13 Finn 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
24D-141 Easthampton NTH.324
Town: Northampton
Place: (neighborhood or village)
Address: 13 Finn Street
Historic Name: Alexander Hill House
Uses: Present: Single-family residence
Original: Single-family residence
Date of Construction: 1884
Source: Atlas & Registry of Deeds
Style/Form: Gothic Revival
Architect/Builder: Bailey and Brown, builders
Exterior Material:
Foundation: brick
Wall/Trim: brick
Roof: asphalt shingles
Outbuildings/Secondary Structures:
Major Alterations (with dates):
Porch enclosed ca. 1960.
Condition: good
Moved: no | x | yes | | Date
Acreage: 0.114 acres
Setting: This house is set near a major commercial
thoroughfare.
INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET [NORTHAMPTON ] [13 FINN STREET]
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
Continuation sheet 1
NTH.324
___ 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 Hill House is one of the Gothic Revival style masonry houses in Northampton that served as a fine demonstration of the
brickwork produced by its builders, Bailey and Brown. It is a one-and-a-half story, red brick house that is gable-and-wing in
form. Its roof is steeply pitched in the Gothic manner and in the field of the front gable is a Gothic lancet window above a square
attached bay window. But what is outstanding about this small house is the level of detail of its brickwork. Beneath first floor
windows are brick checkerboard panels, while angled bricks mark two beltcourses between stories. Decoratively laid bricks form
the window lintels and tarred bricks encircle the house at the beltcourses, window lintels and watertable. Segmentally arched
windows have wood frames with scroll-cut designs at their headers. Sash in the house is wood 2/2 and 1/1. In the angle of the
two sections of the house is a corner porch that unfortunately has been closed in with brick. There are a number of Gothic
Revival brick houses in Northampton and this one was originally almost identical to the house at 10 Allen Place. It is
representative of the Gothic Revival style and the level of masonry craftsmanship that was practiced in Northampton.
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: “Alexander Hill bought slightly more than a half acre on the north side of Spring Street (now known as
Finn Street) from the heirs of Jonathan Baker in early 1884. The house must have been built immediately, as it is shown on the
1884 atlas. Mr. Hill worked as a teamster for Brown and Bailey, the masons and builders located on Allen Place.”
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.