Templeton Common Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Templeton Common Historic District
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Templeton Common
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Templeton, Massachusetts |
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| Architect | Elias Carter |
| Architectural style | Georgian, Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 83000608 |
| Added to NRHP | July 7, 1983 |
The Templeton Common Historic District is a special area in the center of Templeton, Massachusetts. It's like a time capsule, showing how the town looked and worked long ago. This area was first planned in the 1750s and has always been important for the town's government, community life, and businesses.
You can find many beautiful buildings from the 1700s and early 1800s here. Because of its history and unique buildings, the district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. This means it's officially recognized as a place worth protecting. In 2010, it was even named one of the top 1,000 places to visit in Massachusetts!
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What is the Templeton Common Historic District?
The Templeton Common Historic District is a special part of Templeton, Massachusetts. It includes the town's historic center, where many important events happened. This area shows how towns were built and grew in the past.
How Old is Templeton Common?
The area that became Templeton was first set up as "Narragansett Number 6" in 1734. But people didn't start settling there much until the 1750s. The first community building, called a meeting house, was built in 1753. A burial ground was started in 1754, and the town common was planned in 1759. Templeton officially became a town in 1761.
What Was Life Like in Early Templeton?
For a long time, Templeton's economy was mostly about farming. But around 1820, small factories and businesses started to appear. The town center was also a busy place because three main stagecoach routes crossed there. This meant many travelers passed through, and taverns (old-fashioned inns) were popular stops.
Chair making became a big business after 1820. There was even a small factory that made tin items, located where the Grange hall is today. However, by about 1860, new industries moved to bigger towns nearby. This meant less new building and business growth in the Templeton town center.
Exploring the Historic District Today
The historic district is located where several roads meet, just south of the town's exact center. Many roads lead into this area, like Baldwinville Road, Patriots Road, Dudley Road, Wellington Road, and Hubbardton Road. The district stretches along these roads for different distances.
Most of the buildings you'll see in the district are homes. They show off different styles from the past, such as Georgian, Federal, and Greek Revival architecture. These styles were popular in the 1700s and early 1800s.
The First Congregational Church: A Famous Building
One of the most important buildings in the district is the First Congregational Church. It was designed and built by a famous architect named Elias Carter in 1811. This church is very special because its design was copied many times. Elias Carter himself used similar designs for other churches he built in southern New Hampshire over the next 20 years. It's a great example of early American church architecture.
