27 Bright Street
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: Bonnie Parsons
Organization: Pioneer Valley Planning Commission
Date (month / year): March, 2010
Assessor’s Number USGS Quad Area(s) Form Number
31B-92 Easthampton NTH.616
Town: Northampton
Place: (neighborhood or village)
Address: 27 Bright Street
Historic Name: John P. and Mary McGrath House
Uses: Present: single-family house
Original: single-family house
Date of Construction: 1881-1885
Source: Daily Hampshire Gazette 1/23/1883; 5/15/83;
6/17/84 Style/Form: Queen Anne
Architect/Builder:
Exterior Material:
Foundation: brick
Wall/Trim: clapboards, shingles
Roof: metal
Outbuildings/Secondary Structures:
Major Alterations (with dates):
Condition: good-fair
Moved: no | x | yes | | Date
Acreage: 0.26 acres
Setting: This is a south-facing house on a residential street
whose houses are all in alignment.
INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET [NORTHAMPTON] [27 BRIGHT STREET]
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
Continuation sheet 1
NTH.616
__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.
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 the 1980 form: “Parker R. Whitcomb purchased a large tract of land known as the Bright Estate from Dr. Blodgett about
1881. Whitcomb proceeded to erect a number of cottages on the property after having opened “Bright Street” through the center
of the tract. By January 1883, Whitcomb had erected several cottages and planned to build others; in June, 1884, a total of nine
cottages had been built along the new street. Whitcomb retained the properties until just after the turn of the century; in 1904 he
sold #27, known as lot #5 in his plan (Book 551, page 131) to Mary C. McGrath.”
John P. and Mary McGrath were not the first residents of the house, as it had been rented from 1884 to 1904 when Whitcomb
sold it to the McGraths and their three children. John had his own plumbing business and worked with his son, John, Jr. who
also lived at this house. John, Sr. was a Northampton sewer commissioner in 1912. The McGraths were in the house through
1920, and after John’s death, Mary remained here as late as 1937.
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.
Daily Hampshire Gazette, January 23, 1883; May 15, 1883; June 17, 1884; December 8, 1885.
Registry of Deeds, Hampshire County, book 551, page 131; book 575, page 117.