St. Johnsbury Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. Johnsbury Historic District
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 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Location | U.S. 5 and U.S. 2, St. Johnsbury, Vermont |
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| Area | 3 acres (1.2 ha) |
| Architectural style | Mid 19th Century Revival, Late Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 80000424 |
| Added to NRHP | April 17, 1980 |
The St. Johnsbury Historic District is a special area in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. It includes many important old buildings. These buildings show how the town's main business and public areas grew over time. This district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. It helps us understand the history of St. Johnsbury.
Contents
Discovering St. Johnsbury's Historic Center
This historic district is like a time capsule. It shows how two main streets, Main Street and Railroad Street, competed. Both wanted to be the most important part of town. The district covers a large part of St. Johnsbury's old downtown.
How the Town Grew Over Time
St. Johnsbury was first settled in the late 1700s. The early town was built on a high area above the Passumpsic River. This is where Main Street is located today. In the early 1800s, this area became a center for homes and public buildings. Some businesses also started here.
The arrival of railroads in the 1800s changed things. A new "lower district" grew around the train tracks. This area, now called Railroad Street, became a busy business hub.
Two Main Streets, One Town
During the second half of the 1800s, Railroad Street and Main Street competed. Each wanted to be the most important business area. Eastern Avenue, a road connecting Main and Railroad Streets, also started to grow with businesses.
Railroad Street thrived because of the busy train activity. Main Street also did well, thanks to the Fairbanks family. Their company, Fairbanks Scale Works, was the town's biggest employer. It was located near Main Street.
Exploring the District's Unique Shape
The historic district looks roughly like the letter "H" on a map. This shape shows how the town developed. The eastern side of the "H" is Railroad Street. It runs from Portland Street to Depot Square. This part includes many commercial buildings from the late 1800s and early 1900s.
The western side of the "H" is Main Street. It stretches from Mt. Pleasant Street to Vine Street. This area has a mix of homes and public buildings. About a quarter of the buildings on Main Street were designed by Lambert Packard. He was a famous architect who also designed buildings on Railroad Street.
The middle part of the "H" connects the two streets. It includes Eastern Avenue and extends west on Western Avenue.
Important Places and People
Main Street is home to two famous St. Johnsbury places. One is the St. Johnsbury Atheneum, a library and art gallery. It is a National Historic Landmark. The other is the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium. Both of these amazing places were built with money from the Fairbanks family. They were very generous to the town.
