Northfield Main Street Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Northfield Main Street Historic District
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Northfield town hall
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Main St. between Millers Brook and Pachaug Brook, Northfield, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 350 acres (140 ha) |
| Architect | Multiple |
| Architectural style | Early Republic, Greek Revival, Late Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 82004965 |
| Added to NRHP | July 8, 1982 |
The Northfield Main Street Historic District is a special old neighborhood in Northfield, Massachusetts. It stretches along the entire length of Main Street, from Millers Brook to Pauchaug Brook. This area is important because it includes the very first part of Main Street that was planned when Northfield was founded way back in the 1600s. Many of the original property lines are still there, and you can see buildings from the 1700s all the way to the 1900s. This historic district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982, which means it's recognized as a significant place in American history.
Discovering Northfield's Historic Main Street
This historic district is like a living museum, showing how Northfield grew over hundreds of years. It's a great place to learn about early American life and architecture.
A Look Back: Northfield's Early Days
Before English settlers arrived, the area was home to a Native American community. Northfield was first settled by English colonists in 1672. However, the settlers had to leave during times of conflict, like King Philip's War (1675-1678) and later wars (1690-1713). People finally settled permanently in Northfield starting in 1714. Even in the 1800s, you could still see where an old fort had been built in 1685 near the town center.
Main Street was built on a raised area above the rich farmland near the Connecticut River. It has always been the main road running north and south on the east side of the river. Northfield was mostly a farming community, and Main Street became the center for businesses, town activities, and many early homes.
Main Street's Special Buildings
The historic part of Main Street is more than 2 miles (3.2 km) long. The way the buildings are spread out along the street still shows how the town was planned in the 1700s. However, most of the buildings you see today were built in the 1800s.
You'll find many houses built in the Federal and Greek Revival styles. These styles became popular thanks to two builders, Calvin and Samuel Stearns. They had worked with a famous architect named Charles Bulfinch in Boston and came to Northfield in 1799. The Stearns family not only built many homes themselves but also taught other builders. This helped these beautiful architectural styles spread throughout the region.
