East Freetown Historic District

East Freetown is a small industrial village in the eastern part of Freetown, Massachusetts, arranged around Fall Brook and its mill pond. Settlement began in 1727 when Philip Rounsevell established his homestead, and the district's resources date from that year through 1949. Most houses are modest 1 1/2 story Cape Cod cottages on granite foundations, with later Greek Revival, Gothic Revival, Italianate and Queen Anne examples. A tavern altered in the Queen Anne style, a Congregational church built in 1888, a memorial library opened in 1947 and a working saw mill add to the village. Water-powered industry shaped the place, and remains include dams, mill foundations, the half-dome granite remnant of an iron furnace and arched granite bridges. A small granite Mile Square Marker from about 1727 is the oldest object. Together, the 104 resources show how a rural mill community developed, with space around each building and winding roads.