The South Green Historic District encompasses a predominantly 19th-century residential area near the South Green of Hartford, Connecticut. This area features a variety of residences in both high and common styles, from the elaborate home of armsmaker

Samuel Colt Samuel Colt (; July 19, 1814 – January 10, 1862) was an American inventor, industrialist, and businessman who established Colt's Patent Fire-Arms Manufacturing Company (now Colt's Manufacturing Company) and made the mass production of ...

to multi-unit apartment houses, many of which were built between about 1860 and 1900. The district is roughly triangular, extending from South Green along Main Street and Wethersfield Avenue to include Morris, Dean, and Alden Streets. The district was listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...

in 1977.

Description and history

What is now the South Green, south of downtown Hartford at Main Street and Maple Avenue, was allocated as common pasture land by the city in 1642. The home of early political leader

George Wyllys George Wyllys or Wyllis (1590 – 9 March 1645) served for a year (1642–1643) as one of the early governors of the Connecticut Colony. Born at the manor of Fenny Compton in Warwickshire, England, to Richard and Hester (Chambers) Willi ...

stood nearby, and that family's prominence in the area gave Wyllys Street (the southern boundary of the green) its name. In 1850, Solomon Porter led a push to increase development in this area, and in 1854 the city boundary (originally at Wyllys Street) was moved south. Wethersfield Avenue was built with large Italianate homes, mainly in brick, for wealthier buyers, while the side streets were built out with more modest single and multifamily residences. Most of the construction in the early 20th century was apartment blocks; one of these was designed by George Dunkelberger, the designer of the bridges on the

Merritt Parkway The Merritt Parkway (also known locally as "The Merritt") is a limited-access parkway in Fairfield County, Connecticut, with a small section at the northern end in New Haven County. Designed for Connecticut's Gold Coast, the parkway is known ...

, and exhibits a similar flair for the whimsical. Non-residential buildings in the district include three churches, a small number of commercial buildings, and a modest number of small light industrial buildings. The district is bordered by three other historic districts: the Colt Industrial District to the east, Charter Oak Place to the north, and Congress Street to the west. Previously listed properties within the district include

Armsmear Armsmear ("meadow of arms"), also known as the Samuel Colt Home, is a historic house located at 80 Wethersfield Avenue in Hartford, Connecticut. It was the family home of firearm manufacturer Samuel Colt. Armsmear was listed as a National Histor ...

, the

National Historic Landmark A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the United States government for its outstanding historical significance. Only some 2,500 (~3%) of over 90,000 places listed ...

home of armsmaker

, the Henry Barnard House, home to 19th-century educator

Henry Barnard Henry Barnard (January 24, 1811 – July 5, 1900) was an American educationalist and reformer. Biography He was born in Hartford, Connecticut on January 24, 1811 and attended Wilbraham & Monson Academy. He graduated from Yale University in 1 ...

and also a National Historic Landmark, and the Day-Taylor House.

References

{{National Register of Historic Places National Register of Historic Places in Hartford, Connecticut Historic districts in Hartford County, Connecticut

Description and history

See also

References