Tree Streets Historic District (Waynesboro, Virginia) facts for kids
|
Tree Streets Historic District
|
|
 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Roughly bounded by Pine Ave., Eleventh St., S. Wayne Ave., 16th St., and Oak Ave., Waynesboro, Virginia |
|---|---|
| Area | 120 acres (49 ha) |
| Built | 1889 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Queen Anne |
| NRHP reference No. | 02000369 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | April 12, 2002 |
The Tree Streets Historic District is a special area in Waynesboro, Virginia. It's called "Tree Streets" because many of its roads are named after trees, like Cherry, Maple, and Oak Avenues! This district covers about 120 acres. It's the oldest neighborhood in Waynesboro where people live. It shows how the city grew from the 1800s up to 1951.
This historic district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002. This means it's an important place with a lot of history. In 2002, the district had 445 buildings that helped show its historic character. It also included two special sites and seven other important structures.
Contents
Discovering the Oldest Homes
The Tree Streets Historic District is home to some very old buildings. These buildings tell us stories about the past. They show us how people lived and built homes long ago.
The Old Stone House
The oldest building in the district is the Old Stone House. You can find it on Oak Avenue, looking over the South River. We're not exactly sure how old it is. Some people think it was built in the mid-1700s, while others say it's from the early 1800s.
Even though it has been updated a few times, the house still has its original thick stone walls. These walls are about 18 inches thick! It also has chimneys at each end and some original wooden details inside.
Rose Cliff Mansion
On the same property as the Old Stone House, you'll find Rose Cliff. This large, two-story brick house was built before 1866. Rose Cliff was once the main house for a big farm and fruit orchard.
In 2006, Rose Cliff was also added separately to the National Register of Historic Places. It's famous for its beautiful architecture.
-
The Old Stone House, the oldest building in the Tree Streets Historic District.
-
Rose Cliff covered in snow in February 2010.
-
The side of Rose Cliff that faces the river.
How the Neighborhood Grew
Around 1890, a company called the Waynesboro Company started building many new homes. This was a big time of growth for the area.
Queen Anne Style Homes
Many of the houses built during this time were in the Queen Anne style. This style is known for its unique and fancy designs. Two great examples are the W.J. Whitaker House and the Fry House.
The Whitaker and Fry Houses
The W.J. Whitaker House is at 517 Walnut Avenue. The Fry House is at 428 Maple Avenue. An architect named Carrington Hubbard designed the Fry House. The Whitaker House looks very similar, suggesting it might be a different version of his design.
Both houses have many similar features. They both have bay windows, balconies, and decorative patterns. They also have special frames around their windows. However, the Fry House has a cool octagonal (eight-sided) tower. The Whitaker House has a special window above its front door.
Unique Architectural Details
During this building period, it was common to see groups of similar houses. Another interesting feature from this time is a round vent on the gables (the triangular part of a wall under a sloping roof). These vents often have a design that looks like a chrysanthemum flower. You can see an example of this at 353-357 Chestnut Avenue.
-
The W.J. Whitaker House at 518 Walnut Avenue.
-
The Fry House at 428 Maple Avenue.
-
A "circular gable vent with a chrysanthemum-like piercing pattern."
