St. Johnsbury Main Street Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. Johnsbury Main Street Historic District
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 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Location | Area along Main St. including intersecting streets, St. Johnsbury, Vermont |
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| Area | 75 acres (30 ha) |
| Architectural style | Mid 19th Century Revival, Late Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 75000238 |
| Added to NRHP | May 28, 1975 |
The St. Johnsbury Main Street Historic District is a special area in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. It's like a time capsule, showing off the town's important buildings and history from the 1800s and early 1900s. Many of these beautiful buildings were designed by a famous local architect named Lambert Packard. This district is so important that it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's recognized for its historical value.
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Discovering St. Johnsbury's Main Street History
Imagine stepping back in time! The Main Street area of St. Johnsbury started as a busy center for homes and town activities in the early 1800s. Even though the arrival of railroads later made another part of town (Railroad Street) a big commercial hub, Main Street kept its important role. It's still where you'll find the town hall and the main buildings for Caledonia County.
What Makes This District Special?
The historic district stretches along Main Street, from Mt. Pleasant Street in the north to Vine Street in the south. It also includes some nearby streets like Barker Street and Prospect Street.
- Northern End: At the north, there's a small park. This part of the district mainly has homes.
- Religious Buildings: South of Winter Street, you'll see several churches and the Fairbanks Museum and Observatory. This museum is a cool place to explore science and nature!
- Town Center: Where Western and Eastern Avenues meet (which is part of United States Route 2), you'll find some shops, the town hall, and the county courthouse. This area is also home to the St. Johnsbury Atheneum.
The St. Johnsbury Atheneum
The St. Johnsbury Atheneum was built in 1875. It's one of the oldest museums in the country that still looks much like it did when it was first built. It's a fantastic place to visit and learn!
Grand Homes and Famous Families
South of the Western Avenue junction, there's another small park with an old-fashioned fountain. This area has many large, beautiful homes. Some of these were built by members of the famous Fairbanks family. They owned the Fairbanks Scale Works, which was the biggest employer in St. Johnsbury in the late 1800s. Their homes show how important and successful they were in the town's history.
