Ludlow Center Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Ludlow Center Historic District
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Increase Sikes House
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Along Center, Church and Booth Sts. Ludlow, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 27 acres (11 ha) |
| Built | 1842 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Italianate, Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 88001999 |
| Added to NRHP | October 21, 1988 |
The Ludlow Center Historic District is a special area in Ludlow, Massachusetts, that holds a lot of history. It's located where Center, Church, and Booth Streets meet. This spot was chosen as the very first town center when Ludlow was created in 1774.
Some important buildings you can find here include the Congregational Church, which was built in 1859. There's also the old town hall, which later became a meeting place for a local group called the grange. You'll also see several old farmhouses that are from the early 1800s. Even though the town's main business area moved later on, this district has always been important for community events. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988 because of its historical value.
A Look Back: History of Ludlow Center
Ludlow was once part of Springfield, Massachusetts. It became its own town in 1774. Before the mid-1700s, the area was mostly thick forest. By the 1770s, about 200 to 300 people lived there.
When Ludlow became a town, its leaders picked a central spot for their first colonial meeting house. This was a building used for both church services and town meetings. It wasn't built until after the American Revolutionary War. Roads like Center and Church Streets were already set up, and a small village center began to grow.
In the early 1800s, a mill was built on the Chicopee River in the southern part of town. A new area called Ludlow Village grew around this mill. This new village became the main place for businesses and jobs. By 1893, town meetings even moved to Ludlow Village. Because of this, the old town center didn't grow much more, keeping its historic look.
Exploring the Historic District
The Ludlow Center Historic District is focused around the meeting point of Center, Church, and Booth Streets. It includes just twelve buildings. A small triangular green space, called the First Church Common, is at the junction of Church and Center Streets. This green, along with the church, is the main focus of the district. The original meeting house, built in 1783-1784, was first located on this green. It was later moved to the north side of Church Street in the 1840s.
