Hyde House
Why it's listed
Built in 1792 at 144 West Park Street in Lee, this two-and-a-half-story wood frame house was the home of Reverend Alvan Hyde, the town's first settled minister, whose ministry lasted forty-one years. The original block has a symmetrical five-bay facade, clapboard siding, and a doorway with fluted pilasters and a triangular pediment. After Alvan's death his son Alexander inherited the house and in 1837 opened the Hyde Park Family Boarding School for Boys there, adding a large rear wing for classrooms and student bedrooms. The school closed in 1867, and the Hyde family kept the property until 1967, when it was given to the newly founded Lee YMCA. Alexander Hyde helped found Lee Academy, and his pupils included James Roosevelt. The interior of the main house has been considerably altered, but the rear school rooms remain almost unchanged. The house is valued for its educational and religious associations and for its well-preserved Georgian character.
Significance in brief: The house served as a church rectory, a nineteenth-century boys' boarding school and a private residence, and so figures in Lee's educational and religious life. It is also one of the best preserved buildings in Lee and illustrates Georgian characteristics such as a symmetrical five bay facade and a classical pedimented doorway. Both Alvan and Alexander Hyde played significant roles in the town's early history.
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 76000239, listed November 21, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 144 W. Park St., Lee |
|---|---|
| County | Berkshire County |
| Listed | November 21, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76000239 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Built by Rev. Alvan Hyde |
| Architectural style | Georgian (vernacular Georgian) |
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by the Lee YMCA, which received it as a gift in 1967 from the Hyde family; the form lists it as occupied and in good condition. The gift stipulated that no exterior changes be made. |
| Acreage | 1.6 |
| Coordinates | 42.30370, -73.25278 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
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 76000239.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5953547
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.