E. Merritt Cole House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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E. Merritt Cole House
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386 Main Street
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 386 Main St., Southbridge, Massachusetts |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | c. 1855 |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| MPS | Southbridge MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 89000576 |
| Added to NRHP | June 22, 1989 |
The E. Merritt Cole House is a cool old house located at 386 Main Street in Southbridge, Massachusetts. It was built a long time ago, in the early 1800s. Later, it got a fancy new look between 1855 and 1878, making it a great example of Gothic Revival style. This special house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989, which means it's an important historical building.
Discovering the E. Merritt Cole House
What Does It Look Like?
The E. Merritt Cole House stands near the main part of Southbridge. It's a 2-1/2 story building made of wood. The roof has a pointed shape, called a gable. The outside walls are covered with clapboards.
Some parts of the house have siding that goes up and down. Other parts have siding that goes at an angle. You can also see cool panels with diamond shapes on them. The front of the house has three sections.
A tall, two-story porch is right in the middle of the front. It has a pointed roof and is held up by square posts. A smaller, one-story porch is on the right side. There's also another entrance on the left, covered by its own small porch.
A Glimpse into Its Past
This house was first built in the early 1800s. A man named Jacob Edwards built it. Later, between 1855 and 1878, the house was updated. This is when it got its unique Gothic Revival style.
The updates were done for E. Merritt Cole. He was a very important person in town. He helped start the American Optical Company. This company was a big employer in Southbridge. The house's special look even inspired other homes nearby. For a short time in the 1990s, the house was used as a law office.
