2023 End of Northampton Grant Report.pdfThe Clapp House
148 South Street,
Northampton, MA
2023Conservation &
Preservation Project
Betty Allen Chapter Daughters of the
American Revolution (DAR)
Betty Allen DAR Executive Board
Denise Kindschi Gosselin
Debra Windoloski
Historian Susan SamoriskiLibrarian
Sheree BrownRecording Secretary
2/15/2024
Kathleen Korza Edith Yates
Eileen Lavin
Pat Eagan
House ManagerRegistrar
Vice Regent ChaplainRegent
Wendy-Anne Campbell
Treasurer
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Mission Statement
Betty Allen DAR Chapter a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the mission of promoting historic preservation, education, and patriotism.
We accomplish these through preservation of historic
property,cemetery preservation,veteran grave
marking,youth education,and recognition of local
heroes in our community.We work closely with
veteran’s services and other non-profit organizations
to support underserved and underprivileged
populations through donations and service hours.
Chartered in Northampton in 1896
at 148 South Street since 1926
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Historic Highlights For almost 100 years,
members of the Betty Allen
Chapter,NSDAR have been
dedicated to the preservation
the Northampton "Clapp
House'The historical
significance of the Ebenezer
“Clapp House”is documented
in the book The Great River;
Art &Society of the
Connecticut Valley,1635-1820
(1985)Ward &Hosley (eds).
Published by the Wadsworth
Atheneum.Its historical and
architectural significance is
documented in 1970 by the
Northampton Historical
Society.
Located in the Fort Hill Historic District and recorded in both the National and State Registration of Historic Places
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Significance to the Community
Historic Preservation +
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Facilities for DAR,
SAR, & Small
Business meetings
Community EventsHistoric Tours &
Open House
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Community Preservation Act Funding
The Betty Allen Chapter DAR requested
$62,168 for Electrical Upgrades Project
at 148 South Street.On 7 December
2022,the Northampton Community
Preservation Committee voted
unanimously to recommend that
$62,168 in Community Preservation
Act Funds be used to support this
project.This amount represented 100%
of the bid deemed reasonable to
achieve electrical code compliance.
On 19 January 2023, the City Council
ordered the appropriation.
The Contract between the City and Betty
Allen Chapter DAR was signed by all
parties 2 April 2023.The project was
awarded to Orchard Electric,Inc.of
Florence,MA.On 26 October 2023
Orchard Electric reported the job was
complete.Final Electrical Inspections by
the city of Northampton are completed.
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Pictures illustrate a before-and-after example of the wiring in the Clapp House. Much of the
wiring is behind walls. These were pulled out and the entire house was re-wired as if it were a
“new build.”
Left –Example of the
antiquated wiring over the
garage and throughout the
house. Knob & tube type.
Right –Picture shows the
roof line after removal of
the knob and tube type
wiring has been replaced
with modern wired lights
which are switch at entry.
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“Before” Picture “After” Picture
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Attic Spaces under Multiple Roof lines
Knob & Tube Wiring
Before
New Wiring
After Before After
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Knob & Tube Wiring New Wiring
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Key Issues
Identified in the grant application were areas which needed upgrades. All have been successfully completed.
Exterior Outlet(s)
Bathroom outlets
Laundry outlets
Open junction boxes
Faulty GFCI Breaker
Panel Rusted / Corrosion
Recommend upgrading all
exterior, basement, and kitchen
outlets to GFCI protected type.
Repair, replace, electrical panel –
cover junction boxes.
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Shown above is an example of rust and corrosion
within the panel of the breaker box. To the right is
the instillation of new rust-free junction boxes,
absent of the safety problems associated with the
example above. Junction box covers installed.
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Electrical upgrades per current code are complete
Open ground outlets
Before
Covered ground outlets
After Before After
2/15/2024
Washer powered via extension cord New GFCI Protected outlet
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2/15/2024
The 2023 Open House at the Clapp House was an opportunity to thank the city of Northampton and all participants
who made the project a success!
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Thank You!
On behalf of the members of the Betty
Allen Chapter
2/15/2024
Denise Kindschi Gosselin
(413) 320-7576
BettyAllen1753@gmail.com
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