Upper Historic District (Washington, Massachusetts) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Upper Historic District
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The old town hall
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Washington, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 32.1 acres (13.0 ha) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Federal |
| MPS | Washington MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 86002145 |
| Added to NRHP | September 2, 1987 |
The Upper Historic District is a special area in Washington, Massachusetts, that helps us remember the past. It's like a time capsule showing what the town center was like long ago. This district is found where Washington Mountain Road and Branch Road meet. It was a very busy place from the 1750s until the 1830s, when a new railroad made business move to a different part of town.
In this historic district, you can still see the old town hall, a cemetery, a common (a shared grassy area), and an animal pound. There are also several old houses. A church and a schoolhouse used to be here, but the church was hit by lightning in 1859, and the schoolhouse is no longer standing. This important district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.
Contents
Exploring the Historic Town Center
The town of Washington is a quiet, rural place located in the Berkshire Mountains of western Massachusetts. The first people to settle here built their homes along Washington Mountain Road. This road was an important path for stagecoaches traveling between Pittsfield and Springfield a long time ago.
Early Buildings and Landmarks
The very first church, called a meeting house, was built around 1773 near the highest point on this road. That building is gone now. However, the 10-acre (4.0 ha) town common, a large grassy area, still exists next to where the church once stood. It's at the corner of Branch Road.
The oldest building still standing in this area is the animal pound. This is a rectangular stone structure built in 1783. It was used to hold stray animals.
The current town cemetery was started in 1805 on the east side of Washington Mountain Road. Some graves from the town's very first burial ground were moved here. The historic town hall is right next to the cemetery. It was built in 1848-1849 and is still sometimes used for town meetings.
Historic Homes
Two of the oldest houses in the district are the Elijah Crane House, built around 1785-1789, and the Jasper Morgan Tavern, built around 1810-1811. Both of these homes are great examples of the Federal period style of architecture, which was popular in the United States after the American Revolution.
Why the Town Center Changed
Washington has always been a farming community. Early farmers here faced challenges like poor soil and harsh weather. Because of this, many people started to leave as early as 1810. They moved to places like Ohio and other areas in the west, looking for better land.
This caused the old town center to become less important. A new railroad line was built further down in the valley. Most of the town's business and activities then moved to that new area, which is where the town's main center is today.
