Norwich Mid-Century Modern Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Norwich Mid-Century Modern Historic District
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 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Location | Parts of Hopson, Pine Tree & Spring Pond Rds., Norwich, Vermont |
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| Area | 125 acres (51 ha) |
| Architect | Emerson, Joseph; Hatch, Joseph |
| Architectural style | Mid-Century Modern |
| NRHP reference No. | 100002604 |
| Added to NRHP | June 25, 2018 |
The Norwich Mid-Century Modern Historic District is a special area in Norwich, Vermont. It has many unique houses built in the Mid-Century Modern style. These homes are found on parts of Hopson, Pine Tree, and Spring Pond Roads. This district is one of the best examples of this type of architecture in Vermont. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2018, which means it's an important historical site.
What is Mid-Century Modern?
Vermont hasn't always been a place where modern building styles were popular. However, the town of Norwich was different. It was influenced by nearby colleges like Norwich University and Dartmouth College. These schools helped new ideas, including modern architecture from the mid-1900s, to grow. Famous architects like Frank Lloyd Wright helped make these styles popular.
In 1951, a retired businessman named Keith Warner and his wife, Edna, moved to Norwich. They bought a large piece of land on Hopson Road. They built one of the first Mid-Century Modern houses in the town. The Warners then divided their land into smaller lots. They sold these lots to others and even built more modern houses themselves. Charles McKirahan, an architect from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, designed many of these homes.
Exploring the District's Homes
The Norwich Mid-Century Modern Historic District is located about 1 mile (1.6 km) west of Norwich's town center. It sits on a low ridge, which is like a small hill. Hopson Road runs along the bottom of this ridge. Pine Tree and Spring Pond Roads branch off, forming a small neighborhood on the west side.
There are fourteen buildings in this district that are important because of their history and style. These homes show typical features of the Mid-Century Modern style. They use different materials on the outside, like stone, wood, and glass. They have modern windows, often with large fixed panes or casement windows that open outwards. Most of these houses also have flat roofs. They are often built on slopes or rocky ground. This allows them to have great views of the surrounding landscape.
