15 Liberty 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
30B-25 Easthampton NTH.433
Town: Northampton
Place: (neighborhood or village) Bay State
Address: 15 Liberty Street
Historic Name:
Uses: Present: Single-family residence
Original: Single-family residence
Date of Construction: 1895-1915
Source: Atlases
Style/Form: Queen Anne
Architect/Builder:
Exterior Material:
Foundation: brick
Wall/Trim: clapboards, shingles
Roof: slate
Outbuildings/Secondary Structures:
Garage
Major Alterations (with dates):
Condition: good
Moved: no | x | yes | | Date
Acreage: 0.128 acres
Setting: This house faces west on a shady,
residential street.
INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET [NORTHAMPTON ] [15 LIBERTY STREET]
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
Continuation sheet 1
NTH.433
_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 house together with its neighbor at 14 Liberty Street is among the best-preserved Queen Anne style houses in Bay State
village. It is two-and-a-half stories in height under a front-gabled roof with a cross-gable bay on the south elevation. The cross-
gable bay has a second projecting gable on its south elevation, which rests on posts at the first story to create an open side
porch. This is an unusual configuration in Northampton, though a related example is at 12 East Street. Like its neighbor at #14,
the house is two bays wide on its west façade at the first story level, with a door and a large, fixed-light window sheltered by a
full-width porch. The presence of a fixed-light window in Queen Anne houses in Northampton began in the last decade of the
19th century, and persisted through the early 20th century as a “picture window”. The hipped roof porch has turned post supports
and brackets at its eaves. Sash in the house is 2/2, retaining the appearance of the house at the time of its construction.
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: “This house was built around the turn of the century on Maple Street (now Liberty Street). Originally, this
lot was part of the Main Street (now Riverside Drive) fronting lot, which was owned by Luke White in 1895. As development in
Bay State proceeded however, a number of the deep Main Street lots were subdivided to produce residential lots on the side
streets.”
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.
INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET [NORTHAMPTON ] [15 LIBERTY STREET]
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
Continuation sheet 2
NTH.433
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.
This property would contribute to a Bay State Village Historic District as the home of families who worked in the local cutlery
factories that dominated the industry of the village from the middle of the 19th century into the 20th century. Architecturally the
house is a fine example of the Queen Anne style.