Ashland Mill Tenement facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Ashland Mill Tenement
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 141-145 Ashland Ave., Southbridge, Massachusetts |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1835 |
| Architectural style | Utilitarian |
| MPS | Southbridge MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 89000545 |
| Added to NRHP | June 22, 1989 |
The Ashland Mill Tenement is a historic building located at 141-145 Ashland Avenue in Southbridge, Massachusetts. Built around 1835, this building is a special example of early factory housing in the city. It is one of the oldest buildings of its kind that we still have today.
In 1989, the Ashland Mill Tenement was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of important places in the United States that are worth preserving.
Contents
What is the Ashland Mill Tenement?
The Ashland Mill Tenement is a two-story building made of wood. It has a pointed roof and its outside walls are covered with overlapping wooden boards, called clapboard.
This building was designed to hold three separate homes, all connected in a row, like townhouses. Each home has its own entrance. On one side, there are porches that cover the doorways.
Why is this Building Important?
This building is important because it shows us how factory workers lived a long time ago. It was built to provide homes for people who worked in local factories.
Early Factories and Workers' Homes
The area around the Ashland Mill Tenement has a long history of industry. As early as 1815, there was a blacksmith shop nearby. A blacksmith is someone who makes and repairs things out of metal.
Later, in 1834, a cotton mill was built close by. A cotton mill is a factory where cotton is spun into thread or woven into cloth. The Ashland Mill Tenement was likely built soon after this mill opened, to house its workers.
This building was probably one of three similar homes built for the mill workers. It is the only one of those original buildings that is still standing today.
In 1874, a printing business started up in the same area. It is believed that the Ashland Mill Tenement then provided homes for the workers of this new printing company.
Other Old Factory Housing
The very first homes built for factory workers in Southbridge were constructed around 1815. However, those buildings are no longer here, and we don't have good descriptions of them.
The only other factory housing from a similar time in Southbridge are brick buildings. These were built around 1837 for the Hamilton Woolen Mill. Those buildings have a more fancy style, but the Ashland Mill Tenement is special because it's one of the oldest and simplest examples of worker housing left.
