202 North Main Street
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FORM B − BUILDING
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION
MASSACHUSETTS ARCHIVES BUILDING
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
Photograph
This building is no longer extant.
Topographic or Assessor's Map
Recorded by: Bonnie Parsons
Organization: Pioneer Valley Planning Commission
Date (month / year): March, 2010
Assessor’s Number USGS Quad Area(s) Form Number
16D-004 Easthampton NTH.56
Town: Northampton
Place: (neighborhood or village)
Address: 202 North Main Street
Historic Name: Bela Gardner House
Uses: Present:
Original:
Date of Construction: 1868
Source: Registry of Deeds, Atlas, and Directory
Style/Form:
Architect/Builder:
Exterior Material:
Foundation:
Wall/Trim:
Roof:
Outbuildings/Secondary Structures:
Major Alterations (with dates):
Condition:
Moved: no | | yes | | Date
Acreage: 1.01 acres
Setting:
INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET [NORTHAMPTON] [202 NORTH MAIN STREET]
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
Continuation sheet 1
NTH.56
___ 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.
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: “During the early 1860’s, Bela Gardner, a farmer, bought seven acres of land on the southern side of
North Main Street in Florence. His land extended westerly over the terrace drop-off and into the meadows to the Mill River. This
was prime agricultural land. The street had long been known as the road to Williamsburg, but hadn’t been developed until the
1860’s. In 1867, the Williamsburg division of the New Haven and Northampton Railroad opened. This connected the mill
villages of Williamsburg and Northampton to the main north-south line in the center of Northampton. The tracks ran parallel to
and just north of Main and North Main Streets in Florence and a depot was established on North Maple Street. This purred
development in Florence, which until that time had been located between Main Street and the Mill River. Mr. Gardner
established his homestead on North Main Street in the mid 1860’s and over the next two decades sold homestead lots fronting
on the street. His house was described in the 1873 directory as being situated at the end of Main Street.”
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