Plainfield Village Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Plainfield Village Historic District
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 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Location | High, School, Main and Water Sts., and Brook Rd., Plainfield and Marshfield, Vermont |
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| Area | 37.5 acres (15.2 ha) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 83003223 |
| Added to NRHP | February 3, 1983 |
The Plainfield Village Historic District is a special area in the village of Plainfield, Vermont. It's located in the northern part of Plainfield, right on United States Route 2. This district also reaches a little bit into the nearby town of Marshfield.
This village became important in the 1800s. It was a place where mills used water power to make things, and it served the farms around it. Today, the district has many old buildings that show off the styles of that time. These include Greek Revival and Italianate designs. Because of its history and well-kept buildings, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.
Exploring Plainfield's Historic Village
The town of Plainfield is found in the Winooski River valley. This is east of Montpelier, which is Vermont's capital city. Route 2 crosses the northern part of Plainfield, following the river valley.
How the Village Grew
Long ago, in the late 1700s, a waterfall was found where the Winooski River meets Great Brook. This waterfall was perfect for powering mills. People built mills there to grind grain and cut wood. The village started to grow around these mills. It spread along the main road on the north side of the river. It also grew across the river, northeast of where the two waterways meet.
Over the years, fires and floods sometimes destroyed the mills. But people always rebuilt them. Other businesses also started up, using the river's power. Today, only the dam on the river reminds us of this busy industrial past. Now, the village helps serve Goddard College, which is nearby. It also serves people who travel to work in Montpelier.
What You'll See in the District
The historic district stretches along Route 2. It goes from Towne Avenue in the west to about Hillside Drive in Marshfield in the east. It also crosses the river along Main Street to Creamery Street. And it goes along River Street, just past Great Brook.
You'll find a few shops and businesses mainly along Route 2 and Main Street. Most of the other buildings in the district are homes. The most common building styles are Greek Revival and Italianate. These styles were popular in the mid-1800s. That's when the village was doing very well economically. You might notice there are many brick houses, which is quite special.
Public buildings are also part of the district. These include the town hall, which used to be a Universalist church and is in the Greek Revival style. There's also the local library. The Methodist church, built in 1852, is another example of Greek Revival architecture.
