Lenox Library
Also known as: Second Berkshire County Court House
Why it's listed
Built in 1815-16 as the second Berkshire County Court House, this two-story brick building on Main Street in Lenox now serves as the town library. Capt. Isaac Damon of Northampton designed the original block, and Ashbel Hill of Lenox and Rufus Wright of Northampton built it. It has a low hip roof with a lattice and paneled parapet, an open cupola holding a 1787 bell, and a front portico with two-story engaged Ionic columns. The court sat here until 1869, when the county seat moved to Pittsfield. In 1889 a larger addition was built, containing Sedgwick Hall, an auditorium used for the Horticultural Ball, graduations, lectures, concerts and receptions. Over the years rooms were rented to a bank, a physician and other tenants, and the first Lenox telephone exchange opened in a rear office in 1895. Damon's drawings and contracts are kept in the library. It still serves as a library, summer art gallery and venue for concerts and lectures.
Significance in brief: The original section was designed by Capt. Isaac Damon of Northampton and served as the county courthouse until 1869. The 1889 addition includes Sedgwick Hall, which hosted community events. The building has long been a focal point of Lenox and county activities.
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 73000291, listed April 3, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 18 Main St., Lenox |
|---|---|
| County | Berkshire County |
| Listed | April 3, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73000291 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific dates 1815-16, 1889) |
| Architect / builder | Designed by Capt. Isaac Damon (1781-1862) of Northampton; builders Ashbel Hill of Lenox and Rufus Wright of Northampton |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as excellent; altered; on original site; occupied and open to the public as a library, summer art gallery, and concert and lecture facility. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Lenox Village Historic District |
| Coordinates | 42.35758, -73.28456 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 73000291.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4543384
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.