Jones Block
Why it's listed
Jones Block is a three-story brick commercial building on the east side of Park Street in Adams Center, Massachusetts. Albert Jones, a clerk for the merchant tailor firm of C.E. Legate, had it built in 1895 as a two-story block. The ground floor housed the Bay State Clothing House, which Jones managed, and the second floor held Adams' Hibernian Hall. Around the turn of the century a third story was added, matching the original design, with a new cornice and brick details closely copying the earlier work. The facade has cast-iron columns framing the storefronts, arched windows with moulded brick surrounds and a pressed metal cornice. Later changes include rebuilt storefronts, blocked transoms and some blocked side and rear windows. The building is valued as a good surviving example of the large-scale commercial architecture that began to line Park Street in the 1890s, with its sidewalk-line facade, cast-iron storefronts, upper-floor offices and halls, and brick construction.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the block retains integrity of location, design, materials and workmanship. It is also tied to the rapid commercial development of Park Street at the turn of the century. It is described as one of the best remaining structures from that period and preserves the features of large-scale commercial architecture built on Park Street from the 1890s.
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 82004947, listed April 1, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 49--53 Park St., Adams |
|---|---|
| County | Berkshire County |
| Listed | April 1, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82004947 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899, 1900- (specific dates 1895, ca 1900-10) |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied, in commercial use, with a good condition rating and altered storefronts; the building has been altered over time, including blocked windows and rebuilt storefronts. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 42.62264, -73.12000 (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 82004947.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6275137
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.