65 Gothic Street, formerly 63
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-214 Easthampton NTH.681
Town: Northampton
Place: (neighborhood or village)
Address: 65 Gothic Street, formerly 63
Historic Name: Henry Brown House
Uses: Present: Two-family house
Original: single-family house
Date of Construction: 1866-68
Source: Registry of Deeds
Style/Form: Italianate
Architect/Builder: possibly W. F. Pratt, architect,
Northampton Exterior Material:
Foundation: brick
Wall/Trim: clapboards
Roof: asphalt with solar collectors
Outbuildings/Secondary Structures:
Major Alterations (with dates): Building rehabilitated ca.
2008.
Condition: good
Moved: no | x | yes | | Date
Acreage: 0.245 acres
Setting: This is a west-facing house on a street of mixed
commercial, institutional and residential use.
INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET [NORTHAMPTON ] [63 GOTHIC STREET]
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
Continuation sheet 1
NTH.681
___ 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 fine example of an Italianate style house with a front-gable roof rather than the flat roof form also built in Northampton.
It is two-and-a-half stories in height and has cross-gable bays on north and south and a rear ell of two-and-a-half stories. The
roof has wide eaves the make partial returns on the west façade. In the gable field is an arched Italianate window. In the cross-
gables are rondel windows. Elsewhere in the house windows have straight lintels with projecting crown-molding lintels. First
floor windows, though not full-length are elongated and sash is 2/2. The house is three bays wide and the side hall entry is
sheltered by a porch on chamfered posts. Wide cornerboards frame the various sections of the house and a deck has been
added to the south elevation of the rear ell.
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: “In 1865, Henry Brown acquired a lot of land on Gothic Street for $900. The Gazette, in 1886, stated that
‘Capt. Henry A. Brown, our wide awake painter, is about to erect a $4000 house on Gothic Street… Mr. Pratt furnishes the plan.’
Mr. Pratt is William F. Pratt, Northampton’s most prominent and prolific architect of the mid 19th century. However, Mr. Brown
sold this property to John Draper for $1600 and a $500 Mortgage in 1867, so it is somewhat questionable if the planned Pratt
house was ever erected.”
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: Bk. 343-P.547 and 477, 312-181, 287-135, 257-117, 244-144, 230-155