Ashburnham Center Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Ashburnham Center Historic District
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The Meeting House, Ashburnham Historical Society
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Along and near Main and Ashby Streets, Ashburnham, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 215 acres (87 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 99000050 |
| Added to NRHP | January 27, 1999 |
The Ashburnham Center Historic District is a special area in Ashburnham, Massachusetts. It's like a time capsule, showing what a busy village looked like long ago. This district is full of old buildings that tell the story of Ashburnham's past. It became a protected historic place in 1999.
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Discovering Ashburnham's Past
This historic district helps us understand how towns grew in the past. It shows a village that became important because of its factories and businesses. Many of the buildings you see today were built in the mid-1800s.
How Ashburnham Began
Ashburnham was first settled in 1739. However, the early settlers left in the 1740s because of danger. People came back to stay permanently in 1753. The town officially became a town in 1765. Its borders were set in 1824.
The First Town Center
The very first town center was on a hill north of where it is today. That's where the first meeting house was built. A meeting house was a building used for both church services and town meetings.
Shifting to a New Center
The town's main activities moved south over time. This new area was between two parts of Phillips Brook. People built dams on the brook in the late 1700s. These dams helped power early factories.
Growth During the Industrial Age
Ashburnham really grew between 1830 and 1855. This was a time when factories were booming. New industries along Phillips Brook brought many people to the town. The old meeting house was no longer used. A new church was built on Main Street in 1834. The wood from the old meeting house was even used to build a town house! This house still stands at 79 Main Street.
Homes from the Past
Because of all the new jobs, many homes were built. A popular style was called "Greek Revival." You can still see many of these old houses today. They show how people lived long ago.
New Buildings in the Late 1800s
After the mid-1800s, fewer new homes were built. But the town added many important public buildings. These included a Methodist church in 1870. This church later became a Roman Catholic church. The Stevens Library was built in 1890. A new Town Hall was completed in 1904. These buildings show the town's pride and growth.
Exploring the Historic District Today
The Ashburnham Center Historic District is about 215 acres. It forms a rough triangle shape. Main Street, Proctor Street, and Chapel Street define its edges. The district also includes areas near Academy Street.
What You'll See
Today, you won't see many old factories. Most of the 189 important buildings are homes or public buildings. Many of the shops and businesses are on Main Street. Some of these buildings are from the early 1800s. They show what shops looked like a long time ago.
