Main Street Historic District (Greenfield, Massachusetts) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Main Street Historic District
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Court Square
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Main St. and Bank Row, Greenfield, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 17.5 acres (7.1 ha) |
| Architect | Benjamin, Asher; Et al. |
| Architectural style | Mid 19th Century Revival, Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals, Late Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 88001908 |
| Added to NRHP | October 13, 1988 |
The Main Street Historic District is a special area in Greenfield, Massachusetts. It's like the heart of the town, where many important government buildings and businesses are located. Greenfield is the main town, or county seat, for Franklin County, Massachusetts. This means it's where the county's main offices are.
The district includes several blocks of Main Street and some buildings along Bank Row. These buildings show how Greenfield grew in the 1800s. It became an important place because major roads met there. The district has the town hall, the county courthouse, and old bank buildings. It also includes three places already famous: the Garden Theater Block, the Leavitt-Hovey House (which is now the public library), and the old Post Office building from 1915. This whole area was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. This list includes places in the U.S. that are important to history.
Greenfield's Historic Main Street District
How Greenfield Grew
Greenfield was first settled in the 1600s. It was part of Deerfield at that time. Later, in 1775, it officially became its own town. By then, the center of town was already on Main Street. There were many shops and homes there.
Important travel routes, both north-south and east-west, met in Greenfield. This made it a busy crossroads. In 1811, Greenfield became the shire town of Franklin County. This meant it was chosen as the main town for the county's government. After this, many important public buildings were built in the Bank Row and Court Square area.
As the 1800s went on, more businesses opened east of this area. Some older homes, like the Leavitt-Hovey House, remained. The arrival of railroads in the mid-1800s helped the town grow even more. The late 1800s were a time of great growth for Greenfield's businesses and industries.
Buildings in the Historic District
The Main Street Historic District shows different styles of buildings. Many were built in the mid-to-late 1800s. These styles include Mid 19th Century Revival and Late Victorian.
Some key buildings you can see are:
- The Town Hall: This is where local government meetings happen.
- The County Courthouse: This is where important legal cases for the county are heard.
- Several 19th-century bank buildings: These show the financial growth of the town.
- The Garden Theater Block: An old theater building with a lot of history.
- The Leavitt-Hovey House: This beautiful old home now serves as the public library.
- The Post Office building: Built in 1915, it's an important part of the district.
These buildings together tell the story of Greenfield's past. They show how it became an important center for government and business in Franklin County.
