National Register of Historic Places

East Main-High Street Historic District

Greenfield, Franklin County, Massachusetts
Listed
March 16, 1989
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
88002011

About this property

The East Main–High Street Historic District is a historic district 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. 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 Rivers, 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 33 acres (13 ha), 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. National Register of Historic Places listings in Franklin County, Massachusetts

Location

Greenfield, Franklin County, Massachusetts
42.58902, -72.59666

Categories

COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENTARCHITECTURE
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
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
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Spotlight
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Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Nearby Historic Sites

US Post Office-Greenfield Main
Industrial
0.1 mi
Leavitt-Hovey House
Industrial
0.1 mi
Weldon Hotel
Industrial
0.1 mi
Garden Theater Block
Industrial
0.2 mi
Main Street Historic District
Listed
0.2 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Turners Falls May 19 1676
1676Colonial
2.1 mi
Battle of Peskeompskut (Falls Fight / Turner's Falls)
1676Colonial
2.2 mi
Battle of Turner's Falls (Peskeompscut)
1676Colonial
2.3 mi

Questions about this property

When was East Main-High Street Historic District listed on the National Register?

East Main-High Street Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 16, 1989.

What type of historic resource is East Main-High Street Historic District?

East Main-High Street Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for East Main-High Street Historic District?

The period of significance for East Main-High Street Historic District is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near East Main-High Street Historic District?

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