109 Market 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, 2011
Assessor’s Number USGS Quad Area(s) Form Number
32A-3 Easthampton NTH.2012
Town: Northampton
Place: (neighborhood or village)
Address: 109 Market Street
Historic Name: William C. Prentiss House
Uses: Present: Two-family residence
Original: Single-family residence
Date of Construction: 1850’s
Source: Registry of Deeds and Map
Style/Form: Italianate
Architect/Builder:
Exterior Material:
Foundation: brick, concrete
Wall/Trim: aluminum, asbestos and wood shingles
Roof: not visible
Outbuildings/Secondary Structures:
Major Alterations (with dates):
Fenestration inserted, porch enclosed, second ell added,
window sash replaced with 1/1. n.d.
Condition: fair
Moved: no | x | yes | | Date
Acreage: 0.177 acres
Setting: This house occupies a slightly raised lot
behind a low embankment on a corner.
INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET [NORTHAMPTON ] [109 MARKET STREET]
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
Continuation sheet 1
NTH.2012
___ 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.
Similar to the Market Street Italianate style house at 80 Market Street, this house was intended to resemble an Italian villa with
its flat roof, wide eaves with paired brackets above metal grates in the attic frieze. It has had, however, quite a few alterations
that have changed its appearance. It is two stories in height and three bays wide and two deep and a former wraparound porch
has been enclosed on the south elevation and stacked with a second floor addition on the west façade. The house has a flat-
roofed, two-story ell on the east. It has been sided and a second ell under a gable roof added on its east in addition to having
new fenestration inserted in it. That second ell is aluminum sided and was clearly not part of the original house.
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: “The house seems to have been built for William Prentiss, a ‘painter and glazier.’ Mr. Prentiss began in
business in 1820, and had worked with his son William F. for many years. They were reported to be the ‘principal sign painters
in the county.’ Mr. Prentiss bought this lot of land, which was lot no. 2 on Josiah Whitney’s 1854 subdivision plan for a portion of
Market/North Streets and a new street to be called Walnut Street for the sum of $200 in 1857. However, the 1854 map of
Northampton shows a house on this site owned by Mr. Prentiss, confusing the title chain. However, stylistically, this house
would not date much earlier than this map.”
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. 222- P. 2, 180-159