Taftsville Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Taftsville Historic District
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The Taftsville Country Store
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 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Location | Portions of US 4, Upper River Rd., Quechee Main St., all Butternut Ln., Happy Valley Rd., Sugar Hill Rd., Woodstock, Vermont, with portions in Hartford and Hartland |
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| Area | 202 acres (82 ha) |
| Built | 1793 |
| Architect | Martin, Eben; Taft, D. and Sons |
| Architectural style | Federal, Greek Revival, et al. |
| NRHP reference No. | 01000824 |
| Added to NRHP | August 2, 2001 |
The Taftsville Historic District is a special area in Woodstock, Vermont, that looks much like it did in the 1800s. It's a historic village that grew up around factories. This area is mostly found along the Ottauquechee River and up Happy Valley Road. It became important because the Taft family started a metal tool factory here in 1793. Two very old and important buildings in the district are the Taftsville Store, built in 1840, and the Taftsville Covered Bridge, built in 1836. This historic district was officially recognized and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2001.
What Makes Taftsville Special?
The village of Taftsville is located where United States Route 4 meets Happy Valley Road, in the eastern part of Woodstock. It also includes some areas that stretch into nearby towns like Hartland and Hartford. Most of the buildings you see here are homes built in the 1800s. They are usually made of wood and are one or two stories tall. You might also spot a few brick houses.
The village's past as a factory town is still visible today. There's a dam across the Ottauquechee River that now helps power a hydroelectric plant. This plant makes electricity using the river's water. The famous Taftsville Store, built in 1840, is a well-known building right on US 4. This road is a main travel route in the area. There's also an old school building on Happy Valley Road, which was built in 1911. It now serves as a chapel.
How Did Taftsville Begin?
Taftsville started to grow in 1793 when Stephen Taft arrived from Uxbridge, Massachusetts. He and his two brothers worked together to build a dam across the river. They also set up a sawmill on one side of the river and a metalworking shop on the other. In their metal shop, they made tools like scythes (for cutting grass) and axes.
Their business was very successful and continued to do well for many years, even after their first main building burned down in 1811. As more people came to the village, a covered bridge was built in 1836 to handle all the extra traffic. The Taftsville Store was then built in 1840. It's not completely clear if the Taft family built the store to sell their tools or to serve the many people who worked for them.
Originally, the village was split between Woodstock and Hartland. But in 1851, the town borders were changed, and most of Taftsville became part of Woodstock.
Images for kids
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The Taftsville Country Store, a key landmark in the district.
