30 Fort 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: Jayne Bernhard-Armington
Organization: Pioneer Valley Planning Commission
Date (month / year): June, 2010
Assessor’s Number USGS Quad Area(s) Form Number
38B-166 Easthampton NTH.1060
Town: Northampton
Place: (neighborhood or village)
Address: 30 Fort Street
Historic Name: Henry Rowley House
Uses: Present: Two family residence
Original: Single family residence
Date of Construction: c. 1870
Source: Atlas & visual evidence
Style/Form: Italianate
Architect/Builder:
Exterior Material:
Foundation: Brick
Wall/Trim: Vinyl
Roof: Slate
Outbuildings/Secondary Structures:
Small, one bay front gable garage
Major Alterations (with dates):
Vinyl siding (1980-2010)
Porch alterations, including vinyl frieze (1980-2010)
Vinyl windows (1980-2010)
Condition: Good
Moved: no | x | yes | | Date
Acreage: 0.19 acres
Setting: House sits close to the street in an established
neighborhood of late 19th century single family homes,
many of which have been converted into homes with two or
more residential units.
INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET [NORTHAMPTON] [30 FORT STREET]
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
Continuation sheet 1
NTH.1060
_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.
This is a two-and-a-half story Italianate style house with a pedimented roof. This home is three bays wide and three bays deep.
This home was altered after it was first added to Northampton’s Inventory of historic properties in 1980 and now has vinyl siding
and vinyl windows. Of distinction is an Italianate style three part arched window in the gable field. Extending across the full width
of the front façade is a one story porch with a hipped roof and chamfered posts. The porch balustrade was removed and vin yl
added to the frieze after 1980. The home has a trabeated front entry that encloses half-length sidelights on the western side and
paneled door. On the northern elevation of the home, there is a two story rear ell followed by a one-story enclosed porch. This
property includes a small front gable shed.
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: “Fort Street derives its name from Fort Hill, the bluff overlooking the meadows south of the center of town.
It was here that the local Indians were allowed to build a fort in 1664. King Phillip’s War ended this friendly relationship. Fort
Street was the first street to extend southeasterly from South Street. It ran over the bluff, into the meadows, staying west of the
Ox Bow, and eventually led to Springfield. The part in the meadows is still referred to today as Old Springfield Road. At the
northern corner of South and Fort Streets stood a tavern. This dated from at least the late 18th century. The location was
important as this marked the split off of the roads to Easthampton and Springfield. During the second third of the nineteenth
century, two houses were built on Fort Street, just over the river bluff, heading into the meadows. However, it wasn’t until
approximately 1870 that any houses were built on Fort Street atop the bluff.
This house was probably built by Rufus Rowley, a carpenter. The 1873 Atlas shows Henry Rowley, a teamster, owning
the house and the 1873-1874 directory lists both Henry and Rufus Rowley on Fort Street.”
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.