47 Columbus Avenue
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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: Jayne Bernhard-Armington
Organization: Pioneer Valley Planning Commission
Date (month / year): June, 2010
Assessor’s Number USGS Quad Area(s) Form Number
38B-148 Easthampton NTH.1051
Town: Northampton
Place: (neighborhood or village)
Address: 47 Columbus Avenue
Historic Name: Herbert and Alan Marsh House
Uses: Present: Single family
Original: Single family
Date of Construction: 1900-1902
Source: Registry of Deeds and Street Directory
Style/Form: Colonial Revival
Architect/Builder:
Exterior Material:
Foundation: Brick
Wall/Trim: Clapboard
Roof: Slate
Outbuildings/Secondary Structures:
Major Alterations (with dates):
Condition: Good
Moved: no | x | yes | | Date
Acreage: 0.13 acres
Setting: House among other large single family or former
single family homes in a well-established residential
neighborhood of turn-of-the century homes, which contains
mature trees throughout.
INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET [NORTHAMPTON ] [47 COLUMBUS AVE]
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
Continuation sheet 1
NTH 1051
_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-story Colonial Revival home. The house is topped by a slate roof with pedimented gable dormers that feature a
decorative bas-relief design in the typanums. A full-width one story porch with hipped roof extends across the front façade and a
pedimented gable with bas-relief design calls attention to the location of the front entry. The porch had been enclosed when the
house was first included on Northampton’s Inventory of historic homes, but the enclosure has since been removed. The porch
now shows classical details including fluted square columns, a wide frieze with dentil row, balustrade, and lattice apron. The
house was also sided with asbestos shakes in the mid 20th century but these have since been removed and replaced with
clapboard siding. Windows on the house are two over two sash, but they are hidden beneath metal storm windows. A large
picture window with leaded transom is located on the front façade and a stained glass window on the western elevation marks
the location of the staircase landing between the second and first floors. There is also a one-story bay is on the southeastern
elevation of the home.
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: “In 1892, a subdivision plan was filed for Columbus Ave. This street was opened through a portion of the
Clapp family’s South Street homestead. In 1900, Herbert Marsh purchased the lot for $500. He and Albert Marsh, both of whom
were clerks at a grocery on State Street, are first listed as living here in the 1902 Street Directory.”
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.