42 Gothic 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
31B-261 Easthampton NTH.713
Town: Northampton
Place: (neighborhood or village)
Address: 42 Gothic Street
Historic Name: James House/Justus Boies House
Uses: Present: Northampton Police headquarters
Original: Single-family House
Date of Construction: c. 1850
Source: The People’s Institute
Style/Form: Greek Revival
Architect/Builder: William F. Pratt
Exterior Material:
Foundation: granite and concrete
Wall/Trim: flushboard
Roof: asphalt shingles
Outbuildings/Secondary Structures:
Major Alterations (with dates):
West addition, ca. 1998.
Condition: good
Moved: no | x | yes | | Date
Acreage: 0.386 acres
Setting: This is an east-facing building on a street mixed
with residential, commercial and institutional buildings.
INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET [NORTHAMPTON ] [42 GOTHIC STREET]
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
Continuation sheet 1
NTH.713
___ 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 one of Northampton’s finest Greek Revival style buildings. It is a late version of the style and its architect William Fenno
Pratt embellished it with elements from the new Italianate style. The building is two stories in height under a pedimented gable
that is supported on four, fluted, colossal Ionic columns. It is three bays wide and the main block is three bays deep with two
rear ells of one and three bays’ length. The main block is framed in pilasters that were given an Italianate panel. The side hall
entry has a trabeated surround that has a pediment above its cornice – an Italianate feature not found in the early Greek Revival
style which would have stopped at the cornice. Window surrounds follow that precedent with pediments alternating with
segmental arches above architrave surrounds. The building is scored flushboard, a Greek Revival feature of considerable
finesse. On the east façade the first floor windows are full-length, a feature that was rare in the late Greek Revival period, but
came into greater use during the following Italianate period. The 20th century ells on the west side of the building are on
concrete foundations and there is an angled secondary entry on the north elevation that is institutional in design and use.
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 1975: “This residence in the Greek Revival style was built at the junction of Tappan Lane (now Gothic Street)
and Lyman Lane (Trumbull Street) in 1838. On January 1, 1839, Ashahel Abell sold to Ansell Abell ‘all that certain part of
Tappan Place on which he has recently erected a dwelling house.’ Miss Dwight’s Gothic Seminary abutted the lot to the south;
later in the century Tappan Lave became Gothic Street, the name reflecting the architectural style of the seminary building.
The building is now known as the James House and is a part of the People’s Institute.”
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, 1540.379, 227.81, 205.278, 163.387, 96.329, 84.13
INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET [NORTHAMPTON ] [42 GOTHIC STREET]
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
Continuation sheet 2
NTH.713
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.
The James-Boies House would be individually eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places as one of
the early works of architect William F. Pratt and architecturally as a fine example of the Greek Revival style,
relatively few examples of which remain as well-preserved in Northampton as this building.