161 South 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: Jayne Bernhard-Armington
Organization: Pioneer Valley Planning Commission
Date (month / year): April 2011
Assessor’s Number USGS Quad Area(s) Form Number
38B-83 Easthampton NTH.1010
Town: Northampton
Place: (neighborhood or village)
Address: 161 South Street
Historic Name: Chauncey Clark House
Uses: Present: Four-family residence
Original: Single family residence
Date of Construction: c. 1850
Source: Antiquities… p. 182
Style/Form: Italianate
Architect/Builder:
Exterior Material:
Foundation: Brick
Wall/Trim: Asbestos
Roof: Unknown
Outbuildings/Secondary Structures:
Major Alterations (with dates):
Asbestos siding, 20th century
Condition: Good
Moved: no | x | yes | | Date
Acreage: 0.259 acre
Setting: House sits in a residential neighborhood of former
single family homes that have been converted to buildings
with two or more residential units.
INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET [NORTHAMPTON] [161 SOUTH STREET]
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
Continuation sheet 1
NTH.1010
_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 front gable home with double bracketed cornice and dentil row. The front porch has
modillion blocks along the cornice line of the hipped roof and square posts with carved fan brackets that are atypical of the
Italianate style in Northampton, so this may have been a later alteration to the home. Characteristic of the Italianate style in
Northampton, the front gable has an arched window in the gable field that, in this case, has decorative paneling. Windows
throughout the home also have architrave surrounds that encase one over one sash windows. Other features include a one story
bay on the northern elevation with arched windows that match the decorative front gable field window and bracketed side porch
on the southern elevation. This house has three brick chimneys, one of which is on the large two story ell.
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 property was originally part of the Deacon Josiah Clark homestead on South Street, which was
established in 1744. By the early 19th century, there were two houses on this homestead, for the two sons of Deacon Clark.
The house that was on this parcel of land was removed about 1850 and the present house built. This was for Chauncey Clark, a
grandson of Deacon Clark and a prominent person in his own right. For several years, he was a member of the State
Legislature, twice a State Senator and was appointed to an office in the Custom House by George Bancroft. He remained in
that office for many years, finally returning to Northampton c. 1850. He lived in this house until his death in 1869. After that, the
property was bought by James Ellsworth, who was a farmer and also served as the town assessor. Mr. Ellsworth maintained
this residence for the rest of the 19th 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.