Fort Devens Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Fort Devens Historic District
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A larger building on the former military base
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Ayer and Harvard, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 320 acres (130 ha) |
| Architect | U.S. Army, Quartermaster Corps; Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) |
| Architectural style | Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals |
| NRHP reference No. | 93000437 |
| Added to NRHP | June 10, 1993 |
The Fort Devens Historic District is a special area in Devens, Massachusetts. It includes parts of both Ayer and Harvard. This district is important because it holds many old buildings from the former Fort Devens military base. These buildings have a lot of history and cool architecture.
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What is a Historic District?
A historic district is like a protected neighborhood. It's a place where buildings, structures, or sites are important because of their history or how they look. The Fort Devens Historic District covers about 320 acres. It's roughly bordered by streets like El Caney St., Antietam St., Sherman Ave., MacArthur Ave., and Buena Vista Street.
Buildings with a Story
Many of the most important buildings in the district were built between 1929 and 1939. Before this, Fort Devens had temporary buildings from World War I. The United States Army decided to build stronger, more lasting structures. This led to many new buildings being constructed.
- Georgian Revival Style: Most of these new buildings were built in a style called Georgian Revival. This style looks like classic American buildings from the 1700s, often with red brick and white trim.
- Purpose of Buildings: These buildings were used for many things. Some were dorms for soldiers, others were offices for army staff, and some were warehouses to store supplies. They were often arranged in a U-shape around a central parade ground.
A Special Connection: The Civilian Conservation Corps
The Fort Devens area also has a special link to the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The CCC was a program during the Great Depression (1930s) that put young men to work on important projects. From 1933 to 1937, a CCC camp was located here. These young men helped build parts of the base and worked on other projects in the area.
The Role of Edith Nourse Rogers
The base might have closed down if it wasn't for the efforts of Edith Nourse Rogers. She was a very important person. As a Congresswoman, she worked hard to make sure the base was upgraded instead of being shut down. Her dedication helped keep Fort Devens active and growing.
Recognizing its Importance
Because of its rich history and unique buildings, the Fort Devens Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1993. This means it's officially recognized as a place worth preserving for future generations.
The main boundaries of the district on the north, west, and south are Antietam and El Caney Streets. To the east, it's mostly Jackson Street, but it stretches a bit further to Auman Avenue, where you can find rows of single-family homes. One of the most noticeable parts of the district is Rogers Field, which used to be the parade ground, and the old barracks buildings next to it.
