Westminster Terrace Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Westminster Terrace Historic District
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House on Westminster Terrace
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 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Location | Westminster Terrace, Rockingham and Westminster, Vermont |
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| Area | 12.5 acres (5.1 ha) |
| Built | 1881 |
| NRHP reference No. | 09000265 |
| Added to NRHP | July 13, 2010 |
The Westminster Terrace Historic District is a special neighborhood in Bellows Falls and Westminster, Vermont. It's known for its beautiful homes built a long time ago.
Most of these houses were constructed between 1880 and 1910. You can see many different styles from the late 1800s. Some newer homes from the mid-1900s are also mixed in. This area was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2010. This means it's recognized as an important historical place.
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Exploring Westminster Terrace's Location
Westminster Terrace sits on a raised area, like a natural shelf of land. It overlooks the spot where the Saxtons River flows into the Connecticut River. This is just below the village of Bellows Falls.
The terrace is set apart from other roads by steep hills. This makes it feel like its own quiet space. Most of the district is in Bellows Falls. However, the very southern part crosses into the town of Westminster. The northern end of the district is right next to the Bellows Falls Neighborhood Historic District.
What You'll Find in the District
The Westminster Terrace Historic District has 24 main houses. There are also smaller buildings like garages or sheds. Most of the homes are large, two-and-a-half-story wooden houses. They show off popular building styles from the late 1800s and early 1900s.
You can also see some single-story ranch houses from the mid-1900s. These newer homes show how the neighborhood changed over time.
History of Westminster Terrace Homes
Long ago, in the early 1700s, this area was used as farmland. In 1827, two grand homes in the Greek Revival style were built here. These were near where the Rockingham Hospital is today.
How the Neighborhood Grew
In 1880, a farmer named Edward Bancroft owned most of the land. He started selling it for people to build houses. At first, there were rules about the value and size of the houses. There were also rules about who could live there, which meant some groups of people were not allowed.
As more wealthy families moved in, people wanted to change the town borders. They hoped to bring the whole area into one town.
Changing House Styles Over Time
The first houses built were often in the beautiful Queen Anne style. These homes have lots of decorative details and towers. Later, in the early 1900s, houses with Colonial Revival features were built. These homes were also large and stylish.
In the 1950s, some of the bigger properties were divided into smaller lots. This allowed for the building of more modest ranch houses. These homes are still part of the neighborhood today.
