Front Street Block facts for kids
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Front Street Block
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Front Street Block
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Gloucester, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1831 |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian, Federal |
| Part of | Central Gloucester Historic District (ID82001881) |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000369 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 8, 1974 |
| Designated CP | July 8, 1982 |
The Front Street Block is a group of four buildings connected together in Gloucester, Massachusetts. These buildings are found in the city's West End area. They were all built in 1831. This happened after a big fire destroyed much of downtown Gloucester the year before.
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What is the Front Street Block?
The Front Street Block is a special set of buildings. They were designed for businesses and homes. After the fire in 1830, new buildings were needed quickly. These four blocks helped rebuild the city center. They show how people lived and worked in Gloucester long ago.
The Buildings of Front Street
Each building in the Front Street Block has its own story. They were built for different people and had different uses.
69–71 Main Street
This building is three stories tall. It has a classic "Federalist" style. This means it looks like many buildings from the early 1800s in America. It was built for a person named Aaron Day. On the first floor, a hat maker had a shop. The floors above were used as apartments for people to live in.
65–67 Main Street
Next door, this building is also three stories high. It shares the same Federalist style as 69–71 Main Street. Samuel Bulkley had this building constructed. It was home to a "tin manufactory" on the ground floor. This was a place where things made of tin were produced. Like its neighbor, the upper floors were apartments. This building shares a wall with 69-71.
61–63 Main Street
This building is also three stories tall. William Babson, Jr., was the original owner. It had a shop on the ground floor and apartments above. In 1890, this building was updated. It got a new look with a "Victorian" style front. It also had an addition built onto the back, making it larger.
55–59 Main Street
This building is different from the others. It is only two stories tall. It also has a special roof shape called a "hipped roof." This means all sides of the roof slope downwards to the walls. Henry Smith built this one. A cabinet maker, who made furniture, had his shop on the first floor. Living spaces were located above the shop.
A Protected Historic Place
The Front Street Block is important to history. Because of this, it was listed as a historic district in 1974. This means it is recognized on the National Register of Historic Places. This list helps protect important places in the United States. Later, in 1982, the block was also included in the larger Central Gloucester Historic District. This shows how valuable these old buildings are to the history of Gloucester.
