The East Main–High Street Historic District is a
historic district
A historic district or heritage district is a section of a city which contains older buildings considered valuable for historical or architectural reasons. In some countries or jurisdictions, historic districts receive legal protection from c ...
roughly bounded by Church, High, East Main and Franklin Streets in
Greenfield, Massachusetts. It encompasses a predominantly residential area just east of Greenfield's central business district, historically where the town's wealthier residents lived, and features a wide variety of mainly 19th-century residential architecture. The district was listed on the
National Register of Historic Places in 1989.
Description and history
The city of Greenfield was settled as part of
Deerfield in the 17th century, and was separately incorporated in 1753. It was reincorporated as a city in 2003. Due to its location near the confluence of the
Deerfield and
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the longest river in the New England region of the United States, flowing roughly southward for through four states. It rises 300 yards (270 m) south of the U.S. border with Quebec, Canada, and discharges at Long Island ...
s, it developed in the 18th century as a regional center, and was named the
shire town of
Franklin County when it was established in 1813. The area east of its central business district was from the early 19th century a popular place for the well-to-do to live, a practice that continued through the 19th century.
The historic district consists of an area of roughly two square blocks, east of Federal Street (
United States Route 5) and the commercial district of Main Street. It is bounded on the north by Church Street, the east by High Street, and the south by Main Street. Its western boundary is generally Franklin Street, although it extends westward nearly to Federal Street on Church Street. It has an area of about , and most of its architecture is residential, predominantly wood frame buildings of 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 stories. There are four churches. The buildings are architecturally diverse, with the Italianate one of the most common varieties found; many buildings exhibit multiple styles, owing to alterations made over time. The district's residents included the owners and management of major local businesses, as well as prominent lawyers and politicians.
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See also
* National Register of Historic Places listings in Franklin County, Massachusetts
References
{{National Register of Historic Places in Massachusetts
Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Massachusetts
National Register of Historic Places in Franklin County, Massachusetts
Greenfield, Massachusetts