20-30 Bromfield Street

Historic buildings in Boston, Massachusetts 20-30 Bromfield Street 20-30 Bromfield Street 103014.jpg 20-30 Bromfield Street as it appeared in 2014 270px 20-30 Bromfield Street, Boston, Massachusetts 42.356586 -71.060154 type:landmark_scale:2000 inline,title 3.5 1847-48 Commercial 20-30 Bromfield Street is a historic commercial row in downtown Boston, Massachusetts. It is significant as being one of the few surviving 19th century commercial granite structures in the downtown area. Description and history The row was built during the height of Boston's so-called "Granite Era," which saw the proliferation of mercantile buildings made of granite, though few of these structures now remain. It consists of three sections separated by brick bearing walls, each 3.5 stories in height and three window bays wide. The second and third floors are faced in granite, while the roof is pitched and sheathed in slate. A series of two-story granite piers or pilasters are topped with Egyptoid capitals, a rare example of Egyptian Revival architecture in Boston.Report of the [Boston Landmarks Commission] on the Potential Designation of 20-30 Bromfield Street, Boston as a Landmark Under Chapter 772 of the Acts of 1975, as amended Boston Landmarks Commission 1–3, 5, 11–13, 18 ff.8 February 1983 Robert Campbell Bromfield St. Landmark? Boston Globe The row was built by John Ballard, a merchant whose family had long been active on Bromfield Street. Construction appears to have begun in 1847 and was complete by the following year. It originally consisted of five sections, but the two leftmost sections at 12-18 Bromfield were sold by Ballard's heirs and demolished in 1903 to make way for the Washington Building. The family had already relinquished ownership of 20-30 Bromfield by this time, being no longer in possession of the property by 1888. 20-24 Bromfield Street was nearly gutted by a seven alarm fire on July 7, 1982, which caused over $500,000 in damages8 July 1982 Eric Ruben Fire in Boston Wracks Gay Newspaper Office Boston Globe 15 and destroyed several artists' studios, as well as the offices of the Gay Community News. Plans to tear down the structure in the aftermath of the fire were approved by the city building department, but were halted after the Boston Landmarks Commission issued an order prohibiting its demolition.20 November 1982 Hub Building Gets Reprieve Because of Unusual Style Boston Globe The commission subsequently designated the 20-30 Bromfield Street exterior as a Boston Landmark on March 8, 1983.http://www.cityofboston.gov/images_documents/PETDESIG_JAN2014_tcm3-40308.pdf List of Designated Boston Landmarks Boston Landmarks Commission 2 2014-11-01 References External links Bromfield Street, ca. 1859 - Tufts Digital Library (shows 20-30 Bromfield Street on the left) City of Boston Boston Landmarks Commission 20-30 Bromfield Street Study Report Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1848 Category:Commercial buildings in Boston Category:Landmarks in Boston Category:1848 establishments in Massachusetts