171 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): April 2011
Assessor’s Number USGS Quad Area(s) Form Number
38B-81 Easthampton NTH.1009
Town: Northampton
Place: (neighborhood or village)
Address: 171 South Street
Historic Name: Robert G. Williams House
Uses: Present: Four-family residence
Original: Single family residence
Date of Construction: 1894-1895
Source: Registry of Deeds and Atlas
Style/Form: Colonial Revival
Architect/Builder:
Exterior Material:
Foundation: Brick
Wall/Trim: Asbestos
Roof: Asphalt
Outbuildings/Secondary Structures:
Major Alterations (with dates):
Asbestos siding, mid 20th century
Vinyl windows, post 1980
Condition: good
Moved: no | x | yes | | Date
Acreage: 0.401 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] [171 SOUTH STREET]
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
Continuation sheet 1
NTH.1009
__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 Colonial Revival style house with a hipped roof. It is three bays wide and two bays deep and clad
with asbestos. At the center of the front façade is a three story gabled entry pavilion. A distinguishing feature of the pavilion is
the bowed tri-part window with leaded cross-hatched glazing at the third story level. The house has a full width hipped roof porch
with columns set in triples, balustrade with turned balusters, solid frieze, and lattice apron. A clapboard paneled pediment marks
the location of the center front entrance on the porch. This house has an elaborate front entrance that features an ornately
decorated leaded transom and sidelights. Windows on the house are mostly one over one sash vinyl replacements. The house
has pyramidal dormers with paired six over one windows. There are two tall brick chimneys one of which is very large. The
property includes a two bay garage in the rear.
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 house was built in the mid 1890’s for Robert Williams, supervisor of the Williams Mfg. Co. The
Company manufactured baskets and was located on Smith Street in Northampton.”
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.