College Lane
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
Please see attached Continuation Sheet.
Recorded by: Bonnie Parsons
Organization: Pioneer Valley Planning Commission
Date (month / year): March, 2010
Assessor’s Number USGS Quad Area(s) Form Number
31D-11 Easthampton NTH.733
Town: Northampton
Place: (neighborhood or village) Smith College Campus
Address: College Lane
Historic Name: Smith College Boathouse
Uses: Present: boathouse
Original: boathouse
Date of Construction: 1911
Source: Smith College archives
Style/Form: Craftsman
Architect/Builder: Karl Scott Putnam, Architect,
Northampton Exterior Material:
Foundation: not visible
Wall/Trim: shingles
Roof: asphalt shingles
Outbuildings/Secondary Structures:
Major Alterations (with dates):
Condition: fair
Moved: no | x | yes | | Date
Acreage: 5.638 acres
Setting: The boathouse is on the eastern shore of
Paradise Pond.
INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET [NORTHAMPTON ] [College Lane]
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
Continuation sheet 1
NTH.733
_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.
The Smith College boathouse is a one-and-a-half story building under a hipped roof that has Craftsman style exposed rafters
and purlins at the eaves and wood shingle siding. The pedestrian entry to the boathouse is on its west façade. There, a broad
entry with flanking sidelights is sheltered by a Craftsman style pergola on Doric columns. This façade has a second bay
consisting of a band of four, 12-light casement windows. On the north elevation is a square oriel window with a band of three,
12-light, casement windows. The west elevation has a wooden deck that steps down to the water level of the pond. The deck
leads to the seven bay west elevation with four sliding doors with lights in their upper halves and panels below. One opening
has double doors, the other three are single sliding doors with 15 lights. A secondary pedestrian door is at the southwest corner
of this elevation and is flanked by two windows of multi-light casements. On the roof of the boathouse is a copper-roofed cupola
topped by a racing shell weathervane. There is a chimney on the roof as well as hipped roof dormers on north and south
elevations. The boathouse and the crew house make a pair of Craftsman style buildings at the water’s edge.
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 1977 Form B, “Sited by Paradise Pond, the Boat House was completed in 1911. The building has space for rowing
machines, eight 4 oared shells of the college crews, and for canoes and rowboats.”
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.
INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET [NORTHAMPTON ] [College Lane]
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
Continuation sheet 2
NTH.733
Main entrance to boathouse.
INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET [NORTHAMPTON ] [College Lane]
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
Continuation sheet 3
NTH.733