Eastern Middlesex County Second District Court facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Eastern Middlesex County Second District Court
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Location | 38 Linden St., Waltham, Massachusetts |
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Built | 1938 |
Architect | Greco, Charles R. |
Architectural style | Art Deco |
MPS | Waltham MRA |
NRHP reference No. | 89001516 |
Added to NRHP | September 28, 1989 |
The Eastern Middlesex County Second District Court is a special building in Waltham, Massachusetts. It's a historic courthouse where important legal matters are handled. Built a long time ago, in 1938, it's a great example of a cool building style called Art Deco.
This building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as an important historical place in the United States. It's one of only a few Art Deco buildings in Waltham, and many people think it's the best one.
Contents
What is a District Court?
A District Court is a type of court where many different legal cases are heard. These can include things like traffic tickets or smaller disagreements between people. It's an important part of how our government works to keep things fair.
The Eastern Middlesex County Second District Court helps people in the eastern part of Middlesex County. It makes sure that laws are followed and that everyone gets a fair chance.
A Look at the Building's Design
The Eastern Middlesex County Second District Court building is located on Linden Street in Waltham. It's a two-story building made from yellow bricks. It also has special stone decorations. The building sits on a slightly raised base, making it look grand.
A part of the building sticks out a little from the front. This section has steps leading up to the main entrance. On either side of the steps, there are tall stone pillars. These pillars have unique lamps shaped like ram's heads.
Art Deco Style Explained
The Eastern Middlesex County Second District Court is built in the Art Deco style. Art Deco was a popular design style in the 1920s and 1930s. It often features strong geometric shapes and clean lines. Buildings in this style often look modern and fancy. They might use shiny metals, glass, or decorative stone.
This courthouse is a great example of Art Deco. It shows how buildings from that time looked. It's known for its detailed and stylish appearance.
Cool Features of the Courthouse
The front part of the building has three tall sections. These sections are separated by stone pillars. The window openings are filled with special glass bricks. These bricks let light in but keep things private. The main entrance has big, heavy double doors.
The top of this front section has a pyramid-shaped roof. It even has a skylight to let in more natural light. Inside the building, the main lobby area is very impressive. Its walls are covered with beautiful mosaic tiles. Mosaics are pictures or patterns made from small pieces of colored glass or stone.
Who Designed This Building?
The Eastern Middlesex County Second District Court was designed by an architect named Charles R. Greco. He was from Cambridge, Massachusetts. His company designed many courthouses and other important buildings in the area.
This courthouse was built between 1938 and 1940. It was a big step for the Eastern District court system. Before this building, the court only met in East Cambridge. This new courthouse helped them serve more people. It remains Waltham's best example of Art Deco architecture.