Mill–Prospect Street Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Mill–Prospect Street Historic District
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Old Mill
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Hatfield, Massachusetts |
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| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Late Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 02001188 |
| Added to NRHP | October 22, 2002 |
The Mill–Prospect Street Historic District is a special area in Hatfield, Massachusetts. It shows over 300 years of history. This history includes old factories and farms. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.
This historic area follows Prospect Street. Prospect Street is a main road that cuts through Hatfield. The district stretches from Elm Street in the south to north of Chestnut Street. It also includes buildings on nearby roads. The most important part of the district is the Mill River. This river flows through the middle of the area. Near where Prospect Street crosses the river, you can find old factory buildings. Some of these buildings are part of the Old Mill Site Historic District, which was listed in 1982.
Exploring Hatfield's Past
This section looks at the long history of the Mill–Prospect Street area. It covers how the land was used and how it grew over time.
Early Settlement and Industry
English settlers first came to this area in the 1600s. We know that a gristmill was here by 1661. A gristmill grinds grain into flour. Water power was used for industry in this spot for a very long time. It operated from the 1600s until the 1970s.
Most of the rest of the district was farmland. The very first mill buildings are no longer standing. People became more interested in the area in the early 1800s. Maps from 1794 showed houses, but none of those original homes remain today.
Growth and Development
Bridge Street was built by 1830. This road ran west from the mill area. It brought more people and new buildings to the district. In 1830, this area was also used for a big project. It was part of the first official land survey of Massachusetts. A special marker for the Borden Base Line is buried near Bridge Street.
The district grew the most in the second half of the 1800s. Many homes along Prospect Street were built then. They show the popular styles of that time. The old factory buildings that we see today were also built during this period. The Shattuck Gun Factory is a famous example. It is now called the Old Mill Inn. A special bridge called a Warren pony truss bridge was also built. It carried Prospect Street over the Mill River. This bridge was later closed for safety reasons.
