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Lyman Road 28__Fort Hill Estate.pdf Follow Massachusetts Historical Commission Survey Manual instructions for completing this form. 4/11 FORM A - AREA MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION MASSACHUSETTS ARCHIVES BUILDING 220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125 Photograph Assessor’s Sheets USGS Quad Area Letter Form Numbers in Area 38B-035 Easthampton AA NTH.2188 NTH,2189 NTH.2416 NTH.2504 NTH.2505 NTH.2506 NTH.2498 Town/City: Northampton Place (neighborhood or village): 28 Lyman Road Name of Area: Fort Hill Estate Present Use: Vacant / Multi-family / Institutional Construction Dates or Period: 1838-1900 Overall Condition: Good Major Intrusions and Alterations: Remodeled: 1870 & 1905 Historic landscape altered mid 20th century. Acreage: 31.6 acres Recorded by: Jayne Bernhard-Armington Organization: Pioneer Valley Planning Commission Date (month/year): June 2011 Locus Map see continuation sheet INVENTORY FORM A CONTINUATION SHEET NORTHAMPTON Fort Hill Estate MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area Letter Form Nos. NTH.2498NTH.2416220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125 Follow Massachusetts Historical Commission Survey Manual instructions for completing this form. NTH.2188 NTH,2189 NTH.2416 NTH.2504 NTH.2505 NTH.2506 4/11 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, structural and landscape features and evaluate in terms of other areas within the community. The Fort Hill Estate developed over the course of approximately 100 years at the top of what is known as the Mill River Terrace (although the Mill River no longer runs its course through this section of Northampton). There are several structures still standing from the Fort Hill Estate days, including the main estate home, a large Victorian brick carriage house, and a mid 19th century board and batten cottage. Other buildings on the estate include 1960s era low-rise faculty apartments, which are located close to South Street and the 2005 Early Childhood Education Center. Estate House: Architects Thomas and William Feno Pratt completed a large frame house for Samuel Whitman in 1839 at the top of the Mill River Terrace. The house was over 2,000 square feet. The house was completely remodeled in the 1870s by the Catherine and Edward H.R. Lyman family and, reportedly, a mansard roof and three-story tower were added at that time. Their son, Frank Lyman, extensively remodeled the home again in the early 1900s and the house took on the features of the Colonial Revival style. This was the last major modeling that took place although the interior has since been updated to accommodate Smith College’s early childhood programs. Dietz and Company Architects oversaw the latest renovation and restoration of the home in 1999. The Smith College Early Childhood Education Center vacated the building in 2005 and the building has been empty since this time. The Estate House is two-and-a-half stories tall and consists of a main block and two wings. Both wings and the main block of the house have a side gable roof. The roof gables on the main block of the house and the western wing make full returns to form a pediment and the corners of the house are set off by wide pilasters. A full entablature with modillion blocks separates the second story from the attic level. The main entrance of the home faces north and is covered by a colonnaded portico that includes a narrow eastward portion that currently functions as a handicap accessible ramp. Along the frieze of the flat roof portico is a fine dentil row. The main entrance has a wide fanlight that that rests atop fluted pilasters with Ionic capitals. The fanlight is lined by a fine dentil row. This entablature encloses a paneled door that is flanked by three-quarter length sidelights. This house has numerous porches at the first story level. The entire westward- facing side of the western wing has a colonnaded verandah with screened and enclosed sections. On the eastward-facing side of this wing, there is a two-story porch with thick columns on the first story and thinner columns on the second story. The southward facing side of the eastern wing has a one story colonnaded porch that wraps around to the eastern elevation of the wing. Characteristic of the Colonial Revival style, the house has pedimented dormers and roundel windows. Most of the windows on the estate house are two over two sash and have eared architrave surrounds beneath heavy cornices. There are two brick chimneys on the main block of the house. Carriage Barn: E. H. R. Lyman, owner of a large estate on Fort Hill, had this large brick barn built in the High Victorian Gothic style in 1891. Presently owned by Smith College and used for storage, the barn is located off of the former carriage house road and is only partially visible from the public way. Two stories in height, the structure has a slated mansard roof and dormers covered by small hoods. Entrances are wide and round arched with white stone employed to produce a simple polychromy. Above the mansard a cupola is centered over the brick mass. Stringcourses in brick define the stories in the facade and divide brick surfaces into visually pleasing areas. INVENTORY FORM A CONTINUATION SHEET NORTHAMPTON Fort Hill Estate MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area Letter Form Nos. NTH.2498NTH.2416220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125 Follow Massachusetts Historical Commission Survey Manual instructions for completing this form. NTH.2188 NTH,2189 NTH.2416 NTH.2504 NTH.2505 NTH.2506 4/11 Cottage: This is a board and batten one-and-one-half story cottage house with a side gable roof with overhanging eaves. The cottage is two bays wide and two bays deep. The cottage has a brick foundation and asphalt roof. The cottage has one over one sash windows on the first story and two over two sash on the second story. Windows and doors have shed roof lintels. The northern elevation of the cottage has a wide gabled dormer with a band of windows while the southern elevation has two gabled dormers that are separated by a brick chimney. Other buildings on the Estate: During the 1960's, four low-rise faculty apartments were constructed in the modern style near South Street. In 2005 Smith College completed a new building for the Early Childhood Education Center that is very close to the Estate House. The Early Childhood Education Center is a long, one-story building with a side gable roof and shallow southward facing wing with a front gable roof at the center of the building. HISTORICAL NARRATIVE Explain historical development of the area. Discuss how this relates to the historical development of the community. From Form B of 1980 with 2010 updates: “South St. was laid out well back from the brow of the Mill River terrace. The Mill River flowed through the center of town, curving around Fort Hill and then flowing southwesterly into the old Oxbow (known as Dank's Pond, Hulbert's Pond or Ned's Ditch). In 1664 the local tribe of Indians applied to the townsmen for a gift of land to build a fort on. The land was granted but with several restrictions including: no “ pawway,” no liquor, no other tribes of Indians, keeping the Sabbath, and responsibility for keeping the fences intact at the meadow and restraining their dogs from killing settlers' cattle, sheep or swine. James Trumbull, Northampton’s historian who lived during the 19th century, offers evidence to support the local tale that this fort was located at the jutting brow of the river terrace. By 1670 the selectmen had had enough, considering “the great abuse by the Indians in horrible drunkenness, profaning the Sabbath, breaking down fences, and stealing our corn.” They were ordered to vacate their fort within six months. The Indians probably retreated to top of the high bank of the Connecticut River on the western side, between Hatfield and Northampton (also known as Elizabeth's Rock). They were driven from here during the first year of King Philip’s War. This was the last land ever held by Indians in Northampton. Samuel Whitman, a merchant tailor from New York, bought the lands comprising most of Fort Hill in 1829 and 1830. In 1838 he entered into an agreement with Thomas and William F. Pratt to finish and complete a frame house 44x48 exclusive of veranda, a barn 30x40 with 25x30 wings, outhouses, and fences. The work was to be done by September 1, 1839 and the Pratt’s were to be paid $7,220. The grounds were laid out with a garden, shrubbery and trees; walks, driveways, and terrace were built; and a greenhouse was built. It became one of the most beautiful places in the Connecticut River Valley and was featured in the mid-century tourist’s guides as the perfect place for a carriage ride, the grounds being kept for just such excursions. Samuel Whitman introduced silk raising and manufacturing to Northampton. During the early 1830's, he began stocking 100 acres with engrafted trees in Florence on the slopes of the Mill River terrace. The Northampton Silk Co. was founded and set up shop in Florence. A large cocoonery—200 feet long, 6 feet wide and two stories high—was built on the Fort Hill Estate. However by 1840, the mill property was for sale a victim of the crash of silk culture. Whitman problems carried over to his personal estate and his property was foreclosed on by the Northampton Bank, the Massachusetts Hospital Life Insurance Company and several other creditors. In 1843 the property was sold to George Browns identified only as being from Boston. Mr. Browns also went into debt and sold the property, consisting of the house and 20 acres, to Joanna C. Nichols in 1846 for $7,500. Mrs. Nichols is identified as being from Northampton and when she sold the property two years later, she was described as a widow. INVENTORY FORM A CONTINUATION SHEET NORTHAMPTON Fort Hill Estate MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area Letter Form Nos. NTH.2498NTH.2416220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125 Follow Massachusetts Historical Commission Survey Manual instructions for completing this form. NTH.2188 NTH,2189 NTH.2416 NTH.2504 NTH.2505 NTH.2506 4/11 The next owners were Joseph and Emily West, of New York City, who purchased the approximately 25 acres for $15,000 and a $6,000 mortgage in 1848. The West’s appear to have used this as their main residence, but did not maintain ownership very long, selling the property to Jacob Singmaster of New York City for $32,500 in 1857. Mr. Singmaster also maintained that property for 9 years, but seems to have used it as a summer residence, as he is listed from Stroudsbury, Pennsylvania. He sold the property in 1866. The new owners of the 27 acre estate were Catherine and Edward H.R. Lyman from Brooklyn. The Lyman’s paid $20,000 for the property. Soon after the Lyman's s purchased the property they remodeled the house extensively inside and out. A Mansard roof was added as well as a three-story tower. Mr. Lyman was a native of Northampton, but had gone off to make his fortune. He settled in Brooklyn and became a partner in A.A. Low and Co. tea and silk importers. This estate was purchased as his summer home, and remained such until his death in 1899. Mr. Lyman is best known in the city as the benefactor of the Academy of Music for which he bought the land and had the structure erected at a cost in excess of $100,000. Mr. Lyman's son, Frank Lyman, also maintained the estate as his summer residence. In the early 20th century, he again had the home extensively remodeled and modernized. The home now took on a Colonial Revival look, but certain details, such as the heavy cornices of the windows, evoked the earlier Victorian mansion. In 1931 Frank Lyman retired from his Brooklyn business and made this his permanent home, living here until his death in 1938. His widow maintained the property until 1946 when she sold it to Smith College. From 1946 to 1964 the main house was used as a dormitory. From 1964 to 2005, the main house hosted Smith College’s Early Childhood Education Center. This program began in 1926 when Smith College President William Allan Nielson established the Smith College Nursery School as a cooperative school to provide educational opportunities for Smith graduate students. The main house has been renovated several times, most recently in 1999 by Dietz and Company Architects. The early childhood program moved from the historic home to a new facility on the site in August 2005. During the 1960's, low-rise faculty apartments were constructed on the estate near South St., and the rear portion of the estate has served as a nursery for Smith College. Besides the main house there are several other structures still standing from the Fort Hill Estate days. These include a large Victorian brick carriage house , a mid 19th century board and batten cottage, which recently served as the residence of noted artist Leonard Baskin and was enlarged by Northampton architect Karl Scott Putmam, and two smaller late 19th century frame buildings, one of which is covered with board and batten and served as a laundry. 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. History of Northampton, J.R. Trumbull, 1898. 1854 Map Daily Hampshire Gazette, Jan. 20 and 21 1889; January 31, 1893; April 27 and 28 1938. Springfield Daily Republican, Jan. 5 l884; Dec. 3l, 1906; Jan. 3, 1910: Registry of Deeds: Bk. 1007-P. 53l, 236-69, 170-l4, 122-454, 113-311, 100-263, 84-393, 81-448, 70-509, 66-93, 64-258. INVENTORY FORM A CONTINUATION SHEET NORTHAMPTON Fort Hill Estate MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area Letter Form Nos. NTH.2498NTH.2416220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125 Follow Massachusetts Historical Commission Survey Manual instructions for completing this form. NTH.2188 NTH,2189 NTH.2416 NTH.2504 NTH.2505 NTH.2506 4/11 Smith College, Fort Hill Early Childhood Education Center, Smith College website: http://www.smith.edu/forthill/about_history.php Aerial view of Fort Hill Estate, looking North. Fort Hill Cottage House Fort Hill Carriage Barn, northern side Main House Carriage Barn Cottage New Childhood Center Faculty Apartments Estate Grounds INVENTORY FORM A CONTINUATION SHEET NORTHAMPTON Fort Hill Estate MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area Letter Form Nos. NTH.2498NTH.2416220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125 Follow Massachusetts Historical Commission Survey Manual instructions for completing this form. NTH.2188 NTH,2189 NTH.2416 NTH.2504 NTH.2505 NTH.2506 4/11 Faculty Apartment Faculty Apartment Childhood Center