Thetford Center Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Thetford Center Historic District
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 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Location | Roughly along VT 113, Tucker Hill Rd., and Buzzell Bridge Rd., Thetford, Vermont |
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| Area | 375 acres (152 ha) |
| Built | 1793 |
| Built by | Porter, Hezekiah |
| Architectural style | Federal, Greek Revival, Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 98000220 |
| Added to NRHP | March 5, 1998 |
The Thetford Center Historic District is a special area in the village of Thetford Center, Vermont. It's like a time capsule, showing us what buildings looked like in the early to mid-1800s. This village was once a busy place for farming and making things. Because of its history, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.
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Exploring Thetford Center's Past
The town of Thetford was officially created in 1761. This happened thanks to Benning Wentworth, who was the governor of the New Hampshire area at the time. The place we now call Thetford Center started in 1772. It began with a sawmill and a gristmill right by the Ompompanoosuc River. A sawmill cuts wood, and a gristmill grinds grain into flour.
How Thetford Center Grew
In the early 1800s, Thetford Center became a busy industrial village. This means it was a place where many things were made. Factories here produced textiles, which are fabrics like cloth. They also made strawboard, a type of cardboard created from old paper scraps.
Later in the 1800s, factories that made wood products became important. They used the power of the river's water to run their machines. This water power helped the village's industries grow even more.
Changes Over Time
In the 1950s, many of the old factories along the river were closed down. This was part of a big project to control floods in the area. After this, Thetford Center changed. It became mostly a place where people lived, shopped, and had community buildings.
What You Can See in Thetford Center Today
The historic district mainly stretches along Vermont Route 113. It runs between Tucker Hill Road and Buzzell Bridge Road. The district also goes a bit down both of those roads. On Tucker Hill Road, it reaches the Thetford Center Covered Bridge.
Most of the buildings in the village were built between 1800 and 1880. They show off popular building styles from that time. These styles include Federal, Greek Revival, and Italianate architecture.
Famous Buildings and Old Factories
One important building is the Hezekiah Porter House. It's a beautiful brick house built in the Federal style. You can find it at the corner of VT 113 and Tucker Hill Road. Another notable building is the Methodist Church, which has a Gothic Revival design.
The district also has parts of its industrial past still standing. You can see old dams and foundations of mills along the Ompompanoosuc River. These are reminders of the busy factories that once used the river's power.
