Front Street Historic District (Weymouth, Massachusetts) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Front Street Historic District
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Chapel in Weymouth Village Cemetery
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Weymouth, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 77 acres (31 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 10001121 |
| Added to NRHP | August |
The Front Street Historic District is a special part of Weymouth, Massachusetts. It's called a historic district because it has many old buildings and tells an important story about the past. For a long time, from the 1700s to the 1900s, this area was a very popular and stylish neighborhood. It was close to the main business area called Weymouth Landing.
This district also shows signs of a small shoe-making industry that used to be very busy here. The district covers about 77 acres (31 ha) of land. It includes nearly 150 important places, mostly homes. You'll also find a school, two cemeteries, and a few shops. The Front Street Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2011. This means it's officially recognized as a place important to history.
Where is the Front Street Historic District?
The Front Street Historic District is mainly found along the northern part of Front Street. It stretches from Washington Street in the north down to Congress Street in the south. The district also includes buildings along Summer Street, from where it meets Front Street to Kingman Street. You'll find other properties on Franklin and Broad Streets too. Some individual buildings are on other streets right next to Front and Summer Streets.
Important Places in the District
The largest parts of the Front Street Historic District are three main areas.
- The Weymouth Village Cemetery was started in 1843. It's located at the southeastern corner of the district.
- Weston Park was created in the 1920s. You can find it in the northeast part of the district.
- The Hunt Street School property is also a big part of the district. This public school was built between 1915 and 1917. It was designed in the Colonial Revival style, which means it looked back to older American building styles. Today, this building is home to a private Christian academy.
A Look at Old Buildings
The oldest building in the Front Street Historic District is a house at 160 Front Street. It's a Cape Style house, which is a type of traditional New England home. This house was built around 1720, making it over 300 years old! There are other homes from the 1700s on Front and Summer Streets. These include more Cape Style houses and Georgian style homes, which are known for their balanced and grand designs.
The district also shows its history with the shoe-making industry. For example, a shoemaker's shop from the 1800s still stands at 99 Front Street. It has now been changed into a home. Smaller shops that were once used by shoemakers can also be found at 131 and 204 Front Street. These smaller buildings have been turned into garages or other outbuildings. They are a reminder of the district's past as a center for making shoes.
