Grafton Post Office (Grafton, Vermont) facts for kids
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Grafton Post Office
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Location | 205 Main St., Grafton, Vermont |
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| Area | 0.1 acres (0.040 ha) |
| Built | 1855 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Part of | Grafton Village Historic District (ID10000171) |
| NRHP reference No. | 05000807 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | August 06, 2005 |
| Designated CP | April 7, 2010 |
The Grafton Post Office is a very old and important building located at 205 Main Street in Grafton, Vermont. It was built in 1855 and looks like a classic Greek Revival style building. For over 100 years, it served as the town's post office, helping people send and receive mail. Later, it became a museum for the local historical society. This special building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005 because of its history. Today, the historical society still owns it, but they rent it out for shops.
About the Old Grafton Post Office
This historic building is found on the east side of Grafton village. It sits on the north side of Main Street, which is also known as Vermont Route 121. You can find it just west of where Main Street meets Chester Road (Vermont Route 35).
What the Building Looks Like
The old post office is a small, one-story building made of wood. It has a roof that points forward, like a triangle, and its sides are covered with clapboard siding. The foundation is made of fieldstone. The front of the building has three sections, with the main door in the section on the far left. Simple wooden boards decorate the corners, and the roof has small returns (parts that stick out) on the gable ends.
Inside, the building has one large main room. There are also two smaller rooms in extensions at the back. Some of the original features from when it was first built are still there.
A Look Back in Time
The Grafton Post Office was built in 1855 for the town's third postmaster, who was in charge of the mail. It worked as the town's post office until 1958, serving the community for over a century!
Something interesting happened in 1938 during a huge storm called the Great New England Hurricane. The floodwaters were so strong that they actually lifted the building off its foundation! After the storm, the building was placed on a new foundation, a little bit away from its original spot.
In 1962, the building was sold to the Grafton Historical Society. They used it to house their museum until 1978, showing off local history. The society still owns the building today, and they rent it out to businesses.
