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337 Essex St inventory form sal_1508 (1) Inventory No:SAL.1508 Historic Name:Salem Athenaeum Common Name:Plummer Hall Address:337 Essex St City/Town:Salem Village/Neighborhood:Central Salem Local No:26-487 Year Constructed:1906 Architect(s):Rantoul, William Gibbons; Window Woman of Amesbury Architectural Style(s):Colonial Revival Use(s):Library Significance:Architecture; Community Planning; Education Area(s):SAL.HJ: Chestnut Street Historic District SAL.HU: McIntire Historic District Designation(s):Nat'l Register District (08/28/1973); Local Historic District (03/03/1981); Preservation Restriction (07/09/1998) Building Materials(s): Roof: Copper Wall: Brick; Marble; Stucco; Wood; Stone, Cut Foundation: Brick 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. 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Commonwealth of Massachusetts Massachusetts Historical Commission 220 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston, Massachusetts 02125 www.sec.state.ma.us/mhc This file was accessed on: Wednesday, August 5, 2020 at 3:03: PM FORM B - BUILDING NRDIS 1973; LHD 3/3/81 ssessor's number 26-487 USGS Quad Salem fit' Area(s) HU,HJ Form Number 1508 Town Salem Place (neighborhood or village) Central Salem Address 337 Essex Street Historic Name Salem Atheneum (Plummer Hall) Uses: Present Library Original Library Date of Construction 1906-7 Source Tolles, p. 172 Style/Form Colonial Revival Architect/Builder William G. Rantoul Exterior Material: Foundation Brick Wall/Trim Brick, Marble Roof Copper Outbuildings/Secondary Structures none Major Alterations (with dates) none Condition good Moved _J no __ yes Date Acreage less than one acre Setting set on sidewalk on primarily residential street lined by 18th - 19th century buildings Recorded by Lisa Mausolf Organization Salem Planning Department DMMQEWFJB 1997 AUG 0 5 Wallow Massachusetts Historical Commissi^ Survev Manual instructions for completing this form. MASS. HIST. COMM. BUILDING FORM ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION Describe architectural features. Evaluate the characteristics of the building in terms of other buildings within the community. The Salem Atheneum is a Colonial Revival-style, brick building with a symmetrical front facade dominated by a raised Doric portico. Rectangular in plan, the 5 x 5-bay building is capped by a standing seam copper, hip roof. The cornice which encircles the building is adorned by modillions, beads and wave moldings. Fronted by a broad flight of granite steps, the central portico is supported by four Doric columns on marble bases. Foliate ornament tops the capitals with an egg and dart molding at the top. The cornice is adorned by wave and bead moldings and modillions. Inside the pediment there is a central shield decorated by tracery, swags, bows and foliage. The area under the portico is faced with stone. Above the double doors there is a Greek fret molding and a semicircular divided light. Framing the entrance are pilasters which are fluted except for cabling at the base. To each side of the entrance is a narrow 4/4 window with raised blocks above. On each side of the portico, the brick wall is punctuated by two individual, elongated 6/6 windows with splayed lintels and keystones. A rectangular panel is located above each window. On each side of the pediment there is an arched dormer containing a doublehung window with intersecting tracery in the upper sash. A marble belt course wraps around the building above the grilled basement windows which are topped by splayed lintels. The side elevations are each five bays wide; the rear two bays are elevated slightly. Centered on the rear elevation is a flat-roofed portico supported by paired columns. Its cornice is decorated by modillions, dentils and a drop molding. A stuccoed pediment with semi-circular light rises from the roof above. The double-doored rear entrance is capped by a large semi-circular light. The porch displays a turned balustrade. The Atheneum is set in a spacious and lush lawn dotted by mature rhododendrons. Along Essex Street there is an iron fence along the sidewalk with a wooden spindle and flat board fence along Botts Court. ( HISTORICAL NARRATIVE Describe the history of the building. Explain its associations with local (or stale) history. Include uses of the building and the role(s) the owners/occupants played within the community. The Salem Athenaeum, a private proprietary library, was incorporated in 1810 but was without a building of its own until 1857. In 1907, the Athenaeum moved from its former headquarters in Plummer Hall at 132 Essex Street to this building, designed by architect William G. Rantoul (1867-1949). The design of the building is based on "Homewood", a c. 1801 Neoclassical residence located on the campus of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore (Tolles, p. 172). BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES Hopkins, G.M. Atlas of Salem. Massachusetts. Philadelphia: 1874. Mclntyre, Henry C.E. Map of the City of Salem. Philadelphia: 1851. Richards, L.J. Atlas of the City of Salem. Massachusetts. 1897. Salem City Directories, 1836-1970. Sanborn Insurance Maps, 1890, 1906, 1950, 1957, 1965, 1970. [Massachusetts State Library). Tolles, Bryant F., Jr. Architecture in Salem: an Illustrated Guide. Salem: Essex Institute, 1983. Walker Lithograph and Publishing Company. Atlas of the City of Salem. Massachusetts. Boston: 1911. Woodbury, George E. Salem Atheneum. 1907. Recommended for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. If checked, you must attached a completed National Register Criteria Statement form. MHC INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MAC RIS No. $fTL. 15 d% MHC Inventory scanning project, 2008-2010 INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET SALEM 337 ESSEX STREET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No. 220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125 Continuation sheet 1 HU, HJ 1508 Salem Athenaeum Window Restoration Completed June 30, 2017 The Salem Athenaeum retains the original windows installed when the building was constructed in 1906/1907. They were restored in 2017 by the Window Woman of Amesbury, MA, with funding assistance provided by a Massachusetts Historical Commission, Massachusetts Preservation Project Fund Grant. Work included replacing sash cords, weather stripping, reglazing, replacing broken glass, rot repair (Dutchman and epoxy), and painting. One exterior basement level door was restored and basement level storm windows were installed. The demi-lune window facing Essex Street was restored and an interior storm window was fabricated and installed to protect the demi-lune window from pedestrian traffic on the stairs. Protective UV film was applied to the windows throughout the building. Restored demi-lune window with newly fabricated interior storm window Restored window with newly fabricated interior storm window ready for installation. RECEIVED OCT 23 2017 MASS. HIST. COMM. INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET SALEM 337 ESSEX ST MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No. 220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125 Continuation sheet 1 SAL.HJ, SAL.HU SAL.1508 Supplemental photograph by Patti Kelleher, Salem Department of Planning & Community Development, April 2017 RECEIVED JUN 20 2017 MASS. HIST. COMM. FORM B - BUILDING MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, State House, Boston In Area no. Form no. HO, KJ ISD8 1. Town SALEM Address 337 Essex Street Name Salem Athenaeum Present use Private I i bra re- present ownesS/9A.£H /^T/fEAJfi&aM 3. Description: Date 1906 Source S.H.D.S.C. 1.1969 Style Southern Federal 4. Map. Draw sketch of building location ^^^T in relation to nearest cross streets and J£j"](p other buildings. Indicate north. Architect Exterior wall fabric Brick h \ X X Y 0 Outbuildings (describe) Other features Garden Altered Moved Date Date ESSEX ^ST 5. Lot size: One acre or less Approximate frontage Over one acre x 200' Approximate distance of building from street 25' |DO NOT WRITE IN THIS SPACE USGS Quadrant [MHC Photo no. 6. Recorded by E.C.Welch Organization S.H.C. T™°% T~" 4*™** I (over) 5 APR ?• 197/ MASS. HIST. CO "i, Date 9/9 ne ( 7. Original owner (if known) Original use Same Library Subsequent uses (if any) and dates 8. Themes (check as many as applicable) Aboriginal Agricultural Architectural The Arts 11*) Commerce Communication Community development Conservation Education Exploration/ settlement Industry Military Political JL Recreation Religion Science/ invention Social/ humanitarian Transportation 9. Historical significance (include explanation of themes checked above) In 1906 the Salera Athenaeum moved from its quarters at the Essex Institute to this new building. Based on "Homewood" a Baltimore Maryland residence,C 1804. it houses a collection of 18th centurv books captured bv a Privateer. Nathanial Bowditch used them to wfrite hi3 famous book on navigation . The Athenaeum also houses a m/todern library, and manv other interesting documents. 10. Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records, early maps, etc.) MHC INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MHC Inventory scanning project, 2008-2010 MACRIS No. &f\L \Cyd$