193-195-199-201 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-137 & 138 Easthampton NTH.776
Town: Northampton
Place: (neighborhood or village)
Address: 193-195-199-201 Main Street
Historic Name: O’Brien Block
Uses: Present: commercial, residential
Original: commercial, residential
Date of Construction: 1868
Source: Daily Hampshire Gazette, Nov. 5, 1867
Style/Form: Italianate
Architect/Builder:
Exterior Material:
Foundation: granite
Wall/Trim: brick, cast iron
Roof: not visible
Outbuildings/Secondary Structures:
Major Alterations (with dates):
Storefronts altered
Condition: good
Moved: no | x | yes | | Date
Acreage: 0.075 acres
Setting: This is a south-facing building at the corner of a
small street that leads to the inside of the block.
INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET [NORTHAMPTON ] [199-201 MAIN STREET]
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
Continuation sheet 1
NTH.776
___ 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 it occupies two lots, the O’Brien Block is a single building painted to appear as if it were two buildings. It is a brick
building three stories in height under a flat roof. It is nine bays wide, so one of the longest buildings in downtown Northampton.
It has three storefronts on the first story level with an off-center recessed entry to the upper stories framed with an architrave
surround. The storefronts are framed by a cast iron façade of piers and spanning lintel though at the easternmost storefront the
alterations have either covered or removed the cast iron as it is no longer visible. Second story windows have straight-head
lintels that are footed and the third story windows are slightly pedimented. The brick cornice that runs across the building above
the third story is a row of stacked pendants above a filet of geometric pendants. It uses motifs that were to become common,
but is not the most repeated compositions. On its west elevation facing the small connector street the building has a mural
painted on it dated 1989. Its subject is children playing and is signed “Kohman”.
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: “The O’Brien (Carr) Block was one of the first brick blocks to rise on the north side of Main Street in
response to rapid commercial development in the late 1860’s.”
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.