189-191 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-139 Easthampton NTH.2258
Town: Northampton
Place: (neighborhood or village)
Address: 189-191 Main Street
Historic Name: Astman Building
Uses: Present: commercial, residential building
Original: commercial building
Date of Construction: 1868
Source: Daily Hampshire Gazette, 8/11/68
Style/Form: Italianate
Architect/Builder:
Exterior Material:
Foundation: not visible
Wall/Trim: brick, brownstone
Roof: Not visible
Outbuildings/Secondary Structures:
Major Alterations (with dates):
Storefront altered, multiple times.
Replacement windows, n.d.
Condition: Good
Moved: no | x | yes | | Date
Acreage: 0.067 acres
Setting: This building faces south in the center of
downtown Northampton
INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET [NORTHAMPTON ] [189-191 Main Street]
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
Continuation sheet 1
NTH.2258
___ 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.
Although the south façade of this building has been painted, its similarity to its neighbor at 183-187 Main Street remains strong.
It is a three-story, brick commercial building four bays wide and under a flat roof ornamented with a corbelled cornice of panels,
pendants and identical to its neighbor, but also typical for commercial blocks on Main Street dating from the 1870s. Its first story
storefront is a 21st century alteration. Windows in the upper stories have chunky lintels at the second and third stories, which
they share in profile with those at 189-191 and 179 Main Street. Less refined than many of their contemporaries, these lintels
were probably all the same handiwork of a single brownstone quarry. Sash in the upper stories is 1/1 replacement.
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: “These two virtually identical commercial blocks were built in 1868 and 1871, during the period of
expansion of the business community in Northampton. The Williams Block (easterly) abuts the Old Fitch Hotel Block to the east,
and, like the hotel, replaced a building destroyed by the fire of 1870.
The westerly block, like the adjoining Carr Block, was built on the old Lyman homestead. The easterly block was once
the site of the Lyman Block, which housed a druggist and abutted the old Warner House, the town hotel.” On the map of 1895
this building is identified as being owned by P. H. Dewey.
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.