North Main Street 156-158.pdf
Follow Massachusetts Historical Commission Survey Manual instructions for completing this form. FORM B − BUILDING MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION MASSACHUSETTS ARCHIVES BUILDING
220MORRISSEY BOULEVARD BOSTON,MASSACHUSETTS 02125 Photograph Topographic or Assessor's Map Recorded by: Bonnie Parsons Organization: Pioneer Valley Planning Commission Date (month /year):
March, 2011 Assessor’s Number USGS Quad Area(s) Form Number 16D-14 Easthampton NTH.62 Town: Northampton Place: (neighborhood or village) Florence Address: 156-158 North Main Street Historic
Name: Mrs. Parsons House Uses: Present: Three-family residence Original: Two-family residence Date of Construction: ca. 1870 Source: map of 1873 Style/Form: Italianate Architect/Builder:
Exterior Material: Foundation: brick Wall/Trim: vinyl Roof: asphalt Outbuildings/Secondary Structures: One-bay garage Major Alterations (with dates): Windows replaced and vinyl siding
applied, ca. 2000 Condition: good Moved: no | x | yes | | Date Acreage: 0.273 acres Setting: This house faces north on Route 9 on a residential section of the highway. Its land slopes
down to the Mill River on the south west.
INVENTORY FORMB CONTINUATION SHEET [NORTHAMPTON] [156-158 NORTH MAIN STREET] MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No. 220MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON,MASSACHUSETTS 02125 Continuation
sheet 1 NTH.62 ___ Recommended for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. If checked, you must attach a completed National Register Criteria Statement form. Use as much
space as necessary to complete the following entries, allowing text to flow onto additional continuation sheets. ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION: Describe architectural features. Evaluate
the characteristics of this building in terms of other buildings within the community. The map of 1873 shows two houses on the lot of this house and what may be its identical neighbor
at 166-169 North Main Street, but this house was depicted on that map as having a large wing on the east that now would be quite difficult to imagine in that location. It isn’t until
the 1895 map that the two houses appear as they do today, so they likely have undergone alterations to appear as they do. The Mrs. Parsons House is two stories in height under a shallow
hipped roof. It is six bays wide and has paired center entries. At each side of the house are secondary entries through glassed-in, one-story porches. A two-story ell extends from the
south elevation adding to the volume of each of the halves of the house. There are two chimneys on the roof as well. The house is unified on the north façade by a full-width porch on
posts with solid brackets at the eaves. Windows have vinyl replacement sash of 1/1 lights. HISTORICAL NARRATIVE Discuss the history of the building. Explain its associations with local
(or state) history. Include uses of the building, and the role(s) the owners/occupants played within the community. From Form B of 1980: “North Main Street was originally known as the
road to Williamsburg and was established during the 18th century. However, there was little residential development until the 1860’s. Bela Gardner, a market gardener, bought seven acres
of land from Polly Bosworth for $1000 in 1863 and 1864. This land fronted on North Main Street and extended westerly over the terrace drop-off into the meadows along the Mill River.
During the next decade, Mr. Gardner established his homestead on this land and had two virtually identical double houses built. Later, lots fronting on the street were sold for residential
development.” BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES Beers, F. W. County Atlas of Hampshire Massachusetts, New York, 1873. Hales, John G. Plan of the Town or Northampton in the County of Hampshire,
1831. Miller, D. L. Atlas of the City of Northampton and Town of Easthampton, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, Philadelphia, 1895. Walker, George H. and Company. Atlas of Northampton
City, Massachusetts, Boston, 1884. Walling, Henry F. Map of Hampshire County, Massachusetts, New York, 1860. Registry of Deeds: Bk. 418-P. 139, 307-333, 223-323, 212-364