Hamilton Historic District (Hamilton, Massachusetts) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Hamilton 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 | 540-700 and 563-641 Bay Rd., Hamilton, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 62.1 acres (25.1 ha) |
| Built | 1633 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000300 |
| Added to NRHP | April 13, 1973 |
The Hamilton Historic District is a special area in Hamilton, Massachusetts. It shows what the town looked like a long time ago. This district includes many old buildings along Bay Road. You can find it between Orchard Road and Cutler Road. Many buildings here are in the Greek Revival style. A great example is the First Congregational Church, built in 1843. This historic district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. This means it's a very important place to protect.
Contents
Exploring Hamilton's Historic Beginnings
The town of Hamilton was once part of Ipswich. People first settled here in 1638. Bay Road, now called Massachusetts Route 1A, was created in 1640. Hamilton became its own separate church area in 1714. Then, in 1793, it officially became a town.
The Heart of Early Hamilton
The center of the church area became the town center. This was at the crossing of Bay and Cutler Roads. Early features included the meeting house, a cemetery, and a village green. The meeting house was a place for both church and town meetings.
Important Buildings in the District
Today, the Greek Revival First Congregational Church stands where the old meeting house was. It still serves as a church. The Hamilton Town Hall, built in 1898, is also in this district. It is in the Colonial Revival style. This historic area has not changed much since the mid-1800s. Old maps show it looks very similar even today.
Discovering Historic Homes and Shops
The Hamilton Historic District stretches along Bay Road. It goes from Cutler Road in the north to Orchard Road in the south. There are twenty main buildings in this area. Most of them are homes.
Oldest Houses and Architectural Styles
You can find some very old Georgian-style houses from the early 1700s. There are also many Greek Revival houses from the 1800s. The oldest house is a saltbox style home built around 1700. It is located at 638 Bay Road.
Other Notable Structures
Besides the church and town hall, there are other interesting buildings. There's a village store that dates back to about 1840. You can also see an old cobbler's (shoe repair) shop. This shop has since been turned into a house. All the buildings are made of wood. Most of them have clapboard siding. One of the newer houses, built in 1900, is covered in stucco.
