Former Baptist Church
Summary
The 1806 Baptist Church, later remodeled into the Italianate style, was added to the Most Endangered List in 2007 when it became clear that plans for the Ruane Judicial Center would have a substantial effect on surrounding historic properties. The sanctuary of the church was moved in January 2009 to be included in the Judicial Center campus as the law library, and is now considered RECOVERING.
Baptist Church in its original location
Full Report
History and Significance
The oldest part of the structure was built in 1806 by the First Baptist Church in Salem congregation, and in 1827 the church was enlarged. Around 1850, the brick outer walls were rebuilt in the Italianate style, with corner quoins, semicircular window hoods, and rusticated stone doorway surrounds. Additions and remodeling were undertaken in the late 19th and early 20th century, including the loss of the original Federal tower in 1926. The Church once had a commanding view of the North River from atop a small hill.
History of Threat and Preservation Efforts
This building was threatened beginning in 2003 when site selection and design work began on the Ruane Judicial Center. Historic Salem consistently advocated for the preservation of the Baptist Church. (A history of the courthouse project and and Historic Salem’s efforts are described in…..link.)
Early analysis indicated that in order to site the courthouse on Federal Street, the best option for the preservation of the church was to incorporate it into the new project, and if necessary, move it to allow the siting of the new building. Historic Salem, Inc. supported the relocation and the reuse of the Church, and the treatment of the Church as an historic resource was governed by the Memorandum of Agreement. (MOA link).
Historic Salem, Inc. provided comment on the proposed design of the new Law Library in the Church’s main sanctuary as part of the design review process stipulated in the MOA. However, HSI’s recommendations that the Church be sited at a right angle to the street were not accepted by the courthouse project team. HSI also reviewed the specifications for moving the church. This process required careful schedule coordination in order to move the building without harm while excavating for the new Judicial Center foundation. We are pleased to report that the Church was successfully moved in January of 2009 and appears not to have suffered damage from the move.
While Historic Salem, Inc. would have preferred that the current Law Library in Superior Court, with its magnificent space and furnishings, continue to serve as the Library for the courts, we appreciate the efforts of DCAM to preserve this historic church, and the reuse of the church remains one of the few historic preservation victories associated with the courthouse project.
For further history of the church building consider this article… www.examiner.com/historic-places-in-boston/historic-church-series-2-separating-church-and-state-historic-salem-church-to-become-law-library