Colrain Center Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Colrain Center Historic District
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Brick Meeting House
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Colrain, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 30 acres (12 ha) |
| Architect | McLean & Wright; M. R. Drew, et al. |
| Architectural style | Federal, Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 06001057 |
| Added to NRHP | November 15, 2006 |
The Colrain Center Historic District is a special area in Colrain, Massachusetts. This small town is in the hills of northwestern Franklin County. The district covers about 30 acres (12 hectares). It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2006. This means it's a place with important history and buildings worth protecting.
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Discovering Colrain Center's History
Colrain became an official town in 1761. But it really started to grow later in the 1700s. The center of town began around a local farm and a bridge. The area for building homes and shops here is limited. This is because of the steep hills and the flat areas near the North River.
The Heart of Colrain Center
The main part of the district is the town green. This is a triangle-shaped piece of land. It sits where Main Road, Greenville Road, and Jacksonville Road meet. The green is surrounded by a valley along a branch of the North River.
Most of the houses in this district were built between the mid-1800s and early 1900s. The important public buildings are from this time too.
Historic Buildings and Their Styles
Many buildings in Colrain Center have interesting stories.
- Town Hall: This building was once a church. It was built in 1834. It shows the Greek Revival style. This style looks like ancient Greek temples.
- Methodist Church: Another former church, built a few years later. It has Gothic Revival features. This style often has pointed arches and tall windows.
- Griswold Public Library: Built in 1908, this library still serves its original purpose. It is in the Classical Revival style. This style also takes ideas from ancient Greek and Roman buildings.
- Charles Thompson House: Located at 9 Main Road, this house is thought to be the oldest. It was built around 1819. It's an example of Federal style. This style was popular in the early days of the United States.
- Coolidge House: At 3 Greenfield Road, this house is an early example of Greek Revival. It has a wide front porch.
- Queen Anne Victorians: Some houses show the Queen Anne style. This style was popular in the late 1800s.
- The 1895 Cram House at 7 Main Road has a cool octagonal (eight-sided) tower.
- The Second Methodist Parsonage at 3 River Street is also a detailed Queen Anne home.
These buildings help us understand what life was like in Colrain many years ago. They show how building styles changed over time.
Images for kids
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Brick Meeting House
