Old Massachusetts State House, 206 Washington Street (corner of State Street), Boston

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS MASS,13-BOST,51-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

Museum The Old Massachusetts State House is the oldest extant public building of Georgian design in the United States. Built in to replace an earlier structure of wood completed in and destroyed by fire in the Old Massachusetts State House, or Second Town House, served a variety of purposes for the Province, for Suffolk County and for the town of Boston. This building became the State House of the new Commonwealth of Massachusetts in and remained so until when the legislature moved to the State House on Beacon Hill. FAET I. HISTORICAL INFORMATION A. Physical History: 1. Date of erection: The structure was constructed in (replacing the original structure constructed in interior reconstructed in (due to fire). 2.

Architect: The architect is unknown, though the building had an important influence on the architecture of the period. Alterations made in were the work of architect, Isaish Rogers. 3. Original and subsequent owners: Originally owned by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In the Commonwealth of Massachusetts sold its interest in the building tot he town of Boston, and the counties of Suffolk and Norfolk followed suit. The City of Boston remains the current owner. 4. Original plans and construction: The original plan and architectural details of the building are unknown because the fire of destroyed the interior of the structure and also the original records. OLD MASSACHUSETTS STATE HOUSE (Second Boston Town House) HABS NO. MA-1246 (page 2) 5.

Alterations and additions: It has been restored to its original robust appearence after successive alterations. It was built in to replace an earlier structure of wood completed in It was rebuilt in after a second fire. Alterations were made in and in and restorations in B. Historical Context: The Second Town House, as it was originally known, was the center of political activity and controversy in the Province of Massachusetts. PART II. ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION A. General Statement: 1. Architectural character: The Old Massachusetts State House is of Georgian design, reflecting the popular style of the day, especially with regard to public buildings. The is the oldest extant structure of this style. 2. Condition of fabric: Excellent. B, Description of Exterior: 1.

Over-all dimensions: The State House is a two-and-a-half story, rectangularly shaped building with a squared, three tiered cupola to the center or the gable roof. The north and south sides along State Street are 114 feet, the west end on Washington Street and the east end on State Street are 37 feet. An area of square feet properly defines the scope of the building. 2. Walls: The walls of the structure were saved from the fire and used as the basis for the reconstruction efforts of They are brick in an English bond, alternating rows of headers and stretchers. There is a three brick wide belt course with a top bevel above the first story windows which runs around the entire building. It also has a water table with molded brick along the upper edge. The walls in the gable ends are stepped.

The east gable end was more ornately treated than that at the west end, with steps in the parapet filled by vigorously carved figures of the British Lion and Unicorn. The central circular panel was evidently first filled by a sundial; the clock that superseded it first appeared in a view made in 3. Structural system, framing: The second story was supported on the interior by a row of ten Doric columns, presumably on a long axis. The walls are of load-bearing brick construction. OLD MASSACHUSETTS STATE HOUSE (Second Boston Town House) HABS HO. MA-1246 (page 3) 4. Porches, stoops: The Governor's Council Chamber on the seond floor, east elevation, leads to a small balcony from which the laws were customarily proclaimed to the sound of the trumpet and beat of the drum. 5. Openings: a.

Doorways and doors: The main entrance at the west end is at street level. It is framed by engaged colonettes bearing scrolled brackets, the door ws topped by an angular pediment. There are also doors with angular pediments and engaged colonettes at the middle of both long sides. b. Windows: The building is lit by large, square twelve over twelve light sash windows with wooden architrave surrounds with flat arched brick lintels above. The building sits on a slight incline so that there is a high basement at the east end. Thus, there are eight light casement windows in the easterly half of the structure, at north and south side elevations from the east side of the central entry and at the east end elevation.

There are single twelve over twelve light sash windows in the stepped gable ends with a rounded window to either side. 6. Roof: a. Shape, covering: There is a steeply pitched gable with stepped gables at both ends. It is covered with slate shingles. b. Cornice, eaves: There is a dentilled cornice at the long, north and south side elevations. c. Dormers, cupolas, towers: The center of the dormered roof is topped by a squared tower or cupola. Its tower, with gracefully telescoped members, is enhanced by the aloof position of the building. C. Description of the Interior: 1. Floor plans: The interior of the ground story was one large hall (except for the two small offices at the north side and the two staircases leading to the second floor). This hall served as a merchant's exchange.

The second story was made up of three rooms: one served as the Council Chamber and was the most ornately furnished and decorated. In the middle was the Representative's Chamber, with small lobbies in the stair halls at either side. The westernmost room was the Count Chamber. This housed the superior and interior counrts until a new courthouse building was erected in The third floor, under the roof, was occupied in colonial times by a number of offices and committee rooms. OLD MASSACHUSETTS STATE HOUSE (Second Boston Town House) HABS NO. MA-1246 (page 4) 2.

Stairways: A new stairway and lobby, 11 feet wide, with a visitor gallery over it was built at the west end of the building in The stairway is an elegant, highly ornate freestanding spril stair which rises up three stories in the center of the structure. During the period when the structure was rented by the city to a number of commercial firms, the spiral stairway was removed. Two interior stairways led to hallways between the three main rooms, 3. Flooring: There are old hardwood floors throughout. The flooring in the circular hall containing the spirial stair radiates out in a sunburst round the base of the stair. 4. Walls and ceiling finish: There are decorative molded cornices. In the circular stairhall, the molded cornices are supported by recessed panel pilasters. 5. Openings: a.

Doorways: The doorways are surrounded by stepped architrave trim, 6. Decorative features, trim: Hanging from the ceiling in the middle of the Council Chamber was a large wooden codfish, "Emblem of the staple of Commodities of the Province." D. Site: 1. General setting and orientation: The State House sits on its own block with State Street at the north side, Devonshire at the east and Washington Street at the west. The current main entry is to the south side elevation, although there are entries at all elevations. 2. Historic landscape design: The scale of the State House building is low, reflecting the architecture of the period inwhich it was constructed. However, modern structures built around it now overshadow it.

It is located within easy walking distance to the market area where Faneiul Hall and Qunincy Market are located. PART III. SOireCES OF INFORMATION: A.

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS MASS,13-BOST,51-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

1. Primary and unpublished sources: National Survey of Historic Sites and Buildings, United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Prepared by Charles W. Shell, Historian. OLD MASSACHUSETTS STATE HOUSE (Second Boston Town House) HABS NO. MA-1246 (page 5) Secondary and published sources: (From the U.S. Dept.

of the Interior form) Hugh Morrison, Early American Architecture (New York, Massachusetts: A Guide to its Places and People (American Guide Series (Boston, Prepared by: Leslie Sampou Project Coordinator, Public Information Division Massachusetts Historical Commission November 28, ADDENDUM TO: HABS MA-1246 OLD MASSACHUSETTS STATE HOUSE MASS,13-BOST,51- (Second Boston Townhouse) 206 Washington Street (corner of State Street) Boston Suffolk County Massachusetts PAPER COPIES OF COLOR TRANSPARENCIES HISTORIC AMERICAN BUILDINGS SURVEY National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior C Street NW Washington, DC