From Surveys Completed 2011-2012 by the Lenox Historical Commission

ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION:

This Craftsman style building has 1.5 stories, an asphalt shingle roof and has been altered. It has 3-bays, wood frame, front gable roof with exposed, curved rafter ends on sides and dormers. It has shed roofed broken-eave dormers on both sides, paired windows on the 2nd floor front façade and a concrete block foundation.

HISTORICAL NARRATIVE:

The following assessment was done in 2011 by Jill Fisher of Larson-Fisher Associates.

The date of this style building and story of it being moved may be apocryphal as it is not supported by depictions on historic maps. The building is not on 1876 Beers Map on the ascribed lot of W. Ware. While a 1.5-story accessory building in this location is shown on the 1898 Sanborn map, it is gone by 1905 per Sanborn maps, nor are there any other buildings on the 1911 Sanborn that match this style building in footprint or height but the building is depicted on the 1939 Sanborn map.

The following is taken from a January 19, 1988 letter from Marcia Brown to Bruce Evenchik who purchased the property in December, 1987. This information has been put into question by Jill Fisher’s 2011 assessment.

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In the late 1800’s the block was called Tillotson’s Livery. There was a house on the Mobil Gas site and directly behind was this building which was a cape in style (the site would have been in the vicinity of the Knights of Columbus brick building)a. In the early 1900’s the building was moved from the Knights of Columbus site to its present site around 1915-1925 and made into an office and possibly a grain store.

This was originally a gable-front vernacular house, which was remodeled as a feed and grain store in the 1880’s. At that time the false front was added. The windows contain 6/6 sash, indicating that the building may date from 1850.

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Note that in 2012 the Knights of Columbus brick building referred to above, is Haven Café and Bakery located at 8 Franklin St.

BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES:

1876 Beers Map, 1898 Sanborn Map, 1905, 1911, 1932 and 1939 Sanborn Maps

Lenox assessor’s database-2012

From Surveys Completed 2011-2012 by the Lenox Historical Commission

ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION:

This Federal style building has two stories, an asphalt shingle roof and has been minimally altered. It is a 2-bay structure with a wood frame, pedimented front gable roof, and a brick center chimney. The attic level has an oval plaque sans decoration. The structure has slender corner boards and a short frieze.

HISTORICAL NARRATIVE:

A great number of these modest dwellings were moved or demolished in the late 19^th and early 20^th century to make way for more elaborate buildings.

The house was originally built on another site, and probably moved here sometime after 1850. Joseph Palmer owned the entire lot along Franklin St., from Church St. to Main St.; and he may have built this house on the Main St. frontage of his property. Palmer left the property to his granddaughter, Desire Palmer Mann, in 1838. After her death it was sold on behalf of her minor children in 1855 to Eliza Williams. Franklin Washburn purchased the lot in 1864. He subsequently sold it to Sidney Tillotson, who located his livery complex here. This house served for a time as a grain store, before being returned to use as a residence in the 1920’s.

The February 20, 1982 Form B notes “It is suspected that this house might have been moved from the corner of Main and Franklin. The house would then have to be built by Elijah Northrop in the early 1800’s.” This cannot be confirmed by map research done in 2011. If it is the building labeled “Mann” at the corner of Main and Franklin, on the 1854 Clark Map, it was moved to an interim location as it is not depicted either there or in its present site on the 1876 Beers Map. It is best to consider the Historic Name unknown since the original owner is obscure and so many changes occurred early on.

The property was acquired by John O. McSorley and John P. McSorley Jr. in 1979.

BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES:

Registry of Deeds, Pittsfield, MA 179.345

Probate Court of Pittsfield

Maps of 1818, 1854, 1876, 1900, 1904

Berkshire Gazeteer 1725-1885

Lenox Assessor’s Database-2012

From Surveys Completed 2011-2012 by the Lenox Historical Commission

ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION:

This Craftsman style building has 1.5 stories, an asphalt shingle roof and has been altered. It is a 3-bay wood frame with a gable roof with exposed rafter at the ends. There is a small brick center chimney, a 3/4-width front porch with pillars (3 at corners) and millwork railing. The second story glazed porch has a shed roof above and is paired with the first floor windows at the center of the front façade. There is a 2-story rear porch.

HISTORICAL NARRATIVE:

Moved to its current location c.1915. The 1893 & 1898 Sanborn maps depict a small building labeled “market” on this site. The 1905 Sanborn labels that bldg “Wagon Repair’g” and the 1911 Sanborn labels it “Bl. Sm” [black smith]. Only one 1.5-story building is depicted in the Tillotson’s livery complex along Franklin St. It is on all Sanborns up through 1911. The present building is first depicted on its present site on 1939 Sanborn Map.

The building originally stood on Franklin Street, and was part of the Tillotson livery complex, possibly serving as a carriage barn. It was moved to its present location in the early 1900’s and later converted to use as apartments.

The property was purchased by Bruce G. Evenchik in 1987.

BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES:

1893, 1898, 1905, 1911and 1939 Sanborn Maps

Lenox Assessor’s database 2012