Monument Square–Eagle Street Historic District facts for kids
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Monument Square–Eagle Street Historic District
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Main Street between Eagle and Holden Streets is within the district
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | North Adams, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 6 acres (2.4 ha) (original) 200 acres (81 ha) (after 1983 increase) |
| Architect | various |
| Architectural style | various |
| MPS | North Adams MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 72000132 (original) 85003623 (increase) |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | June 19, 1972 |
| Boundary increase | August 25, 1988 |
Imagine a special part of a town where many old, important buildings are protected because of their history. That's what a historic district is! The Monument Square–Eagle Street Historic District is one such place in North Adams, Massachusetts. It's like the historic heart of the city, filled with buildings that tell stories from the past.
Contents
Exploring the Historic District
This special area was first recognized as a historic district in 1972. Back then, it included Monument Square, which is west of where Main Street and Church Street meet. This square is home to a memorial honoring soldiers from the American Civil War.
What Was in the Original District?
The first version of the district included several important buildings. You could find the North Adams Public Library there, which used to be a grand home called the Blackinton Mansion. Also included were the First Baptist Church and the First Congregational Church. A block of shops on Eagle Street was part of this original historic area too.
How the District Grew
In 1988, the district became much larger. Its new boundaries were roughly set by Holden, Center, and Union Streets. It also stretched to include the Silvio O. Conte Middle School (which was then called East Middle School), Summer Street, and Main Street.
This expansion added even more cool places! It went west along Summer Street to include the U.S. Post Office building and St. John's Church. Eastward, it grew to include Colgrove Park, the middle school, and St. Francis Catholic Church. Plus, a whole block of commercial buildings on the north side of West Main Street was added, extending just past Holden Street.
A Look at North Adams' Past
North Adams started as part of another town called Adams in the mid-1700s. It quickly grew into an industrial village. This growth was powered by the two branches of the Hoosic River, which meet just northwest of the city center.
Mills and Factories
The areas along the river were perfect for building mills. These mills made all sorts of products. By the mid-1800s, textile factories, which make cloth, became the most important businesses.
The City's Center
The main business area around Monument Square was important early on. The town's Baptist Church was founded here in 1808. It was led by Otis Blackinton, whose family became very powerful in the local factory businesses.
Most of North Adams' downtown buildings were built between about 1870 and 1920. This was a time when the city was very successful and growing fast. However, the Great Depression in the 1930s caused a big economic slowdown. After that, the city didn't grow much for many years.
