Leverett Center Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Leverett Center Historic District
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Leverett Congregational Church
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Amherst, Montague, Depot, and Shutesbury Roads Leverett, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 467 acres (189 ha) |
| Built | 1750 |
| Architect | Josiah Pomeroy Jr.; Bernhard Dirks |
| Architectural style | Georgian, Early Republic, Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 08001127 |
| Added to NRHP | December 5, 2008 |
The Leverett Center Historic District is a special area in Leverett, Massachusetts. It covers about 467 acres (189 ha) and protects many old buildings. This district is like a time capsule, showing how the town center looked long ago. It's found in eastern Franklin County, Massachusetts.
This historic area is mostly along a two-mile stretch of Depot and Montague Roads. This part of town has always been the main gathering spot. It's where important town buildings are located.
Contents
What is a Historic District?
A historic district is a special area recognized for its important history. It means the buildings and places there are old and worth protecting. They show us how people lived and worked in the past. The Leverett Center Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008. This listing helps keep these historic places safe for the future.
Buildings You Can See
The Leverett Center Historic District has many interesting old buildings.
Leverett Congregational Church
The First Congregational Church was built in 1838. It is a beautiful example of Greek Revival style architecture. This style was popular in the 1800s. It often used tall columns and grand designs, like ancient Greek temples.
Town Hall
The town hall is another important building. It was first built in 1845. Later, in 1895, it was updated. Workers actually lifted the original building up. Then, they built a new first floor underneath it. This gave the town hall its current look.
Field Memorial Library
The Colonial Revival Field Memorial Library was built in 1916. The Colonial Revival style brings back designs from early American colonial times. It often features classic, simple shapes and details.
Town Pound
You can also find a town pound in the district. This is a stone-walled pen. Long ago, it was used to hold stray farm animals like cows or sheep. The town pound in Leverett was built around 1822.
Old Homes
Many homes in the district are very old. Some of them date back to the 1700s. These houses give us a glimpse into the lives of early settlers.
How Leverett Grew
Leverett was first settled in the late 1600s. Back then, it was part of a larger town called Sunderland. In 1774, Leverett became its own separate town.
The town center grew around its first meeting house. A meeting house was a building used for both church services and town meetings. It was built soon after Leverett became a town. The oldest homes in the center were built around 1750.
The town grew quite a bit until about 1830. During this time, the town's first school was built around 1800. This school is located at 94 Depot Road. The town pound was also built during this period.
In the mid-1800s, a railroad line was built nearby. This helped the town grow even more. It brought some small factories to the area. You can still see one of these old factory buildings today. It is a simple wooden building.
