Ayer Main Street Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Ayer Main Street Historic District
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Ayer, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1872 |
| Architectural style | Mid 19th Century Revival, Second Empire, Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 88000193 |
| Added to NRHP | March 16, 1989 |
The Ayer Main Street Historic District is a special area in Ayer, Massachusetts. It includes most of the old downtown business area. This district runs along Main Street, between Park and Columbia Streets. Most of the buildings here were built between 1872 and 1898. This area became important because of its railroads and roads. In 1989, the district was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is a place worth protecting for its history.
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Exploring Ayer's Historic Downtown
The town of Ayer was officially formed in 1871. But even before that, it became a very important place for railroads in the 1840s. This happened because major north-south and east-west train lines met there. These tracks crossed just southwest of where downtown Ayer is today.
How Ayer Became a Railroad Hub
During the American Civil War, a military camp was set up south of Ayer. This camp later became Fort Devens. The downtown area of Ayer really started to grow after 1871. A big fire in 1872 destroyed many older buildings. After the fire, new businesses were built. They mostly focused on the north side of Main Street, across from the train yards.
What Makes the District Special?
The historic district covers four blocks of buildings. These buildings are on both sides of Main Street. The district stretches from Pleasant Street in the west to Columbia Street in the east. It also includes the old train station building. This station stands just south of Main Street, next to the east-west train tracks.
Buildings in the District
Most of the buildings in the district are made of brick and stone. However, there are three buildings made of wood. The oldest building in the district is one of these wooden ones. It was built in 1868. This building was first located south of the train tracks. It was moved to its current spot on Pleasant Street in 1878. The Ayer Town Hall is also in this district. It is a beautiful example of Victorian Gothic style architecture.
Images for kids
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A view of the historic district in Ayer, Massachusetts.
