CUMBERLAND – The town center of Cumberland has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places by the National Park Service, the R.I. Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission announced this week.
The district, officially listed as the Cumberland Town Hall Historic District, was recognized for its representation of a small mill village that evolved into an urbanized manufacturing and civic Center, including examples of a Colonial Revival public building and a turn-of-the-century commercial building, RIPHC said.
The Colonial Revival building is the Town Hall, built in 1894, was designed by William R. Walker & Son.
The commercial building in the district is the former Valley Falls Post Office/Valley Falls Free Library, built circa 1890.
The buildings are located in the Valley Falls section of Cumberland, a densely populated neighborhood in the southern part of town that borders Central Falls.
The nomination for its inclusion in the National Register for Historic Places was prepared by preservation consultant Kathryn Cavanaugh and funded by the RIHPHC through a Certified Local Government grant to the town of Cumberland.
“Cumberland Town Hall remains a symbol of civic pride in Cumberland. The grand Town Hall and the unassuming company store have been part of the political and social fabric of the village and the town for over 125 years,” said RIHPHC’s Executive Director J. Paul Loether. “We applaud the town for recognizing their significance and look forward to its continued stewardship of these important historic resources.”
RIHPC said that special consideration is given to properties on the register for the planning of federal or federally assisted projects and makes properties eligible for federal and Rhode Island tax benefits for historic rehabilitation projects.
