Whitingham Village Historic District
VT 100, School St., Brook St., and Stimpson Hill Rd., Whitingham, Vermont
Map
Coordinates:
+42.78948, -72.8848142°47'22" N, 72°53'05" W
Description
The Whitingham Village Historic District is an outstandingly well-preserved example of a nineteenth century village center developed at a crossroads where water power was plentiful. The buildings represent a wonderful collection of fine and rustic architectural styles and a broad range of building types including a general store, two former hotels, two churches, a blacksmith shop, two schools, a fire house, and an assortment of grand and modest homes that were all key contributors to the development of Whitingham as a community center. The village is located near the large Sadawga Lake and at the juncture of important nineteenth century roads leading from Whitingham to Jacksonville, Wilmington, and Readsboro. It developed around the water power of the Sadawga Brook. The district is significant for the broad patterns of rural historic development that it ably represents and is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places under criterion "A." Furthermore, the district, as a collection of well preserved buildings and one structure, represents a significant and distinguishable entity, some of whose components lack individual distinction, and is also eligible for listing under criterion "C." Natural features like the Sadawga Brook, Sadawga Mineral Spring, Sadawga Lake, the steep hills of the village and the mountains beyond are integral to the setting and distinct visual character of the district.
The buildings in the district represent excellent examples of rural Vermont architectural expression spanning most of the nineteenth and early twentieth century but concentrated heavily in the period from 1860 to 1880. Aside from the outstanding Greek Revival Style of the Reuben Winn House and the simple but refined Greek Revival style of the Methodist Church, the buildings in Whitingham have a very strong local flavor with many features in common. There are very few details in the district that draw from a textbook national style or clearly utilize national pattern books. The village and town also had an abundance of 19th century sawmills, furniture, box, and millwork shops that may have supplied the decorative features and simple plans that are often repeated from house to house.
National Register information
- Status
- Posted to the National Register of Historic Places on March 15, 2006
- Reference number
- 06000140
- Architectural styles
- Federal; Mid 19th Century Revival: Exotic Revival
- Areas of significance
- Architecture; Health/Medicine; Community Planning and Development
- Levels of significance
- State; Local
- Evaluation criteria
- A - Event; C - Design/Construction
- Property type
- District
- Historic functions
- City hall; Single dwelling; Agricultural outbuildings; Religious structure; Department store; School; Manufacturing facility
- Current functions
- Post office; Single dwelling; Agricultural outbuildings; Religious structure; Department store; Museum; Water works
- Periods of significance
- 1850-1874; 1875-1899; 1900-1924; 1925-1949; 1950-1974
- Significant years
- 1860; 1862; 1863
- Number of properties
- Contributing buildings: 36
Contributing structures: 1
Non-contributing buildings: 6
Non-contributing structures: 3