98PineMacris
Inventory No:NTH.209
Historic Name:Williston, A. L. House
Common Name:
Address:98 Pine St
City/Town:Northampton
Village/Neighborhood:Florence
Local No:23A-151-001
Year Constructed:c 1865
Architect(s):Pratt, William Fenno
Architectural Style(s):Italianate
Use(s):Multiple Family Dwelling House; Single Family Dwelling
House
Significance:Architecture
Area(s):
Designation(s):
Building Materials(s):
Roof: Asphalt Shingle; Slate
Wall: Vinyl Siding; Wood
Foundation: Brick
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Massachusetts Historical Commission
220 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston, Massachusetts 02125
www.sec.state.ma.us/mhc
This file was accessed on: Monday, May 3, 2021 at 10:00 AM
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-151 Easthampton NTH.209
Town: Northampton
Place: (neighborhood or village) Florence
Address: 98 Pine Street
Historic Name: A. L. Williston House
Uses: Present: Six-family residence
Original: Single-family residence
Date of Construction: ca. 1865
Source: 1873 Atlas of Northampton
Style/Form: Gothic Revival
Architect/Builder: William Fenno Pratt, architect,
NorthamptonExterior Material:
Foundation: parged brick
Wall/Trim: vinyl
Roof: metal, asphalt and slate
Outbuildings/Secondary Structures:
Major Alterations (with dates):
Siding applied and windows replaced, ca. 1990
Condition: good
Moved: no | | yes | x | Date ca. 1880
Acreage: 0.558 acres
Setting: This house occupies a corner lot in a
residential section of Florence
RECEIVED
AUG 19 2011
MASS. HIST. COMM.
INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET [NORTHAMPTON] [98 PINE STREET]
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
Continuation sheet 1
NTH.209
___ 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 once-grand, two-and-a-half story house is among the more complicated buildings in Florence. Its main block has a
gambrel roof to which is attached a three-story tower under a bell-shaped roof at its northeast corner, and on which is a shed
roof dormer three bays long on the west end of the roof. The main block is four bays wide. On its east elevation is a one-and-a-
half story wing under a side-gable roof. The wing on its north façade has a front-wall, cross-gable with a Gothic quatrefoil
window in its field. The main entry to the building is through the tower at the first story behind an added portico on posts. Its
door surround is a Gothic three-pointed molded arch, enclosing a glass and panel door. Above the entry is a round-arched stair
window with an arched label lintel. At the third story level on the east, north and west elevations are pairs of arched windows
under arched molded lintels. The vinyl siding obscures window surrounds elsewhere on the building and windows are
replacements, so this building does not truly reflect the work of architect William Fenno Pratt.
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: “This house, even though damaged by fire in the 1870’s, moved c. 1880 and altered during the mid-20th
century, still possesses enough of its original shape and character to be considered significant.
A. L. Williston was the son of John Payson Williston, a prominent Easthampton industrialist. The Willistons were also
involved in the Greenville Manufacturing Company, a cotton cloth manufactory in Florence, and thus owned much of the land
along the Mill River below the terrace. A.L. Williston had his house built from designs of W.F. Pratt, Northampton’s most
prominent architect of the 19th century. It was situated on the south side of Pine Street, at the top of the terrace. After a fire in
the late 1870’s, Mr. Williston moved to the center of Northampton, building a new house on Round Hill. The Round Hill house
was demolished during the early 1970’s.
Williston’s house in Florence was moved about 100 yards westerly after the fire and divided into tenements.”
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. 471-P. 286, 441-132, 402-365, 372-265, 352-403
FORM B BUILDING
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, State House, Boston
~PJ<-W ^reckon r'U a+ f^H C
2. Photo (3x3" or 3x5")
Staple to left side of form
Photo number
-9V
£1
4. Map. Draw sketch of building location
in relation to nearest cross streets and
other buildings. Indicate north.
(over)
,2LV?
In Area no. Form no.
23A-151
1. Town Northampton
Address 98 Pine St.
Name A.L. Williston House
Present use residence
Present owner Vincent and Annie Wiesztort
3. Description:
Date 1881
Source Hampshire Gazette
Style Carpenter Gothic
Architect William F. Pratt
Exterior wall fabric asbestos shakes
Outbuildings (describe)
Other features 3-story tower with flaring
pyramidal roof.
3rd floor addition Altered sidpA Date mja 2Qth c.
from Pine St, east Moved , 0f Mania st_ Date 0m i880
5. Lot size:
One acre or less x Over one acre_
150' Approximate frontage
Approximate distance of building from street
20'
6 Recorded by ^' Komarom^ anc^ E- Lonergan
NHC Organization
Date March 6, 1976 and Feb. 1980
37M-7-77
—
7. Original owner (if known)_
Original use
A.L. Williston
residence
Subsequent uses (if any) and dates_
8. Themes (check as many as applicable)
Aboriginal
Agricultural
Architectural
The Arts
Commerce
Communication
Community development
x
Conservation
Education
Exploration/
settlement
Industry
Military
Political
Recreation
Religion
Science/
invention
Social/ humanitarian Transportation
9. Historical significance (include explanation of themes checked above)
This house, even though damaged by fire in the 1870 's, moved a. 1880 and
altered during the mid 20th century, still possesses enough of its original shape and
character to be considered significant.
A.L. Williston was the son of John Payson Williston, a prominent East-
ampton industrialist. The Willistons were also involved in the Greenvill Manufacturing
Co., a cotton cloth manufactory in Florence, and thus owned much of the land along the
Mill River below the terrace. A.L.Williston had his house built from designs of W.F.
Pratt, Northampton's most prominent architect of the 19th century. It was situated on
the south side of Pine St., at the top of the terrace. After a fire in the late 1870 's
Mr. Williston moved to the center of Northampton, building a new house on Round Hill.
The Round Hill house was demolished during the early 1970 's.
Williston's house in Florence was moved about 100 yards westerly after the
fire and divided into tenements.
10. Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records,
early maps, etc.)
1854 and i860 Coun ty Maps.
1873, 1884 and 1895 Atlases.
Registry of Deeds: Bk. 471-P. 286, 441-132, 402-365, 372-265, 352-405.
Daily Hampshire Gazette April I, 1915, p. 3.
Hampshire Gazette, Jan. 8, 1861.
Mm, 2^
FORM B - BUILDING
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION
Office of the Secretary, State House, Boston I
In Area no. Form no. 207
"±. iVlctp. U1.0.W orn.n.11 «gc ^w.^^„ 0
in relation to nearest cross streets and
other buildings. Indicate north.
Hf if
Iii J p.
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS SPACE
USGS Quadrant
MHC Photo no. N
(over)
\
Florence (Northampton)
A.L. Williston House
nt use Residence
nt owner Vincent Wiesztort
iption:
Circa I865
urce 1873 Atlas of Northampton
High Victorian Gothic
Itect Unknown
Exterior wall fabric Bracketed
Outbuildings (describe) none
Other features dormer windows
Altered
Moved
yes
no
Date
Date
5. Lot size:
One acre or less Over one acre
Approximate frontage 150 feet
Approximate distance of building from street
20 feet
6. Recorded by 1" Komaromi
Organization Northampton Historical
Commission
Date fliarch , Tl
1976
5M-2-75-R061465
(.
MAY 5
MASS. HIST. COM!
/v/Tff-, ZcO^
7. Original owner (if known)
Original use RftgHnnce
Subsequent uses (if any) and dates Apartments- 1976
8. Themes (check as many as applicable)
Recreation
Religion
Science/
invention
Social/ humanitarian Transportation
9. Historical significance (include explanation of themes checked above)
The A.L. Williston House is markedly different today than the
time of its conception in the mid-nineteenth century. Formerly
the house had a cupola and two chimneys aiding and abetting a
definite sense of scale. There has been some speculation that
this structure may have served as an underground station for
slaves.
Mr. Williston, its owner was a rather prominent gentleman.
He managed the Greenville Manufacturing Company which consisted
of various cotton mills.
Aboriginal Conservation
Agricultural Education
Architectural Exploration/
The Arts settlement
Commerce Industry
Communication Military
Community development x Political
10. Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records,
early maps, etc.) Past Photographs, 1873 Atlas of Northampton and
principalities, Charles Starkj local historian of Florence, Mass.