Intervale Street-Columbia Road Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Intervale Street-Columbia Road Historic District
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 117-121, 123-127, 129-135, 137-143, 145-159, 161, 162 Intervale St. & 282-284, 286-288 Columbia Rd., Boston, Massachusetts |
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| Built | c. 1910-20 |
| Architect | Multiple |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 100003470 |
| Added to NRHP | February 28, 2019 |
The Intervale Street-Columbia Road Historic District is a special area in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. It's called a historic district because it has many old buildings that are important to history. This district is mostly on Intervale Street. It was built in the early 1900s when many Jewish families moved to the area. The buildings here show off a beautiful style called Colonial Revival architecture. In 2019, this district was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's officially recognized as a place worth protecting for future generations.
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What is the Intervale Street Historic District?
The Intervale Street area is in central Dorchester, in a part known as Grove Hall. Intervale Street goes from Columbia Road towards Blue Hill Avenue. Most of the street has homes on it. There's also a public park called Ceylon Park nearby.
Buildings in the District
The historic district includes buildings on the south side of Intervale Street. It also has two buildings on the north side, right at the corner of Columbia Road. All these buildings are three stories tall. They are made of brick and decorated with stone. This style is known as Colonial Revival.
Colonial Revival Architecture Details
The buildings often have interesting shapes like polygonal bays that stick out. Their windows are usually sash windows, which means they slide up and down. These windows often have decorative tops called shouldered lintels. The main entrances are often framed by columns and topped with a pediment, which is a triangular or rounded shape.
Why is this Area Historic?
The Intervale Street area first had wooden houses built in the 1800s. But around 1910, a big change happened. Many Jewish families started moving here. They came from Boston's North End and the nearby city of Chelsea.
Reasons for the Migration
There were a few reasons for this big move. First, new electric streetcar lines made it easier to travel. Second, a very large fire happened in Chelsea in 1908. This fire caused many people to lose their homes. The Intervale Street area was a good place to move because it was close to a synagogue built in Roxbury in 1915. This synagogue became a very important center for Jewish life in Boston for many years.
