Hancock Village Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Hancock Village Historic District
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Main Street, looking west from the junction with Bennington Street
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 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
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| Location | Main St. roughly between Norway Pond La. and Old Dublin Rd., and Bennington and Norway Hill Rds., Hancock, New Hampshire |
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| Area | 36.3 acres (14.7 ha) |
| Architect | Multiple |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Late Victorian, Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 88000178 |
| Added to NRHP | March 8, 1988 |
The Hancock Village Historic District is the historic center of Hancock, New Hampshire. It stretches along Main Street, from Pine Ridge Cemetery to the east. It also includes parts of Bennington and Norway Hill Roads. This area was laid out in 1785. The village grew around it over the next 100 years. This special district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.
Contents
Discovering Hancock Village History
Hancock Village is in the middle of a quiet, hilly town. The town was first settled in the 1770s. It officially became a town in 1780. However, it didn't have any public spaces at first.
How Hancock Village Got Its Common Area
The exact center of Hancock was a big marshy area. Because of this, the people couldn't agree on where to put a town common. So, in 1785, a state group was asked to pick the spot. This chosen area became the town's common.
Buildings and Spaces Around the Common
The common and the land around it were set aside for public use. This included the town's first cemetery and an animal pound. There was also a meeting house and an early school. Later, an armory built in the late 1800s became a Grange hall.
The Common as a Public Park
In the early 1900s, the common was turned into a public park. Today, you can still see things like a bandstand, a fountain, and a war memorial there. These additions made the common a nice place for everyone to enjoy.
Main Street's Development Over Time
The Main Street area, just east of the common, grew a lot in the 1800s. It became a busy place for shops and homes. Much of this growth happened in the first half of the 19th century.
Architectural Styles of Hancock Village
Most of the houses on Main Street have a simple style. They often show Greek Revival or Federal designs. These styles were popular in the early 1800s. The shops along Main Street also have a simple look. They were mostly built in the mid-to-late 1800s.
