Farnumsville Historic District, Historic mill village in Grafton, Massachusetts
Farnumsville Historic District is a mill village that extends along Providence and Main Streets between Cross and Depot Streets on the eastern bank of the Blackstone River. The area includes a collection of residential and commercial buildings from different decades that show how a mill community developed.
The area began in the 1810s around Farnum Mill and became an important manufacturing center for the region. Most of the surviving buildings date from between 1820 and 1920, with the main mill building itself dating from 1844.
The district displays various building styles that developed over generations, from early Federal houses to Victorian and Colonial Revival structures. This mix of architecture tells the story of how the community evolved during different growth periods.
Buildings in the district must follow preservation standards, so any changes are carefully planned and documented by owners. Visitors should walk along the public streets and view the exteriors, as most buildings are private residences or businesses.
The district preserves a rare collection of worker housing built directly next to the mills, showing how closely factory workers lived to their workplaces. This spatial arrangement offers uncommon insight into daily life during early industrialization.
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