West Chesterfield Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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West Chesterfield Historic District
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632 Main Street
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1-70 Ireland St. and unnumbered lots, 620-669 Main Rd., section of Cummington Rd., Chesterfield, Massachusetts |
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| NRHP reference No. | 08000950 |
| Added to NRHP | September 25, 2008 |
The West Chesterfield Historic District is a special area in the town of Chesterfield, Massachusetts. It's called a historic district because it protects buildings and places from the 1800s. This area shows what life was like when West Chesterfield was a busy place for factories and homes. It's found where Main Road and Ireland Street meet. This district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008. This means it's an important place in American history.
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Exploring West Chesterfield's Past
West Chesterfield was one of the first places settled in Chesterfield. People started living here in the 1760s. Main Road, which goes east and west, was built in 1760. It followed an old Native American path. Ireland Street was built in 1762. It continued north towards Cummington as Cummington Road.
How Industry Grew Here
The area's history of industry began in the 1770s. Elisha Bisbee built a grist mill here. A grist mill grinds grain into flour. More mills and small factories were built in the 1800s. They were mostly south of Main Road, along the West Branch Westfield River. The river's water helped power the machines.
Fires and floods sometimes damaged these businesses. But people always rebuilt them. One company, the Healy Company, kept working well into the 1900s.
What You Can See in the District Today
The historic district is in the central western part of Chesterfield. It's centered around the meeting point of Main Road and Ireland Street. Ireland Street runs along the Westfield River. This river was very important for the mills. It provided the water power they needed.
Old Buildings and Remains
Most of the important things you see in the district are from the 1800s. For example, the West Chesterfield Bridge was built in 1948. You can find many old remains from the mills. These are like clues to the past. You can see foundations of old buildings. You can also see parts of the water systems. These include canals, raceways, and dams. They were used to bring water power to the mills.
None of the actual mill buildings from the 1800s are still standing. But their foundations and other old parts are still visible.
Important Buildings and Homes
The only big public building in the district is the Herbert Franklin Dunham Library. It was built in 1921. It has a style called Colonial Revival. The homes in the area are mostly made of wood. Many of them are built in the Greek Revival style. This was a popular style in the 1800s.
