51 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
32A-136 Easthampton NTH.857
Town: Northampton
Place: (neighborhood or village)
Address: 51 Main Street
Historic Name: Smith Charities
Uses: Present: Smith Charities offices
Original: Smith Charities offices
Date of Construction: 1865-1866
Source: Gazette, Dec. 26, 1865
Style/Form: Italianate
Architect/Builder: William F. Pratt
Exterior Material:
Foundation: granite
Wall/Trim: brownstone
Roof: not visible
Outbuildings/Secondary Structures:
Major Alterations (with dates):
Condition: good/fair
Moved: no | x | yes | | Date
Acreage: 0.14 acres
Setting: This building faces south and has a small
park on its eastern side and a passageway on its west in an
otherwise compact downtown block.
INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET [NORTHAMPTON ] [51 MAIN STREET]
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
Continuation sheet 1
NTH.857
___ Recommended for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.
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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.
The Smith Charities Building is a fine, free-standing building with developed elevation on all four sides in contrast to most of the
other buildings in downtown Northampton that are attached in rows. It is a high style Italianate building of two-stories under a
flat roof with an embellished parapet wall on the south façade. The parapet that was carved in scrolls and floral motifs has been
delaminating, leading to the evaluation of the building as being in good/fair condition. The smooth-faced brownstone building is
three bays wide and four bays deep and great attention was given by its architect to design it in the manner of an urban
Italianate palazzo. On the first story the south façade has rusticated four piers separating the bays and rising to an entablature
between first and second stories consisting of a wide frieze and projecting molded cornice. In the two outer bays are arched
windows that have trabeated surrounds with pilasters supporting the molded arches that have center keystones. The center
entry in bold relief has its own rusticated piers overlapping those that separate the bays. The entry piers support a pediment and
frame the arched center entry with a trabeated surround of pilasters supporting the molded arch. The entry has double leaf
doors. First floor windows on the east and west elevations have large arched windows with molded lintels. On the second floor
of the south façade the building’s corners have quoins rather than rusticated piers, adding considerable visual liveliness to the
exterior. The three bays of the second story have eared architrave surrounds topped by pediments. The two outer surrounds
have triangular pediments, the center surround has a rounded pediment. Their sills are footed. Windows on the east and west
elevations of the second story have arched lintels. Above the second story the building has a full cornice with an arch and
pendant molding in the frieze and projecting molded 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.
From Form B of 1975: “The free-standing Smith Charities building at 51 Main Street was designed by William F. Pratt, a local
architect. The monumental aspect of the Smith Charities building harmonizes with its purpose. Oliver Smith of Hatfield died in
1845, leaving a remarkable will, whereby indigent children and women were to receive financial assistance. Rufus Choate
contested the will for Smith’s unhappy relatives, but he was no match for Daniel Webster, who successfully defended the will.
Countless residents of Northampton have benefited from Smith’s generosity.”
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.