Academy Building (also known as "Academy of Music Building" or "Borden Block") is a historic building in Fall River, Massachusetts. The building was constructed in 1875 as a memorial to Nathaniel Briggs Borden by his family. It opened its doors on January 6, 1876. It was added to the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

in 1973.

History

The building is located on land once owned by Nathaniel Briggs Borden, an early Fall River businessman and politician who died in 1865. The building was designed as a memorial to him by his widow Lydia and his three adult children, Simeon, Nathaniel, Jr. and Louisa Borden Aldrich. The family obtained the services of noted Boston architects H.W. Hartwell and A.E. Swasey, who had previously designed several notable buildings in Fall River, including the Central Congregational Church on Rock Street and Simeon's mansion on Highland Avenue. Like these other structures, the Borden Block was also designed in the

Ruskinian John Ruskin (8 February 1819 20 January 1900) was an English writer, philosopher, art critic and polymath of the Victorian era. He wrote on subjects as varied as geology, architecture, myth, ornithology, literature, education, botany and politi ...

Gothic Revival style Gothic Revival (also referred to as Victorian Gothic, neo-Gothic, or Gothick) is an architectural movement that began in the late 1740s in England. The movement gained momentum and expanded in the first half of the 19th century, as increasingly ...

, featuring polychrome brick and carved stone details. The four story building was constructed by the Hull Brothers of Providence. Their initial cost estimate was $260,000. However, the cost of the building escalated during construction, largely attributed to foundation problems. Large mortgages were obtained by the Borden family from local banks. Shares in the building were also sold to several local businessmen. By July 1882, the three Borden siblings no longer owned the building. At the time of its 1876 opening, the building's theatre boasted the second largest theatre in

Massachusetts Massachusetts (Massachusett language, Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut assachusett writing systems, məhswatʃəwiːsət'' English: , ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is the most populous U.S. state, state in the New England ...

. The first program, on January 6, 1876, featured the Theodore Thomas Orchestra. Later, the theatre hosted the

Boston Symphony Orchestra The Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) is an American orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the second-oldest of the five major American symphony orchestras commonly referred to as the " Big Five". Founded by Henry Lee Higginson in 1881, ...

numerous times during the 1880s. The theatre also hosted various drama and comedy stage acts from the time that it opened well into the early 20th century, the motion pictures began to be shown. The building was also used for grand balls, political rallies and other events. In addition to the theatre, the building's original design included commercial shops at street level and numerous offices in its upper levels. The Borden Block contained the city's first telephone exchange from 1879 to 1890, when it was relocated to its own building. In 1910, William J. Dunn became the sole owner of the building. In 1946, the Dunn heirs leased the building to Zeitz Theatre Company. It reopened in November 1946 after extensive renovations. During the 1960s and 1970s, the building fell into disrepair. It was acquired by the Fall River Redevelopment Authority in 1973, which had planned to demolish the building. In 1979, the Academy Building was photographed as part of the Historic American Buildings Survey. During the 1980s, the building was restored. The theatre portion of the building was removed. Today the building is primarily occupied by senior apartments,Corcoran Communities
/ref> with retail spaces at street level along South Main Street.

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HABS ListingHistoric Structures
{{National Register of Historic Places in Massachusetts Commercial buildings completed in 1875 Music venues completed in 1875 Buildings and structures in Fall River, Massachusetts Theatres on the National Register of Historic Places in Massachusetts National Register of Historic Places in Fall River, Massachusetts 1875 establishments in Massachusetts

History

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