{"nrhp_refnum":"82001899","name":"Wollison-Shipton Building","other_names":["Wollison Block"],"category":"building","location":{"address":"142-156 North St.","address_restricted":false,"city":"Pittsfield","county":"Berkshire County","state":"MA","lat":42.450579075000064,"lon":-73.25278561599998,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1982-09-30","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Architecture"],"significance_levels":["local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A four-storey commercial and office block with three-storey wings at 142-156 North Street in downtown Pittsfield, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, built in 1887-1888 to designs by architect H. Neil Wilson for Ruben D. Wollison and his son Herbert S. Wollison.","why_significant":"The nomination calls it a major local example of Victorian commercial architecture with innovative decorative and structural features. It is the only commercial building in Pittsfield designed by Wilson, a prominent midwestern and local architect. It also housed the Wollison decorating firm, a variety of businesses and Pittsfield's first YMCA.","narrative":"Rising four storeys at the center with three-storey wings, this brick commercial block at 142-156 North Street anchors Pittsfield's downtown. Built in 1887-1888 for paper hanger and decorator Ruben Wollison and his son Herbert, it was designed by H. Neil Wilson, who is credited with over thirty buildings in the region. The facade uses Philadelphia pressed brick with dark freestone trim, plate glass storefronts and a slate hipped roof. Inside, it used a patented cellular steel fireproof floor said to be the first used in the east, plus an Otis elevator and skylights. The second floor originally housed the city's first YMCA, and tenants included photographers, electricians, piano sellers and the Wollison decorating firm. It is the only commercial building Wilson designed in Pittsfield. After a fire in 1980, the owner has been restoring it, keeping original woodwork, fireplaces and pressed iron ceilings. Commercial and office use has continued without interruption.","period_of_significance":"1887-1888","architect_builder":"H. Neil Wilson (1855-1926), architect; D.C. Munyan, builder; George D. Foote, mason; Robbins, Gamwell & Co., heating system","architectural_style":"Victorian commercial architecture","criteria":["A","C"],"status_note":"Commercial and office use has continued to the present; the building is being restored after a smoky fire in March 1980, with interior woodwork, fireplaces and windows retained.","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:11:56.466905-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/92/7941/63794192/content/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_MA/82001899.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/82001899/919661a504-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/82001899/919661a504-1600.webp","licence":"CC BY-SA 3.0","author":"John Phelan","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wollison-Shipton_Building,_Pittsfield_MA.jpg\" rel=\"noopener\">John Phelan</a>, <a href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0\" rel=\"license noopener\">CC BY-SA 3.0</a>, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wollison-Shipton_Building,_Pittsfield_MA.jpg"},"district":{"nrhp_refnum":"91001826","name":"Park Square Historic District (Boundary Increase)","url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/districts/massachusetts/park-square-historic-district-boundary-increase-91001826/"},"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/63794192","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wollison%E2%80%93Shipton_Building","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q8030357"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/massachusetts/berkshire-county/wollison-shipton-building-82001899/"}