The Simsbury Center Historic District is a 75-acre (30 ha) historic district located in the town center area of Simsbury, Connecticut. It encompasses seven blocks of Hopmeadow Street, as well as the cluster of commercial, civic, and residential buildings along Railroad, Station, and Wilcox Streets, and Phelps Lane. Although its oldest element is the cemetery (established 1688), most of its buildings were built in the late 19th and early 20th century. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.[1][2]: 2
Simsbury, originally the location of a Native American settlement called Massaco, was acquired by English colonists in the 1650s, and settled beginning in the 1660s. Originally part of Windsor, it was formally incorporated by the Connecticut Colony in 1670. Hopmeadow Street (now signed United States Route 202) developed as the major north-south route on the west side of the Farmington River, and the town center grew near an early ferry crossing. The majority of the district's surviving 18th and early 19th-century buildings are houses, most of which have been adapted for commercial use. The district derives its character from a larger number of late 19th and 20th-century buildings, general of a civic or commercial nature. Prominent examples include Eno Memorial Hall and the Simsbury Bank and Trust Company Building; the latter, built in 1917, is one of three buildings in the district to serve as town hall. Both were designed by Smith & Bassette, a prominent Hartford architectural firm.[2]
The district is essentially linear in nature, extending along Hopmeadow Street between West Street and Massaco Street. It extends eastward in the central section, to include development between Hopmeadow Street and the railroad, including the c. 1875 Simsbury Railroad Depot. The northern end of the district is anchored by the Horace Belden School and Central Grammar School complex, which now includes the town offices.[2]
Contributing buildingsedit
Simsbury Free Library, 1887, 749 Hopmeadow Street[2]: 8 (see #1 in photos accompanying NRHP nomination)
^ abcdefDavid F. Ransom (July 1995). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Simsbury Center Historic District". National Park Service. and Accompanying 11 photos, from 1995 (see captions pages 18-19 of text document)
^Doe Boyle (June 1, 2006). Fun with the Family Connecticut: Hundreds of Ideas for Day Trips with the Kids. Globe Pequot. pp. 107–. ISBN978-0-7627-4032-1. Retrieved September 23, 2010.
April 11, 2024
simsbury, center, historic, district, acre, historic, district, located, town, center, area, simsbury, connecticut, encompasses, seven, blocks, hopmeadow, street, well, cluster, commercial, civic, residential, buildings, along, railroad, station, wilcox, stree. The Simsbury Center Historic District is a 75 acre 30 ha historic district located in the town center area of Simsbury Connecticut It encompasses seven blocks of Hopmeadow Street as well as the cluster of commercial civic and residential buildings along Railroad Station and Wilcox Streets and Phelps Lane Although its oldest element is the cemetery established 1688 most of its buildings were built in the late 19th and early 20th century It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996 1 2 2 Simsbury Center Historic DistrictU S National Register of Historic PlacesU S Historic districtCapt Jacob Pettibone House in 2010Show map of ConnecticutShow map of the United StatesLocationRoughly Hopmeadow St from West St to Massaco St Simsbury ConnecticutCoordinates41 52 31 N 72 48 11 W 41 87528 N 72 80306 W 41 87528 72 80306Area75 acres 30 ha ArchitectKeller George et al Hapgood Melvin P et al Architectural styleColonial Early Republic Late VictorianNRHP reference No 96000356 1 Added to NRHPApril 12 1996 Contents 1 History 2 Contributing buildings 3 Gallery 4 See also 5 ReferencesHistory editSimsbury originally the location of a Native American settlement called Massaco was acquired by English colonists in the 1650s and settled beginning in the 1660s Originally part of Windsor it was formally incorporated by the Connecticut Colony in 1670 Hopmeadow Street now signed United States Route 202 developed as the major north south route on the west side of the Farmington River and the town center grew near an early ferry crossing The majority of the district s surviving 18th and early 19th century buildings are houses most of which have been adapted for commercial use The district derives its character from a larger number of late 19th and 20th century buildings general of a civic or commercial nature Prominent examples include Eno Memorial Hall and the Simsbury Bank and Trust Company Building the latter built in 1917 is one of three buildings in the district to serve as town hall Both were designed by Smith amp Bassette a prominent Hartford architectural firm 2 The district is essentially linear in nature extending along Hopmeadow Street between West Street and Massaco Street It extends eastward in the central section to include development between Hopmeadow Street and the railroad including the c 1875 Simsbury Railroad Depot The northern end of the district is anchored by the Horace Belden School and Central Grammar School complex which now includes the town offices 2 Contributing buildings editSimsbury Free Library 1887 749 Hopmeadow Street 2 8 see 1 in photos accompanying NRHP nomination Eno Memorial Hall 1932 754 Hopmeadow Street Colonial Revival architecture 2 8 Pettibone House c 1790 741 Hopmeadow Street a five bay central chimney house modified later to Colonial Revival style 2 8 First Church of Christ 689 Hopmeadow Street 750 760 Hopmeadow Street the Simsbury Bank and Trust Company Building Simsbury Center Cemetery 755 Hopmeadow Street 783 835 Hopmeadow Street Methodist Episcopal Church 799 Hopmeadow Street Massacoh Plantation 3 800 Hopmeadow Street Titus Barber House 920 Hopmeadow Street Horace Belden School Simsbury Town Office Building 933 Hopmeadow Street Bronze plaque at Pent Road St Mary s Church and Rectory 944 and 940 Hopmeadow Street The Simsbury Railroad Depot Railroad and Station StreetsGallery edit nbsp Simsbury Free Library nbsp Schoolhouse nbsp Schoolhouse bell nbsp Meetinghouse nbsp Barn nbsp 18th Century Cottage nbsp Simsbury Cemetery nbsp Simsbury Cemetery Main Entrance nbsp Carriage House nbsp Ice HouseSee also editNational Register of Historic Places listings in Hartford County ConnecticutReferences edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Simsbury Center Historic District a b National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service March 13 2009 a b c d e f David F Ransom July 1995 National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Simsbury Center Historic District National Park Service and Accompanying 11 photos from 1995 see captions pages 18 19 of text document Doe Boyle June 1 2006 Fun with the Family Connecticut Hundreds of Ideas for Day Trips with the Kids Globe Pequot pp 107 ISBN 978 0 7627 4032 1 Retrieved September 23 2010 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Simsbury Center Historic District amp oldid 1169457259, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
