Strafford Village Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Strafford Village Historic District
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The 1799 meeting house
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 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Location | Roughly both sides of Morrill Hwy. and Sharon Brook Rd., Strafford, Vermont, United States |
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| Area | 120 acres (49 ha) |
| Built | 1768 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000246 |
| Added to NRHP | June 20, 1974 |
The Strafford Village Historic District is a special area in Strafford, Vermont, United States. It protects the old village center. This village started in 1768. Most of its buildings were built between the 1790s and 1840. Many buildings show the beautiful Greek Revival architecture style.
Some important buildings are the 1799 meetinghouse and the Justin Smith Morrill Homestead. The Morrill Homestead is a great example of Gothic Revival architecture. It was built by Justin Smith Morrill, who grew up in Strafford. The district is around the town green. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
Contents
Discovering Strafford Village History
The town of Strafford was officially started in 1768. This happened when the governor of Province of New Hampshire, Benning Wentworth, gave it a special paper called a charter. The first town center was a bit north of where it is now.
The current village grew because of its meetinghouse. Also, a main road (now Morrill Highway) passed through it. This road connected Montpelier, Vermont to Boston, Massachusetts.
How Strafford Village Grew
In the 1820s, people found copper ore in the hills around Strafford. This discovery helped the village's economy grow. More people came, and businesses did well.
However, this growth slowed down. In the 1840s, much larger copper deposits were found in the American Midwest. This meant less demand for Strafford's copper.
Exploring Strafford Village Buildings
Strafford's village center has a unique shape. It is built around a triangular green space. This green is formed where the Justin Morrill Smith Highway and Brook Road meet.
Important Buildings to See
- The 1799 Meetinghouse: At the wide northern part of the green stands the old meetinghouse. It was built in 1799. From the outside, it looks like a Federal style building. The inside was decorated later, in the late 1800s.
- Homes Around the Green: Many homes face the green. They are usually one or two stories tall. Most are made of wood and show the Greek Revival style.
- The Morrill Homestead: Near the southern end of the district is the Morrill Homestead. This house is a National Historic Landmark. It is also a state historic site. You can visit it during the warmer months of the year.
- The Town Library: Just north of the Morrill Homestead is the town's current library. It was built in 1915. It is designed in the Colonial Revival style.
- Old Library Building: The town's first library building was built in the 1800s. It is on the west side of the green. Today, this building holds the town offices.
- Union Church: On the east side of the green, among the homes, is the Greek Revival Union Church.
