Hayden Building (Boston) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Hayden Building
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 Location in Boston
Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 681-683 Washington St., Boston, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1875 |
| Architect | Henry Hobson Richardson; Norcross Bros. |
| Architectural style | Romanesque |
| MPS | Boston Theatre MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 80000446 |
| Added to NRHP | December 9, 1980 |
The Hayden Building is a special old building located at 681-683 Washington Street in Boston, Massachusetts. It was built a long time ago, in 1875. This building is so important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. This list helps protect important places in the United States. It was also named a Boston Landmark in 1977, meaning it's a very important part of Boston's history.
This four-story building was made for shops and businesses. It was designed by a famous architect named Henry Hobson Richardson. What makes it special is that it's the last building he designed for shops in Boston that is still standing today. You can find the Hayden Building in Boston's busy Chinatown neighborhood.
What Does the Hayden Building Look Like?
The Hayden Building has five stories and was built on a very narrow piece of land. It is made from a type of reddish-brown stone called Longmeadow brownstone. The building doesn't have many fancy decorations. Instead, it uses simple stone pieces, like straight lintels (stone beams above windows) and curved arches, to create its look. This style is known as Richardsonian Romanesque.
The Building's Hidden History
For many years, people didn't know that the famous architect Henry Hobson Richardson designed the Hayden Building. His other works were usually listed in his office records.
However, this building was a special project for Richardson's own family. Because it was a family project, he didn't charge a fee for designing it. This meant it wasn't written down in his usual business books. An expert named Cynthia Zaitzevsky finally discovered Richardson's connection to the building in 1973.
The Hayden Building was built after a drugstore on the same spot exploded in 1875. It replaced that building. All the other commercial buildings Richardson designed in Boston have been torn down. This makes the Hayden Building even more unique and important.
Saving the Hayden Building
In 1995, a group called Historic Boston Incorporated bought the Hayden Building. They wanted to save it and fix it up, especially after it had some fire damage. They worked with an architectural firm called Bruner/Cott. Students from the North Bennet Street School also helped with the preservation work.
They carefully replaced damaged stone parts. They even made new stone pieces by taking molds from other parts of the building. This helped make sure the new parts looked just like the old ones.
Later, in 2011, another architectural firm called CUBE design + research took on a new project. They worked to fully restore the building again. They also changed it into apartments for people to live in.
