William Street Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
William Street Historic District
|
|
A house on William Street
|
|
 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Tisbury, Massachusetts |
|---|---|
| Architect | Woodbury & Stuart; Norton, James |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Late Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 83000571 |
| Added to NRHP | January 27, 1983 |
The William Street Historic District is a special area in Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts. It's on an island called Martha's Vineyard. This district is famous because it has many old houses from the mid-1800s that are still in great shape. It's like a time capsule showing how homes looked back then!
Contents
A Look Back in Time
From Holmes Hole to Vineyard Haven
Long ago, one of the first English settlements on Martha's Vineyard was called Holmes Hole. This place eventually became part of a bigger town named Tisbury, Massachusetts. Later, Holmes Hole changed its name to Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts. This new name showed that it was the main port, or harbor, for the island.
Building William Street
William Street was the second important street built in Vineyard Haven. It runs next to Main Street. A businessman named Thomas Bradley helped develop this street. He also owned a mill in West Tisbury, Massachusetts.
The street was planned in 1831. Many houses were built there between 1830 and 1860. Most of these homes were built in the Greek Revival style. This style was popular at the time. Local builders constructed these houses without special architects.
Many of these homes have not changed much over the years. Some are even still owned by the families who first bought them! The first houses built were usually one-and-a-half stories tall. They often had four windows across the front.
What the District Includes
The historic district covers all the properties from Woodlawn Avenue in the north down to Camp Street. It also includes about three houses south of Camp Street. You will find only a few newer houses in this area. There is also an old schoolhouse.
The William Street Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. This means it is recognized as an important historical place in the United States.
