Railroad Street Historic District facts for kids
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Railroad Street Historic District
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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The Citizens and Merchants Bank Blocks
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 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Location | Roughly bounded N and S by Railroad St. and Canadian Pacific RR tracks, St. Johnsbury, Vermont |
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| Area | 5 acres (2.0 ha) |
| Built | 1883 |
| Architect | Packard, Lambert; Multiple |
| Architectural style | Romanesque, Vernacular Chateauesque |
| Part of | St. Johnsbury Historic District (ID80000424) |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000354 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | June 25, 1974 |
| Designated CP | April 17, 1980 |
The Railroad Street Historic District is a special area in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. It includes old buildings that were important for businesses and trains in the late 1800s. This district has five business buildings and the town's train station, which was built in 1883.
This area shows how important St. Johnsbury was as a major train hub in northern New England. A "historic district" is a place recognized for its important past. The Railroad Street Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. This is a list of places in the United States that are worth saving because of their history. Later, in 1980, this district became part of an even bigger historic area called the St. Johnsbury Historic District.
Contents
What is the Railroad Street Historic District?
The Railroad Street Historic District is located around Railroad Street and Eastern Avenue. It includes the old train station and several buildings that were once busy shops and offices. There's also a small park area called Depot Square.
How Did St. Johnsbury Become a Train Hub?
In the mid-1800s, St. Johnsbury changed a lot. New train lines were built that went north-south and east-west. This made the town a very busy place for trains and travel. It became a central spot where different train routes met.
The Important Union Station Building
The town's main train station, called Union Station, was built in 1883. It's a large brick building designed in a style called French Chateau. This station was built to handle all the trains and passengers from two big railroad companies:
- The Connecticut and Passumpsic Railroad: This line carried many passengers between Boston and Montreal.
- The St. Johnsbury and Lake Champlain Railroad: This line served the northern part of Vermont, going west.
New Buildings After the Fires
Sadly, there were big fires in 1892 and 1896. These fires destroyed many business buildings near the train station, especially around Railroad Street and Eastern Avenue. But the town quickly rebuilt! New brick buildings were put up to replace the ones that were lost.
Key Buildings in the District
Besides the 1883 train station, the historic district includes several other interesting buildings:
- Citizens and Merchants Bank Blocks: These are two very similar buildings on the east side of Railroad Street. They are four stories tall and have a Romanesque style. They feature fancy tops (cornices) and rows of arched windows. A local architect named Lambert Packard designed them. He used ideas from a style called Richardsonian Romanesque.
- New Avenue Hotel: This building is on the west side of Railroad Street. It's also four stories tall. It has a large round entrance section right at the corner of Railroad and Eastern Avenue.
These buildings show the history of St. Johnsbury and how important trains were to its growth.
