Refreshment Pavilion facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Refreshment Pavillion
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View from the west
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Hillside St., Milton, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 0.9 acre (0.4ha) |
| Built | 1920 |
| Architect | Stickney and Austin |
| Architectural style | Neo-Classical |
| MPS | Blue Hills and Neponset River Reservations MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 80000659 |
| Added to NRHP | September 25, 1980 |
The Refreshment Pavilion is a cool old building at Houghton's Pond in Milton, Massachusetts. It's part of the Blue Hills Reservation, which is a big state park in Massachusetts. This building was made way back in 1920. It's special because it was designed by architects (people who design buildings!) for the park. It's even listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important historical spot!
Contents
What is the Refreshment Pavilion?
The Refreshment Pavilion is a historic snack stand. It's located right by the northern shore of Houghton's Pond. This pond is in the southwest part of the Blue Hills Reservation. You can find it south of Hillside Street, which is the road that leads to the pond's beach. The beach is just east of the building.
The pavilion is a single-story building made of stone. It has a pointed roof, called a gable roof. You can see round windows, called oculus windows, in the roof's triangular parts. These windows are surrounded by slatted openings. Some sides of the building have covered porch-like areas. These are called pergolas and are supported by columns made of slats.
History of the Blue Hills Park
The Blue Hills are a group of hills located about 10 kilometers (6 miles) south of downtown Boston. For many years, these hills were mostly untouched. By the late 1800s, they became a very popular place for people to visit and have fun outdoors.
In the early 1890s, the state created the Metropolitan Parks Commission. This group was made to build a network of parks and roads around the greater Boston area. They officially bought the land for the Blue Hills Reservation. However, they didn't immediately build things like snack stands or restrooms.
Designing the Park's Buildings
By 1899, it was clear that the park needed roads and other helpful features. So, the Metropolitan District Commission (MDC), which took over from the earlier commission, hired a design company called Stickney and Austin. This company was based in Boston.
Between 1899 and 1926, Stickney and Austin designed many buildings for the reservation. Seven of these buildings are still standing today! The Refreshment Pavilion at Houghton's Pond is one of them. It shows how the designers and the MDC wanted to use high-quality materials and good design for the park's structures.
The Refreshment Pavilion was built in 1920. It stands on the spot where the Ralph Houghton house used to be. That old house was built in 1690 but was taken down in 1896 to make way for the Blue Hills Reservation. The pavilion was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 25, 1980. It is still used as a place to buy snacks and drinks today!
Gallery
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View to the southwest
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View to the south, over Houghton's Pond
