Central Square Historic District

Central Square, in the east-central part of Weymouth, Massachusetts, is a neighborhood of about 35 acres built around the crossing of Broad and Middle Streets. The district holds 55 principal buildings and 28 outbuildings, mostly wood-frame houses from about 1830 to 1890. Most are vernacular or Greek Revival, with Italianate, Second Empire and Queen Anne examples among them. Local carpenters and housewrights built many of the homes. The area grew with Weymouth's cottage shoe industry, and many early residents worked as shoe manufacturers, cutters, finishers or stitchers. Small shoe shops called ten footers were attached to or stood behind houses. Residential building slowed after the 1870s, as development shifted toward nearby Jackson Square. Early twentieth century additions include the Davis Bates Clapp Memorial Building, the Masonic Temple and Fire Station 2, all in Classical Revival or Beaux-Arts style. The Jefferson School, built in 1889, was listed separately in 1981. The district retains its historic character, with few additions and limited synthetic siding.