Historic Walking Tour Sites

Historic Walking Tour Sites. . , 1. Hotel Coolidge 1926. Originally built in 1849 on this site as the Junction House and reconstructed twice after being destroyed by fire. , 2. Old Courthouse and Post Office 1934-35. Mail was transported from the railroad via a tunnel under the tracks until 1964 when the Post Office relocated. The building then was a courthouse until 1990. , 3. Old Cross Abbott circa 1895. One of the original wholesale grocery businesses in the village until it relocated to Hartford Village in 1957. , 4. Old Bank Building circa 1892. This Richardson Romanesque style building was originally built by the National Bank of White River Junction, and merged with an adjacent building in 1956. , 5. Site of Watering Trough. Originally dedicated to the village's Loyal Club in 1907, it now resides on the lawn of the Town's Municipal Building., 6. Old Colony Building, Surprise Department Store circa 1929. This excellent example of a 1920's Modern style commercial block was home to the Surprise Department Store for over sixty years. , 7. Site of Crown Theater 1890. Home of Crown Theater until it burned in 1924. The rebuilt building then housed a bowling alley and miniature golf course. , 8. Old Switch and Company Meat Company 1885. Originally a grist mill, it became the Swift and Company meat packing house in 1891 and continued to be active until the mid 20th century. , 9. Old Progressive Market 1918. Indicative of the family operated Italian businesses that dominated South Main Street from 1890 to the 1940s. , 10. Old Greenough Block circa 1900. This "mercantile and dwelling building" housed a grocery store on the ground floor and rooms for let on the second floor., 11. Miller Auto circa 1908. This is the oldest Cadillac Motor Car Dealership in the United States, and has remained in the same family since 1902. , 12. Old Telephone Company circa 1922. The first area New England Telephone Company office opened in 1894 and moved to its current location in 1922. , 13. Site of the Smith Block 1871. "Dartmouth Chocolates" and "Hanover Crackers" were made in the building which stood on this site until it was removed in 1942. , 14. Old White River Paper, Greydon Freeman circa 1895. Former home of the paper company and retail business, the top floor also served as the Masonic Hall for many years. , 15. Old Gates Library 1907. The building, with its Tudor arched, leaded, diamond paned windows, became the permanent home of the village library in 1907 until 2000., 16. Old Fire House 1893. The four-story canvas hose drying tower on the northeast corner of White River Junction's first fire house is undoubtedly its most noticeable characteristic. , 17. Site of the Interstate Tire circa 1890. This building formerly on this site was a steam laundry, and then the Vermont Baking Company. Interstate Tire obtained the building in 1943. , 18. Site of Twin State Fruit circa 1890. From 1927 until the 1980s when it generated $5.6 annually, the Twin State Corp distributed fruits and vegetables from the former building on this site. , 19. Engine 494 1892. The last 4-4-0, or American type, B&M coal-fired steam locomotive built by the Manchester Locomotive Works of Manchester, NH, resides in White River Junction., 20. Railroad Station 1937. The Colonial Revival building standing today is the forth depot to occupy this spot. Today it also houses various offices and a State Welcome Center. , 21. Polka Dot Dinner circa 1955. Railroad crews, college students and locals alike, have stood in lines since the 1880's for the home-cooked meals this establishment still offers today. , 22. The Gates Block 1890. This Colonial Revival building has been a center for various business establishments and cultural activities since it was erected in 1890. 23. Tip Top Building circa 1880. This building functioned as a bakery from 1910 to 1974. Major renovations in 2002 converted it to a restaurant and center for the arts., See the panel to your right for a downtown map showing locations of each site on the Historic White River Junction Walking Tour. Visit the Welcome Center for a Walking Tour brochure.