Rockdale Common Housing District facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Rockdale Common Housing District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
Location in Massachusetts Show map of Massachusetts Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Northbridge, Massachusetts
Built	1800
Architectural style	Colonial Revival, Italianate
NRHP reference No.	83000611
Added to NRHP	March 31, 1983

The Rockdale Common Housing District is a special area in Northbridge, Massachusetts, United States, where old homes tell a story. These homes were built between about 1880 and 1920. They were made by the Whitin family, who owned many textile factories in Northbridge. This district became a protected historic place in 1983. It is located on McBride, Plantation, and Taft Streets.

Discovering Rockdale's Past

The village of Rockdale is an important part of Northbridge, Massachusetts. It used to be a busy center for factories. Its industrial story began in 1814. But it truly grew after the 1860s. This is when the Whitin family took over the local mills. The Whitins were famous for running textile factories along the Blackstone River.

Homes for Factory Workers

The Whitin family wanted to make sure their factories had enough workers. So, they built homes, schools, and other buildings for their employees. This helped create a strong community. In the late 1800s, many people from French Canada came to work at the Rockdale mill. To house them, the company built even more homes. These new homes were located east of Taft Street.

Different Styles of Houses

The historic district includes seven buildings. The Paul Whitin Company built these homes between 1880 and 1920. They are all found in one square block. This block is bordered by McBride, Plantation, and Taft Streets, and Church Avenue.

• Rowhouses: Two long buildings with six units each stand on the east side of Taft Street. These were built around 1915. They are larger than earlier homes.
• Triple Deckers: Four apartment buildings face McBride and Taft Streets. These are called "triple deckers" because they have three floors. Each building has six or twelve apartments. Built around 1917, they show a style called Colonial Revival. You can see this style in their front porches and cool, angled window bays.
• Italianate Building: One building with six units also faces Taft Street. This one has an Italianate style. This means it has features like low-pitched roofs and tall, narrow windows.

These buildings are still used as homes today. They help us remember the history of factory towns and the people who lived there.