Orange Commercial Historic District

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Orange Commercial Historic District
Holladay house 2007.jpg
Holladay House, Orange Commercial Historic District, September 2006
Orange Commercial Historic District is located in Virginia
Orange Commercial Historic District
LocationRoughly along Madison and Main Sts., Orange, Virginia
Coordinates38°14′40″N 78°06′42″W / 38.24444°N 78.11167°W / 38.24444; -78.11167Coordinates: 38°14′40″N 78°06′42″W / 38.24444°N 78.11167°W / 38.24444; -78.11167
Area20 acres (8.1 ha)
Built1749 (1749)
Built byPhillips, William B.; et al.
Architectural styleEarly Commercial, Italianate
NRHP reference No.98001651[1]
VLR No.275-5001
Significant dates
Added to NRHPJanuary 21, 1999
Designated VLRDecember 10, 1998[2]

Orange Commercial Historic District is a national historic district located at Orange, Orange County, Virginia. One of Virginia's Main Street communities,[3] it encompasses 61 contributing buildings in the central business district of Orange's county seat.

History[]

While the courthouse maintains records dating back to the county's formation in 1734, almost all the buildings were built after formal incorporation of "Orange Court House" as a town in 1872. The town's name was shortened in 1890.

Especially after the American Civil War, during which many Confederate convalesced in Orange, the town grew as a railroad center. The Orange and Alexandria Railroad (begun in 1850), which connected in Gordonsville, Virginia to a railroad from Charlottesville and Lynchburg into Richmond, for decades was the main transportation link between Washington, D.C. and Richmond. The town experienced a devastating fire on November 8, 1908, which led to an economic decline. However, by 1930 the area had adopted to the increasingly popular automobile, with many dealers, related industry and tourism.[3]

The district's 19th- and early 20th-century residential, commercial and institutional buildings show various popular architectural styles, especially the Italianate. Notable buildings include Peliso (c. 1806), Sparks Building (c. 1830), Holladay House (c. 1830), Miles B. Lipscomb Store (1853), Nazareth Baptist Church (1913), Masonic Opera House (1885, 1921-1922), Trinity United Methodist Church (1892), former National Bank of Orange (1892), former Citizens National Bank (1925), Levy's Busy Corner (1908), and the Southern Railway Depot (1908). Located in the district but previously (and separately) listed are the Orange County Courthouse and St. Thomas Church.[4]

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.[1]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ "Virginia Landmarks Register". Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  3. ^ a b "Orange Commercial Historic District-Virginia Main Street Communities". nps.gov. National Park Services. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
  4. ^ Debra McClane and Kim Culhane (June 1998). "National Register of Historic Places: Registration Form" (PDF). Virginia Department of Historic Resources. and Accompanying two photos and Accompanying map


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