Berkshire Life Insurance Company Building
Also known as: Bank of Boston
Why it's listed
Standing at the western edge of Park Square in downtown Pittsfield, this five-story masonry building began in 1868 as a three-story headquarters for the Berkshire Life Insurance Company. Boston architect Louis Weisbein designed it, and local contractor D. C. Munyan built it. Additions followed in 1906, 1911 and 1927 by Henry Seaver and James McArthur Vance, each keeping the original Renaissance Revival style, scale and materials, including Nova Scotia freestone and Monson granite. From 1868 to 1910 it housed banks, the post office, telegraph office and telephone exchange, along with the insurance company, making it a center of the town's commercial life. A 1979 fire cleared the neighboring building to the north, leaving it freestanding. The east facade's ground floor was covered with pebble-and-cement facing in 1969, though the upper stories remain largely as they were in 1927. It was listed for its commercial history and its architecture, at the local level of significance.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a monumental, high-style example of Renaissance Revival architecture, and the only commercial building of that style in downtown Pittsfield. Its additions closely match the original design. It also served as the center of Pittsfield's financial and civic life, housing banks, the post office, telegraph and telephone exchange, and a major New England insurance company.
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) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 86000276, listed February 27, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 5--7 North St., Pittsfield |
|---|---|
| County | Berkshire County |
| Listed | February 27, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86000276 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899, 1900- (specific dates 1868, 1906, 1911, 1927) |
| Architect / builder | Louis Weisbein (original 1868 building; builder D. C. Munyan); Henry M. Seaver (1906 annex and 1927 addition); James McArthur Vance (1911 upper stories) |
| Architectural style | Renaissance Revival |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Commerce, Economics, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in commercial use, with Bank of Boston offices and other businesses. The first story of the east facade was altered in 1969, and the owner intended to restore it as part of a certified rehabilitation. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Within district | Park Square Historic District (Boundary Increase) |
| Coordinates | 42.44899, -73.25458 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 86000276.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4892269
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.