Hadley Center Historic District facts for kids
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Hadley Center Historic District
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First Congregational Church
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Hadley, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 15 acres (6.1 ha) (original) 2,500 acres (1,000 ha) (after increase) |
| Built | 1775 |
| Architect | Multiple |
| Architectural style | Mid 19th Century Revival, Early Republic, Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 77000185 (original) 88000513 (increase) |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | December 2, 1977 |
| Boundary increase | January 14, 1994 |
The Hadley Center Historic District is a special area in Hadley, Massachusetts. It's like a big outdoor museum that shows how the town has grown over hundreds of years. This district covers about 2,500 acres, which is a huge space! It includes many old buildings and important places in the center of Hadley.
This area was first recognized as a historic district in 1977. Back then, it only included the town green and 17 buildings around it. These buildings were near where Russell Street and Middle Street meet. In 1994, the district became much larger. It grew to include over 400 buildings! These buildings show how Hadley changed from its early colonial days up to the early 1900s. The oldest building in the district is the Samuel Porter House, built in 1713.
Hadley's Early Days
Hadley was first settled by people in 1659. It officially became a town in 1661. The way the land was used back then can still be seen today. For example, the farms near the Connecticut River were set up in long, narrow strips. These strips usually ran from north to south. This old way of dividing land still affects how properties are owned and used today.
The main roads in Hadley were also planned around this time. These roads include Russell, East, Middle, and West Streets. Houses and important town buildings were built along these roads. Bay Road was once an old Native American trail. It was the main path leading east from the river.
Growth and Farming
Hadley grew slowly for a long time. In the early 1800s, a bridge was built over the Connecticut River. This bridge connected Hadley to Northampton. This helped Hadley grow more quickly.
Even with the bridge, Hadley mostly remained a farming town. People also had small businesses they ran from their homes. In the 1800s, tobacco was a very important crop grown here. Later, in the early 1900s, people started growing more different kinds of vegetables for sale. These were called "market gardens."
The buildings in the town center show Hadley's slow but steady growth. You can see many different styles of architecture. These styles cover more than 300 years of history. Each building tells a part of Hadley's story.
