Literary Site: Edward Bellamy House - Chicopee Falls, MA

Edward Bellamy House

Chicopee Falls, MA

GPS: N42° 09.364; W072° 35.041

Short Description: 

The Edward Bellamy House at 91-93 Church Street was the home to the American novelist whose most famous work Looking Backwards 2000 - 1887 expressed a Utopian vision for America.

Long Description:

Edward Bellamy's concerned with social and economic justice inspired his novel Looking Backwards, which was published in 1888. The book describes a Utopian vision for American society of the year 2000. The concept of the credit card was one of Bellamy's insights into the future. The vision expressed in this book inspired groups around the nation to political action and has been described as the basis for 19th century liberalism in America. At that time, Looking Backwards sold more copies than any other book published in America, except for Uncle Tom's Cabin.

Other books by Bellamy are: Six to One (1877), Dr. Heidenhoff's Process (1880), Miss Ludington's Sister (1884), To Whom This May Come (1888), Looking Backward 2000–1887 (1888), Equality (1898), The Duke of Stockbridge (1900).

The Edward Bellamy House is located at 91 - 93 Church Street. Bellamy's family moved to this house when he was two years old and he, mostly, lived here until his death in 1898. This a two story, white clapboard structure has a gable roof, three front bays and a single story porch on the north end. The doorway, at the right side bay, is flanked by Roman Doric pilasters and topped with a transom. A front cornice forms a pediment with a circular window.

On the right of the doorway is a two bay, two story wing with a cross gable roof. This wing has a second doorway between the two lower windows. A second set-back wing with two windows is at the south end of the home.

A lawn sign and a bronze plaque on the identifies the building as the Edward Bellamy House. The plaque is inscribed:

EDWARD BELLAMY HOUSE

HAS BEEN DESIGNATED A

REGISTERED NATIONAL 

HISTORIC LANDMARK

UNDER THE PROVISION OF THE

HISTORIC SITES ACT OF AUGUST 21, 1935

THIS SITE POSSESSES EXCEPTIONAL VALUE

IN COMMEMORATING OR ILLUSTRATING

THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

1972