72 Church St., James O’Brien House – c.1860

72 Church St., James O'Brien House - c. 1860
72 Church St., James O’Brien House – c. 1860

From Surveys Completed 2011-2012 by the Lenox Historical Commission

ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION:

This Gothic Vernacular style building has 1.5 stories, an asphalt shingle roof and has been minimally altered. It was originally a 3-bay front façade structure with wood frame and wood clapboard. Some of the 2-o-2 windows are intact. There is a one story extension to right off the right side ell. The building sits on a stone foundation.

This small frame dwelling is typical of those built in Lenox in the second half of the nineteenth century.

HISTORICAL NARRATIVE:

Not depicted on 1854 Clark Map; 1st depicted on 1876 Beers Map

This was originally the home of James O’Brien, a butcher who ran a meat market at 92 Church St. in partnership with John Stanley. An addition on the north side of the building housed a hardware and later plumbing business.

The property was purchased by Randy Austin in 1986.

BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES:

County Atlas of Berkshire, Mass., F.W. Beers, 1876

Gazetteer of Berkshire County., Hamilton Child, 1885

Lenox Assessor’s database 2012

 

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