Coolidge, Calvin, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1900-01 by J. W. O'Brian, this yellow, maroon-trimmed duplex at 19-21 Massasoit Street in Northampton, Massachusetts, was the longtime home of Calvin Coolidge. The two and one half story frame house has an asymmetrical facade with two entrance porches at the corners. The left porch, on the side Coolidge occupied, has a pediment and Doric columns. Between the porches are two hexagonal bay windows. Clapboard covers the walls, and a slate-covered, bellcast hipped roof tops the house. Coolidge lived here from 1906 to 1930, apart from time spent in state and national offices in Boston and Washington. He raised his children here, began his political rise here, and stayed briefly after leaving the presidency. The house matters as much for its modesty as for its occupant. He rented only one half of a simple duplex, and he moved out reluctantly in 1930, when motorists crowding to see the house disturbed his privacy.
Significance in brief: It was the residence of Calvin Coolidge, the 31st President, from 1906 to 1930. He launched his state and national political careers from the house and lived there in the first months after leaving the presidency. The nomination also stresses that it is a simple duplex of which he rented only one side, which makes it unusual among the non-official residences of Presidents.
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 76000262, listed December 12, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 19-21 Massasoit St., Northampton |
|---|---|
| County | Hampshire County |
| Listed | December 12, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76000262 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | J. W. O'Brian |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as in excellent condition and unaltered, on its original site, and occupied as a private residence. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.32491, -72.64637 (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 76000262.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5024365
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.