58 Columbus Avenue
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): June, 2010
Assessor’s Number USGS Quad Area(s) Form Number
38B-135 Easthampton NTH.1042
Town: Northampton
Place: (neighborhood or village)
Address: 58 Columbus Avenue
Historic Name: Wilbur F. & Jennie A. Knowlton
Uses: Present: Two family residence
Original: One family residence
Date of Construction: 1895
Source: Registry of Deeds & Atlas
Style/Form: Colonial Revival
Architect/Builder:
Exterior Material:
Foundation: Brick
Wall/Trim: Asbestos shakes
Roof: Slate & asphalt
Outbuildings/Secondary Structures:
Major Alterations (with dates):
Window replacement (1996)
Asbestos siding (mid 20th century)
Enclosed porch (mid 20th century)
Condition: Good
Moved: no | x | yes | | Date
Acreage: 0.17 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 ] [58 COLUMBUS AVE ]
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
Continuation sheet 1
NTH 1042
_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-a-half story Colonial Revival style home with hipped roof and hipped dormers. The full width front porch is
partially enclosed, which occurred in the mid 20th Century according to Form B of 1980. The porch has Tuscan columns,
balustrade, a solid frieze, and a lattice apron. A smaller enclosed porch with hipped roof is on the second floor directly above the
centrally located front entry. The house includes two brick chimneys. All windows on the house were replaced in 1996, but the
owner kept the original surrounds. Similar to other homes in this neighborhood, the house has a brick foundation.
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: “Columbus Ave and 28 lots were proposed in 1892. The street was opened off of South Street and
extended southeasterly to the edge of the bluff overlooking the meadows. East Street was lengthened at this time from its
Munroe Street end southerly across Columbus Ave to Fort Street. In early 1895, Jennie Knowlton purchased this northeast
corner lot of Columbus Ave and East Street. The 1895-96 Directory lists Wilbur Knowlton, a professional photographer, as living
here.”
This house was owned by Doris Rouleau in 2010 and she also owned the house in 1980 when the house was first add to
Northampton’s inventory of historic homes.
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.