Sheffield Center Historic District facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Sheffield Center Historic District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
Old Stone Store
Location in Massachusetts Show map of Massachusetts Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Sheffield, Massachusetts
Area	117 acres (47 ha)
Architect	Multiple
Architectural style	Greek Revival, Georgian, Federal
NRHP reference No.	89002060
Added to NRHP	December 1, 1989

The Sheffield Center Historic District is a special area in Sheffield, Massachusetts. It includes the old village center, which is full of historic buildings. This district stretches along United States Route 7, from Maple Avenue to Berkshire School Road. It contains many important buildings like churches and town offices. Most of these buildings were built between 1760 and the 1890s. This historic area was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.

What is the Sheffield Center Historic District?

The town of Sheffield is located in southwestern Massachusetts. It is just north of the border with Connecticut. The first European settlers arrived in Sheffield in 1726. They first settled in an area called Sheffield Plain, which is north of the current town center. Other small villages also grew, like Ashley Falls to the south.

Why was the Center important?

People in Sheffield wanted a church that was easier for everyone to reach. So, in 1760, they built the Old Parish Church near where it stands today. After this, the area around the church slowly became the main hub for the town. It became the most important place for town meetings, businesses, and religious life.

Historic Buildings and Architecture

The buildings in the Sheffield Center Historic District show different styles of architecture. Many of them are made of wood and have 2-1/2 stories. They were built from the 1700s to the late 1800s.

Town Hall and Public Buildings

The building that is now the town hall was first built around 1825. It was used for businesses back then. The town bought it in 1878. It is a beautiful stone building made in the Greek Revival style. It has special marble blocks called quoins on its corners.

Other important public buildings in the district include:

• The town library
• Dewey Memorial Hall, which is a community center
• The town's first high school
• The old Sheffield Academy building, which was moved from the Plain village

Railroad History

In the 1840s, the Housatonic Railroad built tracks through Sheffield. A train station was placed in the center of town. Today, only a few parts of the old railroad area remain. There is a freight house, which is still in its original spot. The old passenger station was moved to US 7.

Old Homes

Many homes in the district are from the 18th and 19th centuries. Three brick houses from the 1700s, built in the Georgian style, are very well preserved. They show what homes looked like a long time ago.