National Register of Historic Places

Chester Factory Village Historic District

Chester, Hampden County, Massachusetts
Listed
March 16, 1989
Type
District
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
89000145

About this property

The Chester Factory Village Historic District is a historic district encompassing the historic village of Chester Factories in Chester, Massachusetts. Chester was settled in the 1760s, and the factory village was a location where water power was harnessed at an early time for grist mills and sawmills. The village got its name from the Chester Glass Factory, which operated in the area through the War of 1812. It benefited from the construction of a turnpike (now United States Route 20) leading to Chester Center in 1804, and was transformed by the arrival of the railroad around 1840. The village became an important provisioning stop for trains, and the village further benefited by the fact that the railroad bypassed Chester Center. The economic and civic life of the town gradually shifted, and Chester Factories is where the town hall and library were built. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. The district is roughly bounded by Middlefield Road, River, Main, and Maple Streets, US 20, and Williams Street. The southern boundary is roughly US 20, with the tracks formerly of the Western Railroad the boundary to the northeast. There are some older houses in the area along US 20, while more intensive industrial development took place along the Westfield River branch which runs between the two transportation routes. The village's greatest period of growth was between 1879 and 1915, when the production of abrasive materials, and granite quarrying and cutting operations became major industries. The Fay's Clothing Store, built in 1896, is at three stories the village's tallest building.

Location

Chester, Hampden County, Massachusetts
42.28255, -72.98256

Categories

INDUSTRYCOMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENTTRANSPORTATIONARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
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Conflict & War
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The Civil War
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The Soldiers
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Native Heritage
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Settlement
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The Community
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Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
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Nearby Historic Sites

Western Railroad Stone Arch Bridges and Chester Factory Village Depot
Industrial
2.2 mi
Middlefield-Becket Stone Arch Railroad Bridge District
Listed
2.2 mi
Chester Center Historic District
Listed
3 mi
North Chester Historic District
Listed
4.1 mi
Becket Center Historic District
Listed
4.3 mi

Questions about this property

When was Chester Factory Village Historic District listed on the National Register?

Chester Factory Village Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 16, 1989.

What type of historic resource is Chester Factory Village Historic District?

Chester Factory Village Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Chester Factory Village Historic District?

The period of significance for Chester Factory Village Historic District is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Chester Factory Village Historic District?

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