50-52 High Street
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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
17C-165 Easthampton NTH.104
Town: Northampton
Place: (neighborhood or village) Florence
Address: 50-52 High Street
Historic Name: Florence Sewing Machine Company
Workers’ Housing Uses: Present: Two-family residence
Original: Two-family residence
Date of Construction: 1860-73
Source: Map and Atlas
Style/Form: duplex form
Architect/Builder:
Exterior Material:
Foundation: brick
Wall/Trim: vinyl
Roof: slate
Outbuildings/Secondary Structures:
Major Alterations (with dates):
Vinyl siding added, windows replaced, ca. 2000.
Condition: good
Moved: no | x | yes | | Date
Acreage: 0.339 acres
Setting: This building faces north on a slightly
raised lot.
INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET [NORTHAMPTON ] [50-52 HIGH STREET]
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
Continuation sheet 1
NTH.104
___ 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 Florence Sewing Machine Company Workers’ House is typical of much of the workers’ housing that was constructed in
Florence in the third quarter of the 19th century, as it is small in scale in contrast to the workers’ housing in mill cities such as
Holyoke or Lowell. Without extensive need for workers, Florence’s manufacturers and building speculators constructed housing
on regular single-family sized lots with single and double houses that collectively maintained the aspect of a village. This is a
two-story house under a side-gable roof that is slate-covered and has two interior chimneys spaced at each end of the ridge.
The building is six bays wide, three bays per side-by-side unit. Entries are centered on the north façade and are sheltered by a
shed-roof on large braces. Windows have replacement 1/1 sash. Typical of the 1860s and 70s, the roof eaves are wide and
thinly boxed.
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: “D.G. Littlefield was one of the prominent industrialists who helped develop Florence as a thriving mill
community during the mid 19th century. He served as president of the Florence Manufacturing Co. and president of the Florence
Sewing Machine Co. The latter company was located at the corner of Chestnut and Main Streets and owned a large amount of
land north of Main Street and east of Chestnut Street. During the late 1860’s, a number of cottages and blocks were built for the
Company’s workers. This house was probably used for the same purpose.”
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.