Inventory No: Historic Name: Common Name: Address: HRV.61 Harvard Evangelical Congregational Church Harvard Orthodox Church 5 Still River Rd City/Town: Village/Neighborhood: Harvard Harvard Center Local No: 17D-03; 30; 52 Year Constructed: Architect(s): Architectural Style(s): Use(s): Significance: Area(s): Designation(s): Federal Church; Church Hall Architecture; Religion HRV.A: Harvard Common Historic District HRV.O: Harvard Center Historic District Local Historic District (3/27/1975); Nat'l Register District (9/22/1997) The Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC) has converted this paper record to digital format as part of ongoing projects to scan records of the Inventory of Historic Assets of the Commonwealth and National Register of Historic Places nominations for Massachusetts. Efforts are ongoing and not all inventory or National Register records related to this resource may be available in digital format at this time. The MACRIS database and scanned files are highly dynamic; new information is added daily and both database records and related scanned files may be updated as new information is incorporated into MHC files. Users should note that there may be a considerable lag time between the receipt of new or updated records by MHC and the appearance of related information in MACRIS. Users should also note that not all source materials for the MACRIS database are made available as scanned images. Users may consult the records, files and maps available in MHC's public research area at its offices at the State Archives Building, 220 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston, open M-F, 9-5. Users of this digital material acknowledge that they have read and understood the MACRIS Information and Disclaimer (http://mhc-macris.net/macrisdisclaimer.htm) Data available via the MACRIS web interface, and associated scanned files are for information purposes only. THE ACT OF CHECKING THIS DATABASE AND ASSOCIATED SCANNED FILES DOES NOT SUBSTITUTE FOR COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LOCAL, STATE OR FEDERAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. IF YOU ARE REPRESENTING A DEVELOPER AND/OR A PROPOSED PROJECT THAT WILL REQUIRE A PERMIT, LICENSE OR FUNDING FROM ANY STATE OR FEDERAL AGENCY YOU MUST SUBMIT A PROJECT NOTIFICATION FORM TO MHC FOR MHC'S REVIEW AND COMMENT. You can obtain a copy of a PNF through the MHC web site (www.sec.state.ma.us/mhc) under the subject heading "MHC Forms." Commonwealth of Massachusetts Massachusetts Historical Commission 220 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston, Massachusetts 02125 www.sec.state.ma.us/mhc This file was accessed on: Saturday, February 09, 2013 at 12:11 AM
F FORM B - BUILDING assessor s 17D-03 usgs Ayer quad area Common ion form # (et Town Harvard Place Common Address 05 S t i l l River Road Historic Name: Evangelical Cong. Church Use Present church Original church Date of construction: 1821 Source Style reverse Federal Form nave, vestib, tower Architect Exterior N/A Material: A a CP Wall/Trim Roof asphalt Foundation wood stone Outbuildings addition See rear of form for more detailed description Alterations interior See rear of form for more detailed description. Condition good Recorded by: Claire W. Dempsey Organization: Date: May 1993 Harvard Historical Commission Q Z r\ r i\ / r- ntotlved Moved no Acreage.38 acres Setting village See rear of form for detailed description JUL f 5 1995 MASS. HIST. COMM. %
BUILDING FORM ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION The Evangelical-Congregational Church is located on an ample lot of.38 acres, at the south end of the Common on S t i l l River Road. I t is fronted by an asphaly parking area and a grassy lawn and backs onto the town cemetery. Dating to 1821 the building takes the common late Federal period form of a large gabled nave fronted by a lower gabled vestibule and topped by a square tower. I t was originally a single level in height, and was raised to accomodate a lower vestry in 1882. The church suffered a severe fire in 1941, and the extent of rebuilding and redesign at that time requires investigation. Ornament is focused on the facade, with the entry centered on the vestible and screened by a Doric hip-roofed porch. Above the porch a palladian-motif window is centered in the second level of the building,the location of the sanctuary, and a fan light is centered in the tympanum. The tower straddles the main block and the vestibule, rising to a square belfry and culminating in an octagonal dome with weathervane. The two levels of the interior are indicated on the side elevations, with tall windows in the second level indicating the importance of that space. A low, gable-roofed addition extends from the west side of the church, marked with even bays of double hung sash, echoing the design of the main block's side elevations. A small gable-roofed garage is located at the end of this addition, sited toward the front of the lot. HISTORICAL NARRATIVE The Evangelical-Congregational Church, known historically as the Orthodox Church, dates to 1821 when a portion of the membership of the First Church split off from its parent body. The differences in theology between the two groups reflect the drifting apart of the liberal Unitarians from the more traditional Trinitarians within Massachusetts Congregationalism. After their withdrawal, the seceeders formed a separate religious society, the Calvinistic Congregational Society. They applied to the town for a lot on the Common on which to build, and received this lot, from which the pound and hearsehouse would be removed. The society changed its name to its present name in 1855. The building was renovated in 1882, with the addition of a lower story for meeting rooms, kitchens, offices, and the remodelling of the sanctuary interior at the same time. REFERENCES Anderson, Directions of a Town, 1976. Nourse, History of Harvard, 1894. Essays on Common Area by Sawyer (1952) and Hersey (1936). Notes of Scourgie, HHS. Holman Map of 1831, Beers Atlas of 1870, Richardson Atlas of 1898. _x_ Recommended for listing, in the National Register of Historic Places. See NR Criteria Statement form for' the Harvard Common Area
MHC INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MHC Inventory scanning project, 2008-2012 MACRIS No.
(Attach photo here) FORM B - B U I L D I N G SURVEY MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, State House, Boston 2. Town WftR\J 6Yftr> Street address 1. Is t h i s b u i l d i n g h i s t o r i c a l l y significant to: Town Commonwealth Nation Name B u i l d i n g has h i s t o r i c a l connection w i t h the following themes: (see also r e v e r s e side) 7 T't\^ Cg^M,Mft-CL K\ ^ f c g < ^ A T \ o r M ft-l. C*AruRg_*4 Use: o r i g i n a l & p r e s e n t Scholar Commerce/industry Agriculture--Science/invention Art/Sculpture Travel/communication Education Military Affairs Government ^eligio^xphilosophy Literature Inalans^ Music Other Development of t o w n / c i t y A r c h i t e c t u r a l reason for i n v e n t o r y i n g : P r e s e n t owner ^XZJOL Open to public u-es Date 1*50-! Style <^bo \ig. QR K fts Source of date ~fc % C K ^ ± g v i V ft 1. _ g c6 J ^ Architect OR p a r t of A r e a # 3 CONDITION Excellent Good F a i r Deteriorated Moved A l t e r e d Added. 4. DESCRIPTION F O U N D A T I O N / B A S E M E N T : High Regular W A L L COVER: Wood ROOF: Cupola F l a t Hip M a n s a r d D o r m e r windows Balustrade CHIMNEYS: 1 2 3 4 STORIES: Material Brick CftlujKittoMA. <^idge2, Gambrel Tower Low Center 1 2 3 4 End Entrance: Gable end: Side j cft- Irregular A T T A C H M E N T S : Wings E l l Shed Cluster g $ i /n u i v ^ Elaborate ffrv&dl&fn PORTICO Front/side Front: Center/Side Plain Pilasters Quoins -)^kc] Bal r.nny Ornament. Windows: Spacing: R e g u l a r / l r r e g u l a r Corners: Other Grillwork Interior PORCHES:(j) 2 3 4 FACADE: Stone \~rsv^ Details: Identical/Varied Cornerboards 5» Indicate l o c a t i o n of b u i l d i n g i n r e l a t i o n to n e a r e s t c r o s s streets and other buildings 6. Footage o f s t r u c t u r e f r o m s t r e e t P r o p e r t y has feet frontage on s t r e e t Recorder For Photo # J SEE REVERSE SIDV Date.
RELATION OF SURROUNDING STRUCTURE 1'. Outbuildings. _ 2. Landscape Features: Agriculture Open Wooded Garden: Formal/Informal Predominant features. Landscape architect. 3. Neighboring Structures Style: Colonial Federal Greek Revival Gothic Revival Italian Villa Lombard Rom. Venetian Gothic Mansard Richardsonian Modern Use: Residential Commercial Religious Conditions: Excellent Good Fair Deteriorated GIVE A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF HISTORIC IMPORTANCE OF SITE (Refer and elaborate on theme circled on front of form) BIBLIOGRAPHY AND/OR REFERENCE RESTRICTIONS : Original Ownrvr; CP7V 4-h 1ST &. fo-ri On/ A- L chdrrn. Deed Information: Book Number Page, Registry of Deeds Form B. 10M-11-69- 04 5 65 4
INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION MASSACHUSETTS ARCHIVES BUILDING 220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125 Town Property Address. * S~ STILL ^ Area(s) Form No.