Quincy School

The Quincy School stands on a high and level lot at the corner of Newbury Avenue and Botolph Street in northern Quincy. A shallow, unlandscaped lawn occupies the front and sides of its 1 1/3-acre site. Although the surrounding neighborhood is primarily residential, a block of stores faces the school on the west across a heavily travelled street. On the south side of the site is a residential street, while residents' rear and side yards abut the property on its northern and eastern boundaries. Built in two parts, Quincy School maintains a uniform Neo-Colonial design. Two- story brick walls are framed by a granite ashlar foundation, granite quoins and frieze, and a copper cornice (with modillion blocks on the early section).

The original (1906) building is a basically rectangular structure; it incorporates a central block with a shallow gabled frontispiece of 2½ stories, flanked by end pavilions. Its hipped slate roof is ornamented by copper ridge flashing with decorative knobs. Five chimneys (four interior and one exterior) and three rear dormers enliven the roofline. Iwo large flat-roofed ells were added at the rear in 1932, creating a U-shaped structure. The symmetrical fenestration of the school consists of grouped windows which are articulated by granite sills and flared granite lintels with keystones. Windows overlooking the rear courtyard do not have the keystones.) Original 12/2 wooden sash were replaced in 1977 by plexiglass, 1/1 sash in bronzed aluminum frames.

Three similar, round arched doorways are located on the facade and on the rear of the ells.. A plain entry porch connects the front of the building and the southern ell, providing a fourth doorway on the southern side. Forming the primary visual focus of this design, however, is the wide gabled frontispiece.

(in one paragraph) Builder/Architect BroS. Bifidei Architect, 1906; Mari ros. Hutchins & French, Architects(1932) M. J. Kelliher, Builder Quincy School is significant as a well designed and preserved example of early 20th century institutional architecture in Quincy and as a reflection of intensive civic growth at that time. The property meets criteria A and C of the National Register, retaining integrity of design, materials, workmanship, location, and setting. In 1906 the City of Quincy appropriated $61,000 for the construction of a 12-room grammar school in the Atlantic section of North Quincy. Quincy School was named after the prominent local family and was first occupied on September 10, 1907.

It was equipped with all the modern conveniences, including electric lighting, telephones, and an automatic clock system. At the time of construction, the number of pupils in the school district was 280, far less than what the Quincy School was designed to accommodate. However, population increases over the next 25 years caused the City Council in 1931 to appropriate $150,00 for an 8-room addition; construction of the two ells was completed in February, 1932. The original building was designed by the Boston firm of Hurd and Gore, who were known for their Boston apartment buildings. Marr Brothers of Quincy were the builders of this section. The rear ells were designed by Hutchins and French, Boston architects who specialized in bank buildings constructed throughout New England. M. J.

Kelliher was the contractor. Construction of the Quincy School reflects an important period of growth in Quincy. Population doubled every 20 years from ca. 1870 through 1915. On the larger scale, this precipitated Quincy's incorporation as a city in 1888, and resulted in a flurry of distinguished institutional buildings during the late Victorian period.