NFS Form 10-900 OMfi Mo. 1024-0018 (Rev. &-86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Registration Form This form is for use in nominating or requesting determinations of eligibility for individual properties or districts. See instructions in Guidelines for Completing National Register Forms (National Register Bulletin 16). Complete each item by marking "x" in the appropriate box or by entering the requested information. If an item does not apply to the property being documented, enter "N/A" for "not applicable." For functions, styles, materials, and areas of significance, enter only the categories and subcategories listed in the instructions. For additional space use continuation sheets (Form 10-900a). Type all entries. 1 . Name of Property historic name Lowell's Boat Shop other names/site number Hiram Lowell and Sons 2. Location street & number 459 Main Street I _| not for publication city, town Amesburv | _| vicinity state Massachusetts code MA county Essex code 009 zip code 0913 3. Classification Ownership of Property Category of Property Number of Resources within Property [x~l private I"x1 building(s) Contributing Noncontributing I I public-local I I district 2 ____buildings I I public-State EH site ____ ____ sites I I public-Federal | ] structure ____ ____ structures I I object ____ ____ objects 9. _____ Total Name of related multiple property listing: Number of contributing resources previously N/A listed in the National Register 2 4. State/Federal Agency Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, I hereby certify that this I I nomination LJ request for determination of eligibility meets the documentation standards for registering properties in the National Register of Historic Places and meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60. In my opinion, the property LJ meets LJdoes not meet the National Register criteria. CD See continuation sheet. Signature of certifying official Date State or Federal agency and bureau In my opinion, the property LJ meets LJdoes not meet the National Register criteria. I I See continuation sheet. Signature of commenting or other official Date State or Federal agency and bureau 5. National Park Service Certification I, hereby, certify that this property is: O entered in the National Register. _ I | See continuation sheet. LJ determined eligible for the National _ Register. [ J See continuation sheet. I I determined not eligible for the National Register. I I removed from the National Register. LJ other, (explain:) ____________ Signature of the Keeper Date of Action 6. Function or Use Historic Functions (enter categories from instructions) Current Functions (enter categories from instructions) Industry: Manufacturing Facility______ Industry; Manufacturing Facility 7. Description Architectural Classification Materials (enter categories from instructions) (enter categories from instructions) stone and wood foundation __________________ Early Republic; Federal____________ wa||s ____wood-weatherboard roof _____wood/asphalt other Describe present and historic physical appearance. Lowell's Boat Shop, a circa 1793 business owned and operated since 1976 by Malcolm J. and Marjorie Odell, stands on the banks of the Merrimack River on lots 42 and 43 in the town of Amesbury, Massachusetts. The shop's address is 459 Main Street, adjacent to the intersection of Main Street and Clark's Road, in the middle of a residential neighborhood that dates from the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The shop stands on a 1/3-acre lot that abruptly slopes to the river bank; the 2-1/2-story shop is set against the slope, with the first floor at river level and the second floor at street level. [1] The shop consists of a series of gable-front, barn-type buildings that incorporate the original building, dating to circa 1793, an 1806-built shop moved to the site in 1860, an 1860 addition to the 1793 shop, and two 1946 additions. SIMEON LOWELL'S ORIGINAL BOAT SHOP (1793) The original shop, built by Simeon Lowell in or around 1793, sits on a fieldstone foundation and is a rectangular wood frame structure 25 by 55 feet in area. All the wood visible in the shop's construction is native pine. The shop's two stories are divided into a first floor former paint shop, now used for storage, the second floor boat shop, and a half-story loft used for drying the timber to build the boats. The building is framed with post and beams that are reinforced with diagonal trusses on the second floor and ship's knees on the first floor. The beams that support the second floor are deck beams, placed so that the continuation sheet 8. Statement of Significance Certifying official has considered the significance of this property in relation to other properties: [~xl nationally I I statewide I I locally Applicable National Register Criteria [x~JA HclB fx~lc I ID NHL 1,2,4 Criteria Considerations (Exceptions) I |A I IB I Ic I JD I IE I IF I |G Areas of Significance (enter categories from instructions) Period of Significance Significant Dates Maritime_________________________ 1793-1940____________ 1793, 1 Industry_______________________ 1793-1940___________ NHL XII-A—2: Business. Manufacturing Organizations, Transportation____ Cultural Affiliation Equipment______________________ __________ ___NHL XII-L: Business: Shipping and ____________ Transportation Significant Person Architect/Builder _______Simeon Lowell________________ Simeon Lowell State significance of property, and justify criteria, criteria considerations, and areas and periods of significance noted above. Lowell's Boat Shop, established by Simeon Lowell in 1793, is the oldest, continually operating boat shop in the United States. Generally credited as the designer and builder of the typical American dory, Simeon Lowell and his descendants built this craft, as well as other boats, on the banks of the Merrimack River until 1976, when the shop was purchased by the present owner, who continues the tradition. The dory, arguably the most famous American small craft, was the typical American fishing boat for inshore and offshore fisheries throughout the 19th century and well into the mid-20th century, and influenced the design of some fishing vessels that were built with greater deck area to accomodate stacks of these boats. The dory was also the first type of American small boat to be mass-produced on a small scale. Dories have been built at Lowell's, at the same site, in the same building, for one hundred and ninety-six years. The preceding statement of significance is based on the more detailed statements that follow. See continuation sheet 9. Major Bibliographical References PLEASE SEE FOOTNOTES CITED IN TEXT I I See continuation sheet Previous documentation on file (NFS): I I preliminary determination of individual listing (36 CFR 67) Primary location of additional data: has been requested State historic preservation office l~xl previously listed in the National Register 8 Other State agency I previously determined eligible by the National Register I I Federal agency ID designated a National Historic Landmark I I Local government ~~| recorded by Historic American Buildings I I University Survey # __________________________ EH Other I I recorded by Historic American Engineering Specify repository: Record # MEG Inventory of Historic Assets #17 10. Geographical Data Acreage of prc>perty less than one UTM References A ll,9l l3 4i3l5i5iOl Ui 7l4i4 8i Siol B I i I 1 II 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Zone Easting Northing Zone E£isting Northing Cl , I [ , I , , I I , I , ill Dl , I i ii i 1 i 1 i i 1 I I See continuation sheet Verbal Boundary Description See Assessor's Map I I See continuation sheet Boundary Justification The boundary is the same that has been historically associated with the property since 1793 and is the same as the National Register nomination's I I See continuation sheet 11. Form Prepared By __ ________ name/title James P. Delgado, Maritime Historian organization National Park Service date January R. 1QQD street & number P.O. Box 37127 telephone city or town ___Washington________ state D - c » zip code 20013 NPS Form 1MO&« (M6) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 7 Page 2 characteristic curve that gives a deck camber is upside down. The knees and deck beams are probably unused ship parts and reinforce local tradition that Simeon Lowell was first a shipbuilder before turning his hand to small craft. There are no interior posts in the mid-floor areas; the knees and deck beams provide adequate support for the first and second floors, and iron tie rods support the half-story loft and roof. [2] The shop is sided with clapboards on the street elevation, painted white, interrupted by a pair of double doors. A loft door above the double doors has a fixed beam, fitted with block and tackle, used to stow timber in the loft. The other elevations of the shop are covered with wood shingles. The windows are double-hung wood sashes, six over six, with plain surrounds. The gable roof is shingled; there are two brick chimneys. In 1860, increased business led to an expansion of the shop. The original shop, a five-bay structure then 25 by 45 feet in area, was lengthened by a riverside addition of a ten-foot bay; this bay is now sheathed with asphalt shingles. The interior of the shop is unpainted and lined with work benches. The second floor is the boat building area and is taken up with three boat beds. After the bottom of the boats are built, the transom and stem are added. Called a "skillet," this assembly is mounted, upside down, on the bed, where the bottom is beveled to match the garboard's slope.