March 4, 2009—The 106-year old Compton Building that houses the Club Quarters Hotel and the Elephant & Castle Pub and Restaurant in downtown Boston has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places, a federal designation that bestows honor on one of Bostons architecturally and historically significant buildings.
“The Compton Building, like many other historic gems in Boston, was not listed on the National Register of Historic Places and also not protected by any preservation measures. I am delighted that we have now taken the first step by giving this building the recognition that it deserves,” said Mory Bahar, the Boston representative of the Trust for Architectural Easements.
Located at 161-175 Devonshire Street, the 11-story classical revival granite and buff brick Compton Building was designed by the architectural firm of Winslow and Bigelow. The building features several new engineering advances invented in the late 19th century, including steel frame construction and the elevator. Since electric lighting was still a relatively new technology, the building was designed with a large indentation at the rear of the building to allow for improved lighting and air circulation.
The Trust for Architectural Easements is one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit organizations dedicated to voluntary preservation through easement donations. For more information, see the Web site.
