Massachusetts Fields School
Why it's listed
Massachusetts Fields School is a brick schoolhouse at Rawson Road and Beach Street in Quincy, Massachusetts. The original two-story building went up in 1896 on a granite basement, with a slate hip roof, corbelled cornices, blind arches with decorative brick diapering, and an eyebrow dormer. Plans are credited to architect A. H. Wright, and the work was carried out by Quincy builder Stephen O. Moxon. A nine-room addition in Colonial Revival style, with brick pilasters, a pedimented entrance and cast-stone trim, was completed in 1924. The school was one of several built under Superintendent Herbert W. Lull, continuing the reform tradition begun in Quincy by Francis W. Parker in the 1870s. It served elementary pupils until it closed in 1982. The building has since been converted to apartments, with its exterior detailing, slate roof and copper cresting preserved, though the interior plan and auditorium were altered.
Significance in brief: The school reflects Quincy's long-standing commitment to educational innovation, and Superintendent Herbert W. Lull oversaw its construction as one of four schoolhouses built in his tenure. It is also a well-preserved example of Queen Anne architecture, with a Colonial Revival addition that has remained nearly unaltered since 1923.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 88000960, listed November 13, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Rawson Rd. and Beach St., Quincy |
|---|---|
| County | Norfolk County |
| Listed | November 13, 1990 |
| Reference number | 88000960 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1896-1938 |
| Architect / builder | A. H. Wright (architect); Stephen O. Moxon (builder) |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian: Queen Anne (with Colonial Revival addition) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The school closed in 1982 and the city took control of the vacant building; it has since been rehabilitated for use as apartments. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.27199, -71.01627 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 88000960.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6784270
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.