140 North 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, 2011
Assessor’s Number USGS Quad Area(s) Form Number
16D-23 Easthampton NTH.68
Town: Northampton
Place: (neighborhood or village) Florence
Address: 140 North Main Street
Historic Name: Nelson and Eleanor Ruiter House
Uses: Present: Single-family residence
Original: Single-family residence
Date of Construction: 1906-1915
Source: Registry of Deeds and Directory
Style/Form: Colonial Revival
Architect/Builder:
Exterior Material:
Foundation: brick
Wall/Trim: vinyl
Roof: asphalt
Outbuildings/Secondary Structures:
Garage
Major Alterations (with dates):
Windows replaced, house sided, ca. 2005
Condition: good
Moved: no | x | yes | | Date
Acreage: 0.755 acres
Setting: This is a north-facing house whose land
sloped down on the southwest to the Mill River.
INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET [NORTHAMPTON] [140 NORTH MAIN STREET]
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
Continuation sheet 1
NTH.68
___ 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 that is L-shaped in plan and has a wrap around porch that crosses its north façade.
Supported on Doric columns, the porch carries the bulk of the house’s Colonial Revival stylistic character. Its railing has square
balusters. The wing of the house on its east elevation at the first story level has a shallow, angled bay window with panels
above its 1/1 replacement sash. The house’s sash has all been replaced with vinyl. The eaves of the shallowly-pitched roof are
wide; cornerboards and frieze are relatively narrow. The main block is two bays wide and the wing is three bays wide. The m ain
entry is centered on the wing. This house was not complex stylistically at the time of its construction and it has been well-
maintained, although siding and replacement windows have obscured many of its features.
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: “This house was built early in the 20th century for Nelson and Eleanor Ruiter. Mr. Ruiter was employed by
the Norwood Engineer Co. on North Maple Street in Florence.”
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. 758-P. 440, 704-218, 610-330