J. R. Darling Store facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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J.R. Darling Store
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 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Location | 284 Scott Highway, Groton, Vermont |
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| Area | 0.8 acres (0.32 ha) |
| Built | 1895 |
| Built by | Carpenter, George; Hayes, Fred E. |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival, Early Commercial |
| NRHP reference No. | 04000442 |
| Added to NRHP | May 12, 2004 |
The J.R. Darling Store is a special old building in Groton, Vermont. It's a historic general store that has been around for a long time. It was built way back in 1895. This building is so important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004. This means it's officially recognized as a valuable part of history!
Discovering the J.R. Darling Store
The J.R. Darling Store is located in the small village of Groton, Vermont. You can find it on the north side of Scott Highway. This highway, also known as United States Route 302, is a big road. It connects Groton to other towns like Montpelier in the west and Littleton, New Hampshire in the east.
What Does the Store Look Like?
The J.R. Darling Store is a two-and-a-half-story building. It is made of wood and has a gabled roof. The building has an L-shape. Its foundation is mostly made of strong granite. The outside walls are covered with wooden clapboards and vinyl siding. It has some simple, old-fashioned decorations.
The front of the store has a main entrance that is set back a bit. On each side of the entrance are large display windows. Above the entrance, there is an open porch with a railing. Another entrance is on the side of the building. A part of the building extends to the back, which used to be for homes.
A Look Back in Time: The Store's History
The spot where the Darling Store stands has always been a place for business. In the early 1800s, one of Groton's first settlers had a tailor's shop here. A tailor makes and repairs clothes. Later, a tavern was built on the site. A tavern was like an inn where people could eat, drink, and stay. This tavern also had a meeting hall. For many years, important town meetings were held in this hall.
Around 1877, a local businessman named Jonathan R. Darling bought the property. He was a well-known person in the community. Mr. Darling moved the tavern part of the building to a nearby piece of land. Today, that old tavern is part of the Alice Lord Goodine House, which is now the public library.
The front part of the current J.R. Darling Store was built around 1895. Over the years, the building was made bigger several times. It reached its current size in the 1920s. In 1980, a fire caused a lot of damage to parts of the building. However, it was carefully rebuilt to look like it did before. Today, the back part of the building has homes. The front part, where the store used to be, now houses a winery shop.
