Rockingham Village Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Rockingham Village Historic District
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The Pleasant Valley Grange
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 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Location | Meeting House Rd., Rockingham Hill Rd., Rockingham, Vermont |
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| Area | 36.8 acres (14.9 ha) |
| Built | 1908 |
| Architectural style | Georgian, Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 07001346 |
| Added to NRHP | January 4, 2008 |
Imagine stepping back in time! The Rockingham Village Historic District is a special area in Rockingham, Vermont. It's like a time capsule, showing us what a village looked like in the 1700s and 1800s. You'll find old houses and buildings, many of which survived a big fire in 1908. One super important building here is the Rockingham Meeting House, which is so old and special it's called a National Historic Landmark. This whole district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008, meaning it's officially recognized for its history.
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Discovering Rockingham Village
This historic district is a cool place to explore! It's mainly found along Meeting House Road. This road used to be a main highway, Vermont Route 103. The district also includes a few buildings on Rockingham Hill Road.
A Look Back in Time
The town of Rockingham started way back in 1753. But people didn't really start settling here until the 1760s. The village was built on a hill overlooking the Williams River. This is where the first meeting house, cemetery, and post office were set up.
The village quickly became an important stop for travelers. It had shops, places to eat, a mill for grinding grain, and blacksmith shops. However, by the 1820s, another nearby town, Bellows Falls, became more important for business. So, Rockingham Village didn't grow as much after that.
The Great Fire of 1908
On April 14, 1908, a big fire swept through the village. Many shops and homes were destroyed. But luckily, the recently fixed-up Rockingham Meeting House was saved! Only a few new buildings were built after the fire, like the Grange hall. In the 1950s, the main highway was moved, so the village became even quieter.
What You'll See Today
The Rockingham Village Historic District has 13 important properties. These include the town's very first cemetery. You'll also see the amazing 1787 Rockingham Meeting House. This building is one of Vermont's best examples of old-style architecture from the late 1700s.
Many of the houses you'll see were built before 1850. Some of the oldest homes date all the way back to the 1770s! The only newer buildings are the Grange hall and two houses. These were built after the 1908 fire.
