Williams Street Extension Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Williams Street Extension Historic District
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 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Location | 51-58, 61-68, 70 Williams St., Rockingham, Vermont |
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| Area | 2 acres (0.81 ha) |
| Built | 1880 |
| NRHP reference No. | 09000893 |
| Added to NRHP | July 13, 2010 |
The Williams Street Extension Historic District is a special neighborhood in Bellows Falls, Vermont. It's known for its unique old houses. These homes were built between 1880 and 1930. They were mainly for workers in the town's factories and railroads. In 2010, this area was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical site.
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What is the Williams Street Extension?
The Williams Street Extension is a quiet street in Bellows Falls. It's a dead-end street, meaning it doesn't go all the way through. It runs west from Atkinson Road, which is also United States Route 5. Another street, Myrtle Street, meets it in the middle.
Homes in the Historic District
This street has 18 main houses. Most of them are two or three stories tall. They are made of wood. All the roofs are made of slate. Many houses have wooden siding, like clapboard or shingles. Some have newer types of siding.
The houses have a simple, traditional style. You can see parts of the Queen Anne style in many of them. Some also have touches of Greek Revival or Colonial Revival styles. These styles were popular a long time ago.
History of the Neighborhood
The Williams Street Extension started to be built around 1880. Bellows Falls was a busy village back then. It had many factories and railroads. More and more people moved there for jobs. So, there was a big need for places for workers to live.
How the Street Was Planned
The land for the street was planned out early, in 1872. At that time, the Bellows Falls Canal Company owned the land. Between 1880 and 1900, twelve of the street's buildings were finished. The last big building work happened in 1920.
Since then, the houses haven't changed much. Some small sheds or buildings might have been added or removed. The outside materials might have changed a little. But the main look of the houses is still the same.
Who Lived Here?
The people who lived on Williams Street often worked for the railroads. They also worked for the paper companies in the village. These jobs were very important to Bellows Falls. The neighborhood shows us how people lived and worked long ago.
