Rutland Downtown Historic District
Encyclopedia
Rutland Downtown Historic District, more commonly known as Downtown Rutland, Vermont, Downtown Rutland, or more locally "Downtown" is perhaps the busiest part of Rutland County. The area of town includes a shopping plaza
, businesses, and buildings of different sorts.
Much of the area is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
as a historic district. The district includes 90 contributing properties
. Some of these buildings date to the late 18th century, when Rutland was founded, but the greatest amount of expansion in downtown came after the marble
industry became established on a large scale after 1850. The city's population tripled between 1850 and 1880, and many of the buildings built in this period were either built with or ornamented with marble.
In the 1890s, the arts flourished in Rutland, especially in music, literature, and theater. Julia Caroline Dorr
spurred much of the appreciation of the arts. Her father had built the original Rutland Opera House, and later rebuilt it after a fire destroyed the original structure. In 1913, George Chaffee built another theatre, the Playhouse. The exterior of the Playhouse had a classical style reflecting the City Beautiful movement of the time, while the interior resembled a Victorian era
opera house
with lavish decoration. The theatre was renamed The Paramount
in 1931, and its entertainment shifted from live performance to movies. The movie theater closed in 1975. In 1999, a local group began restoring the theatre to its historic appearance. The theatre reopened in March 2000 and serves again as a center for artistic, cultural, and educational events.
, and Price Chopper
. Here you can also find Game stop, Dollar tree store,and a new movie theater, Flagship Cinema.
and the Christmas lights near the plaza by Santa Claus
, performances by a magician, a Santa Claus children's lineup, hot chocolate and wagon rides; and, weekly during the summer, a "Friday Night Live" public entertainment, shopping, and dining experience. The annual Crowley Road Race
event—a racing event comprising a 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) run, a 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) run, and a mile run for children—is held on a Sunday morning in June.
Plaza
Plaza is a Spanish word related to "field" which describes an open urban public space, such as a city square. All through Spanish America, the plaza mayor of each center of administration held three closely related institutions: the cathedral, the cabildo or administrative center, which might be...
, businesses, and buildings of different sorts.
Much of the area is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
as a historic district. The district includes 90 contributing properties
Contributing property
In the law regulating historic districts in the United States, a contributing resource or contributing property is any building, structure, or object which adds to the historical integrity or architectural qualities that make the historic district, listed locally or federally, significant...
. Some of these buildings date to the late 18th century, when Rutland was founded, but the greatest amount of expansion in downtown came after the marble
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone.Marble is commonly used for...
industry became established on a large scale after 1850. The city's population tripled between 1850 and 1880, and many of the buildings built in this period were either built with or ornamented with marble.
In the 1890s, the arts flourished in Rutland, especially in music, literature, and theater. Julia Caroline Dorr
Julia Caroline Dorr
Julia Caroline Dorr was an American author who published both prose and poetry. She was born at Charleston, South Carolina, but moved early in her life to New York City, then to Rutland, Vermont. There she married Hon. Seneca R. Dorr. Her earliest published writings appeared in 1848...
spurred much of the appreciation of the arts. Her father had built the original Rutland Opera House, and later rebuilt it after a fire destroyed the original structure. In 1913, George Chaffee built another theatre, the Playhouse. The exterior of the Playhouse had a classical style reflecting the City Beautiful movement of the time, while the interior resembled a Victorian era
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
opera house
Opera house
An opera house is a theatre building used for opera performances that consists of a stage, an orchestra pit, audience seating, and backstage facilities for costumes and set building...
with lavish decoration. The theatre was renamed The Paramount
Paramount Theater (Rutland, Vermont)
The Paramount Theater, also known as The Playhouse, is a historic performance theater located in Rutland, Vermont. The theater hosts many events and performances and is a contributing property to the Rutland Downtown Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic...
in 1931, and its entertainment shifted from live performance to movies. The movie theater closed in 1975. In 1999, a local group began restoring the theatre to its historic appearance. The theatre reopened in March 2000 and serves again as a center for artistic, cultural, and educational events.
The Plaza
The Plaza is a popular shopping area with numerous stores—including a Wal Mart, T.J. MaxxT.J. Maxx
T.J. Maxx, sometimes referred to as TJ's or the Maxx, is an American department store chain owned by TJX Companies. With more than 900 stores T.J. Maxx is a major clothes retailer in the United States, whilst also operating stores in a number of other countries.-History:In 1976, T.J...
, and Price Chopper
Price Chopper
Price Chopper Supermarkets is a chain of supermarkets headquartered in Schenectady, New York. The chain began operating as Central Markets in Schenectady, New York in 1933 and changed its name to Price Chopper in 1973. It is presently owned by the Golub Corporation and run by Neil and Jerel Golub...
. Here you can also find Game stop, Dollar tree store,and a new movie theater, Flagship Cinema.
Events
Numerous events are held in this area, including, in winter, the lighting of the Christmas treeChristmas tree
The Christmas tree is a decorated evergreen coniferous tree, real or artificial, and a tradition associated with the celebration of Christmas. The tradition of decorating an evergreen tree at Christmas started in Livonia and Germany in the 16th century...
and the Christmas lights near the plaza by Santa Claus
Santa Claus
Santa Claus is a folklore figure in various cultures who distributes gifts to children, normally on Christmas Eve. Each name is a variation of Saint Nicholas, but refers to Santa Claus...
, performances by a magician, a Santa Claus children's lineup, hot chocolate and wagon rides; and, weekly during the summer, a "Friday Night Live" public entertainment, shopping, and dining experience. The annual Crowley Road Race
Crowley Road Race
The Crowley Brothers' Memorial Road Race is a running race that takes place in Downtown Rutland, Vermont on a Sunday morning in June. The race hosts a run, a run, and the "Downtown Kids' Mile Fun Run".-History:...
event—a racing event comprising a 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) run, a 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) run, and a mile run for children—is held on a Sunday morning in June.