Broad Street Historic District (Middletown, Connecticut) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Broad Street Historic District
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Postcard view of Broad Street, 1905 postmark
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | Roughly bounded by High, Washington, Broad and Church Sts., Middletown, Connecticut |
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| Area | 27 acres (11 ha) |
| Architect | Barzillai Sage |
| Architectural style | Colonial, Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 88001319 |
| Added to NRHP | August 25, 1988 |
The Broad Street Historic District is a special neighborhood in Middletown, Connecticut. It's known for its many old houses built in the 1800s. This area shows how the city grew and changed over time. Many of its homes are in the Greek Revival style, which was popular back then. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988 because of its historical importance.
A Look Back: History of Broad Street
Middletown was a busy port city on the Connecticut River in the 1700s. But by the 1830s, its port business started to slow down. To help the city grow again, local leaders came up with new ideas.
They helped start Wesleyan University in 1831. They also invested in new factories that made textiles (like cloth) and machines. These changes brought new life and jobs to Middletown.
The land near Wesleyan University, which used to be open fields and gardens, became a popular place to build homes. Between 1830 and 1850, the number of houses in this area tripled! By 1900, most of the neighborhood was built up. Only a few small changes have happened since then.
Exploring the District: What to See
The Broad Street Historic District is like a historical snapshot. It's mostly found between Broad Street and Church Street. High Street forms its western edge.
You'll find many historic houses along Broad Street itself. College Street and Court Street are also important streets within the district. They have many interesting old buildings too.
This district is special because it has the largest collection of Greek Revival style houses in Middletown. You can also see homes built in other styles, like Federal, Italianate, and Queen Anne. Each house tells a story about the past!
Images for kids
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Russell Library, around 1906
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151 College Street, the Second Randolph Pease House, now a church, in 2012
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144 Broad Street, once a rectory, now apartments for older adults
