141-145 Main 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
31D-146 Easthampton NTH.781;
NTH.2422
Town: Northampton
Place: (neighborhood or village)
Address: 141-145 Main Street
Historic Name: Damon Building
Uses: Present: commercial/residential
Original: commercial/residential
Date of Construction: 1850-1860
Source: Gazette references
Style/Form: 19th c. commercial
Architect/Builder:
Exterior Material:
Foundation: granite
Wall/Trim: brick, granite, wood
Roof: not visible
Outbuildings/Secondary Structures:
Major Alterations (with dates):
Windows replaced, ca. 1990.
Condition: good
Moved: no | x | yes | | Date
Acreage: 0.034 acres
Setting: This is a south-facing building on Northampton’s
main commercial street.
INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET [NORTHAMPTON ] [141 MAIN STREET]
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
Continuation sheet 1
NTH.781 &
2242
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ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION:
Describe architectural features. Evaluate the characteristics of this building in terms of other buildings within the community.
This is a three-story brick building seven bays wide on its upper two stories and whose first story consists of a pair of glass and
wood storefronts at each side of a center entry to the upper stories. What reveals the building’s early date of construction is its
trabeated granite structure on the first floor. Wide and thick granite piers rise to a granite lintel whose blocks span from pier to
pier, their joints centered on the piers; the center entry has a granite surround. This method of construction is also found across
Main Street at the Isaac Damon-built buildings at 108 and 110-112 Main Street that date from the 1820s. Unlike those two
buildings, however, this building is not granite in its upper stories, but, rather, is brick. Windows have the same square-heads
with square lintels and sills, though. Sash in the windows is replacement metal 1/1. Crowing the building is a wooden bracketed
cornice.
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.
The Damon Building is part of what was known in 1860 as Granite Row. The lot was occupied through the map of 1895 when it
was identified as being in the ownership of “Damon”. There were fires on this side of Main Street and one on this block in the
1870s, but it does not seem to have involved this building, so it is highly likely that it dates prior to 1860. Encouraged by the
Urban Renewal movement in the 20th century, a false façade on the building’s storefronts obscured its granite construction for
many years. During that period it became known as the Whalen Office Supplies building. The attachment of the Damon name
to the building is interesting given its proximity to Isaac Damon buildings on the south side of the street, but no documentation
was found linking the architect who died in 1865 with these buildings. Deed research would possibly be fruitful.
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.