Phoenix Building
Why it's listed
Standing at the corner of Union and Park Streets in Rockland, this two-story commercial block was built in 1929 after fire destroyed the second of two earlier Phoenix buildings on the site. Boston architects Blackall, Clapp & Whittemore designed it with a cast-stone ashlar facade, green marble storefront bases, copper pilasters, and a parapet of vase balusters. Three shops occupy the ground floor and offices fill the second story, where original doors, trim and a pressed tin ceiling in one store survive. The building was erected for the real estate firm of Alonzo W. Perry, a former Rockland shoe manufacturer who became a Boston-based property owner. It was listed for its architecture and for its role in the town's commercial life. Few commercial buildings from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries remain in Rockland, and this one is notable for the variety of its cast-stone and metal ornament and for retaining most of its original detail.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building keeps nearly all of its original design, including green marble and copper storefronts, a rusticated cast-stone second story and a vase-baluster parapet. It is described as Rockland's finest example of Classical Revival commercial architecture and one of few surviving nineteenth and early twentieth century commercial buildings in the town. It is also linked to a prominent Boston architectural firm and to the businessman Alonzo W. Perry.
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 89000220, listed April 7, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 315--321 Union St., Rockland |
|---|---|
| County | Plymouth County |
| Listed | April 7, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89000220 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1929-1939 |
| Architect / builder | Blackall, Clapp & Whittemore |
| Architectural style | Later 19th Century & 20th Century Revival: Neo-Classical (described in the text as Renaissance Revival / Classical Revival) |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used for business and office purposes, with three storefronts on the first story and offices on the second; the nomination describes it as well preserved. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 42.13799, -70.91594 (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 89000220.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q2088497
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.