South Worthington Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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South Worthington Historic District
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South Worthington Methodist Church
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Worthington, Massachusetts |
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| Architectural style | Federal, Mid 19th Century Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 05000935 |
| Added to NRHP | September 1, 2005 |
The South Worthington Historic District is a special area in Worthington, Massachusetts. It's like a time capsule that shows what a small village was like long ago. This district used to be a busy place with factories and mills. Now, it's a quiet, rural area.
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Exploring the South Worthington Historic District
This historic district is located where Huntington Road (Massachusetts Route 112), Ireland Street, and Thrasher Hill Road meet. It stretches along Ireland Road. A part of it, a dam that creates Little Galilee Pond, even reaches into nearby Chesterfield.
Old Mills and Homes
Long ago, many small mills stood along the Little River. This river flows into the Westfield River. Today, only one mill complex from the 1800s remains. It is called the Theron Higgins Mill. Most of the buildings you see in the district are homes. They were built in the 1800s.
Churches in the District
The district also includes three churches. One of them is the beautiful Greek Revival South Worthington Methodist Church. It was built in 1848. This church is a great example of the Greek Revival style of architecture.
A Look Back at South Worthington's History
The South Worthington area first started as a farming community in the 1760s. The Little River had a waterfall, which was perfect for building mills.
Early Mills and Businesses
By 1794, a sawmill was already working here. A mill for grinding grain, called a grist mill, was added in 1812. The village grew as a place where local farmers could get services. Other mills also operated for a while in the 1800s. One of these mills even made window blinds!
The First Church and School
The first church in the village was built in 1828. This building is still standing today. After the newer Greek Revival church was built, the old church building was used as a general store and then as a school.
Russell Conwell's Connection
South Worthington is also famous as the birthplace and summer home of Russell Conwell (1843-1925). He was a well-known Baptist minister and writer. Conwell also founded Temple University. When he spent his summers in his childhood home, many visitors came to the village. A large rock with a special plaque on it marks his connection to the area. You can find it near his old house at 42 Conwell Road.
