109-115 Milton Street (formerly 111-1'
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, 2011
Assessor’s Number USGS Quad Area(s) Form Number
30B-100 Easthampton NTH.443
Town: Northampton
Place: (neighborhood or village) Bay State
Address: 109-115 Milton Street (formerly 111-113)
Historic Name: Paper Mill Boardinghouse
Uses: Present: Four-family residence
Original: boarding house
Date of Construction: early 19th century
Source: History of Northampton, map of 1831
Style/Form: Greek Revival
Architect/Builder:
Exterior Material:
Foundation: granite, brick
Wall/Trim: clapboards
Roof: asphalt shingles
Outbuildings/Secondary Structures:
Garage
Major Alterations (with dates):
Condition: good
Moved: no | x | yes | | Date
Acreage: 0.654 acres
Setting: Set on a knoll on a corner lot, this house faces
southeast.
INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET [NORTHAMPTON ] [109-115 MILTON STREET]
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
Continuation sheet 1
NTH.443
_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.
This is a two-and-a-half story house with a side-gable roof on which are two chimneys. The clapboard-sided house rests on high
granite foundations though there is a brick section at the south corner of the building. The house is seven bays wide and two
bays deep and there is a two-and-a-half story ell on the rear with a side porch on the north elevation. The southeast façade has
two entries – one in the second and one in the fourth bay. They are both trabeated though unequal in size, the northernmost
being the larger of the two. Wide paneled pilasters support high entablatures in each of the door surrounds and the pilasters are
decorated with over-scaled Greek key ornaments in relief. The doors themselves are both eight panel and the larger entry has
full-length but very narrow sidelights flanking the door. The door surrounds are clearly Greek Revival in style, but the boarding
house itself is a form that was built for taverns and inns from the 18th century, so the history of the building is not entirely
apparent from its exterior.
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: “William Butler, the founder of the Hampshire Gazette, established a paper mill at the confluence of
Broughton Meadow Brook and the Mill River in 1786. This mill passed through many hands during the 19th century, and was
continually being rebuilt after disastrous fires. A small village, aptly named Paper Mill Village, grew around the mill during the
19th century and was totally owned by the mill owner. The 1887 transaction describes the property as consisting of ’36 acres
with 13 dwelling houses, a barn, store, sheds and brick paper mill with dams, water rights.’”
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. 414-P.345, 277-270-273, 273-401, 268-207-21?, 124-175, 85-254, 79-96
INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET [NORTHAMPTON ] [109-115 MILTON STREET]
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
Continuation sheet 2
NTH.443
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.
This property would contribute to a Paper Mill Village Historic District for the industry that occupied the site on the
Mill River from 1789 – 1889 and included a water power system, whose canal remains, as well as a boarding house
for its workers at 111-117 Milton Street and the Mill Superintendent’s house at 122 Federal Street. Several properties
not yet inventoried would contribute to the potential district as well. Subsequent history of the properties would
develop further industrial uses and residences for those associated with the cutlery industry after 1889. The remains of
a canal are important as part of a water power system that began in the late 18th century.
Architecturally the buildings in this potential historic district represent Federal and Greek Revival and the common
forms constructed for boarding houses, superintendents’ houses, single-family workers’ house and a paper mill.