Luther Store Explained

Luther Store
Nearest City:Swansea, Massachusetts
Coordinates:41.7447°N -71.2236°W
Built:1815
Architect:Mace Luther
Added:May 22, 1978
Refnum:78000438
Nrhp Type2:cp
Nocat:yes
Designated Nrhp Type2:February 16, 1990
Partof:Luther's Corner
Partof Refnum:90000054

The Luther Store is a historic store at 160 Old Warren Road in Swansea, Massachusetts. It is a -story brick structure with a saltbox profile. Its main facade is five bays wide, with entrances in the second and fourth bays, and interior chimneys at each end. The store retains original fixtures, including solid mahogany counters, drawers for goods storage, and the proprietor's desk. The store was built in 1815 by John Brown Luther, and was operated by the Luther family as a store until 1903. The Luther's Corner area was in the mid-19th century the economic center of Swansea, and Luther's Store served as post office and library. It was acquired in 1941 by the Swansea Historical Society, which now operates it as a local history museum.[1]

Fall River architect Maude Darling-Parlin worked on the restoration of the Luther Store.[2]

The store was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: MACRIS inventory record for Luther Store. Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 2014-06-26.
  2. News: Allard . Deborah . Four Fall River women who were ahead of their time . 14 September 2020 . Herald News . 7 March 2016 . Fall River . Not only did Parlin design new buildings, she helped preserve historic structures, including the Luther Store in Swansea, today’s Swansea Historical Society. In 1986, Parlin’s daughter, the late Frances Davenport, told The Herald News that when Parlin was working on the restoration of the Luther Store, one of the wide floor boards gave way and sent her mother into the cellar. Still standing on her feet, Parlin was rescued by an amazed contractor..