222 Commercial St

Historic District Survey information for 222 Commercial St

Architectural Description: 222 Commercial St. is a 2-story, 3-bay, Second Empire-style assembly hall that has been converted to commercial use; mansard roof is sheathed in asphalt shingles, gable dormers with paired brackets and pendants, overhanging eave with paired pendanted brackets; exterior is clad in clapboard siding on the front facade with wood shingles on the secondary facades; building sits on a concrete block foundation; fenestration includes band of 4-light display windows with corner pilasters on storefront, single-pane windows, 2/2 DHS in gable dormers; primary entrance is accessed by a band of 4 multi-pane doors in the center bay; secondary entrance on right side facade.

Historical Narrative: As per Josephine Del Deo (1977): "King Hiriam's Lodge was organized on December 12, 1795. It is one of the oldest lodges in the country, and certainly one of the oldest in Massachusetts. The Charter of King Hiriam's Lodge was signed by Paul Revere, on December 12, 1796, and of the chartered lodges by Paul Revere it is one of the 7th or 8th stills surviving. Its history is interesting. Quoting from the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary booklet printed in 1946 it is interesting to note the following: The lodge was established in Truro, which then extended to what is now Howland Street, east end. About 1/4 of the houses of the town were locate just east of the boundary. A majority of the charter members belonging to Provincetown, many of the meetings were held in the latter town, and quickly efforts were put forth to obtain a working charter. These efforts were rewarded early in 1796. permission to remove the lodge across the line into Provincetown being granted, the removal occurred. It is recorded that on Mary 20, 1797, a vote was taken to build a "lodge house" and work of building same was commence soon after that date. The building then erected still stands in Provincetown (the building was used partly as a school and partly as a seminary). It stands at the base of high Pole Hill and is, or was, the residence of Mrs. Rachel C. Atkins. It was used quite a good many years as a lodge house then sole to the Rev. Mr. Partridge, who converted it into a dwelling. Not long after the sale was effected, the marine Lodge of Odd Fellows, newly formed, erected a hall, and the Mason's obtained quarters in the new hall. In 1865 the present hall was built by the Masonic Association, etc.

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Commercial Street (Provincetown, Mass.), Dwellings, and Historic Districts--Massachusetts--Provincetown

 (Mass. Historical Commission Form B)