Peacham Corner Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Peacham Corner Historic District
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 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Location | Bayley Hazen Rd., Main St., Church St., Academy Hill, Old Cemetery Rd., Macks Mountain Rd., Peacham, Vermont |
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| Area | 100 acres (40 ha) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 03001308 |
| Added to NRHP | December 18, 2003 |
The Peacham Corner Historic District is a special area in Peacham, Vermont, that looks much like it did a long time ago! It's like a time capsule showing what a small village was like between the late 1700s and the 1860s. Because new buildings weren't added much after that, you won't see many Victorian-style homes here. This important district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003, meaning it's officially recognized for its history.
Contents
Discovering Peacham Corner's History
How Peacham Corner Started
The town of Peacham, Vermont, was first settled in 1776. This happened partly because of the Bayley Hazen Military Road, a special road built during the American Revolutionary War. This road helped people travel and settle in new areas.
In the Peacham Corner area, which became the town center, the Bayley-Hazen Road went around a small hill. The first town buildings were built on this hill.
Early Buildings and Their Stories
Some of the first important buildings in Peacham Corner included the church, the cemetery, and Peacham Academy. The church, which is now the Congregational Church, was finished in 1806. The cemetery was started in 1811.
Peacham Academy was one of the first high schools in the area. It was founded in 1797 but closed in 1971. The original academy buildings are no longer standing, but later ones have been turned into homes.
In 1844, the church was moved down the hill a bit.
Why Peacham Corner Looks So Old
Growth in the village almost stopped when the American Civil War began. Many people left the community to fight in the war. This meant that not many new buildings were built after the mid-1800s.
Because of this, Peacham Corner looks much like a mid-19th century village. It was mostly untouched by the new building styles that became popular later in the 1800s.
What You'll See Today
The historic district is centered around where Bayley-Hazen Road meets Church Street and Old Cemetery Road. It stretches a little to the north, east, and south from this spot.
It also goes further west on Church Street and Macks Mountain Road. Here, you'll find the academy, the church, and other public buildings and homes.
You can also see the town common, which is a triangular grassy area. It's where Academy Hill Road, Church Street, and Macks Mountain Road meet. The town's war memorial is located there.
Most of the buildings in the village are not too big. They are usually 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 stories tall and made of wood. They were built in either the Federal or Greek Revival styles, which were popular a long time ago.
