Edward's Plain–Dowse's Corner Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Edward's Plain–Dowse's Corner Historic District
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North Main Street near Dowse's Farm Stand
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Sherborn, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 87 acres (35 ha) |
| Architect | Multiple |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Georgian, Federal |
| MPS | Sherborn MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 86000492 |
| Added to NRHP | January 3, 1986 |
The Edward's Plain–Dowse's Corner Historic District is a special area in Sherborn, Massachusetts. It's like a preserved neighborhood where many old homes and buildings tell stories from the past. For a long time, from the late 1700s to the early 1900s, people here didn't just live in houses; they also had small workshops and factories. This historic district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986, which means it's recognized as an important place in American history.
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What Makes This Area Special?
This district is mostly a residential area, meaning people live in the houses there. It stretches along North Main Street, between Eliot and Everett Streets. This area is important because it shows how people lived and worked a long time ago.
Sherborn was a quiet town with few people until the time of the American Revolutionary War. This war, fought from 1775 to 1783, led to the United States becoming an independent country.
How Did It Get Its Name?
The district has two main parts, each named after an important person.
Edward's Plain
The southern part of the district, called Edward's Plain, was likely named after Edward West. He was a schoolmaster, a teacher, in the area back in 1694.
Dowse's Corner
The northern part, Dowse's Corner, is named after Ebenezer Dowse. He moved to Sherborn after leaving Charlestown in 1775. This was just before the Battle of Bunker Hill, a famous battle in the Revolutionary War.
Ebenezer Dowse became very important for local businesses. He started an early tannery, which was a place where animal hides were turned into leather. This tannery was in the wet, low-lying areas behind his house.
What Kind of Buildings Are There?
Many members of the Dowse family built houses in this area. Most of these homes are in the Greek Revival style. This style was popular around 1840 to 1860. These houses often look like ancient Greek temples with columns and grand entrances.
Ebenezer Dowse's work led to a cottage industry in shoe-making. This means people made shoes in their homes or small workshops. This tradition continued into the early 1900s. Most of the old buildings used for these small businesses are now gone. Some were destroyed by fire, others were changed into homes, or moved away.
The Stone Factory Building
One special building that still stands is the only stone building in the district. Nathaniel Partridge built this stone structure in 1796. It was a factory for making edged tools, like knives or axes. You can still see it today at 53-55 North Main Street. Next to it is the Harvey Partridge House at 51 North Main, which is in the Federal style. This style was popular in the United States from about 1780 to 1830.
The Plain School
Another important building is the Plain School, built in 1834. It's located at 60 North Street. This building is unique because it's the only one in the district that is not used as a home today. It was once a school for local children.
