Congress Street (Hartford, Connecticut) facts for kids
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Congress Street
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | Both sides of Congress St. from Wyllys to Morris Sts., 54-58 Maple Ave., Hartford, Connecticut |
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| Area | 10 acres (4.0 ha) |
| Built | 1855 |
| Architect | Bissell, H. & S. |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 75001927 (original) 92000903 (increase) |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 6, 1975 |
| Boundary increase | July 24, 1992 |
Congress Street is a historic street in Hartford, Connecticut. It's found in the South Green neighborhood. This street is only one block long, running from South Green to Morris Street.
Congress Street was built in the 1850s. It first had smaller homes for two families. Later, around the year 1900, bigger apartment buildings were added. The whole street was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. This means it's a special place that shows what a residential street looked like in the late 1800s.
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What is Congress Street Like?
Congress Street is located just south of downtown Hartford. It is a narrow street where cars can only go one way. It runs south from where it meets Wyllys Street at South Green. The street has paved sidewalks on both sides. These sidewalks are separated from the road by old cobblestones and granite curbs.
Buildings on the Street
At the north end of Congress Street, there is a unique building. It's shaped like a triangle, similar to a "flatiron." This building is formed by the meeting of Maple Avenue, Wyllys Street, and Congress Street. It has shops on the first floor and homes on the upper floors.
Most of the buildings on the west side of the street are brick houses. They were built in the late 1850s. These homes are in the Italianate style, which was popular then. On the east side, you'll see larger apartment buildings. These were built later, around the start of the 20th century.
History of Congress Street
Congress Street was first planned in 1855. It helped people get to the back of large mansion houses. These mansions faced Wethersfield Avenue, which is a street parallel to Congress Street. Their properties stretched all the way to Congress Street.
Early Development
The west side of Congress Street was built up in the 1850s. This area grew because of the nearby Colt Armory. The Colt Armory was a large factory that made firearms. Many workers needed places to live.
Famous people lived on Congress Street in its early days. These included Francis A. Pratt and Amos Whitney. They were machinists who started a business together. Today, their company is known as Pratt & Whitney Measurement Systems. Their names are also linked to the more famous Pratt & Whitney company that makes aircraft engines.
Later Changes
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, many of the big estates on Wethersfield Avenue were divided up. New apartment buildings were then built facing Congress Street. In the 1970s, the area was carefully restored. This helped bring back its original 19th-century look.
