35 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, 2010
Assessor’s Number USGS Quad Area(s) Form Number
17C-252 Easthampton NTH.120
Town: Northampton
Place: (neighborhood or village) Florence
Address: 35 North Main Street
Historic Name: Free Congregational Church
Uses: Present: Seventh Day Adventist Church
Original: Congregational Church
Date of Construction: 1915-1922
Source: Directories
Style/Form: front-gabled building
Architect/Builder:
Exterior Material:
Foundation: not visible
Wall/Trim: vinyl
Roof: asphalt
Outbuildings/Secondary Structures:
Major Alterations (with dates):
Stucco covered with vinyl, windows replaced and windows
covered in tower. Arched window added. 1990-2009.
Condition: good
Moved: no | | yes | | Date
Acreage: 0.332 acres
Setting: This building faces south towards
Florence’s cemetery and library.
INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET [NORTHAMPTON] [35 NORTH MAIN STREET]
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
Continuation sheet 1
NTH.120
___ 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 one-and-a-half story building under a front-gable roof with a two-story tower attached to its southeast corner. Eaves
make full returns on the south façade to create a pediment. Beneath the pediment is a triple-window composition containing
stained glass. The building has been covered in vinyl and windows that originally were adjacent to the entry have been covered
over and it appears that the fanlight over the entry doors has been inserted in order to give the building a more Colonial
appearance. A relatively simple building to begin with, it has lost its early 20th century stylistic character due to the vinyl siding.
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 ‘Free Congregational Society of Florence’ was organized in 1863, ‘respecting in each other—and in
all—the right of intellect and conscience to be free, and holding it to be the duty of everyone to keep his mind and heart at all
times open to receive the truth and follow its guidance, we set up no theological condition of membership, and neither demand
nor expect uniformity of doctrinal belief; asking only unity of purpose to seek and accept the right and true, and an honest aim
and effort to make these the rule of life. And, recognizing the brotherhood of the human race and the equality of human rights,
we make no distinction as to the conditions and rights of membership in this society, on account of sex, or color, or nationality.’
The Society met in the local schoolhouse until Cosmian Hall was erected in 1874 at the junction of North Maple and
Meadow Streets. The Hall serviced not only the Society, but the general community as well. The seating capacity was nearly
700 and was open to the public without charge.
The Society continued to meet here until the second decade of the 20th century. At that time, this relatively small church
was constructed across the street from Cosmian Hall, and the Hall continued its public functions until its demolition mid-century.
Today the small church services the Seven Day Adventists.”
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.