Island Pond Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Island Pond Historic District
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First Congregational Church
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 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Location | Jct. of VT 105 and VT 114, Island Pond, Vermont |
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| Area | 42 acres (17 ha) |
| Built | 1853 |
| Architectural style | Second Empire, Italianate, Carpenter Gothic |
| NRHP reference No. | 79000275 |
| Added to NRHP | January 31, 1979 |
The Island Pond Historic District is a special part of the village of Island Pond, Vermont. This area was very important in the 1800s because it was a key stop for the Grand Trunk Railway. This railway was a huge international train line that connected Portland, Maine all the way to Montreal, Canada! Island Pond became a busy center for the railroad and a major business hub for northeastern Vermont. This historic district was officially recognized and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979, meaning it's a place worth preserving for its history.
Contents
How the Railroad Changed Island Pond
Before 1853, the town of Brighton, where Island Pond is located, was a quiet farming area in northeastern Vermont. But everything changed in 1853 when the two parts of the Grand Trunk Railway met right here in Island Pond. The village is named after a nearby body of water that has a small island in it.
A Town Grows Around the Tracks
Over the next 20 years, the number of people living in Brighton jumped from less than 200 to more than 1,500! Many of these new residents worked for the railroad. Island Pond became a major service center for the trains. There was a large area between Railroad Street and South Street with service sheds and a turntable (a spinning platform for turning trains around). The old train station is still there. This station was also a customs and immigration stop, where people and goods crossing the border were checked.
The Railroad's Impact and Decline
The railroad was the main reason Island Pond grew and became so important. It brought jobs and businesses to the area. However, as trains became less important in the mid-1900s, the town faced challenges. Passenger train service on this route ended in 1963. By the mid-1970s, many of the old railroad buildings and structures were taken down.
Exploring the Historic District
The Island Pond Historic District covers a big part of the northern section of the village. It includes the area where businesses faced the railroad tracks on Main Street and Railroad Street. It also includes the main residential area (where people lived) on the north side of the tracks.
What You Can See Today
The district covers about 42 acres (about 17 hectares). Most of the buildings you see in the district were built in the 50 years after the railroad arrived in 1853. They are mostly made of wood, in a common style of the time. There is only one brick building in the district, which is the old railroad station. You can also find three churches within the district. One of these churches, the Christ Church, is known to have been designed by an architect.
