West Gardner Square Historic District
About this property
The West Gardner Square Historic District encompasses the historic commercial, civic and industrial downtown area of Gardner, Massachusetts. Developed industrially beginning in the early 19th century, the area now boasts a concentration of late 19th and early 20th century commercial, civic, and industrial architecture. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. The town of Gardner was incorporated in 1785 out of parts of surrounding towns, with its original town center located northeast of the present commercial downtown. It developed beginning in the early 19th century as a center for the manufacture of furniture, in particular chairs, powered by waters of local streams. By the 1840s the town was an acknowledged leader in chair making, employing some 350 people in that trade. The town's civic focus shifted from the original center to be nearer the industrial area. The arrival of railroads in 1847 and 1871 spurred increased growth. The historic district encompasses most of downtown Gardner's historic civic, commercial, and industrial buildings. It is centered around the five-way intersection of Vernon, Parker, Central, Main, and West Lynde Streets. Commercial and civic resources radiate mainly west and south from there, with three large surviving mill complexes to the east. Most of the commercial buildings range in height from one to four stories, while buildings in the industrial mill complexes range up to six stories in height. There are only a few wood-frame residential structures in the area, which typically predate the late 19th-century development period. The district includes the town's major civic buildings, including its town hall, public library, and post office. Buildings individually listed on the National Register include the Garbose Building, the Gardner News Building, the Lake Street Fire Station, and the Heywood-Wakefield Company Complex. National Register of Historic Places listings in northern Worcester County, Massachusetts
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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.
Everything a full report reveals about West Gardner Square Historic District
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Questions about this property
When was West Gardner Square Historic District listed on the National Register?
West Gardner Square Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 30, 1985.
What type of historic resource is West Gardner Square Historic District?
West Gardner Square Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.
What is the period of significance for West Gardner Square Historic District?
The period of significance for West Gardner Square Historic District is recorded as the listed era.
Can I research the history near West Gardner Square Historic District?
Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near West Gardner Square Historic District will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.
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