P. J. Barrett Block facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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P. J. Barrett Block
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P. J. Barrett Block
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 70–76 Park Street, Adams, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1880 |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 82004945 |
| Added to NRHP | April 1, 1982 |
The P.J. Barrett Block is a historic building in Adams, Massachusetts. It is one of four brick buildings on Park Street, located right across from the Town Hall. This building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 because of its historical importance.
Contents
What is the P.J. Barrett Block?
The P.J. Barrett Block is a large brick building found in the town of Adams, Massachusetts. It stands out among other historic buildings on Park Street, like the Jones Block and the Armory Block. These buildings help tell the story of Adams's past.
Building History and Design
The P.J. Barrett Block was built around 1880. This was a time when Adams was growing very quickly, with many new factories and businesses. The building was designed to have shops on the ground floor. Above the shops, there were apartments where people could live. This was a common way to build in those days.
The building has a simple, practical look. It is made of brick. The windows on the upper floors have a special curved design above them. This style is called Italianate, which was popular for buildings at that time.
A New Purpose: Renovation in 1984
After being empty for some time, the P.J. Barrett Block got a new life in 1984. A group called Dawson Associates worked to fix up the building. Their goal was to create two spaces for businesses on the first floor. They also made eight apartments on the upper floors. These apartments were designed to be affordable housing, meaning they were available at a lower cost for families.
Who Helped with the Renovation?
The renovation project received help from different places. A local bank provided some money. The Massachusetts Government Land Bank also helped through a special program. This program encouraged towns like Adams to offer tax breaks. These tax breaks made it easier for people to fix up old, empty buildings. The Town of Adams also supported the project.
Dawson Associates was made up of several people who wanted to help their community. Mr. Donald Ruffer was a well-known real estate agent. Mr. Richard Moscatelli was the Executive Director of Housing Now, an organization focused on housing. Carter Terenzini was a city official from Pittsfield, Massachusetts. All of them worked together to make the renovation happen.
Fire Incident in 2016
In June 2016, a fire started in an apartment on the third floor. The fire was caused by a stove. Four families had to leave their homes because of the fire. The upper floors and the attic of the building were damaged.
