Historic places in Framingham, Massachusetts facts for kids

Framingham, Massachusetts, is a town with a long and interesting past. It has many important historic sites that tell the story of how the area grew and changed over hundreds of years. These places show Framingham's dedication to learning, community involvement, and local pride.

One well-known historic spot is Shopper's World. It opened on October 4, 1951, as one of the very first suburban shopping malls in the United States.

The Story of Framingham

Framingham was first settled in 1647 by John Stone. He built his home near the Sudbury River, along an old trail called the Old Connecticut Path.

Later, in 1660, Judge Thomas Danforth received a large piece of land here. He was an important official from the Bay Colony. The town was named after Framlingham, Suffolk, where he used to live, but the 'L' was dropped. Judge Danforth didn't want the area to become an official town. However, after he passed away, Framingham was officially made a town in 1700.

The first church in Framingham was started in 1701. The town hired its first teacher in 1706, and the first permanent schoolhouse was built in 1716.

Framingham During the Revolution

On February 22, 1775, a British general named Thomas Gage sent two officers and a soldier from Boston. Their job was to secretly check out the road to Worcester. In Framingham, these spies stopped at Buckminster's Tavern.

While there, they watched the town's local soldiers, called militia, practice outside. The British officers were impressed by how many men there were, but not by their training. Even though all the local soldiers came into the tavern after their practice, the British officers managed to stay hidden. They continued their mission the next day.

General Gage later decided not to send troops along that road. Instead, he ordered them to Concord on April 18-19. Framingham sent about 130 of its own militia members to the Battles of Lexington and Concord that followed. One of these men was injured during the fighting.

Important National Historic Sites

Framingham has several places listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. These sites are considered very important at a national level. They are recognized for their special architecture, or because they are connected to major historical events or famous people.

• Concord Square Historic District — An important area including Park, Concord, and Kendall Streets, and Union Avenue.
• First Baptist Church — Located at 1013 Worcester Road.
• Framingham Centre Common Historic District — The historic center of Framingham, near the Framingham Center Common.
• Framingham Railroad Station — The town's train station at 417 Waverly Street.
• Framingham Reservoir No. 1 Dam and Gatehouse — Part of the water system, located at the east end of Framingham Reservoir No. 1.
• Framingham Reservoir No. 2 Dam and Gatehouse — Another part of the water system, between Reservoirs 1 and 2.
• Framingham Reservoir No. 3 Dam and Gatehouse — Found at the southeast end of Framingham Reservoir No. 3.
• Irving Square Historic District — An area including Irving Square and several surrounding streets.
• Lake Cochituate Dam — Located on the northwest side of Lake Cochituate.
• Moses Ellis House — A historic home at 283 Pleasant Street.
• Paul Gibbs House — Another historic home at 1147 Edmands Road.
• Saint John's Episcopal Church — Located at Maynard Road and Church Street.
• Saxonville Historic District — A historic neighborhood along Elm, Danforth, Central, Water, and Concord Streets.
• Sudbury Aqueduct Linear District — A long historical water channel that starts at Farm Pond and goes through Framingham.
• Whit's Diner — A classic diner located at 184A Fountain Street, added to the list in 2003.

Other Interesting Historical Places

• Framingham Civic League — This historic theater is downtown. It hosts performances, classes, and other community events.
• Framingham State University — This university was founded in 1839. It was the very first public college for women in the United States. Christa McAuliffe, who was a teacher and astronaut, studied here.
• Old Connecticut Path — This was an ancient trail used by Native Americans. It led west from the Massachusetts Bay area to the Connecticut River Valley. It was one of the first trails that went west from the early settlements near the Atlantic Ocean. The first colonists of the Massachusetts Bay Colony also used it and made it wider for their cattle.
• The Henry Knox Trail — This is the path that General Henry Knox used in the winter of 1775-1776. He moved a large amount of artillery (cannons) from Fort Ticonderoga to General George Washington. These cannons were then used to help force the British army to leave Boston.

Images for kids

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  The Framingham Common, a central historic area.