FORM B - BUILDING

MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSIONOffice of the Secretary, State House, Boston'

'--,

4. Map. Draw sketch of building locationin relation to nearest cross streets andother buildings. Indicate north.

~ECE\VED(over)

DEC13 '978

MASS: IT. COMM.

In Area no. Form no.

Address Crc('.::trd Street

Name Bigelow Zlementary School

Present use Same as i~bove

Present owner City of Har1.borough

3. Description: 2 Story Brick Building

Date 1931

Source Pub. Local Histories

sty Ie _

Architect H. A. Dyer Company

Exterior wall fabric L{ed Erick

Outbuildings (describe)_N_o_I_l_e _

Other features Single entrance same

as Hildreth School, same cornice

-quoins of red brick beautiful.

Altered Date 1970

Moved Date

Lot size:

One acre or less Over one acre X

Approximate frontage 300 Feet-----------Approximate distance of building from street

30 Feet

6. Recorded by Ernest Ginnetti

Organization Harlborough HistoricalCornm~ssion

Date 10/5/78

•

7. Original owner (if known) ':ity of l1arl bOl~OU,;h

Original use ;'.:ler,~,cntaTY~61.o01

Subsequent uses (if any) and dates Same as .vbo v c--------------------------_.-8. Themes (check as many as applicable)

AboriginalAgriculturalArchitecturalThe ArtsCommerceCommunicationCommunity development

xConservationEducation XExploration/ --

settlementIndustryMilitaryPolitical

RecreationReligionScience/

inventionSocial!

humanitarianTransportation

x

x x

9. Historical significance (include explanation of themes checked above)

The old.Bigelow School was built in the sa..ue.year as the old Hildretr(School in 1882 and they both cost $17,937.22 according to the State De-partment of Education.

The new Bigelow School was built in 1931 at a Cost of $150,500, andHas designed by the same achitect who designed the Hildreth School thusthe similarities can be seen, however- t.hi s is my favorite because of thefenestration and single entrance. It also had sixteen classrooms withthe same facilities as the Hildreth School but was heated \.7ithcoal andnot oil. TI1e Bigelow School borders the Artemas ~;ard yark which hasover seventeen acres of land including tennis courts 440 track and abaseball field, and. a small wad.i.ngpool. If the terra, a match set, canbe applied to architecture then the Bi.geLow and Hildreth Schools arethat, and I wouLd like to see other buildings designed. by the H. A.Dyer Company.

10. Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records,early maps, etc.)

History of Marlborough by J. A. Pitman, Superintendant of Schools 1905.Dedication of the Hildreth School, Marlborough School Co~nittee, 1931.*

* This history contains the history of all public schools inMarlborough, not just the Hildreth School, Dec. 16, 1931.

INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Community

Marlborough

Property

Bigelow SchoolMassachusetts Historical Commission80 Boylston StreetBoston, Massachusetts 02116

Area(s)E

Form No.88

Additional information by Anne Forbes, consultant to Marlborough Historical Commission,3/31/94:

ASSESSOR'S # 81-190-A. Ca. 4 acres. PHOTO #17-27; 3/94.

ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION, cont.Like its larger companion, the Hildreth School, the Bigelow School is a long rectangular flat-roofed,two-story Colonial Revival brick and concrete building. Its flat facade is symmetrical, with a highcenter entrance flanked on either side by two groups of four large double-hung windows. Theaccents here are of brick, concrete, and wood. The windows have splayed-brick lintels; those on thefirst story have concrete keystones. A molded-brick water table marks the transition from basementto first story, and a projecting three-course molded-brick band course separates the first from thesecond. The building comers are articulated by brick quoining, and a solid brick parapet rings theedge of the roof. As at the Hildreth School, the prominent molded, modillioned cornice is wood,as are the entry surrounds. The main entry, somewhat less elaborate than those at the Hildreth, hasa molded architrave, fluted Corinthian pilasters, and an open segmental pediment embellished withmodillions and acanthus leaves. The double-leaf door is recessed, and has a ten-light transom. Thesteps leading to the door are granite, with a wrought-iron railing.

A second entry in the center of the windowless north end also has a replacement door recessed ina wooden surround. Here the design is somewhat simpler, with a volute-supported segmental-archedpediment. A large 16-over-12-sash window with a triangular wooden pediment is situated above theentry.

Alterations: large 'l-story brick addition built abutting south end, 1970-71. All window sashreplaced with 12/12-pane metal sash. Doors replaced.

HISTORICAL NARRATIVE, cont.In 1931 this building replaced the original 1882 Bigelow School, which had stood since 1882 at theeast corner of Mt. Pleasant and West Main Streets. The acquisition by the city of ca. 20 acres ofopen land from the former Ward/Hayden farm in 1925 made possible its location here at the edgeof the new Ward Park. (See Form #904, Artemus Ward Park.)

BIBLIOGRAPHY, cont.Centennial '90: Marlborough the City. 1990.Maps and atlases: Sanborn maps.

[ ] Recommended for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. If checked, a completedNational Register Criteria Statement form is attached.

INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET

Massachusetts Historical Commission80 Boylston StreetBoston, Massachusetts 02116

Community Property

Bigelow SchoolMarlborough

Area(s)E

Form No.88