408 Bridge Road
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FORM B − BUILDING
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION
MASSACHUSETTS ARCHIVES BUILDING
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
Photograph
Topographic or Assessor's Map
Recorded by: Bonnie Parsons
Organization: Pioneer Valley Planning Commission
Date (month / year): March, 2010
Assessor’s Number USGS Quad Area(s) Form Number
17B-10 Easthampton NTH.80
Town: Northampton
Place: (neighborhood or village)
Address: 408 Bridge Road
Historic Name:
Uses: Present: three-family residence
Original: single-family residence
Date of Construction: ca. 1830-1850
Source: Registry of Deeds
Style/Form: Greek Revival
Architect/Builder:
Exterior Material:
Foundation: stone, concrete
Wall/Trim: clapboards, vinyl
Roof: asphalt shingles
Outbuildings/Secondary Structures:
Major Alterations (with dates):
2005 two ells added as individual residences
Condition: good
Moved: no | x | yes | | Date
Acreage: 0.679 acres
Setting: This house faces south on a busy road that has
both residential and commercial development on it.
INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET [NORTHAMPTON] [408 BRIDGE ROAD]
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
Continuation sheet 1
NTH.80
___ Recommended for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.
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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 Greek Revival style house that is thought to be an alteration of an earlier house of ca. 1800. An examination of the
structure of the house might determine whether that is an accurate history. As it stands now, the house is two-and-a-half stories
in height under a front-gable roof whose eaves make full returns to create a Greek Revival style pediment. Currently, the house
has historically inaccurate vinyl shingles in its pediment, however, in 1980 it was noted that the field was flushboarded, a Greek
Revival style treatment intended to suggest the stone of a Greek temple. The house is three bays wide and three bays deep
and has a center entry, an unusual arrangement for the period when a side hall entry was more commonly built. Its proportions
are large. There is a one-and-a-half story wing on the east. The entry of the main block is a conservative version of the Federal
style with narrow pilasters supporting an entablature, rather than the broad surrounds more often found in Greek Revival style
buildings. Sash in the house is 6/6. The mixture of styles was common in the 1830s when tastes and carpenter skills were
changing. This house stands out in its neighborhood for its scale and landscape setting.
There are two, two-and-a-half story ells on the north elevation of the house, added in 2005, and they function as separate
households.
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 has been traced to Moses Hunt, who sold the property in 1837. The house is shown on the
1831 map and according to the owner in 1976, predated 1831. In 1852 William and Caroline Moore purchased this farmstead,
consisting of eleven acres, for $1000. However, within the deed it is stated that they are already occupying the premises,
probably as tenant farmers. The Moore family maintained this property for the rest of the 19th century.
The property is described as being with the Inner Commons near Millstone Mountain, and fronting on the highway from the
Connecticut River bridge to Florence, North Farms and Williamsburg. This road dates from the 18th century and appears on the
first map of Northampton, dated 1794. According to the 1976 owner the house originally was only 1 ½ stories in height with a
ridge or side-gable roof. A twelve over twelve sash window is located in the rear of the house. These facts would seem to date
the house to the late 18th or early 19th century.”
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.
Map of 1794 of Northampton
Miller, D. L. Atlas of the City of Northampton and Town of Easthampton, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, Philadelphia, 1895.
Northampton Directories of 1860-61; 1885-86.
Walker, George H. and Company. Atlas of Northampton City, Massachusetts, Boston, 1884.
Walling, Henry F. Map of Hampshire County, Massachusetts, New York, 1860.