H.H. Richardson Historic District of North Easton

Infobox_nrhp | name =H.H. Richardson Historic District of North Easton
nrhp_type = nhld


caption = Ames Gate Lodge
location= Main St., Elm St., & railway right-of-way off Oliver St., North Easton, Massachusetts
lat_degrees = 42
lat_minutes = 4
lat_seconds = 12
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 71
long_minutes = 6
long_seconds = 2
long_direction = W
locmapin = Massachusetts
area =5.8 acres
architect= H.H. Richardson; Frederick Law Olmsted
architecture= No Style Listed
designated= 23 Dec, 1987cite web|url=http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=2032&ResourceType=District |title=H. H. Richardson Historic District of North Easton |accessdate=2008-08-30|work=National Historic Landmark summary listing|publisher=National Park Service]
added = December 23, 1987cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/ |title=National Register Information System|date=2008-04-15|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service]
governing_body = Local
refnum=87002598

H. H. Richardson Historic District of North Easton is a historic district in North Easton, in Bristol County, Massachusetts

It includes part of Main St., Elm St., and a railway right-of-way off Oliver Street in North Easton, Massachusetts.

It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1987.citation|title=PDFlink| [http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NHLS/Text/87002598.pdf National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: H. H. Richardson] |32 KB|date=1987? |author=Carolyn Pitts |publisher=National Park Service and PDFlink| [http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NHLS/Photos/87002598.pdf "Accompanying eight photos, exteriors and interiors, from 1969 and 1973"] |32 KB]

History

Easton was first settled in 1694 and was officially incorporated in 1725.

In 1694, the first settler, Clement Briggs established his home near the Easton Green. In 1711, the Taunton North Purchase area became Norton, and in 1713, the twenty-six families settled in Easton and hired Elder William Pratt as their first minister. There was no legal parish in Easton until 1722 when the East Precinct of Norton was recognized. In 1725, the area was incorporated as the Town of Easton; it was so named because it was formerly called the "East End" of the Taunton North Purchase and was shortened by pronunciation to Easton.

In 1803, the Ames Shovel Company was established and became nationally known as having provided the shovels which laid the Union Pacific Railroad and opened the west. In 1875, the shovel production of the Ames plant was worth 1.5 million. The most notable of the Ames family were Oakes Ames, a key figure in the Crédit Mobilier of America scandal, and Oliver Ames(R), governor of Massachusetts from 1887 – 1890.

The Ames family shaped the town's economy, and was responsible for the presence of a number of landmark buildings in the town designed by H. H. Richardson, originator of the Richardsonian Romanesque style and designer of Trinity Church in Boston.

Richardson buildings in Easton include:

*The Ames Free Library (town library as of 2005)
*Oakes Ames Memorial Hall (rarely used as of 2005)
*The Old Colony Railroad Station (houses the Easton Historical Society)
*The Ames Gate Lodge (privately owned by the Ames family as of 2005)

Though this school complex was not made by Richardson himself, it was dedicated to him and made in his style:
*H.H.Richardson/F.L.Olmsted Intermediate School

Although intended to be the town hall, the Oakes Ames Memorial Hall was never accepted by the town and never used for that purpose.

In addition, there is a commercial building at 66 Main Street which designed and build in the nineteenth century by Richardson's office in a Richardsonian style. The Richardson buildings are all located within a compact area designated as the H. H. Richardson Historic District. The area also includes The Rockery, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, who also landscaped grounds of Oakes Ames Memorial Hall and the Ames Free Library.

ee also

*North Easton Historic District
*North Easton Railroad Station

References

External links

* [http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/hhh.ma1355 Oliver Ames Free Library, 53 Main Street, North Easton, Bristol County, MA] : 15 photos and 2 data pages, at Historic American Building Survey
* [http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/hhh.ma0632 Old Colony Railroad Station, North Easton, Bristol County, MA] : 4 photos and 4 data pages, at Historic American Building Survey