51 Conz Street
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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
32C-114-001 Easthampton NTH.2141
Town: Northampton
Place: (neighborhood or village)
Address: 51 Conz Street
Historic Name: Thomas Rust House
Uses: Present: Four unit residence
Original: Single family residence
Date of Construction: 1826
Source: Gazette, 8-3-1906
Style/Form: Late Greek Revival
Architect/Builder:
Exterior Material:
Foundation: Stone
Wall/Trim: Clapboard
Roof: Asphalt tile
Outbuildings/Secondary Structures:
Circa 1901 garage
Barn
Major Alterations (with dates):
Replacement windows, circa 200a
Condition: Fair
Moved: no | x | yes | | Date
Acreage: 0.33 acres
Setting: House sits close to the busy Conz Street—a
major local and regional thoroughfare. Lot has a few trees
and shrubs. House among other former single family homes
that have been converted into multi unit housing.
INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET [NORTHAMPTON] [51 CONZ STREET ]
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
Continuation sheet 1
NTH.2141
___ 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 late Greek Revival style home with pedimented gable to the street. The tympanum is clad with
flush board siding while the rest of the home is clapboard sided. This house was remodeled in the mid 1800s to exhibit features
of the popular Italianate style, which was not an uncommon endeavor for homeowners to undertake, and probably had exhibited
more features of the Greek Revival style at the time of its construction. An Italianate style one-story porch with low-pitched
hipped roof, paneled posts and solid clapboard balustrade was added to the front façade. The windows on the front façade were
elongated from the original size which is seen elsewhere on the house. Windows elsewhere are smaller in size as is typical with
a late Greek Revival style home. Additional Italianate features include side hall entry door with glazing and two story three-sided
bay with Italianate style arched windows on the southeastern elevation of the home. On the northwestern elevation, the frame of
the home narrowly extends outwards approximately halfway down. Window sash on the house is one over one which appears to
have been an alteration made after 1980 from when it had been six over six sash. There is a two story rear ell that with stacked
full-width porch on the southeastern elevation of the home. There is a brick chimney on the center ridgeline of the principal block
of the home. The home rests on a stone foundation and is topped by an asphalt tile roof.
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 1826 Theodore Rust and Ansel Wright bought two acres of land adjoining the “meadow in
Lickingwater” for $450. This land was at the end of Maple Street (now Conz St.) just before the gate leading to the meadows.
The new owners each established their homestead on this parcel, and in 1828 split the land in half. Misters Wright and Rust
were co-partners in a small Main Street grocery. This had been established in 1823 and contained the first soda fountain ever
used in Northampton. The firm continued until 1848. They we also involved in several other businesses at this time, including a
soap factory and market garden on Fruit St. They were also the first ice dealers in Northampton.”
Richard Bart owned the house in 1980 and continues to own it to this day.
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.
Registry of Deeds: Bk. 58-P. 556 and 54-457