Cove Street Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Cove Street Historic District
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 22-66 Cove St. & 56 Old Cove Rd. |
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| Area | 6.2 acres (2.5 ha) |
| Architect | Multiple |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Federal, Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 100003964 |
| Added to NRHP | May 28, 2019 |
The Cove Street Historic District is a special neighborhood in Duxbury, Massachusetts. It's a collection of old houses built in the 1800s. This area is found along Cove Street, just north of Duxbury's town center. These homes were built in the early 19th century for people who worked in the busy shipyards nearby. The houses show different building styles popular back then. This historic district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2019, recognizing its importance.
Exploring the Cove Street District
Cove Street is a continuation of Washington Street, which is a main road running through Duxbury. Long ago, Cove Street was just a simple path leading to fields where hay was grown. It crosses the beginning of the Powder Point peninsula, which reaches into Duxbury Bay. This bay is located between the Duck Hill and Blue Fish Rivers.
The historic district covers most of Cove Street. It starts from Washington Street in the south and goes up to Old Cove Road in the north. All the main buildings in this district are single-family homes made of wood. Most of them were built or updated in 19th-century styles. There are two newer houses from the 1920s that are built in the Colonial Revival style.
What Makes the Houses Special?
Out of the twelve houses in the district, six are built in the Federal style. This style was popular in the United States from about 1780 to 1830. Three other houses are in the Greek Revival style, which was popular a bit later, from about 1825 to 1860. One house is in the Italianate style, known for its decorative features.
A Look Back: Shipbuilding in Duxbury
The area around Cove Street started as a quiet, rural place. But shipbuilding began to grow as an important industry on the Blue Fish River as early as 1764. By the early 1800s, shipyards were busy on both the Blue Fish and Duck Hill Rivers.
A bridge was built across the Blue Fish River in 1803. This bridge helped more people move to Cove Street and build homes there. At that time, the land was owned by two shipyard owners. They divided their large properties into smaller lots for houses. This is how the residential neighborhood on Cove Street began to form.
However, in the second half of the 19th century, the shipbuilding industry in Duxbury started to decline. As a result, the Cove Street area also became less active. Today, it stands as a reminder of Duxbury's rich shipbuilding past.
