Bolton Center Historic District

Bolton Center Historic District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
First Parish of Bolton
Location	Main St., Bolton, Massachusetts
Coordinates	42°26′00″N 71°36′24″W
Area	73 acres (30 ha)
Built	1738
NRHP reference No.	97001296
Added to NRHP	November 17, 1997

The Bolton Center Historic District is the historic center of the town of Bolton, Massachusetts. The district encompasses what is essentially a linear town center, strung out principally along Main Street (Massachusetts Route 117), with a well-preserved collection of residential and civic architecture spanning more than two centuries. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.

Description and history

Although the town's first meetinghouse (built c. 1740 and no longer extant) lay outside the current center, by the early 19th century the town's focus had moved to the main east–west road through the town (now Route 117), where it developed as a major stagecoach stop, with several inns and taverns serving travelers and local business. By 1830, the center had achieved much of its present appearance, with most of the later development either replacing older buildings or infilling between others.

The district includes a variety of houses from the 18th century onward, including the house of the first town minister (c. 1741, 752 Main Street). Institutional buildings in the district include the 1853 Town House, four historic school buildings (including an 1825 one room schoolhouse), and the 1928 Colonial Revival Federated Church of Bolton. Architecturally distinguished buildings include the Tudor Revival library, built in 1903 as a gift from the Whitney family, and the 1923 Elementary School, a fine example of Colonial Revival architecture.

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Worcester County, Massachusetts

External links

• Town of Bolton, MA - desc. of historic district