184-186 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-161 Easthampton NTH.788
Town: Northampton
Place: (neighborhood or village)
Address: 184-186 Main Street
Historic Name: Raymond Block
Uses: Present: commercial, residential
Original: commercial, residential
Date of Construction: ca. 1900
Source: map of 1895
Style/Form: Classical Revival
Architect/Builder:
Exterior Material:
Foundation: brick
Wall/Trim: cast stone
Roof: not visible
Outbuildings/Secondary Structures:
Major Alterations (with dates):
Storefront altered multiple times.
Condition: good
Moved: no | x | yes | | Date
Acreage: 0.043 acres
Setting: This is a north-facing building on a block
that curves to follow the line of two streets.
INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET [NORTHAMPTON ] [184-186 MAIN STREET]
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
Continuation sheet 1
NTH.788
___ 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 one of the earliest cast stone buildings on Main Street. It is a four-story building that is four bays wide under a flat roof.
The first story is a single storefront that has been altered many times. Its storefront lintel is marked by a narrow cornice
separating it from the upper stories that are divided into a base, a shaft and a cornice by their ornament. The three upper stories
are framed at their outside corners by piers that rise to an entablature with architrave, frieze and cornice. Within these piers the
four bays of the second story, the base, are simple square-headed windows without lintels or sills but cut into the stone of the
story. They have wooden 1/1 sash. The third and fourth stories, the shaft, are more elaborate. Their four bays are separated
by three paneled piers that rest on a narrow molding and support the upper entablature, the cornice. At the third story the
windows are 1/1 but with one bay of paired 1/1 sash. The fourth story windows are again 1/1. The spandrels between the third
and fourth stories are occupied by panels containing reliefs of classical wreaths and floral motifs and the cornice rests on a row
of small consoles.
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.
This building replaces an earlier building on its lot that was present in 1873 and in 1895 was called the Mrs. B. F. Connor
building. The Raymond Building was in place by 1919 as documented by a photograph of that date in the Main Street
Photograph collection of Historic Northampton.
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.