Fort Hill Historic District (Northampton, Massachusetts) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Fort Hill Historic District
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The Roger Clapp House (DAR Headquarters)
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Northampton, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 2.2 acres (0.89 ha) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Colonial, Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 88000910 |
| Added to NRHP | April 7, 1989 |
The Fort Hill Historic District is a special area in Northampton, Massachusetts. It's found along South Street, between Lyman and Monroe. This district is famous for its beautiful and old houses. These homes were built a long time ago, in the 1700s and early 1800s. It's like stepping back in time!
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Exploring the Fort Hill Historic District
What is a Historic District?
The Fort Hill area became a "historic district" on April 7, 1989. This means it's officially recognized for its important history. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of places in the United States that are worth protecting. They show us what life was like in the past.
The Fort Hill Historic District covers about 2.2 acres. It includes six amazing old houses. Five of these homes are on the east side of South Street. One special house is on the west side.
The Historic Homes of Fort Hill
All six buildings in the district are made of wood. They are 2.5 stories tall and have clapboard siding. This means the outside walls are covered with overlapping wooden boards. Most of them have roofs that slope down on two sides.
Here are the six historic homes you can find:
- The Preserved Bartlett House, 124 South Street (built in 1792)
- The Theodore Bartlett House, 130 South Street (built around 1830)
- The Eleazer Strong House, 133 South Street (built around 1797)
- The Col. Elisha Strong Homestead, 134 South Street (built around 1800)
- The Graves-Parsons House, 144 South Street (built around 1830)
- The Capt. Roger Clapp House, 148 South Street (built in 1753)
Architectural Styles of the Houses
The houses in Fort Hill show different building styles from the past.
- Georgian Colonial: Three of the houses have a Georgian colonial look. This style was popular in the 1700s. The Roger Clapp House, built in 1753, is the oldest example here.
- Greek Revival: Two houses are built in the Greek Revival style. This style became popular in the early 1800s. It often features columns and grand entrances, like ancient Greek temples. The Theodore Bartlett House is an example of this style.
- Federal Style: The Eleazer Strong House, built in 1797, is one of the oldest Federal style homes in Northampton. This style came after Georgian and is known for its elegant, balanced look.
Important Families of Fort Hill
These houses are not just old buildings. They are also important because of the families who lived in them. These families were some of the first settlers in Northampton.
- The Clapp Family: Preserved Clapp was one of Northampton's very first settlers. His son, Roger Clapp, built the famous Clapp House.
- The Strong Family: The two Strong houses were built by the sons of Elder John Strong. He was another important early settler in the area.
- The Bartlett Family: The two Bartlett houses belonged to the descendants of Robert Bartlett. He was a town leader, called a "selectman," between 1657 and 1663.
These homes and the stories of their families help us understand the early history of Northampton.
