North High Street Historic District (Boundary Increase II)
The National Park Service has not published a boundary polygon for this district; the map shows the listed properties inside it and the district's reference point.
Why it's listed
Three connected buildings at the corner of Dwight and Maple streets in Holyoke, Massachusetts, were added to the North High Street Historic District, which covers the city's downtown commercial core. The main building is Wakelin Hall, a three-story buff brick structure erected in 1899 behind the McAuslan & Wakelin department store block. It combined retail space, offices and a third-floor meeting hall used by fraternal groups. Its Classical Revival design includes Doric pilasters, cast-iron corner columns, Ionic capitals, a denticulated cornice and a restored balustrade. A four-story tan brick commercial building from about 1914 stands beside it, and a glass link building added in 2005 joins them. A basement passage and a bridge over the service alley connect them to the older department store block. The rehabilitated complex now serves as a health center. The addition was recognized for its architecture and its role in Holyoke's commerce between 1899 and 1958.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · catalog entry. Generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29).
| Period of significance | 1899-1958 |
|---|---|
| Styles | Late 19th & Early 20th Century Revivals: Classical Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Commerce |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Boundary source | not published |
| Full listing page | North High Street Historic District (Boundary Increase II) (property record) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.