Quincy, Mass. Historical and Architectural Survey

442 Southern Artery

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
The first effort for organizing a Police Department in Quincy was the passing of Ordinance #19 in 1889 which established the office of Deputy Manager to oversee the twenty-one special patrolmen and ten constables who were headquartered in the basement of City Hall. In 1892, with the passing of Ordinance #25, the Quincy Police Department of today was formed with a salaried Chief and ten patrolmen. Prior to moving to the new building at 442 Southern Artery, the police station was housed in an old school building (1829, now demolished) at 117 School Street.

The $75.000 police station was designed by the local architectural firm of Clark, Batty & Gallagher in 1925 and built by the well-known local contractor/architect William R. Lofgren. The latter was a native of Sweden and made "a specialty of churches, first-class residences, and business blocks and of large structures generally." (Quincy Patriot- Ledger, Souvenir Edition. 1899, p. 53). It is interesting to note that the site was vociferously opposed by the Quincy Women's Club who feared its proximity to the Coddington School and Faxon Playground "would be a detriment to the peace of mind of children and would serve as a bad moral influence." (Quincy Sun, March 13. 1986. p. 5)

Internal renovations were accomplished in the police station at a cost of $29.000 in 1968 and $20.000 in 1972. The City Council, in December 1985, voted $445,000 for an architectural study of the renovation of the station as well as a major addition to the existing structure.

BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES
Building Permit to William Churchill Edwards. Historic Quincy. Massachusetts. 1957. p. 217.
Historical Sketch of the City of Quincy. Issued by Quincy Lodge of Elks. 1924. p. 50-51.
"Quincy. Massachusetts: Historical Guide and Map". 1925.
Quincy Patriot Ledger, no date. (Scrapbook belonging to Robert N. Mood. City of Quincy. Fire Historian.
Quincy Patriot Ledger. Souvenir Edition. 1899, p. 53.
Quincy Sun. December 31. 1985. p. 13; January 9, 1986. p. 14; March 13. 1986. p. 5.

ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:
The yellow brick Quincy Police Station built in 1925 is a fine example of an institutional building, designed in a functional traditional style. It is a three story structure, set on a high concrete basement, capped with a plain cornice, and a shaped parapet with the seal of Quincy in the central pedimented section. A few classical details on the facade endow the building with a modicum of style. The two entrances placed at the sides of the front are embellished with Greek pediments and framed with pilasters. Giant pilasters separate the windows of the three floors and give the building a vertical thrust. It is a prominent presence on the Southern Artery corner at Sea Street.

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