Watertown Savings Bank Building
60 Main Street
Watertown, Mass.
Year Built: 1892
Year Demolished: 1928
This building was built in two phases, 1892 and 1900. This portion of the building was built in 1891 and demolished in 1928. Interestingly, there are a number of design elements used in this building that relate to one of Brigham’s most well-known design: the Massachusetts State House extension. The pilasters adjacent to the windows resemble the pilasters on the Massachusetts State House each building is clad in yellow brick, the windows are of the same shape and design and there is a pediment on each. Brigham, perhaps, was bringing some of the majesty of Massachusetts State House to Watertown.
This is the earliest and most elaborate of a row of bank buildings in Watertown Square, constructed in the late 19th and 20th centuries. The structure is two stories constructed on a high basement three bays wide. The entrance porch is flanked by a pair of polished granite columns with a modillioned cornice. The entablature continues with egg and dart molding across the top of the large first floor window set within a simple limestone façade. The 2d floor is faced with yellow brick and is much more elaborate. A pair of palladian and a single arched window are trimmed with limestone with antheus leaf scroll keystones. The molded archivolts are supported by pilasters carved with floral designs in bas relief. Each bay is separated by brick pilasters with composite capitals which support an entablature, which spans the façade. Above the modillioned cornice is a paneled paraphet wall. A pediment spanning the two western bays was removed in 1928 with the demolition of the adjacent building.
References
• "Selections from an Architect’s Portfolio: John C. Spofford," 1897, on file at Historic Boston, showing the 1892 portion of the building only. This book is on file at Historic New England. http://www.HistoricNewEngland.org/
• "Local News," Watertown Enterprise, July 31, 1891, p 4 ("Mr. Wilbur Learned has surveyed the lot of land purchased by the Savings bank on Main street, and Mr. Charles Brigham is at work on the plans for the two-story brick building which is to be erected.")
• Bacon, George F., "Waltham and Watertown: Their Representative Business Men and Points of Interest," New York, 1893 (picture).
Images
Pre-1928, courtesy of the watertown Free Public Library
pre-1928. 60 Main Street is on the right.
1893
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