Weathersfield Center Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Weathersfield Center Historic District
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The church in Weathersfield Center
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 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Location | Center Rd., Weathersfield, Vermont |
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| Area | 20 acres (8.1 ha) |
| Built | 1785 |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 80000345 |
| Added to NRHP | June 30, 1980 |
The Weathersfield Center Historic District is a special place in the middle of Weathersfield, Vermont. It's like a time capsule showing how the town started. This district includes the town's second church building, the home of its very first minister, and an old stone pen for animals. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 because of its important history.
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Discovering Weathersfield Center's History
Weathersfield is a town in southeastern Vermont, right next to the Connecticut River and the state of New Hampshire. The town was officially started in 1761. People began to settle there slowly over the next ten years. By the 1790s, more than 1,000 people lived in Weathersfield.
A Look at Early Weathersfield
In the beginning, residents of Weathersfield were Christians. They would travel to Claremont, New Hampshire, for church services. Sometimes, traveling ministers would visit them. In 1785, the town decided to hire its own minister. They built a simple house for him near the town's center. This spot is now close to where Weathersfield Center Road and Goulden Ridge Road meet.
The First Minister's Home
The town hired Dan Foster as their first minister. He received money and food as payment. By 1825, Weathersfield had grown a lot, with over 2,000 people. A larger, two-story house was built for the minister. The first, smaller house was then attached to it. Today, this building is a historic house museum. The local historical society takes care of it.
The Historic Weathersfield Church
The town's first church was built near the minister's house in 1787. Sadly, it burned down in 1821. The town quickly decided to build a new one. They built a brick church, which is across Weathersfield Center Road from the Foster House. This new building was used for both religious services and town meetings.
Church Design and Changes
The church has a simple but elegant design from the Federal style. It has rounded doorways on the first floor. Above the main entrance, there's a special window with three parts, called a Palladian window. The roof has a tall tower. This tower has different sections, including an open area for bells and a small dome at the very top.
In 1861, the church building was changed. The inside was made into two full floors. This was done to clearly separate church activities from town government meetings. The church services were held on one level, and town business on the other. This shows the idea of the separation of church and state.
The Old Stone Animal Pound
Near the southern part of the church property, there's a square stone pen. This is an animal pound. It was probably built in the 1780s. At that time, a state law required towns to have places like this. These pounds were used to hold stray animals until their owners could claim them.
