Walking in French Hill

No, we didn't take a trip abroad to Paris, France 🇫🇷 that's just not happening (😟 sigh).

Like many others, we spent the recent July 4th holiday at home. Since we had no plans to visit with family or friends, we explored one of the city's oldest neighborhoods, an area we've driven through many times. (Photos in last week's post showing masked and unmasked lion statues were taken in this neighborhood.)

French Hill in Nashua, NH is one of the city's oldest and best-known neighborhoods that features large and very old trees that line sloping streets. Some residences have concrete sidewalks, others have brick walkways and still others just grassy walkways. It's a lovely area and this was a first-time walking tour, after 4 years of living here. 

The name derives from the French-Canadians mill workers who lived in this neighborhood over a century ago. Some residents, both former and present, can most likely trace their ancestry back to these workers.

The neighborhood comprises the Nashville Historic District (NHD) considered unique for the well-preserved state of so many large-scale Victorian buildings. For over a century, it's  been considered the city's most affluent residential neighborhood and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 1984. A designation on the NRHP is the most prestigious level of historic designation. Years ago, Victorian-style houses could be found along Main St, but commercial development has eliminated that street's former residential character. (A future post will include some of these former residences.)

That's right, Nashville. It wasn't a typo and doesn't refer to Nashville, TN. 

That's because the NHD takes its name from a time in the 19th century when Nashville and Nashua were two separate townships. The French Hill Nashville area was briefly separated from Nashua and covered an area just north of downtown Nashua, roughly centered on the junction of Concord, Amherst, and Main Streets.  

The split happened after the placement of a new Town Hall in the more populated southern half of the city. The more affluent residents north of the Nashua River were upset over the southern. This contingent split off and successfully petitioned the NH legislature to incorporate as a new town called "Nashville" in 1842. 

Ironically, this split happened six years after the town had renamed itself "Nashua" in 1836. 

The dual townships co-existed for nearly 20 years. Wiser thinking finally prevailed recognizing that one town would be better because of double costs for similar services — fire, police schools. In 1853, the two town committees resolved their differences, and applied to the NH Legislature for a city charter form of government, resulting in the City of Nashua, NH.

NHD architecture is dominated by two-story free-standing, houses of wood-frame construction built on varied lot sizes that reflected the area's unplanned growth through the 19th century. Development of side streets and subdivided house lots came about in the 1820s and 1830s. 

Representing nearly a full range of Victorian styles, the buildings are mostly well-preserved, although some of the wood structures are in sore need of scraping and new paint. We lived in a 1903 wooden Victorian-style home in VA and know how much work and cost that entails. Many homes are termed high-style (architect-designed) examples of their periods. 

The major home style seen in the NHD is the Queen Anne with varied roof lines and decoration in the form of stained glass and terra cotta. Materials including brick, slate, and wood shingling. Two-story houses with facade gables are the most common house types.

The success of the Nashua Manufacturing Company's textile mills on the south side of the Nashua River brought rapid population growth. During the 1820s and 1830s, the textile company laid out additional house lots along Concord Street. Homes built here were the residences of merchants, skilled workmen and mill overseers, not millworkers' housing.

Beginning in the early 1850s and continuing as late as 1878, the Italianate style is represented by several homes. most notably the Stark House ↑. The Italianate style was a popular design in the U.S. based on the variety of construction materials which could be used.

The Greek Revival is one of the earliest style homes and we saw a number of examples. Decorative details consisted of window and door frames with corner blocks, gables, and columned porches not practical for sitting outside.

Since our exploring was on a holiday weekend, there wasn't a lot of activity outside or residents to take with. Some backyards were set up for togethers. However, we did talk to homeowners, Jim & Deb, who were doing some outside gardening at their home ↓.

This was our first walking tour of the French Hill area which was cut short by the increasing heat and humidity of the day. We're planning to return again, most likely in the fall months, since the colors will be beautiful on the tree-lined side streets.

There's a lot of history in Nashua, NH, much of it is connected with the mill industries. In the early 19th century industrial development was made possible by a combination of water power and water transportation access and centered on the Nashua Manufacturing Company which incorporated in 1823 for the manufacture of cotton goods. The textile mills provided a solid economic base for the local economy and stimulated other manufacturing. 

A few years ago, a proposal was made to expand the boundaries of the Historic District to include additional streets and the entirety of Greeley Park, a city public park with 125 acres. If implemented, the expansion would double the size of the district. Since reading about the proposal, I did not locate additional information on whether or not it had been approved.

Historic designation preserves what's beautiful in many cities and can improve property values. It also comes with downsides. Homeowners who live in a historic district are bound by certain guidelines. Alterations that impact the exterior, and sometimes the interior, usually require approval of the local historic commission. These guidelines can ensure that any exterior and interior changes are kept within the architectural and historic style of the building and the site.

Nashua's Historic District Commission (HDC) was established in 1980 and is responsible for the review and approval of all building permit applications located within the NHD. As noted on its website, it can comment on applications before various city boards in reference to the historic significance of properties within and outside the historic district: 

The HDC is committed to help preserve the historic character of your property. As a property owner in Nashua’s Historic District, there are certain specific regulations that apply to your building. Changes to the exterior that require a building permit must also be reviewed by the Historic District Commission (HDC). All proposed changes for alterations, additions, and new construction must conform to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards of Rehabilitation. 

The couple we spoke to told us that this ↓ house underwent a million dollar renovation after purchase a few years ago. Needless to say maintenance and renovation of these large, older homes can be very costly. Another reason we won't be looking to buy one.

It's somewhat easier if a house is considered non-contributing in a historic district. This means that while it's in the district, it isn’t historic. But, any changes may still have to coordinate with neighbors' contributing houses. If you buy an historic house with no historic designation, it can later be designated as one as municipalities can designate historic houses or entire districts. 

Presently, we live in a historically designated building, the former Nashua Manufacturing Company. Thankfully, as apartment renters, we have no responsibility for changes and we rather like it this way.