Preservation Society of Fall River

About the Preservation Society

Our Mission

The mission of the Preservation Society is to encourage and foster the preservation of historically and architecturally significant properties, and to assist the city in the establishment of a 40C Local Historic District. Wary of the assumption that historic districts may desire to control property owners, the Preservation Society envisions a district which is more amenable and conducive to our neighbors who represent a wide range of opinions. The State Historical Commission stipulates that it will be the neighbors who determine the regulations, as voiced in public forums that are a key step towards the formation of the district. Although other communities have elected to control paint colors, storm windows, or building and siding materials, the Preservation Society of Fall River is encouraging our neighbors to decide for themselves which elements of the architectural legacy they would like to protect.

A Little History

Fall River’s architecture was the product of the cotton mills that boomed right after the Civil War. In nine years, twenty-three new corporations were formed and thirty-seven mill buildings went up, creating over five million square feet of factories. By the late 1870’s the city was riding high on a wave of prosperity that boomed for another 30 years and produced a total of 110 mills operating in over 140 buildings. The high life was reflected in the Fall River Line of steamships that plied the route between New York City and Fall River, dubbed “floating palaces” because their interiors resembled opulent fantasies. The houses that the mill owners built in the 1880’s, 90’s and into the twentieth century comprise one of the finest collections in America.

Unfortunately, the textile mill boom went bust after World War I and a climate really conducive to preservation has eluded the city ever since. That has meant that some houses have survived simply because no one had the money to alter them but most of these houses were built with heart oak and craftsmanship that rivals anything ever built on this continent, so there’s a lot of legacy left to protect. The Highlands National Historic District, which is not protected, comprises over 90 blocks of houses.

Current Perspective

There are currently over 200 local historic districts in Massachusetts. The proposed district in Fall River is the core 10% of the entire Highland/Lower Highlands Historic District of Fall River, but it could be expanded if public support warrants it. The creation of protected local historic districts is considered integral in urban renaissance movements, promoting re-gentrification, boosting property values, improving community pride, stimulating demand for skilled labor, and providing another facet to tourism as the economy continues to shift from industrial to service-oriented.

List of Officers

Jim Soule - President
Carroll Brown - Clerk
Connie Soule - Assistant Clerk
Gale Medeiros - Treasurer

Directors

Jeff Carpenter
Michael D. Farias
Charlie Jacobsen
Renee Jacome
Jim Souza
Carolyn Suneson

The Preservation Society of Fall River is a 501c3 non-profit corporation.

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