The Thomas Hollis Historic District encompasses the historic civic and commercial heart of
Holliston, Massachusetts
Holliston is a New England town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States in the Greater Boston area. The population was 14,996 at the 2020 census. It is located in MetroWest, a Massachusetts region that is ...
. It extends along Washington Street (Massachusetts Routes
16 and
126 for about one mile, between Winter Street and Highland Street. Incorporated in 1724, this area now includes a well-preserved collection of predominantly 19th century architecture. The district was listed on the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...
in 1989.
Description and history
The town of Holliston was first settled by European settlers in the 1680s, when it was part of
Sherborn. The town was incorporated in 1724, named for
Thomas Hollis, a wealthy English merchant. At that time, the town's first meetinghouse was built, and its first cemetery (the Central Cemetery, located next to the town offices and opposite Elm Street) was laid out. Washington Street itself was laid out in 1731, joining the town to
Mendon. Typical finer houses of this early period would have resembled the Isaac Foster House, 617 Washington Street, built in 1727.
The town's major period of growth during the 19th century took place before the
American Civil War
The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...
, resulting in the construction of a number of fine Federal and Greek Revival houses in its center. A number of its major civic buildings were also built during this time, including the Federal style First Congregation Church (1822) and Italianate style Town Hall (1855). Other churches were built during this time, but only the 1833 Methodist Church survives, extensively altered, as a Masonic hall. After the war, development remained slow until the arrival of the railroad c. 1900, when a number of brick commercial buildings went up. Also built during this time was the Holliston Public Library (c. 1903), which received funding support from
Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie (, ; November 25, 1835August 11, 1919) was a Scottish-American industrialist and philanthropist. Carnegie led the expansion of the American steel industry in the late 19th century and became one of the richest Americans i ...
. Although there are some more modern 20th century intrusions consequent to the town's growth as a suburb, much of the center is recognizably from the turn of the 20th century or earlier.
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See also
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References
{{National Register of Historic Places in Massachusetts
Buildings and structures in Holliston, Massachusetts
Historic districts in Middlesex County, Massachusetts
National Register of Historic Places in Middlesex County, Massachusetts
Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Massachusetts