St. Albans Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
St. Albans Historic District
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | U.S. 7 and VT 36, St. Albans, Vermont |
|---|---|
| Area | 35 acres (14 ha) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Romanesque, Queen Anne |
| NRHP reference No. | 80000335 |
| Added to NRHP | May 1, 1980 |
The St. Albans Historic District is a special area in the city of St. Albans, Vermont. It includes many old buildings and the main town park. This park, called Taylor Park, is right in the middle of the district. The buildings here are from the early 1800s to the early 1900s. This district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. This means it's an important place to protect because of its history.
Contents
Exploring St. Albans History
How St. Albans Began
The area of St. Albans was first set up in 1763. But not many people lived there until after the American Revolutionary War. The main town park, now known as Taylor Park, was planned out in 1792. A major road for stagecoaches, which is now close to United States Route 7, was built by Ira Allen to go past the park.
Growing with the Railroad
St. Albans became very successful in the early 1800s. This was because it was the main town for Franklin County. The city got a big boost when the Central Vermont Railroad built its main offices and a large service yard there. This brought many jobs and people to the area.
Fires and New Buildings
Downtown St. Albans had several big fires in the late 1800s. These fires destroyed many buildings. Because of this, new buildings were built in different styles from different times. This is why you can see many kinds of old buildings in the district today. The city and town of St. Albans officially became separate in 1902. The city part included the main village area.
What You'll Find in the District
The historic district covers about 35 acres of downtown St. Albans. The most important spot is Taylor Park. This is a rectangular green space surrounded by streets. Public buildings and shops are on the other side of these streets. The district stretches along North Main Street (US 7). It goes north to Hoyt Street and south to Stebbins Street. It also includes buildings on nearby blocks between North Main and Federal Street. North and east of Taylor Park, it reaches Congress Street to the north and Hospital Street to the south. Besides shops, you can find the city hall, several churches, and the Franklin County Courthouse here.
