Stony Brook–Factory Village Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
Stony Brook–Factory Village Historic District
|
|
![]() Stony Brook Grist Mill
|
|
Location | Brewster, Massachusetts |
---|---|
Area | 85 acres (34 ha) |
Built | 1790 |
NRHP reference No. | 00000688 |
Added to NRHP | June 15, 2000 |
The Stony Brook–Factory Village Historic District is a special area in Brewster, Massachusetts. It's like a time capsule showing one of the biggest and best-kept old factory villages in Barnstable County, Massachusetts. This district is built around Stony Brook, a small river that flows north into Cape Cod Bay.
People discovered the power of this stream way back in the 1600s. They used its flowing water to run machines in factories until the late 1800s. The district covers about 85 acres, which is like 64 football fields! It's mainly found where Satucket Road and Stony Brook Road meet.
This historic area was added to the National Register of Historic Places in the year 2000. This means it's an important place worth protecting for future generations.
What is a Historic District?
A historic district is a special area with many old buildings. These buildings are important because they show how people lived and worked a long time ago. They also show what buildings looked like in the past. The Stony Brook–Factory Village Historic District helps us understand the history of factories and life in old New England.
The Power of Stony Brook
Stony Brook was very important to the village. Its flowing water provided power for different kinds of mills. Mills are buildings where machines grind grain or saw wood. The people living here used the stream's energy for many years. This made the village a busy place for making things.
The district still has signs of these old mills. You can see the places where three mills once stood. There are also old dams that held back water. Raceways, which are channels that directed water to the mills, are also still visible. Even the mill pond, where water was stored, is part of this historic area.
Buildings and Their Styles
The buildings in the Stony Brook–Factory Village Historic District are very interesting. Most of them are built in the Greek Revival style. This means they look a bit like old Greek temples, with columns and grand entrances.
However, you can also find other styles of buildings. Some homes show the Georgian style from the 1700s. Other buildings were built later in the 1800s. This mix of styles shows how the village grew and changed over time. Each building tells a part of the story of this old factory village.