24 Phillips Place (2)
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: Bonnie Parsons
Organization: Pioneer Valley Planning Commission
Date (month / year): March, 2010
Assessor’s Number USGS Quad Area(s) Form Number
32A-195 Easthampton NTH.2083
Town: Northampton
Place: (neighborhood or village)
Address: 24 Phillips Place
Historic Name: The Elizabeth Butler House
Uses: Present: Two-family residence
Original: Single-family residence
Date of Construction: ca. 1850
Source: Registry of Deeds, 119.201, 138.208
Style/Form: Italianate
Architect/Builder:
Exterior Material:
Foundation: brick
Wall/Trim: flushboard
Roof: asphalt
Outbuildings/Secondary Structures:
Major Alterations (with dates):
Ell addition and side porch enclosed post-1980.
Condition: good
Moved: no | x | yes | | Date
Acreage: 0.181 acres
Setting: This house faces south on a raised lot in
a neighborhood of mid-19th c. houses.
INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET [NORTHAMPTON] [24 PHILLIPS PLACE]
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
Continuation sheet 1
NTH.2083
_x__ 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 Butler House was an early example of the Italianate style in Northampton as the style didn’t appear until ca. 1850 in New
England. It is a two-story house under a virtually flat roof with wide eaves that are modillion-block ornamented. The house is
flushboard sided to emulate the smooth surface of and Italian stone palazzo and it has pilasters as its cornerboards. The main
block of the house is three bays wide and one bay deep and is followed by a two-story ell that was extended after 1980 to
accommodate several extra bays or residential space. There is a porch on the east elevation that has been enclosed for two-
family use of the house. A porch is centered on the central bay of the south façade. It rests on chamfered posts that have high
pedestals. The porch roof has an open pediment and its eaves are ornaments as on the main roof with curved modillion blocks.
Windows of the three bay façade have replacement sash and projecting molded lintels. This building contributes to the number
of Italianate style buildings on Phillips Place.
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 1975: “This transitional style residence was built in Phillips Place circa 1850. Edward Clarke began selling
parcels in Phillips Place in 1847. In 1851, Clarke sold to William Tillotson lot #3, ‘a certain piece of land with buildings thereon
situated…the same premises formerly occupied by widow Elizabeth Butler.’ Clarke had acquired the lots from Abigail Clarke in
1847; the house was probably built on the property at this time.”
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, Hampshire County: 138.218, 120.483, 119.201
INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET [NORTHAMPTON] [24 PHILLIPS PLACE]
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
Continuation sheet 2
NTH.2083
National Register of Historic Places Criteria Statement Form
Check all that apply:
Individually eligible Eligible only in an historic district
Contributing to a potential historic district Potential historic district
Criteria: A B C D
Criteria Considerations: A B C D E F G
Statement of Significance by _____Bonnie Parsons___________________
The criteria that are checked in the above sections must be justified here.
The Butler House would contribute to a potential Pomeroy Terrace historic district that developed south and east of
the Bridge Street Cemetery from the second third of the 19th century as Northampton’s finest residential district.
Original residents here were merchants, retired farmers, lawyers, and other professions. As the century progressed the
adjacent streets were laid out for the growing middle class with railroad personnel joining clerks, teachers, and others.
Architecturally the potential historic district is significant for the fine examples of the 19th century architectural styles
from the Greek and Gothic Revivals, Italianate, Queen Anne and Colonial Revival styles. The district includes
significant examples of the work of Northampton architect William Fenno Pratt. This potential historic district has
integrity of workmanship, feeling, setting, design and materials.