Wollison–Shipton Building
|
Wollison–Shipton Building
|
|
|
U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
|
 |
|
 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 142-156 North St., Pittsfield, Massachusetts |
|---|---|
| Built | c. 1887 |
| Built by | Munyon, D. C. |
| Architect | Wilson, H. Neil |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian |
| Part of | Park Square Historic District (ID75001911) |
| NRHP reference No. | 82001899 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | September 30, 1982 |
| Designated CP | December 23, 1991 |
The Wollison–Shipton Building is a historic commercial building located at 142-156 North Street in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. It was designed by architect H. Neil Wilson and built in 1888. At that time, the area north of Park Square was becoming a busy shopping and business part of downtown Pittsfield.
Contents
What is the Wollison–Shipton Building?
This building stands in the heart of downtown Pittsfield. You can find it on the east side of North Street, between Fenn and Eagle Streets. It's a four-story building made from steel and brick. The bricks are a special kind of red brick from Philadelphia. It also has cool brownstone details.
A Look at the Building's Design
The building has a tall central part that is seven windows wide. This section has a hip roof, which means it slopes up from all sides. On either side of the central part are three-story wings with mansard roofs. A mansard roof has slopes on all four sides, with the lower part steeper than the upper part.
On the ground floor, there are four storefronts. Two are on each side of the main entrance to the building. These shops now have modern glass display windows. A stone band separates the first floor from the second floor. Brick columns divide the middle seven sections from the outer ones.
Most windows are rectangular. However, the central windows on the fourth floor are set in round-arch openings. The windows on the very ends of the building have stone sills. They also have a line of brickwork above them.
A Peek into its Past
When the Wollison–Shipton Building was built in 1888, it was quite special. It used a unique type of brick and had fancy cast iron decorations. These iron details have since been removed.
The second floor of the building was once home to the local YMCA. The YMCA is an organization that helps young people develop their minds, bodies, and spirits.
The architect, H. Neill Wilson, was a well-known local designer. The builder, D.C. Munyan, built many other important buildings nearby. These included the Academy of Music (which burned down in 1912), the Berkshire County Courthouse, and the Berkshire Athenaeum. Both the courthouse and the Athenaeum are famous buildings on Park Square.
Important Recognition
The Wollison–Shipton Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 30, 1982. This list includes places that are important in American history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, and culture. Being on this list helps protect these special places.
Later, in 1991, the building was also included in an expansion of the Park Square Historic District. A historic district is an area that has many buildings that are important to history.
