Peter Pierce Store facts for kids
|
Peter Pierce Store
|
|
|
U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
|
 |
|
 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 99 N. Main St., Middleborough, Massachusetts |
|---|---|
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1825 |
| Part of | Middleborough Center Historic District (ID00000685) |
| NRHP reference No. | 76001611 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | April 30, 1976 |
| Designated CP | June 15, 2000 |
The Peter Pierce Store is a very old and important building located at 99 North Main Street in Middleborough, Massachusetts. This amazing building was constructed around 1808 by Colonel Peter Pierce. He was a very successful businessman in the mid-1800s.
The building is designed in the Greek Revival style, which was popular a long time ago. Today, it is empty, but it has a rich history. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976, which means it's recognized as a special historical place.
Contents
Discovering the Peter Pierce Store
The old Peter Pierce Store stands in a key spot in the center of Middleborough. You can find it at the corner of North Main and Jackson Streets. It's easy to spot because of its unique shape and design.
What the Building Looks Like
This building is shaped like a "T" and is made of wood. The middle part of the "T" is two stories tall. On each side, there are single-story sections.
The front of the central part has a grand entrance. It features a large porch, called a portico, with four tall columns. These columns support a decorative band (called an entablature) and a triangular roof section (a pedimented gable). In the middle of this triangle, there's a cool semi-oval window.
The side sections of the building also have gable roofs. Each side has five window openings and a main entrance in the middle. These entrances are framed by flat columns (pilasters) and a decorative molding (a corniced entablature).
Who Was Peter Pierce?
Peter Pierce (sometimes spelled Peirce) lived from 1788 to 1861. For many years, he was one of the most important businessmen in Middleborough. He owned more than just a retail store. He also ran a cotton mill, where cotton was processed. He even had a factory that made shovels! Besides all this, he also lent money to people.
Peter Pierce was also active in local government. He served in the state legislature for two years. This shows he was a very busy and influential person in his community.
The Building's Journey Through Time
This building was built in different stages between 1825 and 1830. It was designed to hold all of Peter Pierce's many businesses. After he passed away, his sons continued to run the business. They kept it going until 1901.
Later, the building was sold outside of the Pierce family. In 1935, the town of Middleborough bought it. They changed it to become the town's police headquarters. It served as the police station for many years, until 2018. The Peter Pierce Store is considered one of Middleborough's most important buildings from the 1800s because of its beautiful architecture.
