Inventory No: Historic Name: HRV.11 Bromfield School Common Name: Address: 24 Massachusetts Ave City/Town: Village/Neighborhood: Local No: Harvard Harvard Center 22B-40; 25; OC8 Year Constructed: Architect(s): Architectural Style(s): Use(s): Significance: Area(s): Designation(s): Peabody and Stearns Romanesque Revival Private School; Public School Architecture; Education 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: Friday, February 08, 2013 at 11:56 PM
FORM B - BUILDING assessor's # 22B-40 Massachusetts Historical Commission 80 Boylston Street Boston MA 02116 usgs quad Hudson Town Place Address area Common form #// Harvard Common 24 Massachusetts Ave Historic Name: Bromfield School Use Present school Original school Date of construction: 1878 Source reverse Style Romanesque Revival Form cross gable Sketch Map Architect Exterior Peabody&Stearns Material: Wall/Trim brick N A L 1 Roof slate Foundation brick Outbuildings no See rear of form for more detailed description Alterations modest See rear of form for more detailed description. Condition good Recorded by: Claire W. Dempsey Organization: Harvard Historical CommissiorL DECEIVED Date: May 1993 ^ rjut 15 1993 Moved no Acreage 6.8 acres Setting village See rear of form for detailed description ASS. HIST. COMM.
BUILDING FORM ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION see continuation sheet The Bromfield School was constructed in 1878, a fine Romanesque Revival school building by the Boston firm of Peabody and Stearns. Sited within an expanse of grassy lawn, the parcel was once ornamented by an alley of Elm trees, a remnant of the landscaping associated with the Bromfield House that formerly stood here. Its large parcel is surrounded by a low. mortered-stone wall, and a drive reaches from the entry on Massachusetts Avenue and terminates at the front of the building. The brick school's main block consists of two insecting masses, a high gable-roofed block sited parallel to the road, and a slightly higher hip-roofed block is set across the south end of the building. This cross block is eight sided rather than rectangular, with canted corners both front and rear to achieve this shape; this creates an unusual roof form as well, a variation of a hip roof form because of the extra slopes rising from these canted corners. This core of the building has several significant if secondary masses. A lower gabled ell is located in the rear, extending from the north end of the rear wall of the gabled block. Along the north lateral wall, a s t i l l lower gabled wing extends from the real e l l, joined to a shed-roofed wing extending from the main block. A large gable-roofed porch shields the main entry in the gabled block, while a smaller porch screens a secondary entry on the north lateral wall as well. A bay window is located in the first floor on the south side of the main block. Two large chimneys rise from the rear ell's north wall and the south wall of the hip-roofed block. A bellevedire sits on the center of the roof ridge, with arched openings and an ogee, eight-sided roof. As specified by the donor, the name of the school is carved in stone on the main entry porch. HISTORICAL NARRATIVE see continuation sheet The Bromfield School was constructed in 1878 with a bequest by Margaret Bromfield Pearson Blanchard. Mrs. Blanchard was the grand-daughter of Henry Bromfield who had purchased the house that stood on this site to use as his country estate. The house had been constructed in the middle of the 18th century for the minister John Seccomb. After the house burned in 1855, Mrs. Blanchard re-purchased the property with the intention of founding a secondary school. In her will she established a board of trustees to administer that school. REFERENCES see continuation sheet. 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. _x_ Recommended for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. See determination of eligibility for the Harvard Common Area.
INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Massachusetts Historical Commission 80 Boyleston Street Boston MA 02116 Community Property Address Harvard 24 Masachusetts Area Form # Harvard Common Architectural Description, continued. The fenestration of the exterior reflects the functions of the interior. Entry into the gabled block leads to a vestibule and a large open reception area, with the stars running up the back wall. To the right in the shed and gabled wings small rooms and lavatory are located. To the left the large oblong space is divided in the center to form two large classrooms. On the second floor, the oblong remains a single large room. Each of these is l i t with banks of tall windows on each exterior wall. The second floor of the gabled ell on the second floor is divided into smaller rectagular rooms to the front and the rear off the stair hall. Historic Narrative, continued. In her will Mrs. Blanchard set forth certain specifications for the school. The school building itself was to be "substantial, well-proportioned and convenient," constructed of brick to accomodate sixty to one hundred students. In addition it was to be "simple and harmonious in style, free from useless or expensive decorations, inside or out." She hoped the cost would not exceed $20,000, but trusted her designees to use their best judgement; she was right in doing so as they choose to spend just that sum. She requested that the balance of her bequest, which would be $71,000, be invested to fund apparatus for the school and to fund attendence for "students of talent and promise" whose parents could not afford the fees. The school was especially outfitted with scientific equipment and laboratories. It was hoped at the time that "with its pleasant situation, substantial equipment, and considerable endowment, this new school is able to offer superior advantages... Pupils will be fitted for the best colleges and a specialty will be made for preparing young ladies for entrance to them." The student was free for students from Harvard but had hoped to attract a broader student body. Unfortunately the school did not attract many students "from beyond its neighborhood," a disappointment to many; construction of a dormitory was considered. In 1940, the school shifted from private to public status. It s t i l l serves the town's school system as a center for its arts programs. References, continued. Holman Map of 1831, Beers Atlas of 1870, Richardson Atlas of 1898. Newspaper clipping about the school, HHS. «*
(Attach photo 'here) FORM B - BUILDING SURVEY ASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION 2. Town UASSl Office of the Secretary, State House, Boston Street address MfrSS ACtf U5 TTS 1. Is this building historically significant_ o: Town Commonwealth Nation Name 7?Rl)hA Fl F \.T) srtfnol f\vtr Building has historical connection with the following themes: (see also reverse side) Scholar Agriculture Art/Sculpture Education Government Literature Music Commerce/industry Science/invention Travel/communication Military Affairs Religion/philosophy Indians Other. Development of town/city Architectural reason for inventorying: Use: original & present.^ch06l Present owner ^=T»-WA/ ftftfl'm-f 1 gl D r(\ U $ T 5r> Open to public _Y ls Date f g 7 ft ^ Stfff^TH^ gg^j ^ Source of date H i T() IKY fi_e HA^yAfiD Architect P ObonY A)\/n 5T A - 6 OSTSAJ OR part of Area # 3. CONDITION Excellent Good Fair Deteriorated Moved Altered Added. 4. DESCRIPTION OUNDATION/BASEMENT: High Regular} Low Material 0 K/L WALL COVER: Wood, (gricj$>.stone Other ROOF: Ridge Gambrel Flat Hip Mansard Tower (Qupohp Dormer windows Balustrade Grillwork _ CHIMNEYS: 1 ( > 3 4 Center End Interior Irregular ^ STORIES: 1 (2) 3 4 ATTACHMENTS: Wings Ell Shed / PORCHES: (T) 2 3 4 PORTICO Cluster Elaborate Balcony FACADE: Gable end: Front/side Ornament Entrance: (^^^Yr^^y ^ente^/side Details: Windows: Spacing: Regulargjrregula^ Identical^Vari^d^ Corners: <ELairiy Pilasters Quoins Cornerboards 5. Indicate location of building in relation to nearest cross streets and other buildings 6. Footage of structure from street Property has feet frontage on street / WW ( - N > > Recorder For, PhQtO #. Date. \ tm m** SEE REVERSE SID'
Doded Garden: Formal/Informal 3othic Revival Italian Villa Lombard Rom. Isonian Modern Conditions: Excellent Good Fair Deteriorated PORTANCE OF SITE (Refer and elaborate on RESTRICTIONS Original Owner: BflW/ELP T^i/SlTES ' Deed Information: Book Number Page _, Registry of Deeds WILL tf KtKCflMET &LAHCt**hD Form B. 10M 11 69 045 654