Westford Center Historic District
Why it's listed
Westford Center is the residential and civic heart of Westford, Massachusetts, set on Tadmuck Hill, the town's highest point. Settlers, mainly from Chelmsford, began farming here in the 1720s, and a church was established in 1727. The district now holds 155 contributing buildings, structures, sites and objects, mostly wood-frame houses in styles from Colonial and Federal through Victorian and Colonial Revival. Civic landmarks include the 1794 First Parish Church, the 1793 Westford Academy (now a museum), the 1870 Town Hall, the 1895 J.V. Fletcher Library designed by H.M. Francis, and former schools now used as community centers. The triangular Common, bought by the town in 1748 as a militia training ground, became a park with monuments and was reshaped around 1919 by landscape architect Bremer Pond. The district was recognized for its town planning and its architecture, with a significance period running from about 1713 to 1948, when farming's profitability declined.
Significance in brief: The district is argued to be significant under Criterion A for its association with 18th and 19th century town planning, and under Criterion C for the distinctive characteristics and high artistic values of its architecture. It forms a cohesive hilltop agricultural and civic village arranged around the town common on a radial street pattern. It retains integrity of design, setting, feeling and association.
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 98001105, listed August 28, 1998. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Roughly along Graniteville Rd., Main St., Lincoln St., and Depot St., Westford |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | August 28, 1998 |
| Reference number | 98001105 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | c. 1713-1948 |
| Architect / builder | Carl V. Badger; H.M. Francis |
| Architectural style | Colonial, Georgian, Federal, Greek Revival, Italianate, Second Empire, Stick, Queen Anne, Shingle, Richardsonian Romanesque, Colonial Revival, Bungalow/Craftsman, Tudor Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture, Community Planning and Development, Education |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Buildings are generally well maintained and the district retains integrity; many civic buildings remain in use, including the town hall, library and church, and the former academy is a museum. |
| Acreage | 111 |
| Coordinates | 42.58272, -71.43531 (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 98001105.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7988791
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.