Windsor Court Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Windsor Court Historic District
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Windsor Ct. at North St., Southbridge, Massachusetts |
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| MPS | Southbridge MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 89000596 |
| Added to NRHP | June 22, 1989 |
The Windsor Court Historic District is a special neighborhood in Southbridge, Massachusetts. It's a collection of five homes that were built a long time ago. These houses were made especially for workers of the American Optical Company.
This area is called a historic district because it's important to the past. It helps us remember how people lived and worked in the early 1900s. The district was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. This means it's recognized as a place worth protecting for its history.
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Exploring Windsor Court
Windsor Court is a small street in Southbridge. It branches off North Street, which is north of the town's center. Close by, you can find parts of the old American Optical Company factory. This company used to be the biggest employer in Southbridge.
The Homes of Windsor Court
There are five main buildings in this historic district. Two of them are on Windsor Court itself, facing North Street. The other three are located on the west side of Windsor Court. All these houses look very similar.
They are made of wood and have 2-1/2 stories. This means they have two full floors and a half-story, usually in the attic. Each house has a pointed roof, called a gable roof.
A Special Style of House
These homes are a bit different from other houses built for many families. They have a style called Colonial Revival. This means they look like older, traditional American homes.
Some cool features include special flat columns on the corners, called pilasters. They also have porches that are set back into the house. Some of these porches have been closed in over time.
Even though the roof starts low on the second floor, the houses have long windows that stick out from the roof. These are called dormers. They make the third-floor apartments feel much bigger and brighter. You can see similar designs in other company houses on Twinehurst Place.
Why These Homes Were Built
The American Optical Company built these houses between 1915 and 1917. They wanted to provide good places for their workers to live. These homes were the most common type of housing the company built for its employees.
Workers could rent the lower apartments for about $7 each month. The apartments on the third floor were a bit cheaper, costing around $6 a month. This shows how important the company was to the lives of its workers and the town.
