Lynn Common Historic District, Historic district in Lynn, Massachusetts.
The Lynn Common Historic District extends along North and South Common Streets, bringing together residential buildings, municipal structures, and green spaces arranged in a park-like setting. The area connects Market Square on its western side to City Hall Square on its eastern side, serving as the town's civic center.
The common was established in 1637 as shared grazing land for the community's livestock. During the 1800s, it transformed from working farmland into a formal public park, becoming the heart of the expanding town.
The district displays a mix of architectural styles that reflect how the town grew over many generations, from Federal to Queen Anne houses showing different periods of development. The Colonial Revival apartment buildings from the early 1900s reveal how the community housed its wealthier residents at that time.
The district is easy to walk through since the streets follow a regular pattern and there are multiple entry points from surrounding blocks. Visiting early in the day or late in the afternoon helps you photograph the buildings in better light and avoid the busier times.
Several buildings within the district, including St. Stephen's Memorial Episcopal Church and the main library, hold their own separate listings on the National Register of Historic Places. This individual recognition highlights their special architectural and cultural importance beyond the district itself.
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