kids encyclopedia robot

American Woolen Company Townhouses facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
American Woolen Company Townhouses
LawrenceMA AmericanWoolenMillsHousingDistrictStreetScene.jpg
View on Market Street of some of the units
American Woolen Company Townhouses is located in Massachusetts
American Woolen Company Townhouses
Location in Massachusetts
American Woolen Company Townhouses is located in the United States
American Woolen Company Townhouses
Location in the United States
Location Lawrence, Massachusetts
Built 1907
Architect Allen, James E.
NRHP reference No. 12000098
Added to NRHP March 12, 2012

The American Woolen Company Townhouses are a group of brick homes built around 1907 in Lawrence, Massachusetts. They were constructed by the American Woolen Company as part of a larger plan to provide housing for its workers. These homes are located on small streets near Market Street in South Lawrence. In 2012, this group of six buildings was recognized as a historic district and added to the National Register of Historic Places.

What Are the American Woolen Company Townhouses?

The American Woolen Company Townhouses are special because they show how companies used to build homes for their employees. These buildings were part of a bigger project between 1906 and 1910, which also included the nearby American Woolen Mill Housing District.

Where Are These Historic Homes Located?

You can find these townhouses in South Lawrence, Massachusetts. They are built on a large piece of land that is about 100 feet deep and 475 feet wide along Market Street. The land is split into three parts. Each part has two townhouses that face each other across a private road. These roads are called Wood Way, Washington Way, and Prospect Way. The shorter sides of the townhouses face Market Street.

How Were the Townhouses Designed?

All six of the American Woolen Company Townhouses look very similar. They were designed by a local architect named James R. Allen. Each building has two stories and is about 98 feet long and 39 feet deep. Inside, each building is divided into seven separate living units.

Each living unit has about 14 feet of space facing the central area. While most units look alike, there are small differences in the front of the buildings. For example, some entrances are paired together, and some have a special roof supported by pillars above the door. The back of all the units was designed the same way, with a covered porch that led to the back door.

Why Are These Townhouses Important?

The American Woolen Company Townhouses are important because they represent a time when large companies played a big role in providing for their workers. Building homes like these helped the company attract and keep employees. It also shows how towns like Lawrence grew around industries like textile manufacturing.

What Does "Historic District" Mean?

When a place is called a "historic district," it means a group of buildings, structures, or objects that are important because of their history, architecture, or culture. Being listed on the National Register of Historic Places means these townhouses are recognized by the United States government as worth preserving for future generations.

LawrenceMA AmericanWoolenMillsHousingDistrictStreetScene
A street view of some of the American Woolen Company Townhouses.

See Also

  • American Woolen Mill Housing District
kids search engine
American Woolen Company Townhouses Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.