275-279 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-113 Easthampton NTH.2257
Town: Northampton
Place: (neighborhood or village) Northampton Center
Address: 275-279 Main Street
Historic Name: Higbee Building
Uses: Present: commercial, residential
Original: commercial residential
Date of Construction: ca. 1886
Source: Daily Hampshire Gazette
Style/Form: late 19th c. commercial
Architect/Builder:
Exterior Material:
Foundation: not visible
Wall/Trim: brick, stone, pressed metal
Roof: not visible
Outbuildings/Secondary Structures:
Major Alterations (with dates):
Condition: good
Moved: no | x | yes | | Date
Acreage: 0.066 acres
Setting: This is a south facing building, the last in
a row of 19th century commercial buildings on this block.
INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET [NORTHAMPTON ] [275-279 Main Street]
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
Continuation sheet 1
NTH.2257
___ 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 a small commercial building, three stories in height and two bays wide under a flat roof with a projecting pressed metal
cornice at its eaves line. It is modest but well-preserved and maintained. Separated by piers, the building’s two bays are slightly
recessed and have the same corbelled brickwork at the upper margin of their bays as their neighboring . The windows of the
bay have splayed lintels over segmentally arched openings. Brownstone stringcourses connect the window lintels that have
been painted. Sash is replacement 1/1.
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 series of five brick blocks was built on upper Main Street late in the 1880’s. The lot was empty prior
to this time. The Edwards Church had been rebuilt on the corner of Main and State Streets in 1874. About 1886, the lot was
first considered for commercial development when a four story brick block was contemplated at the corner of Main and Masonic
Street. Although these plans were abandoned, several other blocks had been built by late 1886, and the Daley Block is
inscribed with the date 1887. The block adjoining Edwards Church was first known as Higbee Block; lawyer J.B. O’Donnell
owned #2 & #4 and sold them early in 1887.”
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.