Luther's Corner

Last updated

Luther's Corner
Luther's Corner.jpg
USA Massachusetts location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location Swansea, Massachusetts
Coordinates 41°44′42″N71°13′27″W / 41.74500°N 71.22417°W / 41.74500; -71.22417
Area1.5 acres (0.61 ha)
Architectural styleFederal
MPS Swansea MRA
NRHP reference No. 90000054 [1]
Added to NRHPFebruary 16, 1990

Luther's Corner is a historic district encompassing the original economic center of Swansea, Massachusetts. The district is centered on the junction of Old Warren and Pearse Roads, the former being a major stage route between Fall River and Providence, Rhode Island, and was for many years associated with the locally prominent Luther Family. Luther's Corner was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990. [1]

Contents

Description and history

Luther's Corner is located in western Swansea, just southwest of the intersection of United States Route 6 and Interstate 195. Old Warren Road, the east-west route through the junction, was originally a major through street, but has now been truncated by that highway interchange. The corner developed as a stage coach stop in the early 19th century, providing services to passing travelers, and developed as the major economic center of Swansea in the first half of the 19th century. Three of the four principal structures in the 1.5-acre (0.61 ha) district are associated with the locally prominent Luther family, including the Luther Store (c. 1815-18, now a local history museum), the James Luther Tavern (c. 1800), and the John Brown-Luther House (c. 1811). The fourth building is the Seth Eddy House and Store, built in 1871, and now strictly residential in use. All four buildings are 2-1/2 story wood frame structures. [2]

Luther's Store was one of the most successful mercantile businesses in Swansea in the mid-19th century, also housing the local post office and library. After it closed in 1870 (the building converted to just a residence), the Eddy Store replaced it, but the area was declining in importance due in part to increased use of the railroad, which ran further south. The town green, originally located at the center of the road junction and housing a bandstand, was removed in 1901 to make way for a streetcar line. [2]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swansea, Massachusetts</span> Town in Massachusetts, United States

Swansea is a town in Bristol County in southeastern Massachusetts. It is located at the mouth of the Taunton River, just west of Fall River, 47 miles (76 km) south of Boston, and 12 miles (19 km) southeast of Providence, Rhode Island. The population was 17,144 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swansea Village Historic District</span> Historic district in Massachusetts, United States

Swansea Village Historic District is a historic district roughly along Main Street from Gardners Neck Road to Stephens Road, and Ledge Road in Swansea, Massachusetts. The district encompasses what emerged in the late 18th century as the principal municipal center of the town. The area that became Swansea Village was owned until about 1720 by members of the Eddy family, whose family graveyard lies in the district. By the early 19th century the junction of Main, Elm, and Stephens began to take shape as the nucleus of the village, and a meeting house, library, and eventually town hall followed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barneyville Historic District</span> Historic district in Massachusetts, United States

The Barneyville Historic District is a predominantly residential historic district on Old Providence and Barneyville Roads in northwestern Swansea, Massachusetts. The area was the site of a successful shipbuilding operation during the early 19th century, and then became a local center for jewelry making. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luther Store</span> United States historic place

The Luther Store is a historic store at 160 Old Warren Road in Swansea, Massachusetts. It is a 2+12-story brick structure with a saltbox profile. Its main facade is five bays wide, with entrances in the second and fourth bays, and interior chimneys at each end. The store retains original fixtures, including solid mahogany counters, drawers for goods storage, and the proprietor's desk. The store was built in 1815 by John Brown Luther, and was operated by the Luther family as a store until 1903. The Luther's Corner area was in the mid-19th century the economic center of Swansea, and Luther's Store served as post office and library. It was acquired in 1941 by the Swansea Historical Society, which now operates it as a local history museum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Benjamin Cole House</span> Historic house in Massachusetts, United States

The Benjamin Cole House is a historic house in Swansea, Massachusetts, United States. Built in 1690, this house is the oldest documented building in Swansea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Templeton Common Historic District</span> Historic district in Massachusetts, United States

The Templeton Common Historic District encompasses the historic town center of Templeton, Massachusetts. Laid out in the 1750s, the area has been the focus of the town's civic and economic affairs since, and includes its finest assortment of 18th and early 19th-century architecture. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. The district was in 2010 named as one of the 1,000 places to visit in Massachusetts by the Great Places in Massachusetts Commission.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shrewsbury Historic District (Shrewsbury, Massachusetts)</span> Historic district in Massachusetts, United States

The Shrewsbury Historic District encompasses the historic early center of the town of Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. It consists of the town common, laid out in 1721 at what are now Main and Prospect Streets, and buildings adjacent or nearby. The district was declared locally in 1972, and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Five Corners Historic District</span> Historic district in Massachusetts, United States

The Five Corners Historic District is a historic district encompassing the central district of the village of South Williamstown, Massachusetts. It is centered at the junction of Cold Spring, Green River, New Ashford. The junction has been a prominent center in the area since 1760. Prominent buildings in the district include the South Center School, the Store at Five Corners, and the Second Congregational Church. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brimfield Center Historic District</span> Historic district in Massachusetts, United States

The Brimfield Center Historic District is a historic district encompassing the historic center of Brimfield, Massachusetts. The district is centered on the town common, and includes properties radiating out from that center on Main Street, Brookfled, Wales, Sturbridge and Warren Roads. Brimfield Center was first laid out in 1721 along a Native American trail that ran through the area, and developed over the years into what is now US Route 20, or Main Street. The district includes properties ranging from early colonial houses to the town hall, built in 1878. The center has retained some coherence because the Brimfield Fair, a major antiques market that takes place three times a year, takes up significant open space in the areas near the center. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Russell Center Historic District</span> Historic district in Massachusetts, United States

The Russell Center Historic District is a historic district encompassing the historic village center of Russell, Massachusetts. It is centered at the junction of Main Street and Lincoln Avenue, and is bordered by the Westfield River to the east, and the rising foothills of The Berkshires to the west. The village's 19th century development was spurred by the railroad and sustained by local papermaking businesses. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996, and was named as one of the 1,000 places to visit in Massachusetts by the Great Places in Massachusetts Commission.

Bergen-Lafayette is a section of Jersey City, New Jersey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taftsville Historic District</span> Historic district in Vermont, United States

The Taftsville Historic District encompasses a historic 19th-century industrial village that is mostly in Woodstock, Vermont. Flanking the Ottauquechee River and extending up Happy Valley Road, the area developed around a metal tool factory established by members of the Taft family in 1793. Important elements from its early history include the Taftsville Store, built by the Taft family in 1840, and the Taftsville Covered Bridge, built in 1836. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sherman Hill Historic District</span> Historic district in Iowa, United States

The Sherman Hill Historic District is located in Des Moines, Iowa, United States. It is one of the oldest residential suburbs in Des Moines. Single-family houses were constructed beginning around 1880 and multi-family dwellings were built between 1900 and 1920. The district encompasses 80 acres (0.32 km2) and 210 buildings and is bounded by 15th Street to the East, High Street to the South, Martin Luther King Parkway on the West, and School Street to the North. The historic district has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1979.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haverhill Corner Historic District</span> Historic district in New Hampshire, United States

The Haverhill Corner Historic District encompasses the early civic center of Haverhill, New Hampshire, United States. The district is focused on the junction of New Hampshire Route 10 and Court Street, which was historically a major through route. Court Street is flanked at the junction by a pair of large grassy common areas which are bounded by School Street and Route 10. Buildings, predominantly Federal in character and built in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, are arrayed around these commons, and historic buildings line Route 10 and Court Street for a short distance away from the commons. Prominent buildings in the district include the 1827 Federal-style First Congregational Church, the 1840 former courthouse that now houses the public library and local historical society, and the Romanesque Revival 1897 Haverhill Academy Junior High School building. The area declined in importance after the railroad bypassed it, resulting in the gradual relocation of civic functions to the Woodsville area. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lower Corner Historic District</span> Historic district in New Hampshire, United States

The Lower Corner Historic District encompasses a small village center in the town of Sandwich, New Hampshire. Lower Corner is a rural village that is strung along New Hampshire Route 109 on either side of its junction with School House Road, about one mile from the main village of Center Sandwich. The village was developed relatively early in Sandwich's history, although its oldest buildings now date to the early 19th century. There are 25 contributing structures, mostly residences. There are two buildings built as stores, including one of brick; all the other buildings are wood frame. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smith's Corner Historic District</span> Historic district in New Hampshire, United States

The Smith's Corner Historic District is a historic district encompassing a historic 19th-century rural village center. Covering about 105.5 acres (42.7 ha), the district is centered on the junction of Main Avenue, South Road, and Chase Road in northwestern South Hampton, abutting its border with East Kingston. The village was important as a stagecoach stop. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danby Village Historic District</span> Historic district in Vermont, United States

The Danby Village Historic District encompasses much of the town center of Danby, Vermont. It is centered on a stretch of Main Street, roughly between Depot Street and Brook Road. The village has a cohesive collection of mid-19th century architecture, mostly residential, with a modest number of later additions. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Middletown Springs Historic District</span> Historic district in Vermont, United States

The Middletown Springs Historic District encompasses most of the village center of Middletown Springs, Vermont. Oriented around the crossroads junction of Vermont Routes 140 and 133, the village has a well-preserved collection of mainly mid-19th century architecture, including a significant number of Italianate buildings. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waitsfield Village Historic District</span> Historic district in Vermont, United States

The Waitsfield Village Historic District encompasses much of the main village center of Waitsfield, Vermont. Extending along Vermont Route 100 on either side of Bridge Street, it is a well-preserved example of a 19th-century village, with only a few sympathetic 20th-century additions. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peacham Corner Historic District</span> Historic district in Vermont, United States

The Peacham Corner Historic District encompasses much of the historic village center of Peacham, Vermont. The village's period of greatest growth and importance between the town's founding as a hill town in the late 18th century, and 1860, when significant development effectively ended. As a result, the village lacks Victorian features often found in other rural communities. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.

References

  1. 1 2 "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
  2. 1 2 "NRHP nomination for Luther's Corner". Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved June 27, 2014.