281 Elm Street
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: Bonnie Parsons
Organization: Pioneer Valley Planning Commission
Date (month / year): March, 2010
Assessor’s Number USGS Quad Area(s) Form Number
31A-9 Easthampton NTH.453
Town: Northampton
Place: (neighborhood or village)
Address: 281 Elm Street
Historic Name: Eddy Residence
Uses: Present: Single-family residence
Original: Single-family residence
Date of Construction: 1915-1920
Source: Registry of Deeds; 1915 Map of
Northampton Style/Form: Colonial Revival
Architect/Builder:
Exterior Material:
Foundation: not visible
Wall/Trim: clapboards
Roof: slate
Outbuildings/Secondary Structures:
Major Alterations (with dates):
Condition: good
Moved: no | x | yes | | Date
Acreage: 0.68 acres
Setting: Set back from the street and shaded by mature
trees, this house is one of a number of Colonial Revivals in
the area.
INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET [NORTHAMPTON ] [281 ELM STREET]
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
Continuation sheet 1
NTH.453
___ 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 Eddy house is among the academic Colonial Revival style houses that are found on Elm Street and that are architect-
designed carefully to interpret Colonial features. It is a two-story house under a hipped roof on which are three interior
chimneys. Five bays wide and two bays deep the house has a two-and-a-half and a one-a-half story ell on its rear or north
elevation. It particularly aims to recreate the Connecticut River valley doorway, which has a broken swan’s neck pediment over
a trabeated surround of pilasters resting on high pedestals that are carved with a pattern found on Colonial houses in Deerfield,
Hatfield and Hadley, among other Connecticut River valley communities. Sash in the house is 12/12 but in openings that are
20th century sized being wider and shorter than their colonial antecedents. Window lintels on the first floor have crown moldings.
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: “This Georgian Revival style residence was built on Elm Street between 1915 and 1921 when Horace
Eddy sold the recently created ‘tract with building’ to Adelaide Ramage. The 80 foot wide parcel was created from the Williams
Homestead to the northwest and the Mather Homestead to the southeast.”
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, Hampshire County, 772.411