Nomination for Watterson School

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

OMB No. 1024-0018 and areas of significance, enter only the categories and subcategories listed in the instructions. For additional space use continuation sheets (Form 10-900a). Type all entries. 1. Name of Property other names/site number 2. Location street & number 1422 West 74th Street not for publication city, town Jvicinity zip code 3. Classification Ownership of Property Number of Resources within Property X private X building(s) Name of related multiple property listing: listed in the National Register - 4. State/Federal Agency Certification National Register of Historic Places andmeetsthe procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60. Signature of commenting or other official 1, hereby, certify that this property is: Alentered in the National Register. J See continuation sheet.

determined eligible for the National determined not eligible for the other, (explain:) Date of Action Noncontributing county Date Total Cuyahoga object structure public-local Watterson School district NATIONAL 8-25-92 public-Federal state National Register. REGISTER historic name public-State Ohio Cleveland Registration Form Number of contributing resources previously National Park Service Signature of certifying official 5. National Park Service Certification United States Department of the Interior removed from the National Register. Category of Property National Register of Historic Places State or Federal agency and bureau This form is for use in nominating or requesting determinations of eligibility for individual properties or districts.See instructions in Guidelines Ohio Historic Preservation Office site NPS Form 10-900 (Rev.

8-86) zip code 44102 As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, I hereby certify that this Register. See continuation sheet. In my opinion, the property 6. Function or Use Historic Functions (enter categories from instructions) Current Functions (enter categories from instructions) Educational - school vacant - not in use 7. Description Materials (enter categories from instructions) foundation - walls - Describe present and historic physical appearance. two-story school building, which faces onto West 74th Street. cotta coping, which forms a pediment over the central entrance. It is flanked by narrow first floor hall.

Opposite the main entrance is a large octagonal room measuring about other roof brick Renaissance Revival Architectural Classification other: composition (enter categories from instructions) Across the street on West 74th are some turn-of-the-century houses and across the street on Watterson School has a distinctive L-shaped plan with its main entrance set on a diagonal the main school building and connected to it via a stair tower is a large contemporary variety of sizes but are basically rectangular double-hung four-over-four wood sash.

building-also features buff-colored glazed terra cotta banding between the first and second floors and at the parapet and around the windows and the main entrance.Windows are ofa The main entrance vestibule is accented in glazed buff brick and features a short flight of windows and two arched side entrances with broad glazed transoms matching that of the main band of smooth-cut sandstone forms a water table at the base of the first floor. The brick and terra cotta banding. The main entrance section is the principal decorative feature of the exterior.It is set along each of the hallways-leading from each stair.Each classroom features a long narrow fifty feet in diameter.This assembly hall has a tall ceiling and a small stage at its floor of the two end sections are given a similar arched effect through terra cotta trim.

This is a two-story building set on a raised basement, located at the corner of residential and major commercial streets in an inner city Cleveland neighborhood. It stands on a lot that gently rises to the south and embraces a park-like front lawn accented by trees and brick exterior, which is dark in color and mottled with darker bluish blotches. A broad The first floor of the entrance section projects forward with elaborate bracketed terra entrance. On the second floor, the rectangular windows are accentuated by terra cotta General ly windows have tall slender proportions and are grouped in rows. Projecting end of the assembly hall and the corridor. These stairs lead to the second floor and basement concrete Detroit Avenue are some contemporary automobi le-oriented commercial establishments.

arches and panels and are crowned by a massive central parapet.Windows on the second shrubbery.A grove of catalpa trees are located on the northwest corner of the lot. ona diagonal and features a broad terrace framed by a massive brick and stone balustrade. bays on the inner face of each leg of the L" are finished without windows and display steps up to the main first floor level.A series of five sets of inner doors lead to the at the inner angle of the "L".The building measures about 110 feet along each of the Cuyahoga County, Ohio The second floor plan is like that of the first, except that the hallway is elegantly two principal floors. woodwork constitute the wall finishes.

Continuation Sheet curved.Two classrooms with triangular cloakrooms extend over the main entrance and two Watterson School National Park Service floors in the classrooms rest on sleepers placed on the concrete.Hard plaster and simple National Register of Historic Places Watterson School is constructed with floor and roof systems of reinforced concrete.Wood transoms along the walls facing the corridor.The plan is arranged so that the south and The raised basement has tall windows.Two rooms on each end of the basement may have been small rooms cape each side of the assembly hall.The building has ten classrooms on the room is directly under the assembly hall. United States Department of the Interlor Page Section number 7 used asclassrooms at one time.Large restrooms are located in the basement.The boiler 8. Statement of Significance

Statement of significance

Areas of Significance (enter categories from instructions) State significance of property, and justify criteria, criteria considerations, and areas and periods of significance noted above. Built in 1906-07, Watterson School is significant in the area of architecture under architecture by virtue of its Second Renaissance Revival architectural detailing, its There are three sets of doors instead of one and the centermost entrance is recessed Italianate styling of earlier Cleveland schools, except that the detailing here is terra pavilions are given an enriched treatment through the use of blind arcading, formed by a series of terra cotta arches the windowss exterior accented by a minimum of stone trim. Watterson, Doan, and Memorial are the only buff-colored brick for a monochromatic effect.

floor plans even though their exterior treatments may vary, Watterson has a plan that is placement on a busy street corner, Detroit Avenue being one of the major arteries from being placed at a 45-degree angle to the street corner, embracing a park-like front lawn X See continuation sheet 1906-07 Architecture Architect/Builder Significant Person Significant Dates three Cleveland elementary schools from this turn-of-the-century era to use classically Cultural Affiliation century mill construction to fireproof school buildings.

contrasting dark red brick with buff glazed terra cotta.The other two have similar Period of Significance and its role in the transition of Cleveland public school architecture from late nineteenth Applicable National Register Criteria for reasons of cost and safety.The shape of the building results in the main entrance broad terrace in front of the building executed in red brick-with buff glazed terra cotta *] locally Criteria Considerations (Exceptions) Barnum, Frank Seymour unusual L-shaped plan, which provides for monumental siting on a prominent street corner, in a treatment reminiscent of a Romanesque cathedral, with tympanum and a series of filled with shrubbery and shade trees.

This shape also results in a grand entrance The typical Cleveland school of this era was a blocky rectangular mass with a brick Unusual plan: While many Cleveland schools from this period share similar or identical Architectural detailing:The school forms a classic five-part facade with an orientation Cleveland's downtown.Most Cleveland public schools were situated on residential streets staggered recessed arches.A bracketed pediment above the main entrance recalls the Criterion C.It is a good example of turn-of-the-century Cleveland public school Certifying official has considered the significance of this property in relation to other properties: 9.

The rest of the file

Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.

Major Bibliographical References Van Tassel, David and Grabowski, John, Encyclopedia of Cleveland History. Johannesen, Eric, Cleveland Architecture 1876-1976. Cleveland: Western Reserve Hopkins, C.M., City Atlas of Cleveland. Philadelphia: C.M. Hopkins, 1881, plate 40. 1898 Atlas of Cleveland, plate 40. Boyne Printing House, Ohio Architect and Builder, 1911. Mast, Kathy, "Central High School" National Register nomination form, August 1982. Previous documentation on file (NPS): N/A preliminary determination of individual listing (36 CFR 67) Primary location of additional data: X State historic preservation office Survey # Record # 10. Geographical Data 002-18-31, 002-18-32, 002-18-33, 002-18-34, 002-18-35, 002-18-36, 11. Form Prepared By organization - Detroit-Shoreway Community Development Orgamáration street & number 3515 Archwood Ave. _telephone (216) 749-3515 staff Aug. 92 .

state - Zone Northing University Federal agency Boundary Justification Other State agency Ohio Local government Other UTM References Verbal Boundary Description recorded by Historic American Buildings Specify repository: has been requested See continuation sheet The nominated property consists of Permanent Parcel Number 002-18-0009,002-18-12,002-18-13, designated a National Historic Landmark previously determined eligible by the National Register Zone Easting with the property. recorded by Historic American Engineering previously listed in the National Register Historical Society, 1979, PP. 47, 85, 95, 96.

002-18-14, 002-18-15, 002-18-16, 002-18-17, 002-18-18, 002-18-19, 002-18-29, 002-18-30, Steven McQuillin, Preservation Consultant for the May 1991, editing by SHPO - zip code 44109 Acreage of property 2,5 acres The nominated property is bounded by the legally recorded lparcels historically associated name/title National Park Service has this type of stairway, which was feasible only because of the small size of Watterson around the ell, the hallway sweeps from one end of the building to the other in a single elementary schools from this era, it was designed by Frank S. Barnum, Cleveland school Barnum elementary schools from this era, Fruitland and Hodge, both erected in 1904, Watterson School rectangular buildings that featured overhanging eaves and massive hipped roofs punctuated Continuation Sheet unbroken gently curve.

Cuyahoga County, Ohio Watterson is also significant in the transition to fireproof construction because of its School;larger schools would have needed larger and more conventional stairways.Another Iocation due to height constraints and the need for frequent column supports for the upper create vast open spaces and there was not the requirement for large windows, which resemble the earlier mill buildings except that they are missing the larger hipped roofs National Register of Historic Places &Barnum from 1878-1897,and he continued to design commercial blocks such as the Caston a central skylight. opposite the front doorway with a stage at its opposing end.The auditorium also features the classical five-part elevation to have the main entrance placed at a 45-degree angle.

vestibule with a serles of arched openings leading to a highly unusual octagonal two-story United States Department of the Interlor The Architect:Frank Barnum (1851-1927) had a successful practice with the firm of Coburn was illustrated in the 1911 issue of Ohio Architect and Builder,presumably because of its Section number - Iransition te fireproof construction: Doan School, dating from 1904, was Cleveland's refinement of the Doan concept, using contrasting brick and stone and further developing Page because of their avoidance of the wood framing necessary to economically create such Doan and Memorial School approach Watterson in monumentality.Watterson Elementary School by elaborate gables.Often these third or fourth floor spaces contained large auditorium The L-shaped floor plan also results in unusual triangular stairways formed from the angled spaces where the auditorium meets the classroom wings.No other Cleveland public school Building during his tenure as Cleveland school architect from 1895-1917.Barnum designed striking interior feature is the curved hallway on the second floor.Instead of angling facade and the abundant use of terra cotta details to create a sense of monumentality 75 schools from Cleveland, only 31 of which still stand.Of his elementary schools, only first floor in the center of the building.Barnum's Memorial School,erected in 1910(l)has auditorium space set in the crux of the L".The auditorium features its main entrance Cuyahoga County, Ohio Impressive architecture.

Historical Background and Later Addition: In a statement to the Cleveland Board of substantial character." in 1881,which was owned by Jane E. Jones. At this time, Detroit was lined by a series of were demolished to make way for a massive addition, known as Watterson-Lake Elementary When the new addition opened, both portions of Watterson-Lake were used for school Continuation Sheet Watterson School National Park Service NOTE: one house had been erected near the school.Watterson School is contemporary with the school.This older frame school was also designed by Barnum and has since been demolished. National Register of Historic Places extend beyond the date of construction of the original Barnum-designed school in 1906-07. national attention to the issue of fireproof school design.

1.Memorial School was erected in 1910 on the site of the Collingwood Elementary School, United States Department of the Interlor count asa single contributing building(National Register Bulletin 16-A,p.17). which was destroyed by fire on March 4, 1908.174 1ives were lost in that fire, evoking The school site was part of an undeveloped 10-acre tract on the south side of Detroit Road 6-room frame building on this lot.It should be replaced by an 8-12 room building of Section number Page widely spaced residences and small farms. By 1898 the site had been subdivided, but only purposes.The second floor of the 1907 portion was closed in the early 1980's, and a few years later, the entire older portion of the school was abandoned.

Since that time, only Page Period of Significance:The period of significance of the nominated property does not houses and commercial buildings along Detroit Avenue.In 1969 houses south of the school larger building on the Watterson Street property." He stated that "the Board now owns a NPS Form 10-000- Watterson School, Cuyahoga County, Ohio Photo No. WS-7 Cuyahoga County, Cleveland, Ohio Neg: in photographer's collection Cleveland, OH Camera facing northwest, 1969 addition, west facade. 44109 September 1990 Watterson School Continuation Sheet National Park Service National Register of Historic Places United States Department of the Interior by: Steven McQuillin 3515 Archwood Ave. Section number photos Page - approximately 273 It. by 138 tt.

or the 1969 building as it is to remain Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio Link NEW ELEVATOR ENCLOSURE Watterson School Watterson Lake School occupies a site of which was constructed in 1969.This Existing Site Conditions modated since curb-side parking is templated. Detroit Avenue setting and an addition The school consists of the original 1907 building which dominates the in use by the City of Cleveland NEW SIGNAGE SITE PLAN that parking to the rear can meet Board of Education. study does not concern itself with off street parking should be accom- PARKING LOT expectations.

Little change to the site is currently con- Connec t'ny EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET NAME : DATE OF 16TH DAY: DATE OF 45TH DAY: NOMINATOR: STATE OTHER : N PDIL: N PERIOD: COMMENT WAIVER: N ABSTRACT/SUMMARY COMMENTS: 10/26/92 10/08/92 9/11/92 DATE REJECT MULTIPLE DISCIPLINE REVIEWER RECOM./CRITERIA RETURN PROGRAM UNAPPROVED: REASONS FOR REVIEW: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES DATE RECEIVED: NATIONAL PARK SERVICE DOCUMENTATION see attached comments Y/N see attached SLR Y/N DATE OF WEEKLY LIST: DATE OF PENDING LIST: APPEAL: N 9/22/92 ACCEPT LESS THAN 5O YEARS: STATE/FEDERAL AGENCY CERTIFICATION _historic _current _summary paragraph _completeness _clarity _justification of exception _verbal boundary description _boundary justification FUNCTION presentation materials DESCRIPTION photographs Builder/Architect Period BIBLIOGRAPHY context CLASSIFICATION Date SIGNIFICANCE descriptive text Phone ACCOMPANYING DOCUMENTATION/PRESENTATION architectural classification Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to justification of areas checked Areas of Significance--Check and justify below OTHER COMMENTS GEOGRAPHICAL DATA relationship of integrity to significance Specific dates relating significance to the resource Signed _sketch maps USGS maps resource type Lacreage _count Statement of Significance one paragraph) _other UTMS _applicable criteria Today's Date 9 /16/92 Cert.

Date / Reference No. 12 -- 1354 N R Staff Form WASO - 6 03/27/85 Team Leader Describe Problem: Problem Team PROBLEM DESCRIPTION SHEET Federal Register List State Name H Watterson School, Cleveland, Ohio Steven McQuillin, photographer September 1990 negs. in photographer's collection front or north elevation, looking southwest WS-1 Watterson School, Cleveland, Ohio Steven McQuillin, photographer September 1990 negs. in photographer's collection closeup of east elevation, looking northwest WS-2 Watterson School, Cleveland, Ohio September 1990 negs. in photographer's collection rear or south elevation, looking northwest WS-3 Steven McQuillin, photographer Watterson School, Cleveland, Ohio Steven McQuillin, photographer negs. in photographer's collection September 1990 front vestibule, looking northwest WS-4 Watterson School, Cleveland, Ohio Steven McQuillin, photographer negs.

in photographer's collection second floor northwest classroom, looking west WS-5 Watterson School, Cleveland, Ohio Steven McQuillin, Photographer Deptember 1990 negs. in photographer's collection first floor east central classroom, looking south WS-6 WATTERSON-LAKE Cuyahoga County) Watter Son School #WS-7 OHIO 7.5 MINUTE SERIES (TOPOGRAPHIC (216) 771-3995 17-438400 CLEVELAND SOUTH QUADRANGLE UNITED STATES OHIO-CUYAHOGA CO DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 4592300 CUYAHOLA COUNTY 1982 Velma Avenue Columbus, Ohio 43211-2497 (614) 297-2300 Fax: 297-2411 September 4, 1992 SINCE 1885 Ms. Carol Shull P. O. Box 37127 Dear Ms. Shull: W. Ray Luce Jefferson.

Enclosures Cuyahoga SOCIETY Sincerely, County New Submission Franklin HISTORICAL REGISTER Adams Lincoln Theatre NATIONAL The Ridge National Register of Historic Places Department of the Interior Market Street Section/Retaining Watterson School notification procedures have been followed for these new submissions. State Historic Preservation Officer Wall and Water Trough National Park Service Enclosed are four(4) new National Register nominations.All the appropriate Please contact me if you have any questions. Washington, DC SEP 1 - 1992 20013-7127