Liberty Green Historic District facts for kids
Liberty Green Historic District is a special historical area in Clinton, Connecticut. Inside this district, you'll find Liberty Green, which is a triangular park-like area often called a town green. This historic district was officially created in 1979 after a lot of study.
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What is Liberty Green Historic District?
The Liberty Green Historic District includes six old houses from the 1700s. It also has stone walls that go around a triangular common area. These six properties are very important historically. Four of them are built in the Colonial style, one mixes Federal and Greek Revival styles, and one has an undefined style. One of the houses, located at the corner of Liberty Street and East Main Street, is now a bed and breakfast.
This district is also part of a larger historical area called the Clinton Village Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
A Look Back: The History of Liberty Green
Liberty Green is like a park today, located between Liberty Street and East Main Street. It used to be part of a much larger open space from the 1600s, known as "common land." This land was used for many things, like where the local militia (a group of citizens who could be called to serve as soldiers) practiced their drills. It was also the spot for one of Clinton's very first schoolhouses.
The Liberty Green Historic District was chosen as the place for two important memorials:
- A monument to the town's soldiers from the American Civil War. This is a granite soldier standing on a tall base.
- A small cannon from the War of 1812.
Making it a Park
Starting in 1846, a group of people worked together to plant shade trees on Liberty Green. This is how it began to look like the peaceful park we see today. Besides being a nice public space, it also reminds people of the town's patriotic past and honors its soldiers.
On December 5, 1976, a group of schoolchildren buried a time capsule on Liberty Green. They called it "Legacy I." The children said that this capsule should be opened on July 4, 2976!
In 2009, some trees on Liberty Green were removed or trimmed. This was done to clear out overgrown trees and cut dangerous branches. This work helped create more open space and allowed more sunlight to reach the area.
Liberty Green Today
In 2010, a new shopping area called the Liberty Green retail complex was finished across the street from the historic district. It includes a two-story building with shops and apartments. This complex also has a hardware store, a Japanese restaurant, and a community health center.
Today, Liberty Green is still a very important place for the people of Clinton. It's used for small church festivals and other community events. It's also the final stop for the town's yearly Memorial Day Parade.
