 Fo 10.2000 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number Page Swansea MRA Bristol County, MASSACHUSETTS 11. First Baptist Church and Society OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 12. Gardner, Francis I., House 13. Gardner, Joseph, House 14. Gardner, Preserved, House 15. Gardner, Samuel, House 16. Hooper House 17. Hortonville Historic District 18. Johnson, J. V., House 19. Luther House 20.
Corner Date Listed Entered in the c Hatlonal Registes Allayyan 2/16/50 Entered in the National Register Entered in the Natiarai Rogistes Attest fkeoper Aulamsßyen afal90 Attest /Reeper Aelunepzunaf10l4l Attest Intered in the National Register fReeper HelauAzua 71019 Attest Eintered in tbe Nationad Registes fKeéper Allvupyanoatsc Attest Asbstactiva derior auge 99/90 Attest Intered in the Mational Regiater facoperAilougu2/10150 Attest fnr Keeper BathxBSanze 440 Attest Substantéva Jarzon Steuper Betuy Sange?ho Attest Entered in tue Hationa1 Begister SelmAgeittot Attest UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET REQUESTED ACTION: NOMINATION PROPERTY Luther's Corner NAME: MULTIPLE Swansea MRA NAME: STATE & COUNTY: MASSACHUSETTS, Bristol DATE RECEIVED: 1/02/90 DATE OF PENDING LIST: 1/1$/90 DATE OF 16TH DAY: 2/02/90 DATE OF 45TH DAY: 2/16/90 DATE OF WEEKLY LIST: REFERENCE NUMBER: 90000054 NOMINATOR: STATE REASONS FOR REVIEW: REQUEST: N SAMPLE: COMMENT WAIVER: N VACCEPT _RETURN ABSTRACT/SUMMARY COMMENTS: N SLR DRAFT: N REJECT PROGRAM UNAPPROVED: N N N 2/20/44 DRTE Eo 12020 National Reglster 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 STOP J.B.LUTHERCO Luthei's Stare, Old Warren Rd+ Maple Avenue, Santhwest Corner Luther's Corner Histaric Drstret Buitu a swanser, MA Kay Fyrn March, 1988 swansea Public Luarey sasheast vieu #1 Lither House (near) Maple Aue + Old Warren Rd Luther Tavern (far) 159 ad Warren Ril Luther's Corner Hiskric Distict ueCul Cu swansea, MA Lay Tiyen Mrch, 1988 swensea Ruslic Lbrasy Northeast View #2 Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000296