32 Maple 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): February, 2011
Assessor’s Number USGS Quad Area(s) Form Number
23A-139 Easthampton NTH.202
Town: Northampton
Place: (neighborhood or village) Florence
Address: 32 Maple Street
Historic Name: Hiram Wells House
Uses: Present: Single-family residence
Original: Single-family residence
Date of Construction: ca. 1850
Source: Registry of Deeds & Map
Style/Form: Greek Revival and Queen Anne
Architect/Builder:
Exterior Material:
Foundation: stone
Wall/Trim: clapboards
Roof: asphalt, metal
Outbuildings/Secondary Structures:
Garage
Major Alterations (with dates):
Cross-gable wing added, rear ell porch added, dormer
added, shed roof ell added. 1900-
Condition: good
Moved: no | x | yes | | Date
Acreage: 0.507 acres
Setting: This is an east-facing house with a large fenced-
in side yard.
INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET [NORTHAMPTON ] [32 MAPLE STREET]
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
Continuation sheet 1
NTH.202
_x__ 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.
The Hiram Wells House is a one-and-a-half story Greek Revival style house to which a Queen Anne porch on its ell was added
at a later date. The house has a front-gable roof from which projects a cross-gable wing on the south. A one-and-a-half story ell
is located on the west surrounded on its south and west elevations by a Queen Anne style gazebo porch on turned posts with
scroll-cut brackets at the eaves. The main block of the house has corner pilasters supporting a full entablature that stops short
of the gable end. It has an added portico at its entry with Gothic Revival barge boards on its raking eaves. This house has been
so well-maintained that the additions and alterations from various stylistic periods have been retained and work to add to the
character of the house. There is a 20th c. garage on its west.
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 1980: “Hiram Wells was one of the original members of the Northampton Association for Education and
Industry, also known as the Community, which was established in the Florence area in 1842. Mr. Wells served as director of he
cutlery department. After the dissolution of the Community in 1846, he formed a partnership with Samuel Hill, who furnished the
working capital, and began a general machine business. The shop was in the basement of the silk mill, but as business
expanded, it was moved to the dyehouse on Chestnut Street. Portable circular sawmills, pumps, and grip wrenches were
manufactured here. On July 11, 1859, the boiler exploded, killing Mr. Wells and badly damaging the buildings. Soon afterwards,
the property was bought by the newly established Florence Sewing Machine Company.
In 1846, Mr. Wells bought lot no. 5 of Edwin Eaton’s ‘Village Lots.’ This was a subdivision of the plateau land formerly
owned by NAEI. It was here that Mr. Wells established his homestead. In 1862, the property was sold to Delia Stall for $1200.
The Stall family maintained the property until the early 20th century.”
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.
Registry of Deeds: Bk. 403-P. 207, 208-200, 182-256 and 258, 117-28, 116-360
INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET [NORTHAMPTON ] [32 MAPLE STREET]
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
Continuation sheet 2
NTH.202
National Register of Historic Places Criteria Statement Form
Check all that apply:
Individually eligible Eligible only in an historic district
Contributing to a potential historic district Potential historic district
Criteria: A B C D
Criteria Considerations: A B C D E F G
Statement of Significance by _____Bonnie Parsons___________________
The criteria that are checked in the above sections must be justified here.
The Hiram Wells House would contribute to a potential Florence Center Historic District and would be eligible as an
individual listing for the work of Hiram Wells in founding the Northampton Association for Education and Industry, a
utopian community. He was also a significant member of the Florence community working with neighbor Samuel
Hill to organize a business and develop Florence’s residential streets.
This house is a good example of the modest Greek Revival houses that were built in Florence prior to mid-19th
century.