Framingham Centre Common Historic District
Why it's listed
Framingham Centre Common is the historic heart of Framingham, Massachusetts. Set aside in 1735 as grazing land and the site of a meetinghouse and training field, the green is now a U-shaped open space ringed by churches, a library, a school and houses. The district covers about 98 acres and includes 46 contributing buildings, along with structures, sites and objects. Its architecture runs from Georgian and Federal houses through Greek Revival, Gothic Revival, Italianate and High Victorian Gothic buildings, and many were later altered with Colonial Revival detailing. Notable buildings include the 1834 Village Hall with its two colossal Doric porticoes, the 1837 Framingham Academy in rubble masonry, the 1872 Memorial Library and the 1885 Edgell Memorial Chapel. Many buildings were moved, remodeled or reused, and road widening in the 20th century reshaped the southern edge. The district's mix of styles and its continuity of use give it lasting significance.
Significance in brief: The district is significant for the Common and the 19th and 20th century buildings gathered around it, along with individual buildings of high quality. It shows both diversity and coherence of style. Two themes stand out: the effects of transportation on the Centre, and the continuity of its buildings through moving, adaptive reuse and remodeling.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 90001564, listed October 25, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Roughly centered on Framingham Centre Common, between MA 9 and I-90, Framingham |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | October 25, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90001564 |
| Resource type | District |
| Architect / builder | Dexter Esty; Solomon Willard; Dexter Hemenway; Charles M. Baker; Alexander Rice Esty; W. Frank Hurd; William A. Rice; Arland A. Dirlam |
| Architectural style | Georgian, Federal, Greek Revival, Gothic Revival, Italianate, High Victorian Gothic, Richardsonian Romanesque, Colonial Revival and Neo-Colonial |
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Commerce, Transportation, Politics/Government, Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Most buildings are described as in good repair; some are adaptively reused, including a museum, an office building and commercial uses. |
| Acreage | 98 |
| Coordinates | 42.30451, -71.43466 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 90001564.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5478010
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.