National Register of Historic Places listings in Strafford County, New Hampshire facts for kids
Have you ever wondered about old buildings and places that are super important to history? In Strafford County, New Hampshire, there's a special list of these amazing spots! It's called the National Register of Historic Places. This list helps protect buildings, areas, and objects that have a lot of history or special meaning in the United States.
When a place is on this list, it means it's recognized as important for its history, architecture, or what it tells us about the past. Strafford County has 45 different places on this list. One of them is even more special and is called a National Historic Landmark! Let's explore some of these cool historic sites.
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Historic Buildings and Homes
Many of the places on the National Register are old houses, churches, or schools that show us how people lived and built things long ago.
Dover's Historic Gems
Dover, New Hampshire has many interesting historic buildings:
- Back River Farm (listed 1984): This old farm gives us a peek into what farming life was like in the past.
- First Parish Church (listed 1982): This church on Central Avenue is a beautiful old building. There's also the First Parish Church Site-Dover Point (listed 1983), which is where the original church stood.
- William Hale House (listed 1980): This house on Hale Street is a historic home.
- Public Market (listed 1985): Located on Washington Street, this building used to be a busy market where people bought and sold goods.
- Michael Reade House (listed 1980): Another historic home on Main Street.
- Religious Society of Friends Meetinghouse (listed 1980): This meetinghouse on Central Avenue is a place of worship for the Religious Society of Friends, also known as Quakers.
- St. Thomas Episcopal Church (listed 1984): This church on Hale Street is another important religious building.
- Sawyer Building (listed 1980): Found on Portland Street, this building has been around for a long time.
- Woodman Institute (listed 1980): This building on Central Avenue is now a museum where you can learn about local history.
- Samuel Wyatt House (listed 1982): This historic house is on Church Street.
Somersworth's Old Structures
Somersworth, New Hampshire also has some cool historic spots:
- Green Street School (listed 1985): This old school building on Green Street helped educate many children over the years.
- Lehoullier Building (listed 1979): Located on Main Street, this building is a historic commercial spot.
- Old Somersworth High School (listed 2015): This building on Grand Street used to be the high school. It was later an elementary school.
- US Post Office-Somersworth Main (listed 1986): This building on Government Way is the main post office.
Other Town Treasures
- Canaan Chapel (listed 1982): In Barrington, New Hampshire, this chapel on Canaan Road is a historic place of worship.
- Free Will Baptist Church (listed 1980): This church on Ridge Top Road in New Durham, New Hampshire is another historic religious building.
- Milton Town House (listed 1980): In Milton, New Hampshire, this building on NH 125 and Town House Road served as the town's meeting place.
- New Durham Town Hall (listed 1980): This town hall on Main Street and Ridge Road in New Durham is where town decisions were made.
- Rollinsford Grade School (listed 2015): In Rollinsford, New Hampshire, this old school on Locust Street taught many students.
- Rollinsford Town Hall (listed 1999): This town hall on Main Street in Rollinsford is a historic government building.
- Strafford Union Academy (listed 1983): In Strafford, New Hampshire, this academy on NH 126 and NH 202A was an important educational institution.
- Thompson Hall (listed 1996): Located on the University of New Hampshire campus in Durham, New Hampshire, this building is a landmark for the university.
- US Post Office-Dover Main (listed 1986): This post office on Washington Street in Dover is a historic place where mail was handled.
Historic Districts and Areas
Some listings aren't just one building but a whole area or group of buildings that are important together. These are called Historic Districts.
- Durham Historic District (listed 1980): This district includes Main Street and Newmarket Road in Durham, New Hampshire. It's a whole area with many historic buildings.
- Rochester Commercial and Industrial District (listed 1983): This district in Rochester, New Hampshire includes parts of Main, Wakefield, and Hanson Streets, plus Central Square. It shows the history of businesses and factories in the city.
- Salmon Falls Mill Historic District (listed 1980): Located on Front Street in Rollinsford, New Hampshire, this district includes old mill buildings that were once very important for making goods.
- Sawyer Woolen Mills (listed 1989): This historic district on Mill Street in Dover, New Hampshire includes the old woolen mills, which were big factories that made fabric.
Farms and Other Unique Sites
Strafford County also has historic farms and other special places.
- Farmington Town Pound (listed 1993): In Farmington, New Hampshire, this unique stone enclosure on Pound Road was built in 1823. It was used to hold stray animals like cows or horses until their owners came to get them! It's one of the few well-preserved pounds in the area.
- Jenness Farm (listed 2001): This farm is located in both Rochester, New Hampshire and Dover, New Hampshire. It's a historic farm that shows us about agriculture in the past.
- New Durham Meetinghouse and Pound (listed 1980): In New Durham, New Hampshire, this site on Old Bay Road includes both an old meetinghouse and a pound for animals.
- Plumer-Jones Farm (listed 1979): This farm on White Mountain Highway in Milton, New Hampshire is now the New Hampshire Farm Museum, where you can learn all about farming history!
- Plummer Homestead (listed 2002): Another historic farm on White Mountain Highway in Milton.
- Strafford County Farm (listed 1981): This farm on County Farm Road in Dover, New Hampshire has a long history, including once being an almshouse, a place for people who needed help.
- Wiswall Falls Mills Site (listed 1988): This site in John Hatch Park in Durham, New Hampshire is where old mills once stood by the Lamprey River. It tells the story of early industry.
National Historic Landmark
One place in Strafford County is so important that it's called a National Historic Landmark. This is the highest level of historical recognition in the United States.
- Gen. John Sullivan House (listed 1972): Located on Newmarket Road in Durham, New Hampshire, this was the home of General John Sullivan. He was a very important leader during the American Revolutionary War and later became the President of New Hampshire.