Lime Rock, Connecticut facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Lime Rock Historic District
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | Roughly White Hollow, Elm, Lime Rock, Norton Hill and Furnace Rds., Salisbury, Connecticut |
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| Area | 120 acres (49 ha) |
| Architect | Upjohn, Richard |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Stick/Eastlake, Queen Anne |
| NRHP reference No. | 84001064 |
| Added to NRHP | July 5, 1984 |
Lime Rock is a small village and a special historic area in the town of Salisbury, Connecticut. It's located right by the Salmon Kill river. The village center and the historic district are pretty much the same place. People often use "Lime Rock" to talk about the whole area around it too.
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Discovering Lime Rock
Lime Rock is known for its interesting past. It has changed from a busy industrial center to a quiet artist community. Today, it's famous for car racing!
A Village with a Rich Past
Long ago, Lime Rock was called "The Hollow." Around 1734, Thomas Lamb started a forge here. A forge is a place where metal is heated and shaped. This began the village's important role in the iron industry.
As the iron business grew, Lime Rock became home to the Barnum and Richardson Company. This company was a big deal in the iron industry of the upper Housatonic Valley.
William Henry Barnum was a very important person in this company. He was also a U.S. Senator and led the Democratic National Committee for a long time. He lived in Lime Rock and helped start the Trinity Episcopal Church. Many important people from the iron industry, including William Henry Barnum, are buried in the Lime Rock Cemetery.
From Iron to Art
By 1923, the Barnum and Richardson Company closed its eastern factories. The village became very quiet, and many people left.
But Lime Rock didn't stay empty for long! By 1927, artists started moving in. It became home to the Lime Rock Artists Association. This group held big art shows in the village every year from 1927 to 1935. The original historic buildings in the village are still mostly there today.
A Place for Big Ideas
In 1946, a thinker named Alfred Korzybski moved his Institute of General Semantics to Lime Rock. This institute, which studied how language affects our thinking, was in the former Richardson mansion. Korzybski led it until he passed away in 1950. The Institute stayed in Lime Rock until 1981 before moving to a new location.
Lime Rock Today
Today, Lime Rock is most famous for the exciting automobile racing course at Lime Rock Park. It's a popular spot for car enthusiasts and races.
