Parsons, Shepherd and Damon, Houses Historic District
Also known as: Historic Northampton
Why it's listed
Three neighboring houses on Bridge Street in Northampton, Massachusetts, form a small historic district on part of a home lot laid out in 1654. The Nathaniel Parsons House, begun around 1730, is possibly the city's oldest residence and was remodeled in the Federal period. The Shepherd House, from about 1796, is a Federal-style home with later Greek Revival and Gothic Revival features and a Colonial Revival porch. The Isaac Damon House, built around 1813, was the residence of a prominent regional architect-builder who also constructed churches, courthouses and town halls across western Massachusetts. Damon is described as one of the leaders of local architect-builders who shaped Federal architecture in the Connecticut River Valley. All three houses remain on their original sites and are used as museums, with offices, exhibits and period furnishings. The district was recognized for its architecture and its social history, covering the years from about 1730 to 1951.
Significance in brief: The three contiguous houses, all on their original sites, show Northampton's residential development from about 1730 to about 1830, from First Period through Federal styles. The Damon House was built by master builder Isaac Damon as his own residence and is one of very few known examples of his residential work. The houses now serve as the city's local history museum.
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 01000627, listed June 6, 2001. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 46,58 and 66 Bridge St., Northampton |
|---|---|
| County | Hampshire County |
| Listed | June 6, 2001 |
| Reference number | 01000627 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | ca. 1730-1951 |
| Architect / builder | Isaac Damon |
| Architectural style | First Period; Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Operated as house museums by Historic Northampton; resources are described as in excellent condition, most recently rehabilitated. |
| Acreage | 2.5 |
| Within district | Pomeroy Terrace Historic District |
| Coordinates | 42.32233, -72.62596 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 01000627.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7494491
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.