Milton Center Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Milton Center Historic District
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Milton Congregational Church
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | Roughly bounded by Milton, Shearshop, Headquarters, Sawmill, and Blue Swamp Rds., Milton, Connecticut |
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| Area | 180 acres (73 ha) |
| Built | 1750 |
| Architect | Dickinson, Oliver; Et al. |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 86003754 |
| Added to NRHP | December 23, 1986 |
The Milton Center Historic District is a special area in Litchfield, Connecticut. It protects the old village center of Milton, which was important in the 1800s. This district includes old houses, churches, schools, and even traces of old factories. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986 because of its history.
Milton's Early Days
The village of Milton started around 1740. It was first called West Farms. One of the first people to arrive was David Welch. He built a house around 1756, which you can still see today. David Welch was a merchant, meaning he bought and sold goods. He also worked with iron on his land.
Other early settlers built dams on the Shepaug River. They used the river's power to run sawmills and gristmills. Sawmills cut wood, and gristmills ground grain into flour. This water power helped the village grow.
A Growing Village
In 1768, Milton officially became its own parish. This meant it had its own church and local government. The first church was built in 1791. The village was very busy and important until the mid-1800s.
But then, new technologies came along. Railroads were built, but they didn't come through Milton. Also, people found new ways to power factories without relying on water. Because of these changes, Milton became less important.
Exploring the Historic District
The Milton Center Historic District stretches along Milton Road. It goes from the cemetery in the west to where Milton Road meets Shearshop Road in the east. This meeting point is a key spot. There's a small triangular green space and the Trinity Church there.
Just a bit west of this spot is the 1791 Congregational Church. Other important old buildings include the Milton Academy and a Milton District School. You can also find two bridges crossing the East branch of the Shepaug River. Plus, there are old remains of the water-powered factories. This historic district is part of an even larger protected area.
