Old Shipbuilder's Historic District
Encyclopedia
Old Shipbuilder's Historic District is a 287 acres (116.1 ha) historic district
in Duxbury, Massachusetts. The district includes both sides of Washington Street extending from South Duxbury (also known as Hall's Corner) to Powder Point Avenue, including several side streets off of Washington and a small portion of St. George Street and Powder Point Avenue.
The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1986. In 1986, the district included 143 buildings deemed to contribute to the historic character of the area.
style and were constructed between 1800 and 1820. There are also some examples of Greek Revival and Victorian architecture
.
Washington Street, which makes up the bulk of the district, runs two miles along the shore of Duxbury Bay from Hall's Corner to the Bluefish River and slightly beyond. First laid out in 1798, the street was, at the time, a controversial scheme concocted by several up-and-coming shipbuilders. These men, including Ezra Weston I, Seth Sprague and Joshua Winsor, were among the first in the community to take advantage of the post-Revolution
economic boom and each built substantial fleets of fishing schooners. Their new wealth commanded attention and respect in the community, however they met with opposition from the bulk of residents when they proposed the construction of a north-south avenue along the shore. Prior to 1798, Duxbury's shore was only accessible by crude cart paths. In order for maritime commerce to thrive, the shipbuilders required an avenue running along the water which would allow convenient placement of shipyards, warehouses, stores, wharves, and boarding houses. Although the proposal caused uproar at Duxbury Town Meetings for several years, even ending up in court with the shipbuilders suing the Town for refusing to construct the avenue, the project, including a wooden drawbridge over the Bluefish River, was eventually completed in 1803.
Immediately after its construction, sea captains, shipwrights and merchants began building attractive homes on Washington Street. The shipyards and wharves are now gone, but the houses remain and collectively provide a sense of the character of early 19th century Duxbury. The avenue that at first caused so much consternation is now one of Duxbury most treasured historic resources.
Historic district (United States)
In the United States, a historic district is a group of buildings, properties, or sites that have been designated by one of several entities on different levels as historically or architecturally significant. Buildings, structures, objects and sites within a historic district are normally divided...
in Duxbury, Massachusetts. The district includes both sides of Washington Street extending from South Duxbury (also known as Hall's Corner) to Powder Point Avenue, including several side streets off of Washington and a small portion of St. George Street and Powder Point Avenue.
The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1986. In 1986, the district included 143 buildings deemed to contribute to the historic character of the area.
Historic Significance
The district was selected for inclusion in the National Register because it embodies the distinctive characteristics of Duxbury, Massachusetts during the community's heyday as a center of shipbuilding and maritime commerce. Within the district are scores of houses which are well-preserved examples of early 19th century architecture. The great majority of the structures are of the FederalFederal architecture
Federal-style architecture is the name for the classicizing architecture built in the United States between c. 1780 and 1830, and particularly from 1785 to 1815. This style shares its name with its era, the Federal Period. The name Federal style is also used in association with furniture design...
style and were constructed between 1800 and 1820. There are also some examples of Greek Revival and Victorian architecture
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
.
Washington Street, which makes up the bulk of the district, runs two miles along the shore of Duxbury Bay from Hall's Corner to the Bluefish River and slightly beyond. First laid out in 1798, the street was, at the time, a controversial scheme concocted by several up-and-coming shipbuilders. These men, including Ezra Weston I, Seth Sprague and Joshua Winsor, were among the first in the community to take advantage of the post-Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
economic boom and each built substantial fleets of fishing schooners. Their new wealth commanded attention and respect in the community, however they met with opposition from the bulk of residents when they proposed the construction of a north-south avenue along the shore. Prior to 1798, Duxbury's shore was only accessible by crude cart paths. In order for maritime commerce to thrive, the shipbuilders required an avenue running along the water which would allow convenient placement of shipyards, warehouses, stores, wharves, and boarding houses. Although the proposal caused uproar at Duxbury Town Meetings for several years, even ending up in court with the shipbuilders suing the Town for refusing to construct the avenue, the project, including a wooden drawbridge over the Bluefish River, was eventually completed in 1803.
Immediately after its construction, sea captains, shipwrights and merchants began building attractive homes on Washington Street. The shipyards and wharves are now gone, but the houses remain and collectively provide a sense of the character of early 19th century Duxbury. The avenue that at first caused so much consternation is now one of Duxbury most treasured historic resources.