Hamilton Mill-West Street Factory Housing facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Hamilton Mill–West Street Factory Housing
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45 West Street
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 45 West St., Southbridge, Massachusetts |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| MPS | Southbridge MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 89000541 |
| Added to NRHP | June 22, 1989 |
Imagine a house that tells a story about the past! The Hamilton Mill—West Street Factory Housing is a special old building located at 45 West Street in Southbridge, Massachusetts. It was built a long time ago, between 1830 and 1850. This house was once a fancy home for workers, built in a style called Greek Revival. Because of its unique design, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. Over time, the house has been updated, and some of its original fancy details are now covered up.
What Makes This House Special?
The Hamilton Mill—West Street Factory Housing is in an area of Southbridge called Globe Village. It sits on West Street, among other similar houses. This building is a two-and-a-half-story house made of wood. It has four doors, two at the front and one on each side.
Original Design and Style
When it was first built, this house looked much more detailed than other worker homes from that time. It had special corner posts called "pilasters" that looked like columns. These posts went up to a decorative border called an "entablature" that wrapped around the front of the house. The front roof also had two small windows with pointed tops, called "gabled dormers." The main front door was covered by a porch with a slanted roof.
Sadly, many of these beautiful original details are now hidden. Modern siding has been added to the house, covering up its unique Greek Revival style.
A Home for Mill Workers
This house was one of four identical homes built for people who worked at the nearby Hamilton Woolen Mill. These homes were built sometime between 1830 and 1850. Back then, many companies built housing for their workers. Not many of these early company-built homes still exist in Southbridge today. In fact, one of the four houses in this group has already been torn down. This makes the Hamilton Mill—West Street Factory Housing an important link to the town's industrial past.
