Franklin Falls Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Franklin Falls Historic District
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Central Street; Town Hall is on the near left
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| Location | Roughly bounded by Bow, River, School, Aylers Sts. and Winnipesaukee River, Franklin, New Hampshire |
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| Area | 75 acres (30 ha) |
| Built | 1840 |
| Architectural style | Mid 19th Century Revival, Late Victorian, Vernacular Commercial |
| NRHP reference No. | 82001691 |
| Added to NRHP | August 19, 1982 |
The Franklin Falls Historic District is a special area in Franklin, New Hampshire. It covers about 75 acres (which is like 57 football fields!). This district is important because it shows us what the main parts of Franklin looked like when the town was growing quickly in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
This historic area includes Central Street, which is a big road (also known as U.S. Route 3). It stretches between two bridges over the Winnipesaukee River. You'll also find Odell Park here, plus old factory buildings along the river. Some important buildings on the smaller streets south of Central Street are also part of this district. Because of its history, the Franklin Falls Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
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What is the Franklin Falls Historic District?
A historic district is a group of buildings, structures, objects, or sites that are important because of their history or architecture. They are protected to help people learn about the past. The Franklin Falls Historic District tells the story of how Franklin grew from a small settlement into a busy city.
Early History of Franklin Falls
Long before European settlers arrived, the Penacook tribe of the Abenaki people lived in the Franklin Falls area. We know this from old records and from things found by archaeologists in Odell Park. European settlers didn't start building homes here until the late 1740s.
The area didn't really start to grow a lot until the railroad came through in 1846. The railroad made it easier to move goods and people, which helped new businesses and factories start up.
How Industry Shaped the Town
In 1864, a man named Walter Aiken opened a factory in Franklin Falls. He was an inventor who created a special knitting machine. His factory was a big part of the early industrial growth. After that, many more factories, mostly made of brick, were built along the river. These factories were often called "mills."
These mills made many different things and brought jobs to the town. However, by the 1970s, most of these original factories had closed down. Even so, the buildings still stand and tell the story of Franklin's industrial past.
A Growing Community
The success of these factories brought a lot of money and people to Franklin. This led to Central Street becoming the main shopping and community center. Many of the brick buildings you see on Central Street today were built in the 1860s and 1870s. They often have a style called "Italianate," which was popular back then.
The town also added important public places. Odell Park was created in the 1890s, giving people a nice place to relax. The Franklin Opera House, which also holds town offices, was built in 1892. In the 1890s, several private libraries were combined to form the Franklin Free Public Library. Its building, finished in 1907, even got some money from a famous rich person named Andrew Carnegie, who helped build many libraries across the country.
