61 Lyman Road
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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: Jayne Bernhard-Armington
Organization: Pioneer Valley Planning Commission
Date (month / year): June, 2010
Assessor’s Number USGS Quad Area(s) Form Number
39A-060 Easthampton NTH.1090
Town: Northampton
Place: (neighborhood or village)
Address: 61 Lyman Road
Historic Name: Edward C. Gere House
Uses: Present: Single family
Original: Single family
Date of Construction: 1880-1884
Source: Registry of Deeds & Atlas
Style/Form: Italianate / Stick
Architect/Builder:
Exterior Material:
Foundation: Brick
Wall/Trim: Clapboard
Roof: Asphalt
Outbuildings/Secondary Structures:
Garage circa 1918
Major Alterations (with dates):
- Rear porch, 20th century
- third story walkout porch, circa 1990
Condition: good
Moved: no | x | yes | | Date
Acreage: 0.28 acres
Setting: House sits on a corner lot fairly close to Lyman
Road. House among other stately single family or former
single family homes in a well-established residential
neighborhood, which contains mature trees throughout.
INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET [NORTHAMPTON] [61 LYMAN ROAD]
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
Continuation sheet 1
NTH.1090
__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 home with architectural features from the preceding Stick Style. The house has a
slate front gable roof and shallow two-story wings on its eastern and western elevations to form a cross-shaped plan. The front
roof gable features an arched king post truss and the side gables have modified king post trusses, which is Stick Style
characteristic. The remainder of the house is Italianate. Beneath the roof eaves is a bracketed cornice. On the eastern elevation,
the roof line breaks to include a peaked wall gable beneath which is an arched four over two sash window. The front porch is
decidedly Italianate with a flat roof, paired square posts with impost blocks and pedestals. Windows on the home are mostly two
over two sash and pedimented with architrave surround. A third story walkout porch was added to the eastern wing sometime
after 1980. It may have been added in 1989 as a sign on the glass on the upper porch states this year as well as the year 1881.
There is also an oriel on the first story of this elevation. The property also includes a 1918 garage.
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 during the early 1880's for Edward Gere, son of Henry Gere, the long-term editor of
the Hapshire Gazette. Edward was was connected with the newspaper throughout his career, and became co-proprietor with his
brother Collin H. Gere after his father stepped down in 1910. Edward retained this position until his death in 1925. This
residence was also owned by him until that date. In 1880, he had obtained lot 5 of the Starkweather subdivision. This had been
opened up from South Street in 1870. Early development was on the eastern half of the street, set back over 300 feet from
South Street and near the brow of the river terrace overlooking Northampton’s famous meadows. The street quickly attracted
solid, middle-class residents who were enthralled by the setting. “
Sign on third story walkout porch reads 1881.
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.
Northampton Directory: 1885-86, 1905, 1915.
The Northampton Book, edited by Tercentenary History Committee, 1954, pp 377-82.