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RUFUS CHOATE HOUSE - - - � RUFUS CHOATE HOUSE _ -_ k� veil United Stztes Department of the Interior ,� II�� I,( � (' National Park Service 1q i7� f A rbs�se o� National Register of Historic Places v received i . Inventory—Nomination Dorm i date entered i See Instructions In How to Complete National Register Forms I'- Type all entries—complete applicable sections 1 . Name historic The Rufus Choate House and/or common same 2• Location street & number 14 Lynde Street N/A not for publication city,town Salem NL vicinity of .�onnroccional dtefrirf state Massachusetts code 025 county Essex code 009 3. Classification Category Ownership Status Present Use district public _X occupied agriculture _museum X building(s) X private unoccupied x commercial _park structure —both _work in progress educational private residence —site in process Acquisition Accessible —entertainment religious —object //AA in process X yes: restricted government _scientific —being considered _ yes: unrestricted _industrial transportation no military _other: 4. Owner of Property name/' Rufus Choate Associates street& number c/o Kenneth E. Lindauer, 14 Lynde Street city,town Salem VA vicinity of state Massachusetts 5. Location of Legal Description courthouse, registry of deeds, etc. South Essex District Registry of Deeds street& number 32 Federal Street city,town Salem state Massachusetts 6. Representation in Existing Surveys Inventory of the Historic Assets title of the Commonwealth # Vo/K3 Z has this property been determined eligible? yes --L no date 1979 _ federal x state county local depository for survey records — Massachusetts Historical Commission — — city, town Boston state ^iassachusetts 7. D,escr9ptioet Rufus Choate House, Salem, r11 Condition Check one Check one X excellent _deteriorated _ unaltered R original site good _ruins X altered _moved date MI A —fair _unexposed Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance The Rufus Choate House is a Federal period structure in downtown Salem, Massachusetts. The building faces south on Lynde Street, a block from one of Salem's main thoroughfares, Washington Street. Its small urban lot is contained within a small-scale neighborhood of residential structures, which now house a variety of uses . Built in 1787, the Choate House is three stories high with a hip roof, clapboard siding, a granite foundation, and twin interior chimneys. The main block of the house is one story deep with a center entrance; a gabled 3-story ell at the rear of the building is also original . Continuing northward from this ell are two 1 -story additions, the southerly section featuring a gabled roof and the northerly section, a flat roof. At the northeast corner between the main block and original ell stands a flat roofed, 2- story addition containing one room on each floor. Because of the numerous ells and additions, fenestration is irregular on the side and rear. elevations. Prior to the recent restoration, sash generally contained 2/2 lights; these have been replaced with new 6/6 sash. The symmetrical facade of the Choate House is five bays long; its center entrance is surmounted by a bracketed canopy and rectangular bay window. Separating the property from the street is a cast iron fence erected in 1853. The house apparently remained intact until its ownership by the Northend family (1871- 1935) . In the last quarter of the 19th century, several changes were made. The original front steps were replaced with the present granite stairs, and the old door- way (appearance unknown) was-replaced with -a. new double doorway, hood; and bay window above. At that -period-, if not before, 2/2- sash was installed throughout the house, and the 2-story, flat roofed addition was constructed. The original, one-story woodshed behind the original ell was extended northerly at various times . During the second quarter of this century, the house was re-sided with asphalt shingles. During the restoration of 1980-81 , which was certified by the National Park Service for tax act purposes, the Choate House was re-clapboarded, 6/6 sash was installed on all windows, and shutters were re-introduced to the facade. �. . slornifican, 'Rufus-.Choate licuse, Salem, bid Period Areas of Significance—Check and justify below prehistoric —archeology-prehistoric —community planning — landscape architecture—religion 1400-1499- —archeology-historic _conservation X law —science _1500-1599 —agriculture —economics — literature —sculpture _1600-1699 _)L architecture —education _military. —social/ X 1700-1799 —art —engineering —music humanitarian X 1800-1899 —commerce —exploration/settlement—philosophy —theater _1900- —communications —industry X politics/government _transportation Invention —other(specify) Specific dates 1787 Builder/Architect N/A Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) The Rufus Choate House retains integrity of design, location, and setting. The property is significant for its association with a prominent statesman and as a representation of Federal period development in Salem; it meets criteria B and C of the National Register. The Choate House was constructed in 1787 for Ebenezer Beckford, a prominent Salem merchant. More significantly, between 1825 and 1834, the building was occupied by Rufus Choate (1799-1859) , a lawyer, orator, and politician. During his residency in Salem, Choate served in the Massachusetts legislature and in the United States Congress . Choate left Salem for Boston in 1834 and subsequently served as United States Senator, Massachusetts Attorney General , and founder and President of the Massachusetts Bar Association. Choate's eloquence and intelligence were well known in his time, not only through his professional practice but also through his public lectures and political activities . Choate is considered by some to have followed in the footsteps of Daniel Webster. In 1873 the Choate House was bought by William Drummer Northend, a celebrated criminal` lawyer in New England. Author of The Old Bay Colony, Northend was also known as one of the most accurate historical writers of the period. His daughter Mary''Northend, who lived at the Choate House most of her life, maintained ati' ektensive collection of photo- graphic negatives (more than 16,000) of historic houses, and published many articles on colonial buildings During much of the 20th century, the Choate House was used as a boarding house for men. Substantial renovation has recenty been completed, converting the building to use as law offices. Architecturally, the Choate House provides an excellent representation of the Federal period in Salem. Its simple but elegant design typifies middle class housing during an era of great prosperity and development in Salem. Major Bibliog t% phical Reference�' see continuation sheet 10. Geographical Data Acreage of nominated property 4.800+ square feet Quadrangle name Salem, Mass. Quadrangle scale 1 :25,000 UM�T� References AilL ,l 2101 I417I019� 110I BW '�Zioneyf� IEastingl Northing Zone Easting Northing CW L � L_L I I I I 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 W I I i I 11 I I I I I I I I E W �.�, I I I I I 11 L I�� F L_.Lj OW ILLI I I I I 1 11 1 11 I I HW Verbal boundary description and justification See attached map. List all states and counties for properties overlapping state or county boundaries State N/A code county code state N/A code county code 11 . Form Prepared By Wendy Frontiero, Preservation Planner, with Elaine B. Finbury and name/title Kenneth E. Linduaer, Rufus Choate Associates organization Massachusetts Historical Commission date May 17, 1982 street& number 294 Washington Street telephone (617) 727-8470 city or town Boston state Massachusetts 12. _ State historic Preservation Officer Certification The evaluated significance of this property within the state is: national __state 7/ local As the designated State Historic Preservation Officer for the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966(Public Law 89— 665), 1 hereby nominate this property for inclusion in the National Register and certify that it has been evaluated according to the criteria and procedures set forth by the National Park Service. State Historic Preservation Officer signature title Executive Director, Massachusetts Historical Commission date atop For NPS use hereby certify that this property is Included in the National Register date Keeper of the National Register `4- Attest: date Chief of Registration United States Department' the Interior Heritage Conservation-and--Recreation Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory—Nomination Forte Continuation sheet Rufus Choate House Salem, MA item number Bibliography paw 1 Title and Probate records of owners of record of 14 Lynde Street from Ebenezer and Hannah Beckford 1785 td 1971. Title records, Essex Registry of Deeds, Salem, MAssachusetts. Probate and Inventory records, Essex Registry of Probate, Salem, Massachusetts. Essex Institute Historical Collections, Salem, Massachusetts. Henessey, Edward F., Address By Chief Justice Henessey, Boston Bar Journal, June 9, 1980 Martin, Edward Sandford, The Life of Joseph Hodges Choate, Charles Scribners, New York, November 1920. Independent Research Reports: Joyce Cook, Historic Salem Robert Booth, Professional House Researcher, Amesbury, MA r 'r •arr � .� Tpv-a nfFi;k?..`ar. =�� x�;'..r"< '"v.Ti.s'"i. �� -s:2 '�.a gig Sri i .e 'ICBM .. ev 1 ✓Y.:ai W Yi:k: Y ti. i y � -+..f - �..f.Jyi—: 2"` �'xb •t x -�'.L%' 'H- S yf ,w,,,�'si •'t' '-ir.+7{��- } 'sw«��r'. °.a�A�°��y �i9'�r"� 1 r x'�'�u��.' —.ty. m c� s..- 412 PRG5 ,4 COURT _ } + I Il 'I F E D E R A L S T R E E T 9 u ti 49 • rte- 69 65S9 57 `i "\5 SDS 4. f 420 419 418 421 4-5„ = 415 3,4 ti 4/ � ❑ ;zcD // 9 V 7 414 4��i i 425 427 [] 3 4.O o 4 28 I3 SALEM, MASS. \` 2 42 ='d 4.3yg I 429 431 RUFUS CHOATE HOUSE a 759 6 5_ar 430_ 705 14z 4 33 't t S7p 5 45-S 46-S 33:' From Assessor's Map L y N DIft 5 Salem, Mass. 1980 .27 so t. 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L ©� �t '(i �m,,r ���+�.�y�� .J',�3-l_1 �� 's� i', 0 3� --^ In C'it /��S Iem YeriDinal UIM REFERENCE 3FIrn le tft, ri 11= 19/344200/4709310 nT 1 alll�m M4F I ti � ya 4109 ���■ � CITY OF SALEM MASSACHUSETTS JEAN A. LEVESQUE June o'O, 1982 Ili MAYOR Ms. Patricia L. Weslowski, Executive Director Massachusetts Historical Commission 294 Washington Street Boston, Mass. 02108 RE: National Register Nomination of The Rufus Choate House, Salem Dear Ms. Weslowski: The City of Salem strongly supports the proposed nomination of the Rufus Choate House to the National Register of Historic Places. As you know, the Salem Redevelopment Authority recently sponsored a comprehen- sive National Register program for the downtown, and the nomination of this property completes the package of eligible sites identified by the survey component of that project. I am pleased to endorse the continued effort to protect Salem's cultural heritage, and urge the Commission's support of this nomination. Sincerely, Jean A. Levesque Mayor JAL/ec �o, COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSL=7TS fl(l[l0(1(10 � Office of the Secretary of State MASSACHUSETTS 294 Washington Street HISTORICAL Boston, Massachusetts 02108 MICHAEL JOSEPH CONNOLLItq, COMMISSION 617-727-8470 Secretary of State May 26, 1982 s - A RE: Rufus Choate Hous Mayor Jean A. Levesque 14 Lynde Street City Hall Salem, MA 01970 Salem, MA Dear Mayor Levesque: Ile are pleased to inform you that the above named property will be considered by the State Review Board for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places. The National Register is the Federal Government's official list of historic properties worthy of preservation. Listing in the National Register provides recognition and assists in preserving our Nation's heritage. Enclosed is a copy of the criteria under which properties are eval- uated. Listing in the National Register provides the following benefits to historic properties: - Consideration in the planning for federally assisted projects. Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 pro- vides rovides that the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation be given an opportunity to comment on projects affecting such properties. - Eligibility for Federal tax benefits. If a property is listed in the National Register, certain tax provisions may apply. The Tax Reform Act of 1976, as amended by the Revenue Act of 1978 and the Tax Treatment Extension Act of 1.980, and the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981, contain provisions intended to encourage the preserva- tion of depreciable historic structures by allowing favorable tax treatments for rehabilitation and to discourage destruction of his- toric buildings by eliminating certain Federal tax provisions for demolition of historic structures. Beginning January 1, 1982, the Economic Recovery Tax Act replaces the rehabilitation tax incentives available under prior law with a 2So investment tax credit for rehabilitations of certain historic comnerci.al, industrial, and residential rental buildings. This can be combined with a 1S-year cost recovery period for the adjusted basis of the historic building. Historic buildings with certified rehabilitations receive additional tax savings because they are exempt from any requirement to reduce the basis of the building by the amount of credit. The Tax Treabnent Extension Act of 1980 includes provisions regarding charitable con- tributions for conservation purposes of partial interests in historically important land areas or structures. C Page 2 Notification to Officials - Consideration of historic values in the decision to issue a sur- face coal mining permit where coal is located, in accord with the Surface Mining and Control Act of 1977. -,Qualification for Federal grants for historic preservation when funds are available. Owners of private properties nominated to the National Register of Historic Places must be given an opportunity to concur in or object to listing in accord with the National Historic Preservation Act Amendments of 1980 and Federal regulations 36 CFR Part 60. Any owner or partial owner of private property who chooses to object to listing is required to submit to the State Historic Preservation Officer a notarized statement certifying that the party is the sole or partial owner of the private property, as appropriate, and objects to-the listing. For a single privately owned property with one owner, the property will not be listed if the owner objects. In nominations with multiple_oimership of a single property, the property will not be listed if a majority of the owners objects. In the case of a district nomina- tion, the district will not be listed if a majority of the owners objects to listing. Each owner or partial owner of private property has one vote regardless of how many properties or what part of one property that party ohms. If the property or district cannot be listed because the owner or a majority of owners objects prior to sub- mission of a nomination by the State, the State Historic Preservation Officer shall submit the nomination to the Keeper of the National Register for a determination of eligibility of the property or district for inclusion in the National Register. If the property is then determined eligi-ble for listing, although not formally listed, Federal agencies will be required to allow the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation an opportunity to comment before the agency may fund, license, or assist a project which will affect the property. If an owner chooses to object to the listing of property, the notarized objection must be submitted to the State Historic Preservation Officer by July 14, 1982. If you wish to comment on whether the property should be nominated to the National Register, please send your comments to this office. Continents must be received before the State Review Board considers this nomination on July 14, 1982. The July Commission meeting will be held on July 14, 1982 @ 1:00P-m- at :00P•m-at the Massachusetts Historical Society, 1154 Boylston St. , Boston, MA. A copy of the nomination is on file in our office and will be made available to you upon request. If you have any questions, please contact the National Register staff of the Massachusetts Historical Commission. Sincerely, Patricia L. Weslowski State Historic Preservation Officer Executive Director Massachusetts Historical Commission PLl4/pmb Enclosure xc: Local historical commission