Northside Village Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Northside Village Historic District
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Waters-Morton House
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Stafford Street, Northside and Cemetery Roads, Charlton, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 70 acres (28 ha) |
| Built | 1735 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 77000195 |
| Added to NRHP | October 5, 1977 |
The Northside Village Historic District is a special area in northern Charlton, Massachusetts. It's like a time capsule of a small village that grew up around Stafford Street. This historic district started forming in 1735. It began with a small business that prepared animal hides, and later became a busy stop for stagecoaches. This important area was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.
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History of Northside Village
Charlton was first settled in 1735. At that time, it was part of a nearby town called Oxford. Charlton became its own separate town in 1775.
Early Settlers and Businesses
One of the very first settlers in Northside Village was Jonothan Wheelock. His house, built in 1735, is still standing today. Jonothan Wheelock started a tannery and a distillery near a brook. A tannery was a place where animal skins were turned into leather. A distillery made alcoholic drinks. Today, only old remains of these businesses can be found.
In 1796, John Haven bought Wheelock's house. John Haven is known for building many of the other old buildings you can still see in the village today.
The Rider Tavern: A Stagecoach Stop
The Rider Tavern was built in 1797. It became a very important stop for stagecoaches traveling between Worcester and Hartford, Connecticut. A stagecoach was like an old-fashioned bus pulled by horses. Many travelers stopped there, including a famous French general named the Marquis de Lafayette. Today, the Rider Tavern is a museum. It is run by the local historical society.
Important Buildings and People
The Northside Village Historic District has thirteen buildings. Most of these buildings were built before 1850. The district is mainly found where Stafford Street meets Northside Road and Cemetery Road.
Waters-Morton House
Besides the Rider Tavern and Wheelock House, another important building is the Waters-Morton House. This house was home to a well-known local politician. It was also the childhood home of Dr. William T. G. Morton. He was a dentist who made a big difference in medicine. Dr. Morton was one of the first people to use ether to help people feel no pain during surgery. This was a huge step forward in medicine!
Northside District School
The only building in the district that wasn't a home or a tavern is the former Northside District School. It was built in 1848. This building shows how important education was to the community back then.
