Church–Lafayette Streets Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Church–Lafayette Streets Historic District
|
|
The Colonel James Hartshorne House, a building that helps make the district special
|
|
 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Roughly Church St. from Lafayette St. to North Ave., Wakefield, Massachusetts |
|---|---|
| Area | 7 acres (2.8 ha) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Federal |
| MPS | Wakefield MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 89000757 |
| Added to NRHP | July 6, 1989 |
The Church–Lafayette Streets Historic District is a special area in Wakefield, Massachusetts. It has many old houses from the late 1700s and early 1800s that are still in great shape. This district includes homes on Church Street (between Common Street and North Avenue) and on Lafayette Street (between Common and Church Streets). It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989 because of its important history.
Exploring the Historic Streets
This district shows how homes were built and designed a long time ago. You can see different styles of architecture here, like Federal and Greek Revival.
Church Street's Old Homes
Church Street is located just south of Lake Quannapowitt. It was first planned out in the late 1600s. However, only one house from that very early time is still standing: the Hartshorne House at 41 Church Street, built around 1681.
The Hartshorne House was updated in a style popular in the late 1700s and early 1800s, called the Federal style. Many other houses on Church Street were also built during this time. For example, the houses at 40, 42, and 44 Church Street were first built with a similar basic design. Number 42 was later made wider to look more like the other homes. House number 38 Church Street is special because it has brick side walls, which is unusual for homes in Wakefield from that period.
Lafayette Street's Greek Revival Style
Lafayette Street was planned in 1824. Most of the houses on this street were built in the Greek Revival style. This style was popular in the early 1800s and often used elements from ancient Greek temples.
For example, the house at 34 Lafayette Street (built around 1835) has a fancy porch with columns that have grooves, called fluted columns. Its front door is also very detailed, with tall windows on the sides (sidelights) and a decorative frame around it. Another house, 28 Lafayette (built around 1834), also has a doorway with sidelights, but it has flat, decorative columns (pilasters) on either side.
Across the street, you'll find 23 Lafayette (built around 1834). This house is different because its triangular roof end (gable) faces the street. The other two houses on the street have their gables on the sides, making the front look like a flat, stone-like wall.
