North Charlestown Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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North Charlestown Historic District
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 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
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| Location | River Rd., Charlestown, New Hampshire |
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| Area | 50 acres (20 ha) |
| Architectural style | Colonial, Mid 19th Century Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 05000568 |
| Added to NRHP | June 9, 2005 |
The North Charlestown Historic District is a special area in Charlestown, New Hampshire. It's like a time capsule showing what a small village looked like in the 1800s. This district helps us remember the past.
It includes a group of old buildings along New Hampshire Route 12A (River Road). These buildings are what's left of a larger farming village. The oldest buildings here date back to the 1790s. Most of the important buildings were built during the 1800s.
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What is the North Charlestown Historic District?
The North Charlestown Historic District is a protected area. It covers about 50 acres (20 hectares) of land. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005. This means it's recognized as an important historical site in the United States.
Where is this Historic Village Located?
This historic district is about 5 miles (8 kilometers) north of Charlestown's main town center. It stretches along New Hampshire Route 12A. The district goes from Ox Brook Road south to the Little Sugar River. This river is just north of Depot Hill Road.
How Did North Charlestown Begin?
People first settled in this area in the 1750s. The village's economy was based on two main things:
- Lumber: There was a mill on the Little Sugar River that helped process wood.
- Farming: Many people in the village worked on farms.
The village used to be spread out over a larger area. However, in the 1960s, a new road called New Hampshire Route 11 was built. This road separated some parts of the old village from its main center. The historic district today focuses on the core part of the village that was not affected by the new road.
What Buildings Can You See There?
The North Charlestown Historic District has many interesting old buildings. Most of them are houses made of wood. However, there are also two buildings made of brick.
Important Buildings to Explore
- Methodist Church: This church was built in 1841. It's a great example of Greek Revival architecture. This style often uses tall columns and looks like ancient Greek temples.
- Union Hall/Grange Hall: This building was constructed in 1888. It served as a community meeting place.
- Farwell School: This school is a stone building from 1889. It shows how schools looked more than a hundred years ago.
What Architectural Styles are Present?
The buildings in the district show different architectural styles from the 1800s.
- Federal architecture: This style was popular after the American Revolution. Buildings often have simple, elegant designs.
- Greek Revival architecture: As seen in the Methodist Church, this style was inspired by ancient Greek buildings.
- Italianate architecture: Some buildings have features like low-pitched roofs, wide eaves, and decorative brackets.
- Second Empire architecture: You might also see buildings with a distinctive mansard roof, which has slopes on all four sides.
The district also includes the old, ruined parts of the mill on the Little Sugar River. These ruins remind us of the village's past as a lumber center.
