Hortonville, Massachusetts facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Hortonville Historic District
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Swansea, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 122 acres (49 ha) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Georgian, Federal |
| MPS | Swansea MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 90000051 |
| Added to NRHP | February 16, 1990 |
Hortonville is a small village located in Swansea, Massachusetts. It's part of Bristol County, in the state of Massachusetts, USA. A special area within Hortonville is known as the Hortonville Historic District. This district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990 because it has many old and important buildings.
Contents
History of Hortonville
Hortonville is in the northern part of Swansea. It's close to the town of Rehoboth. The main road through the village is Locust Street.
Early Settlement and Growth
People first settled in this area in the 1700s. Families like the Hales, Martins, and Eddys built their homes here. They lived on farms in the western part of the village.
The eastern part of Hortonville grew along the Cole River. Here, several gristmills were built. Gristmills were places where grain was ground into flour. Because of these mills, the village was sometimes called "Swansea Factory."
Becoming Hortonville
In the 1830s, the village got more important buildings. A school, a church, and a Universalist hall were built.
In 1856, a man named Nathaniel Horton moved to the area. He helped the village get its own post office. To honor him, the village was named Hortonville.
After the year 1900, new factories stopped being built here. Hortonville then became a quiet area. It was mostly known for its homes and farms.
Historic Buildings and Architecture
Because of how it grew, Hortonville has many well-preserved old houses. These homes were built between the late 1700s and late 1800s.
Oldest Homes
The oldest house in the district is at 397 Locust Street. It was built in 1736. This house is a good example of a Georgian style home.
Other houses from the mid-1700s also exist. Many of them were updated later. They often got a new look in the 1800s, like the Greek Revival style.
Architectural Styles
You can see different building styles in Hortonville:
- Georgian: This style was popular in the 1700s. Homes are often simple and balanced.
- Federal: A few Federal style houses are found at the east end of Locust Street. You can also see them on Maiden Lane. This style was common in the late 1700s and early 1800s.
- Greek Revival: This style was popular in the mid-1800s. It often includes columns and grand entrances, inspired by ancient Greek temples.
Important Non-Residential Buildings
The only major building that isn't a home is the old Hortonville School. It was built around 1838. This school is also in the Greek Revival style.
