Below are the PMA’s assessments of the Aspects of Integrity for both the National Register and City of Portland.
Aspects of Integrity, National Register
Per the 2020 district nomination update, the Period of Significance for the Spring Street National Register Historic District is 1800 through 1943, which includes the tenancy of the Chamber of Commerce. Other entities associated with the site – the Baptist Church, the Children’s Museum – are not relevant to this evaluation as no physical fabric remains to represent the Church’s ownership, and the Children’s Museum’s ownership post-dates the Period of Significance.
All of the historic interior elements are gone from 142 Free Street. This is more of an issue for individual eligibility – only the exterior is considered when evaluating if a building contributes or does not contribute to a National Register Historic District. The National Register Guidelines define the Aspects of Integrity as follows:
Location is the place where the historic property was constructed or the place where the historic event occurred.
Design is the combination of elements that create the form, plan, space, structure, and style of a property.
Setting is the physical environment of a historic property.
Materials are the physical elements that were combined or deposited during a particular period of time and in a particular pattern or configuration to form a historic property.
Workmanship is the physical evidence of the crafts of a particular culture or people during any given period in history or prehistory.
Feeling is a property's expression of the aesthetic or historic sense of a particular period of time.
Association is the direct link between an important historic event or person and a historic property.
Following, please find the seven Aspects of Integrity and an assessment summarizing if and why 142 Free Street retains each aspect and the resulting impact on National Register (NR) eligibility for Individual Listing or as a contributing structure to a NR Historic District. Interior features and alterations are mentioned only in the context of NR eligibility for individual listing.
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Building remains in original location. Integrity of location is uncompromised.
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Contributes to a District?
The form of the building is compromised by the addition of the dormer and cupola.
Eligibility for Individual Listing?
Building would not be eligible for individual listing on the National Register due to the alteration of the interior. The interior of the building has no integrity – plan is altered, all finishes removed, roof structure replaced.
Conclusion: Integrity of Design is compromised.
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Contributes to a District?
The setting lacks any historic integrity – building is surrounded by parking lots and a ca. 1983 building (the Payson wing)
Eligibility for Individual Listing?
The setting lacks any historic integrity. Historically, Free Street was a residential street (19th c.) and in the early 20th c. some commercial structures – the YMCA – replaced residences. 142 Free is now surrounded by surface parking lots and a ca. 1983 building (the Payson wing)
Conclusion: No Integrity of Setting remains.
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Contributes to a District?
Large windows on the highly visible east facade are not wood.
Basement windows, east facade are not wood.
Front (main entry) doors, transom over same replaced with modern, metal doors.
Eligibility for Individual Listing?
Large windows on the highly visible east facade are not wood.
Basement windows, east facade are not wood.
Front (main entry) doors, transom over same replaced with modern, metal doors
Conclusion: Integrity of Materials is compromised.
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Eligibility for Individual Listing?
All elements of the 1927-43 interior are gone—no workmanship remains at interior.
Conclusion: For the interior, the Integrity of Workmanship is compromised.
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Contributes to a District?
Cupola changes the formal “feel” of the building.
The added dormer alters the roofline, a critical feature on this formal design.
Eligibility for Individual Listing?
Cupola changes the formal “feel” of the building.
The added dormer alters the roofline, a critical feature on this formal design.
The interior retains no feeling of its 1927-43 era.
Conclusion: Integrity of Feeling is compromised.
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Contributes to a District?
Changes to the exterior – fenestration changes, replacement windows, dormers, cupola – have resulted in a stronger visual association with the Children’s Museum’s ownership.
Eligibility for Individual Listing?
Interior retains no spaces or finishes to represent its association with the Chamber ca. 1927-43.
Changes to the exterior create a stronger association with the Children’s Museum.
Conclusion: Integrity of Association is compromised.
Aspects of Integrity, City of Portland, Maine
The Designation Report does not assign/mention a Period of Significance.
The City’s “Land Use Code” does not define Design, Condition, Materials, etc. (see “Definitions” on pages 17-1 through 17-3).
The City does not consider or review interiors, so the interior of the building is not discussed in the following list.
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Intact, building remains in original location.
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Fenestration (window locations) altered – east facade. One opening added, one filled in at upper floor. Basement openings heavily altered – filled in, added, one opening enlarged to door.
Highly visible cupola added
Highly visible dormer added.
Highly visible skylights added.
Conclusion: Compromised
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Intact, building is generally in good condition.
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Large windows, east facade are not wood.
Basement windows, east facade are not wood.
Front (main entry) doors, transom over same replaced with modern, metal doors.
Conclusion: Compromised
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Windows replaced, the modern windows do not replicate the original design
Primary entry door, transom over same door replaced – door, transom are metal and do not replicate original design
Conclusion: Compromised
National Register Bulletin How to Apply the National Register Criteria for Evaluation, page 45. Available here.