Turners Falls Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Turners Falls Historic District
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The power canal at Turners Falls
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Roughly bounded by Connectict River, Power Canal, 9th and L St., Turners Falls, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 130 acres (53 ha) |
| Built | 1867 |
| Architect | William P. Crocker; C.W. Hazelton |
| NRHP reference No. | 82004966 |
| Added to NRHP | May 2, 1982 |
The Turners Falls Historic District is a special area in the village of Turners Falls, Massachusetts. It's like a time capsule that shows what a planned industrial town looked like in the 1870s. This district is a "historic district," meaning it's a place with important buildings and features from the past.
The district is located near the Connecticut River and a special Power Canal. It also includes streets like 9th Street and L Street. This important area was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
How Turners Falls Began
The story of Turners Falls started way back in the 1790s. At that time, a canal was built around the powerful falls of the Connecticut River. This canal helped boats move goods as part of a water transportation system.
However, by the 1840s, trains became a much faster way to transport things. So, the old canal was no longer needed.
A New Plan for Power
In 1867, a smart businessman named Alvah Crocker from Fitchburg, Massachusetts had a new idea. He wanted to use the river's strong current to power factories. He bought the rights to the old, unused canal.
Alvah Crocker and his partners then built a much bigger "power canal." This new canal was designed to provide water power to different businesses. They also carefully planned the streets around this canal. The streets were laid out in a grid, with some numbered and others lettered. Avenue A became the main street of this new village.
Early Businesses and Homes
One of the first big companies to move to Turners Falls was the Russell Manufacturing Company. They made cutlery (like knives and forks) and were based in Greenfield, Massachusetts. Their factory was once the largest cutlery factory in the world! Sadly, that original factory building is no longer standing.
However, some older buildings from another important company, the Keith Paper Company, still exist. This paper company started in 1871, and its oldest buildings date back to 1877. The carefully planned street grid in Turners Falls included homes for all kinds of workers and managers. It also had a busy commercial area, mostly found along Avenue A.
