Centerville Historic District (Barnstable, Massachusetts) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Centerville Historic District
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South Congregational Church
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 Location in Cape Cod
Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Barnstable, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1826 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Late Victorian |
| MPS | Barnstable MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 87002587 |
| Added to NRHP | November 10, 1987 |
The Centerville Historic District is a special area in the village of Centerville. It is part of Barnstable, Massachusetts. This district is like a time capsule, showing how the village looked long ago.
It stretches along Main Street. You can find it from north of Old Stage Road to Church Hill Road. Many buildings here were built in the mid-1800s. The oldest building, the Austin Bearse House, dates back to around 1690! The area grew a lot after the Congregational Church moved here in 1826. This historic district was officially recognized in 1987. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Exploring Centerville's Historic Heart
The Centerville Historic District is in southern Barnstable. It sits between the villages of Hyannis and Cotuit. This district is mostly a long line of buildings along Main Street. It runs from Wilton Drive south to Church Hill Road.
What Makes This Area Special?
This district has 40 buildings that are very old and important. They date back to the 1800s or even earlier. Many houses here show popular styles from the mid-19th century. These include the Greek Revival and Italianate styles. Most buildings are wooden houses, about one to two stories tall.
Some unique buildings stand out. The Benjamin Childs House, built around 1880, is one of the few Second Empire style houses in Barnstable. You can also see two Queen Anne Victorian homes. These are the Marston family houses at 454 and 481 Main Street. The Centerville General Store, built around 1834, is another interesting old building.
Historic Buildings and Landmarks
There are two churches within the district. The Congregational Church is at the southern end. It was built in 1797. In 1826, it was moved to its current spot. This move helped the area grow, along with more shipping activity. This made Centerville's new center more important than its older northern part.
Another church building was built in 1876 for a Methodist group. However, it has changed a lot over the years. It no longer looks like it did historically.
In the triangular park where Park and Main streets meet, you'll find two memorials. One honors soldiers from the American Civil War. It was placed there in 1866. The other memorial remembers those who served in World War I. It was put up around 1920.
