Wells House
- Address: 568 W Main St
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
The Wells House, located on the road to Williamstown (now Route 2), was built by Orson Wells, who came to North Adams in 1815, and built an acid-producing factory (no longer extant) near the present building. Acid was critical to the tanning and woolen industry, and Wells and his son, Daniel, were also involved in the textile manufacturing enterprises that grew up in the adjoining industrial community of Braytonville. As late as 1894, Daniel Wells owned 160 acres around this house, one of the oldest in the area. The house itself remained in the Wells family until 1968. Surrounding buildings, most of 20th century construction, testify to the increased development in the area located miles west of North Adams' core.
ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE
The house is architecturally significant as a rare surviving local example of a Greek Revival farmhouse with distinctive architectural features. The building is five bays wide, 2 and a half stories in height, with a central entrance, reflecting a traditional plan. Particularly unusual are the attenuated Doric pilasters delineating each bay of the north, east and west elevations. These pilasters, which support a frieze beneath the cornice of the roof, have entasis carved in their profiles. The main entrance is ornamented with four pilasters, sidelights and transom. Also, each gable end has a full pediment. - NRHP, July 1985