Monument Square Historic District (Alton, New Hampshire)

Last updated
Monument Square Historic District
Monument Square Alton.jpg
USA New Hampshire location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
LocationMain, Factory, Church, and Depot Sts., Alton, New Hampshire
Coordinates 43°27′3″N71°12′41″W / 43.45083°N 71.21139°W / 43.45083; -71.21139 Coordinates: 43°27′3″N71°12′41″W / 43.45083°N 71.21139°W / 43.45083; -71.21139
Area3.5 acres (1.4 ha)
Built1830 (1830)
Architectural styleGreek Revival
NRHP reference No. 84002512 [1]
Added to NRHPMarch 15, 1984

The Monument Square Historic District of Alton, New Hampshire, encompasses the 19th-century heart of the town, a roughly triangular open space formed by the junction of Main Street (New Hampshire Route 11) and Old Wolfeboro Road between Factory Street and Church Street. It is notable for its well-preserved 19th-century buildings, and for its relatively uncommon shape, born out of the area's origin as a major road junction. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. [1]

Contents

Description and history

In 1722, the legislature of the Province of New Hampshire ordered the construction of a road between Dover and the Lakes Region west of Lake Winnipesaukee. Alton's downtown Main Street follows the route of that road. The Wolfeboro Road was also an 18th-century road, built to provide access to Wolfeboro on the east side of the lake. These two roads met at an acute angle, which developed in the 19th century to become Alton's town center. Early development took place south of this junction, but the area became important in 1830 with the construction of the Cocheco Hotel, which stands at the northern end of the district. The advent of railroad service to the village brought further changes, including the rerouting of the Wolfeboro Road away to the north. The town, however, decided in 1893 to build its Romanesque town hall on the east side of the former Wolfeboro Road alignment, and subsequent development has included the construction of the Colonial Revival Gilman Museum. [2]

The district is bounded on the north by the former Cocheco Hotel (now housing other businesses) and Factory Street (New Hampshire Route 140), and is bounded on the south by Depot and Church Streets. The triangular "square" is mostly paved, with small triangular grassy areas on which monuments to the town's military service members are located. There are eleven buildings in the district, most of which face toward the square. In addition to the town hall, hotel, and museum, there are a few residences and three commercial buildings. The Greek Revival White Lodge, built in the 1850s, is one of Alton's finest period residences. [2]

See also

Related Research Articles

White River Junction, Vermont Census-designated place in Vermont, United States

White River Junction is an unincorporated village and census-designated place (CDP) in the town of Hartford in Windsor County, Vermont, United States. The population was 2,286 at the 2010 census, making it the largest community within the town of Hartford.

New Hampshire Route 28

New Hampshire Route 28 is an 85.413-mile-long (137.459 km) north–south state highway in eastern New Hampshire. It connects the town of Ossipee in east-central New Hampshire with Salem on the Massachusetts border, while passing through Manchester, the largest city in the state.

Chesham, New Hampshire United States historic place

Chesham is an unincorporated community within the town of Harrisville in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, United States. Part of the village is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Chesham Village District, while the southernmost portions are included in the Pottersville District, also listed on the National Register.

The Front Street Historic District in Exeter, New Hampshire, encompasses a portion of the town's historic center. The district extends from Swasey Pavilion, at the junction of Front and Water streets, southwesterly along Front Street to Gale Park, about five blocks. Front Street is one of Exeter's oldest roads, and is lined with a series of 18th and 19th-century civic, religious, and residential structures, many of which are well preserved. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 1973.

The Hollis Village Historic District encompasses the historic village center of Hollis, New Hampshire. The district is centered on Monument Square, which connects Main Street to Depot Street and Broad Street. It covers about 400 acres (160 ha), and extends along all three of those roads for some distance, and includes properties on Silver Lake Road and Ash Street. Most of the buildings in the district are residential or agricultural in use, and date before the turn of the 20th century; the oldest buildings date to the mid-18th century. The "Always Ready Engine House", which occupies a triangular parcel at the western end of Monument Square, was built in 1859, and is the town's oldest municipal building. Its most architecturally sophisticated building is the town hall, built in 1887 to a design by William M. Butterfield of Manchester. The district represents the growth of a mainly agricultural community over a 200-year period. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001.

Union Church (South Wolfeboro, New Hampshire) United States historic place

The Union Church is a historic church on South Main Street in South Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. Built in 1845 for the use of several small religious congregations, it is a well-preserved example of mid-19th century vernacular Greek Revival architecture. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

Wolfeboro Centre Community Church United States historic place

The Wolfeboro Centre Community Church is a historic church on New Hampshire Route 109 in Wolfeboro Center, New Hampshire. Built in 1841 for two separate congregations, it is a well-preserved example of a rural mid-19th century church. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.

West Chesterfield Historic District United States historic place

The West Chesterfield Historic District is a historic district that encompasses the 19th century industrial and residential heritage of the village of West Chesterfield in the town of Chesterfield, Massachusetts. Centered at the junction of Main Road and Ireland Street, it was one of the town's main industrial sites for many years. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008.

Alton Bay station United States historic place

Alton Bay station is a former railroad station on New Hampshire Route 11 in Alton Bay, New Hampshire. Built in 1907 by the Boston and Maine Railroad, it is a surviving reminder of the importance of the railroad to the development of Alton Bay as a summer resort community. The building, now in use as a community center, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983 as Alton Bay Railroad Station.

Central Square Historic District (Bristol, New Hampshire) United States historic place

The Central Square Historic District of Bristol, New Hampshire, encompasses the central commercial district of the town. The square is a four-sided space near the junction of six roadways in the center of Bristol, just north of the Newfound River and west of the Pemigewasset River. The district includes all of the buildings that are arrayed around the square, as well as one contemporary commercial building located just south of the Newfound River on South Main Street. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

Haverhill Corner Historic District United States historic place

The Haverhill Corner Historic District encompasses the early civic center of Haverhill, New Hampshire, United States. The district is focused on the junction of New Hampshire Route 10 and Court Street, which was historically a major through route. Court Street is flanked at the junction by a pair of large grassy common areas which are bounded by School Street and Route 10. Buildings, predominantly Federal in character and built in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, are arrayed around these commons, and historic buildings line Route 10 and Court Street for a short distance away from the commons. Prominent buildings in the district include the 1827 Federal-style First Congregational Church, the 1840 former courthouse that now houses the public library and local historical society, and the Romanesque Revival 1897 Haverhill Academy Junior High School building. The area declined in importance after the railroad bypassed it, resulting in the gradual relocation of civic functions to the Woodsville area. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.

Dublin Village Historic District United States historic place

The Dublin Village Historic District encompasses the historic village center of Dublin, New Hampshire. Dublin's center developed in the 19th century after its original village center was abandoned due to harsher winter conditions nearer Dublin Pond. The district extends along Main Street from its junction with Lake Street in the west to the junction with Old County Road in the east, and includes sections of Old Common Road, Harrisville Road, and Church Street. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

Enfield Village Historic District United States historic place

The Enfield Village Historic District encompasses the historic 19th century village center of Enfield, New Hampshire. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2010. Multiple buildings of the district were added to the New Hampshire State Register of Historic Places in 2012.

Brewster Memorial Hall United States historic place

Brewster Memorial Hall is the town hall of Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. It is located at the junction of South Main Street and Union Street in the town center. Its construction in 1880-90 was the result of a bequest from Wolfeboro native John W. Brewster, with terms stipulating that the building should resemble Sargent Hall in Merrimac, Massachusetts. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

Libby Museum United States historic place

The Libby Museum is a natural history museum at 755 North Main Street in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. The museum was founded by Dr. Henry Libby in 1912, and was the first museum in the state dedicated solely to its natural history. It is owned by the town of Wolfeboro, and is open seasonally between June and October. The museum's building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.

Lords Hill Historic District United States historic place

The Lord's Hill Historic District encompasses a historic village center in Effingham, New Hampshire. Located along New Hampshire Route 153 on a hill in northern Effingham, it is a well-preserved late 18th and early 19th-century rural village. It is named for Isaac Lord, a leading figure in its development in the early 19th century. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.

Jewell Town District United States historic place

The Jewell Town District of South Hampton, New Hampshire, encompasses a colonial-era industrial village with a history dating to 1687. It is centered at the junction of West Whitehall and Jewell Streets, which is just south of a bend in the Powwow River, the source of the power for the mills that were built here. The area was settled in 1687 by Thomas Jewell, and by the early 19th century included a variety of mills as well as a bog iron works. The district now includes only remnants of its industrial past, and features a collection of 18th and early-19th century residential architecture. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

North Charlestown Historic District United States historic place

The North Charlestown Historic District encompasses a 19th-century rural village in Charlestown, New Hampshire. Located about 5 miles (8 km) north of the town's center, the district includes a small cluster of buildings along New Hampshire Route 12A that is a remnant portion of a larger agricultural village. First settled in the 1750s, the oldest buildings in the district date to the 1790s, and most of the major buildings were built in the 19th century. Its economy was based on lumber and farming. The village was once considered a much larger, dispersed settlement, but construction of New Hampshire Route 11 in the 1960s separated some of the more remote parts of the village from its nucleus, which was bypassed by that construction.

Sanbornton Square Historic District United States historic place

The Sanbornton Square Historic District encompasses the historic center of Sanbornton, New Hampshire. The town, granted in 1748 and incorporated in 1777, is the mother town of Franklin and Tilton, and was one of the first to be established by the Masonian proprietors. Unlike towns settled earlier, no specific plan was made for a town center, with the result that Sanbornton Square arose organically as the principal site of civic and religious life in the town. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

Pickering House (Wolfeboro, New Hampshire) United States historic place

Pickering House is an historic house in the town of Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. It is located on South Main Street in the town center. The property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 2019. Pickering House is located approximately 300 feet (91 m) east of Brewster Memorial Hall, which is also listed on the NRHP.

References

  1. 1 2 "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. 1 2 "NRHP nomination for Monument Square Historic District". National Park Service. Retrieved 2014-08-27.