Leavitt-Hovey House
Also known as: Greenfield Public Library
Why it's listed
Set back on a small knoll on Main Street in downtown Greenfield, this wood-frame house began in 1797 as a residence for lawyer and judge Jonathan Leavitt. It is attributed to Asher Benjamin, who lived in Greenfield early in his career, and resembles a plate in his Country Builder's Assistant. The plan has a two-story hip-roofed central block, one-story gabled pavilions, and arcaded hyphens added in 1817. A Doric portico marks the entrance. The Leavitt family kept the property until 1867, when merchant George Hovey bought it. His widow sold it to the town in 1907-1908, and it was remodelled inside as a public library. Rear additions from 1940 and 1955 were designed to harmonize with the original. The original formal gardens, also credited to Benjamin, are gone, though the form notes archaeological potential. The house was listed for its architecture, its association with the Leavitt and Hovey families, and its role in the town's civic life.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a rare, early work attributed to the noted architect and builder's-guide author Asher Benjamin, giving it national significance. It is also tied to two prominent local families, the Leavitts and the Hoveys, and reflects Greenfield's Federal-period prosperity. Its conversion to a public library in 1908 made it an architectural and educational landmark.
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 83003977, listed December 22, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 402 Main St., Greenfield |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin County |
| Listed | December 22, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83003977 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Asher Benjamin |
| Architectural style | Federal / Neo-Classical |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education, Law, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in use as the Greenfield Public Library; listed in excellent condition, with rear additions from 1940 and 1955. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Within district | Main Street Historic District |
| Coordinates | 42.58806, -72.59908 (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 83003977.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6510797
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.