Clay Hill Historic District facts for kids
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Clay Hill Historic District
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Clay Hill/Arsenal neighborhood
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | Roughly bounded by Main, Mather, Garden, and Walnut Streets, Hartford, Connecticut |
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| Area | 60 acres (24 ha) |
| Architect | Multiple |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne, Italianiate, Other |
| NRHP reference No. | 83001258 (original) 84000833 (increase) |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | 16 June 1983 |
| Boundary increase | 16 February 1984 |
The Clay Hill Historic District in Hartford, Connecticut is a special area. It covers about 60 acres (24 hectares). This district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. It was made even bigger in 1984. You can find it northwest of Downtown Hartford. It's generally located between Main, Mather, Garden, and Walnut Streets. The buildings here show cool styles like Queen Anne and Italianiate. You can also see Neoclassical Revival designs.
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History of Clay Hill and Arsenal
Clay Arsenal is one of Hartford's oldest neighborhoods. It grew a lot in the mid-to-late 1800s. Before 1847, this area was mostly farmland. That changed when the Hartford-Springfield Railroad was built. This railroad now forms the eastern edge of the neighborhood.
Why "Clay Hill"?
The part of the district west of Main Street is called Clay Hill. It sits on a small rise above Downtown Hartford. It got its name because of the type of soil found there. The area east of Main Street has been known as the Arsenal District since 1812. This is when a State Arsenal was built at North Main and Pavilion streets. The arsenal was taken down in 1909.
From Farms to City Homes
In the mid-1800s, Clay Hill changed from farms to a city area. This happened because Hartford's factories were growing fast. The city needed more homes for its workers. So, farmland was turned into streets and places for new families to live.
New Families Arrive
By the late 1800s, many multi-family homes were built. The neighborhood became home to working-class families. Many Irish families moved to Hartford. They came for jobs, like working on the Enfield Canal. By 1895, most people in Clay Hill were Irish. They went to Saint Patrick's church downtown.
Around the same time, many Jewish families arrived. They came from Eastern Europe because of difficult times there. These new families started businesses in the Arsenal district. They opened grocery stores, tailor shops, butcher shops, and jewelry stores. These shops were mostly along Main Street and Albany Avenue.
A Changing Community
Through the 1900s, people continued to move in and out. By the late 1900s, most residents of Clay Hill were Black and Hispanic. This shows how the neighborhood has always been a place for different communities.
