National Register of Historic Places

Town Hall Square Historic District

Sandwich, Barnstable County, Massachusetts
Listed
October 31, 1975
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
75001914

About this property

The Town Hall Square Historic District is a historic district encompassing the center of Sandwich, Massachusetts. The original 54-acre (22 ha) district was visually centered on Sandwich Town Hall, Shawme Pond, and the reconstructed Dexter Grist Mill. When first listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975, it was roughly bounded by Main, Grove, Water Sts., and Tupper Rd. from Beale Ave. to MA 6A. In 2010 the district was expanded, adding another 170 acres (69 ha) and more than 150 contributing resources. The Town Hall Square area of Sandwich has been an important civic location since the town was established in 1637. Early in its history the dike was built which impounds Shawme Pond, and a grist mill was established there. It remained an agrarian community, due in part to the lack of a good harbor, until 1825, when glassmaking began to develop as an industry. Two important civic buildings, the town hall, and the First Church of Christ, were built in 1837 and 1847, during this period of prosperity, but many older buildings including several First Period houses from the 17th century, also survive in the area. Most of the properties in the district were built after American independence and before 1850. The expanded district also includes a number of houses from the second half of the 19th century, including several Queen Anne and Shingle style homes. There are four cemeteries in the district, including the original burying ground, whose oldest grave dates to 1663. There are four churches and two schools in the district, including the 1928 Henry T. Wing School at 35 Water Street, which is the largest building in the district.

Location

Sandwich, Barnstable County, Massachusetts
41.75831, -70.50074

Categories

INDUSTRYEXPLORATION/SETTLEMENTARCHITECTUREAGRICULTURE
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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Everything a full report reveals about Town Hall Square Historic District

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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
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
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

Town Hall Square Historic District Boundary Increase
Listed
0.2 mi
Jarves, John and Mary Waterman, House
Industrial
0.3 mi
Jarvesville Historic District
Early Republic
0.4 mi
Wing Fort House
Early Republic
1.9 mi
Spring Hill Historic District
Listed
2.2 mi

Questions about this property

When was Town Hall Square Historic District listed on the National Register?

Town Hall Square Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 31, 1975.

What type of historic resource is Town Hall Square Historic District?

Town Hall Square Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Town Hall Square Historic District?

The period of significance for Town Hall Square Historic District is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Town Hall Square Historic District?

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