Downtown North Historic District (Hartford, Connecticut) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Downtown North Historic District
|
|
Keney Tower
|
|
 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Roughly Ann, Atlant, Ely, High, Main and Pleasant Sts., Hartford, Connecticut |
|---|---|
| Area | 19 acres (7.7 ha) |
| Built | 1891 |
| Architect | Allen, William G. |
| Architectural style | Mid 19th Century Revival, Late Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 04000390 |
| Added to NRHP | May 6, 2004 |
The Downtown North Historic District is a special area in Hartford, Connecticut. It covers about 19-acre (7.7 ha) and is known for its history. This district is mostly a place where people live. You can find it around Main Street and High Street. It's north of I-84 and south of the Amtrak train tracks.
Many of the buildings here are old. They include apartment blocks, houses, schools, and churches. Most of them were built in the late 1800s and early 1900s. This was when Hartford was growing bigger. A famous landmark in the district is the 130-foot (40 m) Keney Tower. Because of its important history, the area was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004.
Exploring the Downtown North Historic District
The Downtown North Historic District has a unique shape. It looks a bit like a butterfly. The northern edge is along the Amtrak railroad tracks. The center of the district is where Albany Avenue meets Main, High, Ely, and Ann Uccello Streets.
Famous Buildings and Landmarks
The "wings" of this butterfly shape are on either side of this central point. On the eastern side, you'll find the large grounds of the former Barnard School. This school was built in 1927. Today, it is home to the Capital Preparatory Magnet School.
Just north of the school is the Keney Tower park. The tower itself is a tall, stand-alone building. It was designed in a style called Gothic Revival. It was built in 1898. The Keney Tower is a memorial to the important Keney family. Their home and business used to be in this area.
North of the tower, you can see the Sacred Heart Church. This church was built in 1892. It is made of brick and also shows the Gothic Revival style. Across Main Street from the school, there are rows of duplex homes. These homes were built in the 1890s. They are in a style called Italianate.
Unique Architecture and History
At the three-way intersection of Ann Uccello and High Streets, there's a special building. It's called a "Flatiron" building. It's 105 feet (32 m) tall and was built in 1896. Its unique shape comes from being built on a triangular piece of land.
South of the Flatiron building, on Ann Uccello Street, are more homes. Some are for single families, and some have multiple apartments. One of the most detailed homes is the Arthur G. Pomeroy House. This beautiful house was built in 1882. It is a great example of Queen Anne Victorian style.
On the west side of High Street, you'll find the Isham-Terry House. This house was built around 1854. It's an Italianate villa. Today, it is a historic house museum that you can visit. Nearby is the Second North District School. This building was built in 1891. It is in the Classical Revival style. Now, it holds the city's board of education offices.
