NPS Form 10-900 (24 0018 (Rev. 10-90) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service 2QQB NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES NATIONAL REGISTER, HISTORY REGISTRATION FORM & EDUCATION NATIONAL rARK SERVICE This form is for use in nominating or requesting determinations for individual propertieyaTITOgfflcTs'. See instrucliui'i& in IIOWIU flUllpeie 1 e National Register of Historic Places Registration Form (National Register Bulletin 16A). Complete each item by marking V in the appropriate box or by entering the information requested. If any item does not apply to the property being documented, enter "N/A" for "not applicable." For functions, architectural classification, materials, and areas of significance, enter only categories and subcategories from the instructions. Place additional entries and narrative items on continuation sheets (NPS Form 10-900a). Use a typewriter, word processor, or computer, to complete all items. 1. Name of Property_____________ historic name Cecil Apartments other names/site number Jackson Towers B-3671 2. Location street & number 1123 North Eutaw Street not for publication N/A city or town Baltimore vicinity N/A state Maryland code MD county Baltimore City code 510 ziocode 21201 3. State/Federal Agency Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1986, as amended, I hereby certify that this __ nomination __ 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'__ meets __ does not meet the National Register Criteria. I recommend that this property be considered significant _ nationally _ statewide / locally. (_ See continuation sheet for additional comments.) igpaiure of certifying official Date State or Federal agency and bureau In my opinion, the property __ meets. does not meet the National Register criteria. (_ See continuation sheet for additional comments.) Signature of commenting or other official Date State or Federal agency and bureau 4. National Park Service Cfrtjfibation I, hereby certify that this property is: y entered in the National Register _ See continuation sheet. __ determined eligible for the National Register _ See continuation sheet. __ determined not eligible for the National Register removed from the National Register other (explain): __________ ignature of Keeper Date of Action USDI/NPS NRHP Registration Form Cecil Apartments Baltimore City, Maryland Page 2 5. Classification_____________________________________________ Ownership of Property Category of Property (Check only Number of Resources within (Check as many boxes as apply) one box) Property _X__ private _X_ building(s) __public-local __district Contibuting Noncontributing __public-State __site _1_ ___buildings __public-Federal __structure ___ ___sites __ object ___ ___ structures Name of related multiple property ___ ___ objects listing _1_ 0 Total N/A Number of contributing resources previously listed in the National Register _0_ 6. Function or Use___________________________________________ Historic Functions (Enter categories from instructions) Cat: DOMESTIC Sub multiple dwelling COMMERCE/TRADE business Current Functions (Enter categories from instructions) Cat: VACANT/NOT IN USE Sub: n/a 7. Description______________________________________________ Architectural Classification (Enter categories from Materials (Enter categories from instructions) instructions) foundation stone Beaux Arts/Eighteenth-Century Revival rojof flat walls brick, stone, terra cotta other structure - steel columns, wood joists Narrative Description (Describe the historic and current condition of the property on one or more continuation sheets.) USDI/NPS NRHP Registration Form Cecil Apartments Baltimore City, Maryland Page 3 8. Statement of Significance____________________________________ Applicable National Register Criteria (Mark "x" in one or more boxes for the criteria qualifying the property for National Register listing) __X_ A Property is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history. __ B Property is associated with the lives of persons significant in our past. ___X_ C Property embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction or represents the work of a master, or possesses high artistic values, or represents a significant and distinguishable entity whose components lack individual distinction. __ D Property has yielded, or is likely to yield information important in prehistory or history. Criteria Considerations (Mark "X" in all the boxes that apply.) __ A owned by a religious institution or used for religious purposes. __ B removed from its original location. __ C a birthplace or a grave. __ D a cemetery. __ E a reconstructed building, object.or structure. __ F a commemorative property. __ G less than 50 years of age or achieved significance within the past 50 years. Areas of Significance Cultural Affiliation (Enter categories from instructions) N/A ARCHITECTURE SOCIAL HISTORY Architect/Builder Edward Hughes Glidden (active ca. 1895-d.1924) Significant Person (Complete if Criterion B is marked above) N/A Period of Significance Significant Dates 1902-1949 1902 Narrative Statement of Significance (Explain the significance of the property on one or more continuation sheets.) USDI/NPS NRHP Registration Form Cecil Apartments Baltimore City, Maryland Page 9. Major Bibliographical References (Cite the books, articles, and other sources used in preparing this form on one or more continuation sheets.) Previous documentation on file (NPS) _X__ preliminary determination of individual listing (36 CFR 67) has been requested. __ previously listed in the National Register __ previously determined eligible by the National Register __ designated a National Historic Landmark __ recorded by Historic American Buildings Survey # ______ __ recorded by Historic American Engineering Record # _______ Primary Location of Additional Data _X__ State Historic Preservation Office __ Other State agency __ Federal agency _X_ Local government __ University __ Other Name of repository: Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation, Baltimore 10. Geographical Data__________________________________ Acreage of Property % acre UTM References (Place additional DIM references on a continuation sheet) Zone Easting Northing Zone Easting Northing 1 18359910 4351450 3 __ ____ _____ 2 ___________ 4 __________ __ See continuation sheet. Verbal Boundary Description (Describe the boundaries of the property on a continuation sheet.) Boundary Justification (Explain why the boundaries were selected on a continuation sheet.) 11. Form Prepared By___________________________________ name/title George E. Thomas, Emily T. Cooperman Organization George E. Thomas Associates, Inc. date street & number 9515 Germantown Avenue telephone (215)247-6787 city or town Philadelphia state PA zip code 19118-2642 NFS Form 10-900-a OMB No. 1024-0018 (8-86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES CONTINUATION SHEET Section? Page 1 Cecil Apartments Baltimore City, Maryland The Cecil Apartments stands at 1123 North Eutaw Street on the rise that distinguishes Bolton Hill from the older portions of the Baltimore. Located on one of the principal residential streets of the city, adjacent to Thomas Ustick Walter's Eutaw Place Baptist Church, the Cecil marked the evolution of elite living that had come to characterize the Bolton Hill neighborhood. The seven-story building takes the form of a T in plan, framing side yards that guaranteed views from its apartments toward Eutaw Street while the central wing faces the street and contains the principal entrance. The building is constructed of multiple shades of light colored brick, accented with limestone and cast terra cotta ornament. This coloration complements the general classicism of the facade and marks the shift toward the lighter tones of turn-of-the-century, Beaux-Arts design. Within, its spacious halls and generously-scaled architectural details denote the rise of the apartment house as a new form of elite residence in Baltimore at the turn of the last century. Despite changes during the last generation, when the building was converted into offices, it retains sufficient integrity to convey its role in the evolution of high-rise modern living in Baltimore at the turn of the twentieth century. The Cecil Apartments were constructed on the slope of Bolton Hill facing Baltimore, providing its residents with remarkable views of the city. Its setting marks its transitional position between the old city and the already- constructed suburb. Adjacent to it is T. U. Walter's limestone-faced, post-Civil War Gothic church that marks the shift toward historical French sources that would dominate the Gothic Revival of the next generation. The site of the church, on the down slope of Bolton Hill suggests that it was a late arrival to the successful suburb. The proximitiy of a turn-of-the century synagogue and churches of other denominations in the neighborhood indicate the varied peoples who had made it into the Baltimore elite as the last century ended. Behind the Cecil Apartments is a modest, 1930s brick apartment building that has the appearance of urban infill immediately before the Depression as large houses were sold and replaced by apartments.