Depot Square Historic District (Randolph, Vermont) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Depot Square Historic District
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| Location | Both sides of Main, Pleasant and Salisbury Sts., and both sides of Central Vermont Rwy. tracks, Randolph, Vermont |
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| Area | 12 acres (4.9 ha) |
| Built | 1877 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Late Victorian, Second Empire |
| NRHP reference No. | 75000143 |
| Added to NRHP | May 29, 1975 |
The Depot Square Historic District is a special part of Randolph, Vermont. It's where the town's main shops and businesses used to be. This area grew up in the mid-1800s because of the Central Vermont Railway train station. Many buildings here are very old and well-kept. They show off cool styles like Second Empire and Late Victorian architecture. This historic area was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.
What is Depot Square?
Randolph is a town in central Vermont. It sits in the White River valley. The town is about halfway between Montpelier, the state capital, and White River Junction. White River Junction is a big center for business and industry.
How the Train Changed Randolph
The first center of Randolph was near the White River. This was about half a mile north of where the main shops are now. In 1848, the Central Vermont Railway started train service to Randolph. The train station quickly became the new heart of the town. Most of the buildings you see today were built after 1875. The current train station itself was built in 1877.
Old industrial buildings are also part of this area. These include the Randolph Coal and Ice Company building. There's also a large grain mill. Depot Square has many brick buildings from the 1870s and 1880s. These buildings are great examples of Second Empire and Late Victorian styles.
Exploring the Historic District
The historic district is built around three sets of train tracks. These tracks run from east to west. Roads run next to the tracks on both sides. These roads form Depot Square. Main Street (Vermont Route 12) and Pleasant Street also extend from the train crossing. They go north to where they meet.
The train station is at Salisbury and Main Streets. Shops and businesses line Main and Salisbury Streets. They also line Merchants Row in this area. Pleasant Street has mostly homes on one side. The other side has the back of the Main Street buildings.
