Newtown–Stephensburg Historic District facts for kids
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Newtown–Stephensburg Historic District
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5300 block of Main Street
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| Location | Area including Main, Mulberry, Green, Fairfax, Martin, Short, Germain, and Water streets |
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| Nearest city | Stephens City, Virginia |
| Area | 65 acres (26 ha) |
| Built | 1758 to 1941 |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals Mid 19th Century Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 92001033 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | August 18, 1992 |
The Newtown–Stephensburg Historic District is a special area in the middle of Stephens City, Virginia. It stretches along U.S. Route 11, from the very north to the very south of the town. This historic district also reaches from just east of Green Hill Cemetery to just west of where State Route 277 meets Interstate 81.
This 65-acre (26 ha) area is a historic district. It includes 143 buildings and 4 other sites that help tell its story. These places are important because they show what the town was like long ago.
Contents
The Story of Newtown–Stephensburg
How the Town Began
The land that is now the Newtown–Stephensburg Historic District was first settled in 1734. A German settler named Peter Stephens moved here. He had traveled from Pennsylvania in 1732 with Joist Hite. Joist Hite's grandson, Isaac Hite, Jr., later built the famous Belle Grove Plantation. That plantation is in nearby Middletown, Virginia.
Peter Stephens' son, Lewis Stephens, owned a large piece of land, about 900 acres (3.6 km2). This land became the town of Stephensburgh when it was officially started in September 1758.
A Hub for Travel and Trade
Stephensburgh became the second oldest town in the Shenandoah Valley. Only Winchester, Virginia is older. From the very beginning, the town was a busy center for trade and travel. It was located along two important roads: the "Great Philadelphia Wagon Road" (which is now U.S. Route 11) and the "Old Dutch Wagon Road" (now State Route 277).
Because Routes 11 and 277 were so busy for many years, the town's businesses focused on transportation. For example, in the 1800s, there were famous "Newtown Wagon" companies. Today, you can still find many service centers and places to eat that serve travelers.
A Glimpse into the Past
What makes this historic area so special is how well-preserved it is. The buildings and the overall look of the town haven't changed much. Very few new buildings have been built here since the early 1940s. This means you can still see what the town looked like many years ago!
