Russell Center Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Russell Center Historic District
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Town Offices
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Junction of Main and Lincoln Ave., Russell, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 51 acres (21 ha) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Queen Anne, Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 96001524 |
| Added to NRHP | December 27, 1996 |
The Russell Center Historic District is a special area in Russell, Massachusetts. It's like a time capsule showing how the village center looked in the past. This historic district is located where Main Street and Lincoln Avenue meet.
It's bordered by the Westfield River on one side and the beautiful Berkshires mountains on the other. In the 1800s, the village grew a lot because of the railroad and businesses that made paper. This important district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. It was even called one of the best places to visit in Massachusetts!
Exploring the Russell Center Historic District
The town of Russell began to be settled in the late 1700s. A small town center was created around 1794. The very first big building in this area was a Baptist church, built in 1792.
How the Village Grew Over Time
The village became more important because a main stagecoach route, now known as United States Route 20, passed through it. Later, the railroad arrived, which helped the town grow even more. At first, the train tracks were on the south side of the Westfield River. They were later moved to the north side.
Making paper also became a very important business in Russell. This industry helped the town's economy for a long time. Even today, papermaking is still part of Russell's economy, though it's not as big as it once was.
What You'll See in the District
The historic district includes a part of Main Street between US 20 and the river. Most of the buildings you'll see here are homes. They are usually set back from the road by a similar distance. They also look alike in size and style.
Most of these buildings were built between 1850 and 1895. The oldest building in the district is the Horace Parks House, which dates all the way back to 1830. You can also find three special buildings in the district that have a unique style called Tudor Revival. These include the town hall, built in 1916, the elementary school from 1926, and the Catholic church, built in 1927.
