72 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): February, 2011
Assessor’s Number USGS Quad Area(s) Form Number
17C-260 Easthampton NTH.125
Town: Northampton
Place: (neighborhood or village) Florence
Address: 72 North Main Street
Historic Name: John C. Black House
Uses: Present: Two-family residence
Original: Single-family residence
Date of Construction: 1880-1884
Source: Registry of Deeds and Atlas
Style/Form: Italianate
Architect/Builder:
Exterior Material:
Foundation: brick
Wall/Trim: vinyl
Roof: asphalt shingles
Outbuildings/Secondary Structures:
Shed
Major Alterations (with dates):
Siding added and windows replaced, ca. 2005
Condition: good
Moved: no | x | yes | | Date
Acreage: 0.277 acres
Setting: This is a north-facing house in a purely residential
section of North Main Street.
INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET [NORTHAMPTON] [72 NORTH MAIN STREET]
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
Continuation sheet 1
NTH.125
___ 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 house represents one of the most common house forms in Northampton during the late 19th century. It is two-and-a-half
stories in height under a front-gable roof, a plan that allowed it to fit on a relatively narrow lot but extend to the rear for an ample
size. The house is three bays wide and has a full-width porch under a hipped roof across the north façade. The porch is
supported on posts. There is a cross-gable bay on the west elevation and on the south elevation is a two-and-a-half story ell
with a roof deck and exterior stairs added. Although it may originally have had more ornament, what remains today of its
Italianate style is the attic arched window on the north façade. The vinyl siding and replacement windows have meant lost
details.
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: “In 1880, John Black, engineer employed at the Florence Sewing Machine Co., bought a large lot of land
fronting on North Main Street and extending westerly over the terrace drop off to the Mill River. Within the next few years Lilly
Street was put through at the edge of the terrace and Mr. Black sold a number of residential lots. This house was built for his
own residence and he lived here into the 20th century.”
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. 856-P. 149, 355-161, 337-468