Colony Street-West Main Street Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Colony Street-West Main Street Historic District
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West Main Street
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| Location | 1-62 Colony, 55 Grove, 1-119 and 82-110 W. Main Sts., Meriden, Connecticut |
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| Area | 11.5 acres (4.7 ha) |
| Built by | Lines, H. Wales; Et al. |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival, Art Deco, Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 87001387 |
| Added to NRHP | September 4, 1987 |
The Colony Street-West Main Street Historic District covers an important part of the old downtown area in Meriden, Connecticut. This area grew into a busy business center after the train line arrived nearby. It stretches north and west from where Colony and West Main Streets meet.
Even with some new buildings, the historic shops and homes still show what a typical downtown looked like in the late 1800s or early 1900s. This district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. Since then, some of its historic buildings have been changed or removed.
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What is a Historic District?
A historic district is a special area that has many old buildings. These buildings are important because they show how a town or city used to look and grow. They often have unique styles of architecture.
When an area becomes a historic district, it means its history is recognized. This helps protect the old buildings. It also helps people learn about the past.
History of Meriden's Downtown
Long ago, Meriden's main town center was at Main and Broad Streets. West Meriden was a smaller business area. In 1838, a train line was built closer to West Meriden. This helped the area grow quickly with many new businesses.
By 1875, Colony Street was full of shops. Many of these buildings were updated later with popular styles like Victorian. West Main Street grew mostly in the early 1900s. It had one or two-story shops and bigger buildings with both shops and homes.
In the mid-1900s, some older buildings on the south side of West Main Street were taken down. This was part of a city improvement plan.
Exploring the District
The historic district goes west along West Main Street. It reaches the YMCA building. Most of the district on this street is on the north side.
On Colony Street, the district goes north to the First Congregational Church. This church has a Gothic Revival style. The former post office is also in the district.
Some parts of Colony Street have been redeveloped. There are also empty lots where old buildings used to stand.
Images for kids
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West Main Street
