3) The Square
Unlike Vermont villages built around greens, Bellows Falls' commercial core in the 1820s took the form of an open L-shaped Square close to the canal locks, several water-powered industries, and the river crossing. As the town grew, the commercial district filled in and expanded toward the north, paralleling the canal. Major fires in 1860 and 1912 destroyed many of the district's wood-framed buildings. The Square continues to convey its 19th and early 20th century character through a variety of architectural styles, all up-to-date urban designs or adaptations in their day.
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[Bellows Falls Historic District] [Map]
An old post card of the Square showing the old Town Hall
[The railroad tunnel (Site #18) passes directly beneath The Square.]