53 North 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
25C-199 Easthampton NTH.406
Town: Northampton
Place: (neighborhood or village)
Address: 53 North Street
Historic Name: William Allen House
Uses: Present: Two-family residence
Original: Single-family residence
Date of Construction: ca. 1840
Source: maps of 1830 and 1873
Style/Form: Gothic Revival/Italianate
Architect/Builder:
Exterior Material:
Foundation: brick and concrete
Wall/Trim: aluminum
Roof: asphalt
Outbuildings/Secondary Structures:
Shed
Major Alterations (with dates):
House sided, windows replaces, porch enclosed and ell
added, 1900-2000.
Condition: fair
Moved: no | x | yes | | Date
Acreage: 0.196 acres
Setting: This house occupies a corner lot that is
raised behind a low embankment.
INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET [NORTHAMPTON ] [53 NORTH STREET]
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
Continuation sheet 1
NTH.406
___ 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 Allen House is a two-and-a-half story Gothic Revival style house that was designed in a form that was popular in both the
Gothic Revival and Italianate periods with a side-gable roof on which is centered a cross-gable. In this case the steep pitch of
the cross gable gives the house a firm Gothic Revival character, although an arched window in the cross-gable is Italianate. The
house has been sided and its windows replaced with vinyl, both of which have detracted from its historic appearance as does
the glassed-in porch. It is five bays wide and two bays deep and there is a two-and-a-half story ell on the east whose
fenestration is a mix of replacement sash and inserted stock bay windows.
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 large residence was probably constructed in the second half of the 18th century. Deed research is
confusing before the early 19th century, but the property is described as the homestead of Phinaz Clark in 1819. The house
passed through several owners in the early 19th century before being bought by Ruth Champlin Tenney in 1842. After her death,
the property passed to her sister, who was wife of William Allen Jr. Mr. Allen was a local attorney who rose to become a judge
on the State Supreme Judicial Court. The Allens maintained the property for the rest of the 19h 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. 96-P. 394, 84-421, 82-524, 50-591, 46-441, 45-123