135-139 Main 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
31D-147 Easthampton NTH.782
Town: Northampton
Place: (neighborhood or village)
Address: 135-139 Main Street
Historic Name: Northampton National Bank
Uses: Present: Commercial, single-family residence
Original: Bank Building, office, and single-family
residence Date of Construction: 1866
Source: Daily Hampshire Gazette, Oct. 30, 1866
Style/Form: Italianate
Architect/Builder: William Fenno Pratt, architect,
Northampton Exterior Material:
Foundation: granite
Wall/Trim: cast iron, stone, brick
Roof: not visible
Outbuildings/Secondary Structures:
Major Alterations (with dates):
Condition: good
Moved: no | x | yes | | Date
Acreage: 0.03 acres
Setting: This is a south-facing building on a corner
lot that is set on a granite stoop.
INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET [NORTHAMPTON ] [135 MAIN STREET]
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
Continuation sheet 1
NTH.782
___ 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 Northampton National Bank is a three-story building with a cast iron façade that is divided into four bays by pilasters that are
variously ornamented with panels, on two floors of which there are also floral or geometric reliefs mid-way in the panels. The
first story of the building has its recessed entry to the upper stories in the westernmost bay while the remaining three bays are
devoted to the first story commercial space with an entry and two windows. Set on wood paneled bases, the two store windows
have tall, square-headed windows and all four openings have square transom lights. The second story has four bays of
segmentally arched windows with keystones in their arched lintels. The third story has four bays of arched windows with
archivolt surrounds and centered keystones. The building’s windows have replacement 1/1 metal sash. Cast iron was a popular
commercial façade for the ornament and decorative variety that it could take and the Northampton National Bank building is a
fine example of this architectural achievement.
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 building is the work of local architect W. F. Pratt. It is interesting that the old Bank building has
survived to the present day: the great deficiency of cast-iron as a building material was its tendency to weaken and collapse
when exposed to heat. Major town fires occurred to the west of the bank in 1870 and to the east of the bank in 1874.
In January 1876, the building was the scene of the famous Great Bank Robbery. $1,500,000—the largest amount of
money stolen in the U.S. until that time—was stolen from the safe and secreted in the attic of one of the brick school house
opposite the Bridge Street cemetery entrance. The robbers were ultimately brought to justice. (Judge Forbes had his office and
living quarters on the third floor of the bank.)”
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.