North Calais Village Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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North Calais Village Historic District
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 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Location | N. Calais Rd., Foster Hill Rd., Upper Rd., Moscow Hills Rd., G.A.R. Rd., Calais, Vermont |
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| Area | 25 acres (10 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 10000772 |
| Added to NRHP | September 24, 2010 |
The North Calais Village Historic District is a special area in Calais, Vermont. It's like a time capsule that shows what a busy mill village looked like in the 1800s. This district stretches along North Calais Road, following a small stream called Pekin Brook. You can still see old ruins from the mills that once stood here! In 2010, this important place was added to the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's recognized for its historical value.
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Exploring North Calais Village
What is a Historic District?
A historic district is a special area that has important old buildings or places. These areas are protected because they tell us about the past. The North Calais Village Historic District helps us understand life in a Vermont mill village long ago.
Where is North Calais Village?
This historic district is mostly found along North Calais Road. It runs between Upper Road in the north and just past Nelson Pond Road in the south. Some buildings are also on Upper Road and GAR Road. GAR Road goes along the southern shore of Mirror Lake.
Buildings from the Past
Most of the buildings in the district are old wooden houses. They are usually one or two stories tall. Many of them are built in the Greek Revival style. This style was popular in the 1800s. Besides homes, there's also an old village hall and a general store. You can also find old foundations and ruins of mills along Pekin Brook. There are even remnants of a large early tavern.
A Look Back in Time
How North Calais Began
North Calais was one of five small village centers in this rural community. These villages grew up somewhat separately because of the hilly land. The first mills on Pekin Brook were built in the early 1800s.
The Power of Water
In the mid-1800s, the village grew thanks to the strong waterpower from Pekin Brook. This power helped run the mills. They provided many services to the farms nearby. One big industry was processing wool from sheep. Vermont was famous for its sheep farming back then.
A Stop on the Stagecoach Route
North Calais was also important because it was on a stagecoach route. Stagecoaches were like old-time buses. This route connected Montpelier to Newport, and even went north into Canada. This brought travelers and business to the village.
Changes Over Time
Later in the 1800s, railroads were built, but they didn't come through North Calais. This meant the village became less important for travel. The small mills also started to decline in the early 1900s. Many of the old buildings were lost to fires, neglect, or were torn down. However, some of the nicer homes were built by the mill owners and still stand today. They remind us of the village's busy past.
