Farnams Village Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Farnams Village Historic District
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Former paymaster's building, corner of Lanesborough and Farnam Roads
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Lanesboro, Quarry and Farnam Rds., Cheshire, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 1,400 acres (570 ha) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Gothic |
| NRHP reference No. | 99000866 |
| Added to NRHP | April 27, 2000 |
The Farnams Village Historic District is a special area in Cheshire, Massachusetts, United States. It's like a preserved snapshot of an old mining town. This district includes the historic community of Farnams Village. It also has many old buildings and tools left over from a big limestone mining operation. This mining work happened from the late 1800s until the mid-1900s. The main part of the village is around Lanesborough Road in southern Cheshire. You can find it near Farnams and Quarry Roads. The places where they dug for limestone are on the hills nearby. This historic district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in the year 2000.
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What is Farnams Village?
Farnams Village is in the southern part of Cheshire. This is a small town on the eastern side of Mount Greylock in western Massachusetts. The ground in this area has lots of limestone and marble. People started digging for these minerals in the early 1800s. Back then, it was mostly farmers who used the limestone for their own needs.
How the Railroad Changed Mining
In the mid-1800s, railroads came to the area. This made it much easier to move heavy materials. Because of the railroad, mining efforts grew a lot. More people became interested in digging for limestone.
The Dean Family's Start
The Dean family was one of the first to set up a small mining business. This was around 1840. Their mine was located near the western end of Quarry Road.
The Farnam Brothers' Big Idea
In 1874, two brothers, Alfred and Albert Farnam, started a new business. They opened a factory to process lime. They also greatly expanded the mining in the area. Their new mine was right next to the smaller Dean mine. The Farnam brothers were very successful. They made a high-quality white plaster lime. They eventually owned more than 1,500 acres of land.
New Owners and End of an Era
The Farnam brothers spent a lot of money to expand their business. In 1905, they sold their company. Later, in 1927, a company called US Gypsum bought the business. They continued to operate the mine until 1969. That's when the mining operation finally closed down.
Exploring the Historic District
The Farnams Village Historic District covers a large area, about 1,400 acres. The heart of the district is the old village center. This is where Lanesborough, Farnams, and Quarry Roads meet. Here, you'll find a group of buildings. These include homes where workers lived. There are also buildings that were part of the mining operations.
The district also includes the old quarries themselves. You can still see abandoned mining equipment there. There are also former mining buildings and more worker homes. Some parts of the village were public places. Many old buildings are now gone or in ruins. This makes the area very interesting for people who study history and old industries.
