Clark Ave 51-53.pdf
Follow Massachusetts Historical Commission Survey Manual instructions for completing this form. FORM B − BUILDING MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION MASSACHUSETTS ARCHIVES BUILDING
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125 Photograph Topographic or Assessor's Map Recorded by: Jayne Bernhard-Armington, B. Parsons Organization: Pioneer Valley Planning Commission
Date (month /year): June, 2010 Assessor’s Number USGS Quad Area(s) Form Number 31D-185 Easthampton NTH.798 Town: Northampton Place: (neighborhood or village) Address: 51-53 Clark Avenue
Historic Name: Horace Lamb Wire Mill Uses:Present: Multi-family condominiums Original: Wire Mill Date of Construction: 1870s Source: Maps & visual evidence Style/Form: Utilitarian Architect/Builder:
Exterior Material: Foundation: Brick Wall/Trim: Brick, Vinyl Roof: Asphalt Outbuildings/Secondary Structures: Major Alterations (with dates): -third floor with side gable roof -pedimented
porches along southern elevation Condition: good Moved: no | x | yes | | Date Acreage: 0.90 acres Setting: Secluded mill turned condominium complex on a quiet street of single family,
condominium buildings, and multifamily homes. New bike path runs along the former railroad bed behind the building.
INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET [NORTHAMPTON] [51-53 CLARK AVENUE] MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No. 220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125 Continuation
sheet 1 NTH.798 ___ 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. This is a two-and-a-half story, red brick mill building to which is attached a one to two story
red brick addition, and a two-story vinyl sided garage and apartment addition. The main block, under a side-gable roof, is eighteen bays long and four deep; the brick addition is five
bays long and has a flat roof to which has been added a small section of second story set back on the roof. Following the red brick addition, the two-story vinyl sided addition has a
shed roof and a wing of two stories on its east elevation. Converted to a residential building from industrial uses, the main block of the building had a gable roof with seven dormers
added to it. Windows in this oldest section are segmentally arched. There are three entries to the units of this building and they are marked by pedimented porches that were later additions.
The brick addition has four broad segmentally arched openings and a fifth bay of an added enclosed brick portico with a glass entry and glass fanlight. The two-story vinyl sided addition
is two bays wide. It has a two-bay garage on the first story and two windows at the second story. It also has a wing with an exterior staircase on its rear corner. Although the building
has had considerable alteration to take it to residential use, its industrial origins are still apparent. 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, “This site was originally near the
lower falls on the Mill River. During the 1930’s the river was removed from the center of town and playing fields constructed here. The first known mill on this site was a grist mill
erected here in 1742 and as late as 1915 the western end of the building was still being used as such by William H. Smith. In the early 1870’s Horace Lamb established a wire mill here.
The 1885 directory describes the business as “manufacturers of iron and tinned wire for brooms, brushes, card, and fine tinned for weaving. Also, annealed and bright wire. This was the
only factory of its kind in Hampshire County and produced 300 tons of wire annually. Most of the present building dates from the late 19th century, with the westernmost eight bays being
an early 20th century addition.” There are eighteen total units in the two buildings. 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. 1794
& 1831 Maps 1854 Map Registry of Deeds: bk 130P. 84, 99-462, 44-249, 42-72, 38-350 Northampton Directory: 1860,1873-74, 1885-86