Highlands Historic District (Fall River, Massachusetts)


The Highlands Historic District is a historic district roughly bounded by June, Cherry, and Weetamoe Streets, Lincoln, Highland, President, North Main, and Hood Avenues in Fall River, Massachusetts. The district lies just north of the Lower Highlands Historic District.
The Highlands Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. It encompasses over and contains over 300 structures.

History

The area known today as the "highlands" in Fall River was originally known as the Rodman Farm. The area is located along a high ridge with views of the Taunton River and Mount Hope Bay. After the original downtown area of the city suffered a devastating fire in 1843, the wealthy mill owners and their families gradually sought to distance themselves from the central business district.
The Highlands Historic District contains a wide variety of mostly residential homes largely built between 1840 and 1925. Just one home, the Church-Tory house at 96 French Street predates the major development of the area.
The district also includes North Park, designed by the Olmsted Brothers in the mid-1880s.

Contributing properties (partial listing)

Residential
Educational/public
Religious