How Many Historic Districts Does Medfield Have?

There have been discussions lately about historic districts in Medfield. In the spring, there was activity at the Kingsbury Grist Mill in the Clark Kingsbury Farm Historic District, there have been concerns about recent changes in the Downtown Historic District, and this week there have been meetings about the Hospital Farm Historic District. 

And that had people asking, "How many historic districts are there in Medfield?" The answer is four, and advocates are trying for a fifth.

According to Town Historian (and selectman) Richard DeSorgher, Medfield currently has four historic districts: 

1. John Metcalf Historic District (est. 1989) includes 16 historic buildings and the oldest portion of Vine Lake Cemetery.

2. Medfield State Farm Historic District (est. 1994) includes 33 buildings on the property and the historic landscape surrounding the buildings. 

3. Clark-Kingsbury Farm Historic District (est. 1997) provides some protection to the unique grouping of the 18th century farm house, outbuildings, and pond with grist mill on Spring Street.

4. Downtown Historic District (est. 2000) which runs from Main Street at South Street, down Main Street, turns up North Street, down Frairy Street past Meetinghouse Pond to include the Dwight Derby House, back up North Street on the west side only (to include the post office and the Bullard House), then over to the east side of North Street up to and including Bullards Market area. Some buildings along the route are excluded from the district. 

The Medfield Historic District Commission and Historical Commission continue to discuss the possibility of an "East Main Street Historic District" which would include, at least, the Peak House (1711) and the Clark Tavern (1740). 

DeSorgher says creating the East Main Street Historic District is vital to maintaining Medfield's character.

East Main Street, from the area of the Peak House down to the Baptist Church, is truly the 'Gateway' into Medfield. It is the initial impression one gets when coming into Medfield along Route 109. It contains homes dating back to the Colonial Period and magnificent landmarks out of the 18th and 19th centuries. That historic stretch is one of the factors that makes Medfield "Medfield."