Lower Roxbury Historic District facts for kids
The Lower Roxbury Historic District is a special area in the lower Roxbury neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. It's like a time capsule, holding a group of buildings from the 1890s. These buildings include homes and shops. The district is surrounded by Tremont, Columbus, and Burke Streets, and St. Cyprian's Place. It's known for its well-preserved buildings, designed by architects, that survived big changes in the city. This historic district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1994. This means it's officially recognized as an important place in history.
Quick facts for kids |
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Lower Roxbury Historic District
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Coventry Street
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Boston, Massachusetts |
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| Architect | Multiple |
| Architectural style | Renaissance, Classical Revival, Late Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 94001494 |
| Added to NRHP | December 9, 1994 |
What is the Lower Roxbury Historic District?
This historic district is about 3 acres (1.2 hectares) in size. It stretches from Columbus Avenue in the north to Tremont Street in the south. On the west, it reaches St. Cyprian's Place (also called Walpole Street). To the east, it goes up to Burke Street. Some buildings that were once part of the district have been taken down. This includes buildings east of Coventry Street and on the east side of Coventry Street itself.
How did Lower Roxbury become a historic area?
Roxbury used to be a separate town from Boston. In the 1800s, Boston grew a lot. People created new land by filling in marshy areas like the Back Bay. This connected Roxbury more closely to Boston. Roxbury officially became part of Boston in 1868.
The Lower Roxbury area had some wet, marshy spots. Because of this, building development was slower there. By the 1890s, this area was mostly filled with wooden buildings and one factory. However, city rules for fire safety meant that new buildings in this part of the city had to be made of brick. So, when the area was redeveloped in the 1890s, many new, well-designed brick buildings were constructed. These are the buildings we see in the historic district today.
What kind of buildings are in the district?
While some buildings in the district date back to the 1850s, most were built in the 1890s. Many buildings are three or four stories tall. They often have details inspired by the Classical Revival style. You might notice decorative metal strips or cornices (fancy tops) on these buildings.
One special building is St. Cyprian's Church. It was built between 1915 and 1938. This is the only church in the district and the only building with a Gothic Revival style. It stands out from the other buildings.
