Taftsville Historic District

Taftsville Historic District spreads along the Ottauquechee River and includes residential buildings made of wood, a covered bridge, and an old power station. Most of the structures date from the 1800s and define the character of this rural manufacturing area.

The area began in 1793 when Stephen Taft and his brothers opened a metal tool factory that produced scythes and axes for farming. Throughout the 1800s, the settlement grew around this industrial core.

The district preserves wood-frame buildings from the 1800s, including a general store from 1840 and a former schoolhouse from 1911 now used as a chapel. These structures reflect how residents once lived and worked in this manufacturing community.

The area sits where Route 4 and Happy Valley Road meet, with the general store serving as a central reference point. Visitors can walk through the district and view the bridge, buildings, and river from different vantage points.

The covered bridge built in 1836 still carries traffic across the Ottauquechee River and links both sides of the district. The original water dam at this location was later adapted to produce electricity and became central to the community's power supply.