278 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-289 Easthampton NTH.1077
Town: Northampton
Place: (neighborhood or village)
Address: 278 South Street
Historic Name:
Uses: Present: Two-family residence
Original: Single-family residence
Date of Construction: 1751
Source: visual evidence
Style/Form: Federal
Architect/Builder:
Exterior Material:
Foundation: Brick
Wall/Trim: Clapboard
Roof: Slate
Outbuildings/Secondary Structures:
Connected barn
Major Alterations (with dates):
Front porch (mid 19th century)
Condition: Good
Moved: no | x | yes | | Date
Acreage: 0.309 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] [278 SOUTH STREET]
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
Continuation sheet 1
NTH.1077
__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 side gabled house with connected barn plan. This home is a conservative example of the Federal
style with a center chimney which is a holdover from the Georgian period. The 1751 construction date given by Form B of 1976
should be researched further.
The house is five bays wide and two bays deep and framed by corner pilasters and narrow frieze. At the center of the roof is a
massive brick chimney. The front entry has a wide trabeated surround that encloses narrow two-light sidelights. The front portico
with hipped roof has turned posts with decorative braces and spindle frieze and balustrade of turned posts. This porch was
added to the house around the middle of the 19th century. Windows on the home are six over six replacement sash but they
have their original architrave surrounds. The windows on the second story sit close to the eaves. On the northern elevation of
the home is a shallow one-story wing and there is an even smaller shallow wing on the southern elevation.
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 1976: “South Street was one of Northampton’s early highways and still exhibits a large number of colonial style
dwellings. The structure at 278 South Street faces an earlier saltbox at 283 South Street. Two early dwellings—less well
maintained—are located at the corner of Hampden and South Streets.”
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.