156-158 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-14 Easthampton NTH.62
Town: Northampton
Place: (neighborhood or village) Florence
Address: 156-158 North Main Street
Historic Name: Mrs. Parsons House
Uses: Present: Three-family residence
Original: Two-family residence
Date of Construction: ca. 1870
Source: map of 1873
Style/Form: Italianate
Architect/Builder:
Exterior Material:
Foundation: brick
Wall/Trim: vinyl
Roof: asphalt
Outbuildings/Secondary Structures:
One-bay garage
Major Alterations (with dates):
Windows replaced and vinyl siding applied, ca. 2000
Condition: good
Moved: no | x | yes | | Date
Acreage: 0.273 acres
Setting: This house faces north on Route 9 on a
residential section of the highway. Its land slopes down to
the Mill River on the south west.
INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET [NORTHAMPTON] [156-158 NORTH MAIN STREET]
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
Continuation sheet 1
NTH.62
___ 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 map of 1873 shows two houses on the lot of this house and what may be its identical neighbor at 166-169 North Main
Street, but this house was depicted on that map as having a large wing on the east that now would be quite difficult to imagine in
that location. It isn’t until the 1895 map that the two houses appear as they do today, so they likely have undergone alterations
to appear as they do. The Mrs. Parsons House is two stories in height under a shallow hipped roof. It is six bays wide and has
paired center entries. At each side of the house are secondary entries through glassed-in, one-story porches. A two-story ell
extends from the south elevation adding to the volume of each of the halves of the house. There are two chimneys on the roof
as well. The house is unified on the north façade by a full-width porch on posts with solid brackets at the eaves. Windows have
vinyl replacement sash of 1/1 lights.
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: “North Main Street was originally known as the road to Williamsburg and was established during the 18th
century. However, there was little residential development until the 1860’s. Bela Gardner, a market gardener, bought seven
acres of land from Polly Bosworth for $1000 in 1863 and 1864. This land fronted on North Main Street and extended westerly
over the terrace drop-off into the meadows along the Mill River. During the next decade, Mr. Gardner established his homestead
on this land and had two virtually identical double houses built. Later, lots fronting on the street were sold for residential
development.”
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. 418-P. 139, 307-333, 223-323, 212-364