South Street 236 Form B 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
Organization: Pioneer Valley Planning Commission
Date (month / year): April 2011
Assessor’s Number USGS Quad Area(s) Form Number
38B-245 Easthampton NTH.1069
Town: Northampton
Place: (neighborhood or village)
Address: 236 South Street
Historic Name: Edwards House
Uses: Present: Four-family residence
Original: Single-family residence
Date of Construction: c. 1860
Source: visual evidence
Style/Form: Italianate
Architect/Builder:
Exterior Material:
Foundation: Brick
Wall/Trim: Aluminum
Roof: Asphalt
Outbuildings/Secondary Structures:
Two bay garage
Major Alterations (with dates):
Aluminum siding (mid 20th century) Front porch enclosed (mid 20th century)
Condition: Good
Moved: no | x | yes | | Date
Acreage: 0.576 acre
Setting: House sits on a corner lot in a residential
neighborhood of former single family homes that have been
converted to buildings with two or more residential units.
INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET [NORTHAMPTON] [236 SOUTH STREET]
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
Continuation sheet 1
NTH.1069
__X_ 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-half story Italianate style house with a front gable roof. Around 1888, the house was expanded resulting in the two side wings. Many of the homes original Italianate features have been lost due to the addition of aluminum siding and the
enclosure of the front porch. The house still retains its original Italianate style door with paired arched windows. Roof eaves also make partial returns. The large side wing on the southern elevation has also has a bay window. The house has one brick
chimney, but it had two brick chimneys when the house was first inventoried in 1980. The property also includes a two bay hipped roof garage.
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 house stands on land which was part of Samuel Edwards, Jr.’s homestead. Mr. Edwards acquired
his land in 1708, as one of the first wave of permanent settlers south of the Mill River. His youngest son Nathaniel taught one of the earliest schools on South Street in the mid 18th century. This was located across the street, at the present northwest corner
of Herbert Avenue. Nathaniel’s son and grandson also taught at the same school. The grandson, Charles Edwards, was probably the builder of this house. After Charles died, his daughter Anna took over the property. She taught at the school
across the street where three generations of her family had, and became assistant principal of Mount Holyoke College. In 1884, the house was rented for ‘Home for the Sick.’ This was the first private charitable organization in Northampton.
With the opening of the Dickinson Hospital in 1886, the Home changed its purpose. In 1887, the institution was incorporated as the ‘Home for the Aged and Invalid Women in Northampton.’ The house was expanded by five sleeping rooms, a dining room,
bathroom and laundry in 1888. After the death of Mrs. Clara Lathrop, the originator of the Home, in 1908 the name was changed to the Lathrop Home, but the ministry remained the same, ‘to give a pleasant home to women who from advanced age
or physical infirmities could not provide one for themselves or had no friends to care for them.’ In 1920, Mrs. Frank Look purchased the Charles Clark homestead on the north side of South Street and within a year
had the present ‘Lathrop Home’ constructed.”
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.