89 Federal 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
30B-114 Easthampton NTH.444
Town: Northampton
Place: (neighborhood or village) Bay State Village
Address: 89 Federal Street
Historic Name: Mill Superintendent’s House
Uses: Present: Single-family residence
Original: Single-family residence
Date of Construction: c. 1835
Source: maps of 1830 and 1860
Style/Form: Greek Revival
Architect/Builder:
Exterior Material:
Foundation: brick, concrete
Wall/Trim: flushboard and clapboard
Roof: asphalt shingles
Outbuildings/Secondary Structures:
Major Alterations (with dates):
North ells added, n.d.
Condition: good
Moved: no | x | yes | | Date
Acreage: 0.519 acres
Setting: This building faces south towards the extant mill
buildings. On its north are the high school playing fields.
INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET [NORTHAMPTON ] [39 FEDERAL STREET]
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
Continuation sheet 1
NTH. 444
_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.
The Mill Superintendent’s House is a one-and-a-half story, front-gable house whose south façade is flushboard sided. Its other
elevations are clapboard sided, but the flushboard was a Greek Revival enhancement meant to convey the impression of stone,
as in a Greek stone temple and to raise the house above the ordinary. Broad corner pilasters support a full entablature on e ast
and west elevations, though the eaves do not make full returns in the front gable, allowing instead, three, full-height windows in
that portion of the façade above a narrow stringcourse. The façade is three bays wide at the first story as well, with a side hall
entry whose surround is architrave with a cornice crowning it. Window sash is replacement 6/6. The main block of the house is
the equivalent of four bays deep, and there are two ells on the north of one and one-and-a-half stories. The second is on
concrete foundations. This house is one of a number of early to mid-19th century buildings in the neighborhood.
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: “This Greek Revival house was probably built as the mill superintendent’s house. Rockwell Wilson and
George Hoffman, both of whom served as superintendent of the nearby mill, lived here. The house and land was part of the
paper mill property, which during the 1860’s consisted of ‘paper mill, store, eleven dwelling houses, and other buildings.’ T he
holdings were extensive enough to warrant the name Paper Mill Village on the 1873 atlas, while the street was called Paper Mill
Row in the 1873-74 directory.
Vernon Street and Federal Street were originally known as Paper Mill Road and led from Elm Street to the paper mill at
the confluence of the Mill River and Broughton Meadow Brook. A paper mill was established here by William Butler in 1786.
Successive companies included: Northampton Papermills (1835-43), William Clark and Co. (1843-69), Vernon Paper Co. (1869-
86), and Northampton Paper Co. (1888-89). In 1889, the mill was transformed to manufacture cutlery.”
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.
INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET [NORTHAMPTON ] [39 FEDERAL STREET]
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
Continuation sheet 2
NTH. 444
National Register of Historic Places Criteria Statement Form
Check all that apply:
Individually eligible Eligible only in an historic district
Contributing to a potential historic district Potential historic district
Criteria: A B C D
Criteria Considerations: A B C D E F G
Statement of Significance by _____Bonnie Parsons___________________
The criteria that are checked in the above sections must be justified here.
This property would contribute to a Paper Mill Village Historic District for the industry that occupied the site on the
Mill River from 1789 – 1889 and included a water power system, whose canal remains, as well as a boarding house
for its workers at 111-117 Milton Street and the Mill Superintendent’s house at 122 Federal Street. Several properties
not yet inventoried would contribute to the potential district as well. Subsequent history of the properties would
develop further industrial uses and residences for those associated with the cutlery industry after 1889. The remains of
a canal are important as part of a water power system that began in the late 18th century.
Architecturally the buildings in this potential historic district represent Federal and Greek Revival and the common
forms constructed for boarding houses, superintendents’ houses, single-family workers’ house and a paper mill.