Highland Historic District (Middletown, Connecticut) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Highland Historic District
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | Atkins St. and Country Club Rd., Middletown, Connecticut |
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| Area | 80 acres (32 ha) |
| Architect | Multiple |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Colonial, Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 82003770 |
| Added to NRHP | June 28, 1982 |
The Highland Historic District is a special area in Middletown, Connecticut. It's like a time capsule! This district protects many old buildings from the 1700s and 1800s. You can find it where Atkins Street and Country Club Road meet. In 1982, this important area was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as a really important historical site in the United States.
Exploring the Highland Historic District
The Highland Historic District covers about 80 acres. It includes parts of Atkins Street, Country Club Road, Sawmill Road, and Bell Road. This area has 15 houses, and 9 of them are considered "contributing buildings." This means they help show the history and character of the district. There's also an old barn that is a contributing structure.
Old Houses and Styles
Some of the houses here are very old. Four of them were built in the mid-to-late 1700s. These were the homes of some of the first families to settle in this part of Middletown. These older houses are built in the Georgian style. They are usually made of wood and have a large chimney in the middle.
Most of the other houses in the district were built a bit later. They show off Federal or Greek Revival styles. The Highland neighborhood still looks very rural today. It reminds us of how Middletown used to be, with lots of open land. For a while, this area was even a small summer resort!
Early Settlers and Their Trades
The Highland area was settled in the early 1700s. Families like the Warners, Wilcoxes, and Bacons were among the first to live here. The old houses are spread out, which was common for rural areas in Middletown back then.
Many farming families in those days also had other jobs or crafts. The Wilcox family was especially important for their work. They started making tinware, which are items made from tin. Later, their family brought this skill to the nearby city of Meriden. Meriden then became a famous center for making silverware!
