122 Pine 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: Bonnie Parsons
Organization: Pioneer Valley Planning Commission
Date (month / year): May, 2011
Assessor’s Number USGS Quad Area(s) Form Number
23A-147 Easthampton NTH.206
Town: Northampton
Place: (neighborhood or village) Florence
Address: 122 Pine Street
Historic Name: Dwight B. and Emily Look House
Uses: Present: Single-family residence
Original: Single-family residence
Date of Construction: 1862-1865
Source: Registry of Deeds and Sheffield
Style/Form: Italianate
Architect/Builder:
Exterior Material:
Foundation: brick
Wall/Trim: clapboards, flushboards
Roof: slate
Outbuildings/Secondary Structures:
Major Alterations (with dates):
Windows replaced, porch supports replaced, ca. 1980.
Exterior wall chimney added, n.d.
Condition: good
Moved: no | x | yes | | Date
Acreage: 1.13 acres
Setting: This house faces north on a lot adjacent
to a church.
INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET [NORTHAMPTON ] [122 PINE STREET]
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
Continuation sheet 1
NTH.206
__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.
This is a two-and-a-half story Italianate style house that shares some features with its neighbor at 121 Pine Street being two-
and-a-half stories in height under a front-gabled roof whose eaves are bracket-supported. Like the house at 121 Pine Street it is
three bays wide and its north façade is crossed by a full-width porch with bracketed eaves. Here, however, the porch supports
have been replaced with wrought iron and the first story of the north façade is flushboard sided rather than clapboard sided in an
effort to suggest the stone of Italian buildings, an elegant feature. It is further distinguished by the use of pedimented window
and door surrounds that are supported on small brackets. On the west elevation is a one-and-a-half story wing with
correspondingly wide eaves.
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 1861, Plympton Smith bought almost an acre of land on the southern side of Pine Street from the
Greenville Mfg. Co. The Company was located along the banks of the Mill River and owned land extending to the top of the river
terrace, along which Pine and Beacon Streets run. Workers’ housing, in the form of single and double cottages, was built along
the northern side of Nonotuck Street, at the base of the terrace. During the 1860’s, the land atop the terrace was sold off for
residential development. This area on the plateau was more oriented towards Main Street in Florence.”
By 1873 this house had been constructed and in the ownership of Dwight B. and Emily Look and their two children Frank and
Fannie who were both in school. Dwight was a cord manufacturer. By 1884 the Looks had moved to 116 Elm Street and the
house was occupied by Mrs. R. B. Bardwell who was still there in 1895.
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. 305-P. 473, 277-41, 209-42, 203-345
INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET [NORTHAMPTON ] [122 PINE STREET]
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
Continuation sheet 2
NTH.206
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.
This property would contribute to a Florence Center Historic District. The potential historic district of Florence
Center is significant as the commercial, residential, institutional center of the village that developed from 1657 when
it was set off as Northampton’s “Inner Commons” as agricultural land and 1681 when the first sawmill was erected at
a falls on the Mill River. The agricultural and industrial village developed through the 18th and 19th centuries around
industry on the Mill River, agriculture on the alluvial flood plain and the Strong Tavern and later Cottage Hotel at the
intersection of Main and Maple Streets. It is significant for the silk industry that flourished through the Civil war as
an alternative to slave-picked cotton and for the establishment of the Northampton Association for Education and
Industry, a utopian community that existed 1843-1847. Association members after its close continued in Florence
their principles of equality by running the Underground Railroad through the village and harboring fugitive slaves. It
is significant as the home of Sojourner Truth. 19th century industry in the Center included the Florence Sewing
Machine Company, which built its own housing.
Architecturally the Center is significant for the range of Gothic Revival, Italianate, Stick Style, French Second
Empire, Queen Anne and Colonial Revival style homes, for its commercial blocks and library in the Revival styles of
the late 19th century. Gothic Revival and Italianate style churches are architect-designed in high style versions. The
potential district has integrity of workmanship, design, feeling, association, and materials.