70 Old South Street
Follow Massachusetts Historical Commission Survey Manual instructions for completing this form.
FORM B − BUILDING
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION
MASSACHUSETTS ARCHIVES BUILDING
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
Photograph
Topographic or Assessor's Map
Recorded by: Jayne Bernhard-Armington
Organization: Pioneer Valley Planning Commission
Date (month / year): June, 2010
Assessor’s Number USGS Quad Area(s) Form Number
31D-221 Easthampton NTH.2004
Town: Northampton
Place: (neighborhood or village)
Address: 70 Old South Street
Historic Name: Alvin W. & Mabel D. Clapp House
Uses: Present: Business / office
Original: Single-family residence
Date of Construction: 1893-95
Source: Atlas and Registry of Deeds
Style/Form: Queen Anne
Architect/Builder:
Exterior Material:
Foundation: brick
Wall/Trim: clapboard
Roof: slate
Outbuildings/Secondary Structures:
Two story carriage house with cupola
Major Alterations (with dates):
Condition: Good
Moved: no | x | yes | | Date
Acreage: 0.43 acres
Setting: House sits fairly close to the busy Old South
Street. Property in a transitional area that now includes
businesses, apartments and condominiums in former single
family homes. House sits on a well-landscaped lot.
INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET [NORTHAMPTON] [70 OLD SOUTH STREET]
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
Continuation sheet 1
NTH.2004
___ 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 two-and-a-half story Queen Anne style home with slate hipped roof. True to the Queen Anne style, the roof line and
façade include many projections, bays, dormers and porches. Most striking is the front porch with its pedimented front entrance
with decorated tympanum, Tuscan columns, and balustrade. The front porch broadens out to a two story gazebo at its western
end. The first story of the gazebo is paneled while the second story is ornamented with decorative swags. The gazebo is toppe d
by a balustrade with paneled newel posts. There is also a two story bay window with polygonal roof near the front entrance.
Windows on the house are of varying size and have basic flat stock surrounds and one over one sash windows. Characteristic of
the Queen Anne style, there is a picture window on the front façade that looks out onto the porch. On the eastern elevation of
the home, there is a shed roof porch with Tuscan columns, balustrade and apron that matches the front porch. A long wooden
stairway extends from the porch to the driveway. To the rear of the house is a two-story carriage house with cupola.
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 1893, Alvin Clapp, co-owner of a Main Street meat market, bought the Bliss homestead at the corner
of South and Fruit Streets and had his home erected on the western part.”
The House is currently owned by Jacobs & Jacobs LLC who run a home restoration and additions business. They renovated the
house in 2004 to make the first and second floors suitable for their business offices.
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 457-P. 215