Main Street Historic District (Haverhill, Massachusetts) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Main Street Historic District
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Haverhill City Hall
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Haverhill, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 13 acres (5.3 ha) |
| Architect | multiple |
| Architectural style | Romanesque, Stick/Eastlake |
| NRHP reference No. | 03000383 |
| Added to NRHP | May 9, 2003 |
The Main Street Historic District in Haverhill, Massachusetts is a really cool and important part of the city. It's like the heart of Haverhill, showing off its history and beautiful old buildings. This area also acts as a special entrance to the city's Highlands neighborhood and its pretty lakes. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003 because of its historical value.
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What Makes This District Special?
This historic district includes many interesting buildings along Main Street. You can find them between White Street and Arlington Street to the north, and Crescent Place and Summer Street to the south. Let's explore some of the main attractions here!
Haverhill City Hall: A Grand Building
One of the most important buildings is the Haverhill City Hall. It was built in 1909 and used to be the Haverhill High School. This building has a special style called Renaissance Revival. This means it looks like buildings from the Renaissance period in Europe, with grand designs and fancy details.
G.A.R. Park and Hannah Duston
Right in the district, you'll find the old town common, which is now known as G.A.R. Park. This park has been around since the 1700s and 1800s! In the park, there's a bronze statue of a colonial hero named Hannah Duston. The statue was made in 1879 by Calvin Weeks.
Amazing Churches with Unique Styles
The district is also home to three beautiful churches, each with its own special look:
- The First Parish Meetinghouse, built in 1848, now serves as the Armenian Church. It has an Italianate style, which means it looks like buildings from Italy with decorative elements.
- The First Congregational Church, built in 1859, has a Germanic style. This gives it a strong and unique appearance.
- The First Baptist Church, built in 1883, shows off the Richardsonian Romanesque style. This style uses big, heavy stone blocks and round arches, making it look very strong and impressive.
Historic Homes: A Glimpse into the Past
Besides civic and religious buildings, the district also features some of the city's most beautiful old houses. These homes belonged to important local business people.
The Carleton House
At 185 Main Street, you'll find the Carleton House. This is a great example of an Italianate house. It has tall, thin columns called Tuscan pilasters. You'll also notice its deep eaves (the part of the roof that hangs over) with decorative brackets. The windows have fancy molded hoods with more brackets.
The Hunking House
The Hunking House at 160 Main Street tells a cool story about how buildings can change over time. It started as a typical Greek Revival house. This style often features columns and a simple, grand look, like ancient Greek temples. In 1871, the house was moved to its current spot. Then, it was updated with Italianate details. Later, in 1923, it was changed again with Classical Revival details. This happened when it became a meeting place for the local American Legion group.
The Chase House
The Chase House at 148 Main Street is a wonderful example of the Stick style. This style was popular around 1877-1881. It gets its name from the way wooden "sticks" or boards are used on the outside of the house to create decorative patterns.
