Community > Main Street Historic DistrictMain St. Historic District
Nominated to the National Register in 2000
New 6th Ave. Street Scape and Historic District Sign
Winter 2004/05
OLDE MAIN ST. PLAZA
HISTORIC SIDEWALK WALKING TOUR
Every
third Saturday in May - call 357-2986 for more information
SOME HISTORY:
St. Albans suffered two devastating fires in 1906 that destroyed practically all of the downtown businesses. They had no Fire Dept., so a call (telegraph) was made to Charleston to send their horse drawn pumper to fight the fires. The fires were weeks apart, so this incident had to happen twice. By the time Charleston loaded the horses and
pumper on a train flatcar, acquired a train engine and proceeded to St. Albans and unloaded, it was hours late. Shortly thereafter, St. Albans organized a Volunteer Fire Dept.
The Main St. Historic District contains 27 structures, with many of them dating from 1906 – 1910 when Main St. was rebuilt with masonry buildings. Mostly unchanged except for the street being turned in to a pedestrian plaza in the 1980, this was the street to be on for shopping and going to the movies. It was placed on the National Register in 2000. The Old Bank of St. Albans was listed in 1987.
 
Old Bank of St. Albans - Now Old Bank of St. Albans 1911
(Note Horses in front bottom)
Town Fair Parade 1962
(donated by Jim Randall)
Main St. 1960's
Main St. at Night-1950's
 
Today 1st National Bank in 1911
Today
Main St. is once again open for limited traffic and parking !! Check out the many shops and business along this historic section of town. Also, just a block away, the city Streetscape project on 6th Ave. has made quite a difference in the appearance when entering this
business section!!
During the All School Reunion in the August of 2004, hundreds of people congregated on Main St.
throughout the day to see displays of historic photos and to perhaps buy a book from the many authors present. There was also music and food available. The Historical Society identified all of the Main St. building with signs
depicting their previous uses, such as A.W. Cox, Bodie Jewelers, the Alban Theater and Ben Franklin 5&10.
Visit the St. Albans Historical Society Page: Click Here
or e-mail at: Historical Society
Also, visit the Midland Trail Scenic Highway Association webpage and see St. Albans: Click Here
|
