Quincy Savings Bank
Why it's listed
Built in 1897 at the edge of Quincy Square, this four-story brick building was the fourth home of the Quincy Savings Bank, which was founded in 1845 by Thomas Greenleaf. The bank had earlier occupied a store, the offices of the Quincy Stone Bank, and a small wooden building on Granite Street before its growing prosperity paid for this structure. It served as the main office until 1974. The symmetrical five-bay facade has granite quoins, a modillioned granite cornice and double windows with granite keystone lintels. A pedimented central portico with paired polished granite Doric columns marks the entrance, and a frieze carries the raised bank name. A one-story addition of 1919 repeats the original design. The windows and storefront frames were replaced with anodized aluminum in the 1970s, though the storefronts keep their original layout. Described as the finest Classical Revival building in the city, it is listed for its architecture and its link to late 19th century commercial growth.
Significance in brief: The building is described as Quincy's best example of the Classical Revival style applied to a commercial structure and one of a few intact pre-twentieth century commercial buildings in Quincy Center. It is also tied to the late 19th century commercial expansion of the town and to the history of the Quincy Savings Bank, founded in 1845.
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 89001350, listed September 20, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1370 Hancock St., Quincy |
|---|---|
| County | Norfolk County |
| Listed | September 20, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89001350 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in good condition; present use is bank and offices. The bank's main office moved to a new building at 1200 Hancock Street in 1974. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 42.25017, -71.00212 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 89001350.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7272182
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.