H. H. Richardson Historic District of North Easton facts for kids

H. H. Richardson Historic District of North Easton
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark District
Oakes Ames Memorial Hall and Ames Free Library, two of the five buildings in the landmark district
Location in Massachusetts Show map of Massachusetts Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Main St., Elm St., & railway right-of-way off Oliver St., Easton, Massachusetts
Area	5.8 acres (23,000 m2)
Architect	H. H. Richardson; Frederick Law Olmsted
NRHP reference No.	87002598
Quick facts for kids Significant dates
Added to NRHP	December 23, 1987
Designated NHLD	23 December 1987

The H. H. Richardson Historic District of North Easton is a very special area in the village of North Easton, located in Easton, Massachusetts. It's known as a National Historic Landmark District, which means it holds great importance to the history of the United States. This district features five unique buildings designed by a famous architect from the 1800s, Henry Hobson Richardson. It also includes The Rockery, a war memorial created by Frederick Law Olmsted. This entire area was officially recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1987.

This important landmark district is actually part of a larger area called the North Easton Historic District. That bigger district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. Inside the landmark district, you'll also find the Old Colony Railroad Station, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places by itself in 1972.

Discovering Easton's Past

Easton was first settled by people in 1694. It officially became a town in 1725. The first settler, Clement Briggs, built his home near the Easton Green. By 1713, about twenty-six families lived in Easton. They hired Elder William Pratt as their first minister.

The Ames Family's Influence

In 1803, the Ames Shovel Company started in Easton. This company became very famous across the country. They even provided the shovels used to build the Union Pacific Railroad, which helped open up the western United States. By 1875, the Ames plant was making shovels worth 1.5 million dollars!

The Ames family played a huge role in shaping Easton's economy. Two very notable members were Oakes Ames and Oliver Ames. Oliver Ames later became the governor of Massachusetts from 1887 to 1890. The Ames family was also responsible for bringing many important buildings to the town.

Buildings by a Famous Architect

The Ames family hired Henry Hobson Richardson, a very famous architect. He created a special building style called Richardsonian Romanesque. He also designed the well-known Trinity Church in Boston.

The H. H. Richardson Historic Landmark District includes five amazing buildings designed by him:

• Ames Free Library
• Oakes Ames Memorial Hall
• Old Colony Railroad Station (This building now houses the Easton Historical Society.)
• Ames Gate Lodge (This building is on Elm Street and is still owned by the Ames family.)
• F. L. Ames Gardener's Cottage

Other Important Structures

While not designed by Richardson himself, the H. H. Richardson/F. L. Olmsted Intermediate School was built in his style. It was also dedicated to him.

The Oakes Ames Memorial Hall was meant to be the town hall. However, the town never officially accepted it. So, it was never used for that purpose.

There's also a commercial building at 66 Main Street. It was designed and built in the 1800s by Richardson's office, following his unique style. All of Richardson's buildings are close together in the historic district. The area also features The Rockery, which was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. He also helped design the landscapes around the Oakes Ames Memorial Hall and the Ames Free Library.

Images for kids

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  Ames Free Library

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  Old Colony Railroad Station

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  Ames Gate Lodge

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  Oakes Ames Memorial Hall

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  F. L. Ames Gardener's Cottage