206 Elm 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: Bonnie Parsons
Organization: Pioneer Valley Planning Commission
Date (month / year): March, 2010
Assessor’s Number USGS Quad Area(s) Form Number
31A-69 Easthampton NTH.477
Town: Northampton
Place: (neighborhood or village)
Address: 206 Elm Street
Historic Name: Aaron Breck House
Uses: Present: Three-family residence
Original: Single-family residence
Date of Construction: c. 1800
Source: visual evidence
Style/Form: Federal house
Architect/Builder:
Exterior Material:
Foundation: stone
Wall/Trim: asbestos shingles
Roof: asphalt shingles
Outbuildings/Secondary Structures:
Major Alterations (with dates):
Ell and stacked porch added after 1900.
Condition: good
Moved: no | x | yes | | Date
Acreage: 0.185 acres
Setting: Bounded by a white picket fence, this house
occupies a corner lot in a residential neighborhood of later
19th and early 20th century houses.
INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET [NORTHAMPTON ] [206 ELM STREET]
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
Continuation sheet 1
NTH.477
___ 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 Federal style house that is five bays wide and two bays deep and sits on low stone foundations.
Typical of many Federal houses it has two interior chimneys rather than a center chimney although they are much smaller than
would have been originally, so represent a shift to furnace heating rather than fireplaces. The house has a two-and-a-half story
ell on the south that has a 20th c. stacked porch on its east elevation. The center entry to the house on the north façade consists
of a trabeated surround of pilasters supporting an entablature and to this surround has been added a portico on braces, datin g
from the 1890s-1900. Sash in the windows, which would originally have been 6/6, is now 2/2.
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 1976: “In 1819, Aaron Breck bought three parcels of land from Increase Clark, including a two acre parcel which
was half of Clark’s homestead on the road ‘leading from Northampton to Chesterfield” (now known as Elm Street). Mr. Breck
probably had this house constructed soon there after and used it for his homestead. In 1856, he sold his homestead to his so n
and moved to King Street. The son built 196 Elm Street for his own residence and probably leased the old homestead. About
1890, the property was bought by Charles Crouch, Northampton’s most prolific builder, and Kensington Avenue was opened
between the two houses.”
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. 358-P. 410, 167-325, 47-609