Salisbury Center Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Salisbury Center Historic District
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | Roughly along Academy, E. Main, Factory, and Main Sts., and 15 Underwood Rd., Salisbury, Connecticut |
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| Area | 26 acres (11 ha) |
| Built | 1800 |
| Architect | Bartlett, Truman H.; Bissell, George E. |
| Architectural style | Early Republic, Mid 19th Century Revival, Late Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 97001115 |
| Added to NRHP | September 11, 1997 |
The Salisbury Center Historic District is a special area in Salisbury, Connecticut. It includes the old town center and the main shopping street. This district has been important since 1741 and looks like a typical small town from the 1800s. You can find it along Main Street, between Library Street and Under Mountain Road. This historic area was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.
Discovering Salisbury's History
Salisbury is a town located in the northwest part of Connecticut. It was officially started in 1741. The town grew quickly because people found a lot of iron ore in its hills. This iron was used to make many things.
How Salisbury Grew
For a long time, Salisbury's economy depended on mining iron. However, by the time of the American Civil War, new technologies made iron mining in Salisbury less important. Because of this, the town did not grow much more economically. The town center itself began to form in the mid-1740s. A famous place called the Bushnell Tavern opened in 1746. The town cemetery was also started in 1750. Part of the original Bushnell Tavern building still stands today at 6 Factory Street, though it has changed over time.
Important Buildings to See
The historic district has some interesting landmarks. At its northern end, you'll find a triangle-shaped town green. This green is where Main Street and Under Mountain Road meet. Nearby is the White Hart Tavern, a large building that dates back to around 1800.
At the southern end of the district, you'll see important town buildings. These include the town hall and the Scoville Library. Both are on big, nicely landscaped properties. The town hall was built more recently in 1988. However, it looks traditional with its clapboard siding and decorative columns called pilasters. The Scoville Library is much older, built in 1894. It is a stone building with a Romanesque style. A kind person from the town donated it.
Between these two ends, there's a three-block area with shops and businesses. These buildings are usually two stories tall and not too big. Many of them used to be homes that were later turned into stores or offices.
