The Wooster Square Historic District encompasses much of the Wooster Square neighborhood of New Haven, Connecticut. Centered on a rectangular park named in honor of General David Wooster, the area was developed as a residential neighborhood beginning in the 1820s, and was by the 1840s a desirable area to live, with many high-quality Greek Revival homes. In the 1950s the area was the subject of a major community-led preservation effort that drew national attention. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.[1][2]
Wooster Square is located just east of downtown New Haven, from which it is separate by State Street and a railroad corridor. The city acquired the land for the park at the center of the neighborhood in 1825; it had previously been open land. The park that was laid out was named in honor of General David Wooster, a hero of the American Revolutionary War who at one time owned a warehouse near the southern end of the area. It quickly developed as a fashionable residential area, with many fine Greek Revival houses, some of which were designed by local architect Henry Austin. As the city industrialized further in the second half of the 19th century, the area's desirability declined, at it became a residential center populated mainly by Italian immigrants. By the 1930s there were calls in the city to raze the neighborhood, and a plan was proposed to route Interstate 91 (which now forms the neighborhood's eastern and southern borders) directly through the park. The local community rallied, and developed preservation plans in the late 1950s, assisted by architecture students from Yale University. The rehabilitation of the area was achieved at a time when historic preservation grants and loans were not generally available to homeowners.[2]
The historic district does not encompass the entire Wooster Square neighborhood. It covers 40 acres (16 ha) at the center, including the park and a ring of streets extending one block away. Prominent houses that have been attributed to architect Henry Austin include the Howland House at 42 Academy Street, the Willis Bristol House at 584 Chapel Street, and the Governor English House at 592 Chapel Street. The latter house was built for James E. English, a prominent politician who served as a United States Senator and as Governor of Connecticut. The most prominent non-residential building in the district is the Conte School on its eastern edge, built in 1965 during the rehabilitation period.[2]
Galleryedit
William Lewis House (1850), 613 Chapel St.
Second Nelson Hotchkiss House (1854), 607 Chapel St.
10 Academy St.
40 Academy St. (1846)
Edward Rowland House (1857), 42 Academy St.
323 Greene St. (about 1870).
Max Adler House (1879), 311 Greene St. Adler was owner of Strouse, Adler a block away on Olive St.
John Robertson House (about 1833), 37-39 Wooster Place.
Wooster Square Congregational Church, now St. Michael's Catholic Church (1855-1904), 29 Wooster Place.
^ abc_Constance Luyster (November 10, 1970). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Wooster Square Historic District". National Park Service. and Accompanying 9 photos from 1969 and 1970
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January 01, 1970
wooster, square, historic, district, encompasses, much, wooster, square, neighborhood, haven, connecticut, centered, rectangular, park, named, honor, general, david, wooster, area, developed, residential, neighborhood, beginning, 1820s, 1840s, desirable, area,. The Wooster Square Historic District encompasses much of the Wooster Square neighborhood of New Haven Connecticut Centered on a rectangular park named in honor of General David Wooster the area was developed as a residential neighborhood beginning in the 1820s and was by the 1840s a desirable area to live with many high quality Greek Revival homes In the 1950s the area was the subject of a major community led preservation effort that drew national attention The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971 1 2 Wooster Square Historic DistrictU S National Register of Historic PlacesU S Historic districtCherry trees in the streets surrounding Wooster SquareShow map of ConnecticutShow map of the United StatesLocationNew Haven ConnecticutCoordinates41 18 16 N 72 55 5 W 41 30444 N 72 91806 W 41 30444 72 91806Area40 acres 16 ha ArchitectAustin HenryArchitectural styleGreek Revival Second Empire ItalianateNRHP reference No 71000914 1 Added to NRHPAugust 5 1971 Contents 1 Description and history 2 Gallery 3 See also 4 ReferencesDescription and history editWooster Square is located just east of downtown New Haven from which it is separate by State Street and a railroad corridor The city acquired the land for the park at the center of the neighborhood in 1825 it had previously been open land The park that was laid out was named in honor of General David Wooster a hero of the American Revolutionary War who at one time owned a warehouse near the southern end of the area It quickly developed as a fashionable residential area with many fine Greek Revival houses some of which were designed by local architect Henry Austin As the city industrialized further in the second half of the 19th century the area s desirability declined at it became a residential center populated mainly by Italian immigrants By the 1930s there were calls in the city to raze the neighborhood and a plan was proposed to route Interstate 91 which now forms the neighborhood s eastern and southern borders directly through the park The local community rallied and developed preservation plans in the late 1950s assisted by architecture students from Yale University The rehabilitation of the area was achieved at a time when historic preservation grants and loans were not generally available to homeowners 2 The historic district does not encompass the entire Wooster Square neighborhood It covers 40 acres 16 ha at the center including the park and a ring of streets extending one block away Prominent houses that have been attributed to architect Henry Austin include the Howland House at 42 Academy Street the Willis Bristol House at 584 Chapel Street and the Governor English House at 592 Chapel Street The latter house was built for James E English a prominent politician who served as a United States Senator and as Governor of Connecticut The most prominent non residential building in the district is the Conte School on its eastern edge built in 1965 during the rehabilitation period 2 Gallery edit nbsp William Lewis House 1850 613 Chapel St nbsp Second Nelson Hotchkiss House 1854 607 Chapel St nbsp 10 Academy St nbsp 40 Academy St 1846 nbsp Edward Rowland House 1857 42 Academy St nbsp 323 Greene St about 1870 nbsp Max Adler House 1879 311 Greene St Adler was owner of Strouse Adler a block away on Olive St nbsp John Robertson House about 1833 37 39 Wooster Place nbsp Wooster Square Congregational Church now St Michael s Catholic Church 1855 1904 29 Wooster Place nbsp Russell Hotchkiss House 1844 7 Wooster Place See also editNational Register of Historic Places listings in New Haven ConnecticutReferences edit a b National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service March 13 2009 a b c Constance Luyster November 10 1970 National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Wooster Square Historic District National Park Service and Accompanying 9 photos from 1969 and 1970 nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wooster Square Historic District Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wooster Square Historic District amp oldid 1169615809, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
