Merrell Tavern
Why it's listed
Built around 1812 on Route 102 in South Lee, this two-story brick building began as a house for Major General Joseph Whiton, who commanded Western Massachusetts militia troops in the War of 1812. It was among the first fine brick houses in the region, with smooth Flemish-bond walls, large windows and details drawn from Asher Benjamin's Federal designs. From 1815 until 1918 it was owned by the Merrell family and their heirs, the Davises, who ran it as a tavern serving stagecoach traffic between Springfield and Albany. The tavern bar, with its wooden grille, survives intact. About 1838 a two-story porch and a third-story ballroom with small sleeping rooms were added, giving the building the look of the new hotels, and it was thereafter called a hotel. Trade declined after 1850, so the early oak graining, paints and a Franklin stove largely remain. Now a museum, it needs structural repair and restoration of early finishes.
Significance in brief: It was one of the first fine brick houses in the region, with details based on Asher Benjamin's Federal designs. It illustrates in one building a fine house, an old-style tavern resembling a house, and a hotel of the fashionable later form. Its original tavern bar, painted graining and early paints survive largely unchanged because trade declined after 1850.
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 72000136, listed February 23, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | MA 102, South Lee |
|---|---|
| County | Berkshire County |
| Listed | February 23, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72000136 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific date ca. 1812) |
| Architect / builder | Built as a house by Major General Joseph Whiton; design details based on Asher Benjamin's Federal-period designs |
| Architectural style | Federal, with later additions transitional between Federal and Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Military, Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as good; occupied and used as a museum, though the building needs structural repair and stabilization, including work on the third-story gable-end walls. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Within district | South Lee Historic District |
| Coordinates | 42.27689, -73.28258 (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 72000136.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14715708
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.