Inventory No: Historic Name: HRV.2 Harvard Town Hall Common Name: Address: 13 Ayer Rd City/Town: Village/Neighborhood: Local No: Harvard Harvard Center 17D-05; 18; N2 Year Constructed: Architect(s): Architectural Style(s): Use(s): Significance: Area(s): Designation(s): Italianate Town Hall Architecture; Politics Government 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 11:32 PM
FORM B - BUILDING assessor's # 17D-05 usgs quad Ayer area Common Massachusetts Historical Commission 80 Boylston Street Boston MA 02116 Town form #2. Harvard» it Place Common Address 13 Ayer Road Historic Name: Town Hall Use Present town hall Original town hall Date of construction: 1872 Sketch Map Source Style Form Architect Exterior reverse Italianate gablefront N/A Material: Wall/Trim wood Roof asphalt A Foundation stone " - V y ' Outbuildings no See rear of form for more detailed description Alterations addition See rear of form for more detailed description. Condition good Recorded by: Claire W. Dempsey Organization: Harvard Historical Commission Moved no Acreage on common Setting village See rear of form for detailed description JUL 1 5 MASS. HIST. COMM. St -
BUILDING FORM ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION The H a r v a r d Town H a l l s i t s on t h e H a r v a r d Common, a p a r c e l t h a t i n c l u d e s t h e p a r k areas t o t h e s o u t h and s o u t h e a s t o f t h e Town H a l l, as w e l l as t h e area near t h e h a l l i n c l u d i n g t h e Ambulance Garage, t h e Powder House, and p r o b a b l y t h e Town Pound. (The Pound may be on t h e a d j a c e n t l o t, o c c u p i e d by t h e H a r v a r d F i r e S t a t i o n. ) The l a r g e g a b l e - f r o n t b u i l d i n g f a c e s t o t h e s o u t h, and i s l o c a t e d w i t h i n an a s p h a l t - c o v e r e d p a r k i n g area. The c l a p b o a r d e d b u i l d i n g i s t r e a t e d w i t h I t a l i a n a t e ornament, e s p e c i a l l y on i t s p r i m a r y facade. The c e n t r a l e n t r y i s c o v e r e d w i t h an open p o r c h, s u p p o r t e d b y square p o s t s trimmed w i t h a r c h e d b r a c e s. I t i s f l a n k e d on t h e f i r s t f l o o r b y p a i r e d, n a r r o w windows, w i t h t h i c k molded window heads. I n t h e second s t o r y t h e s i m i l a r l y narrow windows a r e round-headed, t r e a t e d w i t h t h i c k l a b e l s ; t h e c e n t r a l window has an i n d i v i d u a l t r e a t m e n t o f a round-headed transom over t h e p a i r e d windows. I n t h e c e n t e r o f t h e tympanum a t h r e e - p a r t, round-headed window, i s a l s o t r e a t e d w i t h labels. The s i d e e l e v a t i o n s a r e d i v i d e d i n t o f i v e w i d e r bays, w i t h w i d e r windows, t r e a t e d w i i t h t h i c k l i n t e l s on t h e f i r s t f l o o r, l a b e l s over segmental window-heads on t h e second. Elsewhere t h e I t a l i a n a t e treatment continues: a cornise of p a i r e d brackets, quoins a t t h e c o r n e r s, and a square p l a t f o r m on t h e f r o n t o f t h e r o o f, w i t h a square-posted balustrade. The r e a r, p o l y g o n a l a d d i t i o n d a t e s t o 1899, and i s trimmed t o match t h e main b l o c k. The i n t e r i o r p l a n i n c l u d e s an e n t r y s t a i r h a l l, w i t h a s i n g l e town c l e r k o f f i c e t o t h e r i g h t, and a h a l l b e h i n d w i t h o f f i c e s o f f t h e h a l l t o e i t h e r s i d e. I n t h e second s t o r y, o f f i c e s a r e l o c a t e d i n t h e f r o n t p o r t i o n o f t h e b u i l d i n g, and an a u d i t o r i u m i n t h e r e a r. The r e a r a d d i t i o n added more o f f i c e space t o t h e b u i l d i n g. HISTORICAL NARRATIVE The p r e s e n t Town H a l l i s Harvard's second b u i l d i n g d e v o t e d e x c l u s i v e l y t o t h i s purpose. By t h e l a t e 1860s t h e f i r s t, b u i l t i n 1828 a c r o s s t h e s t r e e t and now 14 Ayer Road, was a g i n g and t o o s m a l l, b u t town m e e t i n g d i s c u s s i o n s about replacement were d i v i d e d and lengthy. The town i n c l u d e d many r e s i d e n t s who o b j e c t e d t o t h e r e p l a c e m e n t, b u t even once t h e y had been d e f e a t e d, t h e l o c a t i o n and d e s i g n debates c o n t i n u e d. A f t e r c o n s i d e r i n g t h e l o c a t i o n o f t h e f o r m e r Town H a l l and t h e s i t e o f t h e D i s t r i c t One Schoolhouse, between t h e s t o r e and t h e E v a n g e l i c a l Church on S t i l l R i v e r Road a t t h e s o u t h end o f t h e Common, t h e former s i t e o f t h e U n i v e r s a l i s t Meetinghouse was s e l e c t e d. A f t e r c o n s i d e r i n g many town h a l l s i n t h e a r e a, f i r s t t h e A c t o n Town H a l l and f i n a l l y t h e W e s t f o r d Town H a l l was s e l e c t e d as a model. The b u i l d i n g was d e d i c a t e d i n 1872. I n 1899 t h e town v o t e d t o expand t h e b u i l d i n g t o t h e r e a r. REFERENCES A n d e r s o n, D i r e c t i o n s of a Town, 1976; N o u r s e, H i s t o r y o f Harvard, 1894. Essays on Common Area by Sawyer (1953-) -and Hersey (193 6). Notes o f S c o u r g i e, HHS. Holman Map o f 1831, Beers A t l a s o f 1870, R i c h a r d s o n A t l a s o f 1898. _x_ Recommended f o r l i s t i n g i n t h e N a t i o n a l R e g i s t e r o f H i s t o r i c NR C r i t e r i a S t a t e m e n t form f o r t h e H a r v a r d Common A r e a Places. See
(Attach photo here) FORM B - B U I L D I N G SURVEY ASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, State House, Boston H A ft V A 2. T n w n 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 f ft n Hfrftvf A R p PA 0 Use: o r i g i n a l & present T ~ O W A J P r e s e n t owner T~5 H N Commerce/industry Science/invention Travel/communication Military Affairs Religion/philosophy Indians Other of t o w n / c i t y for i n v e n t o r y i n g : Open to public V^C -S Date Stvle j t i l Source of date "ToW/V Oh ft A LL H A R V fv fi4? &Aaala»J RE.co\?n^ Architect OR p a r t of A r e a # 3 CONDITION Excellent Good Fair Deteriorated Moved A l t e r e d Added I 1 4. DESCRIPTION D U N D A T I O N / B A S E M E N T : High - R e g u l a r - L o w W A L L COVER: Wood ]_.UU^IVWT^A. B r i c k Stone Other! STORIES: 1 2 3) 4 Center Gable end: Entrance: Side Grillwork End ( I n t e r i o r ^ I r r e g u l a r A T T A C H M E N T S : W i n g s ( l 2 l l > Shed PORCHES: ftj 2 3 4 FACADE: /S%7?VJL Material ROOF: RidgeN Gambrel F l a t Hip Mansard Tower C u p o l l t D o r m e r windows Balustrade CHIMNEYS: 1,12/3 4 Cluster xim-w Elaborate ] PORTICO Front/side L o ^ J Balcony Ornament. F r o n t : {Renter)'Side Details: Windows: SpacingCRegulaj^Irregular ^.iu r - ^. ;-v\. 1..V4 Identical/Variedx C o r n e r s : P l a i n P i l a s t e r s / t ^ i o i n ^ 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 A/ rfal - ToWr/ 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) Scholar Agriculture Art/Sculpture Education Government Literature Music Development A r c h i t e c t u r a l reason CO (V\ 1 6. Footage of 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 R e c o r d e r \Xj. For Photo # 19. * r?%i Date ' SEE REVERSE SITJ^ ^
RELATION OF SURROUNDING STRUCTURE T. Outbuildings ( 1. 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 Driginal Owner: Deed Information: Book Number Page, Registry of Deeds -fow(v ufcrrv WOT flt'f st fni'p Form B. 10M-11-69- 04 5 6 5 4