Barneyville Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Barneyville Historic District
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Swansea, Massachusetts |
|---|---|
| Area | 27 acres (11 ha) |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival, Greek Revival, Federal, Ranch |
| MPS | Swansea MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 90000052 |
| Added to NRHP | February 16, 1990 |
The Barneyville Historic District is a special area in northwestern Swansea, Massachusetts. It's mostly a neighborhood with many old homes. This district is important because it shows how people lived and worked long ago.
In the early 1800s, Barneyville was a busy place for building ships. Later, it became known for making jewelry. In 1990, the district was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's officially recognized for its historical importance.
Contents
Exploring Barneyville's Past
Barneyville is located where Old Providence Road and Barneyville Road meet. It stretches east towards the Palmer River. People first settled here in the 1600s. The village really started to grow in the mid-1700s. This happened after a bridge was built over the river to what is now Barrington, Rhode Island.
Shipbuilding Days
Barneyville became famous for building ships after Jonathan Barney started a shipyard in the 1770s. His son, Mason Barney, made the shipyard very successful in the 1800s. They built many wooden ships here. However, by the late 1850s, people started wanting ships made of metal. Because of this, the wooden shipbuilding business eventually closed down.
From Ships to Sparkle: Jewelry Making
After the shipyard closed, one of the former workers learned a new skill. He started making jewelry. He built a small factory right where the shipyard used to be. This jewelry factory did very well for many years. It kept the area busy until the 1920s. Today, neither the old shipyard nor the jewelry factory buildings are still standing. There is a special marker there to remember their history.
Historic Buildings and Sites
The Barneyville Historic District covers about 27 acres. It includes 11 main buildings that are very old. There are also two important historical sites. One site is where the old shipyard used to be. The other is where the first settler, Rev. John Myles, had his house.
The oldest building still standing is Jonathan Barney's house. It was built around 1750 and is located at 166 Old Providence Road. This house shows styles from both the Georgian and Federal periods. It even has a rare brick addition. Jonathan Barney also built a double house at 22-24 Barneyville Road around 1771-1774. Mason Barney's house, at 1 Barneyville Road, was built in the early 1800s. It's a beautiful example of Federal style architecture. Some changes were made to it in the early 1900s in the Colonial Revival style.
Images for kids
-
The Myles Garrison House Site monument
-
Historic house at the intersection of Old Providence Road and Barneyville Road
-
Monument marking the site of the Barney Shipyard
-
Closeup of the plaque
-
Mason Barney's house on Barneyville Road. Plaque reads "Daggett House circa 1771"
-
New historic markers were installed in 2018
