Main Street Historic District (Cromwell, Connecticut) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Main Street Historic District
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | Roughly bounded by Nooks Hill Rd., Prospect Hill Rd., Wall and West Sts. and New Ln., and Stevens Ln. and Main St. Cromwell, Connecticut |
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| Area | 130 acres (53 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 85003389 |
| Added to NRHP | October 24, 1985 |
The Main Street Historic District in Cromwell, Connecticut is a special area that shows how a small farming village grew into a busy town. It's located around Main Street and nearby roads like Nooks Hill Road and Prospect Hill Road. This district is like a living museum, featuring buildings from different time periods, from 1750 all the way to 1935! It was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985 because of its important history and architecture.
Contents
Exploring the Main Street Historic District
What You'll Find There
The Main Street Historic District is home to many interesting places. It includes two town greens, which are open grassy areas. These are called Valour Green and Memorial Green. You can also find historic homes and the Cromwell Historical Society building here.
The district mainly follows Main Street, which is also known as Route 99. It starts at a spot called "Patriots Corner." This corner has a grassy area with several memorials. From there, the district goes north past Memorial Green. As you go further north, the district gets wider. It then includes both Main Street and Prospect Hill Road, reaching almost to Nooks Hill Road. This wider part also contains Valour Green.
A Look at the Numbers
The Main Street Historic District covers about 130 acres (53 hectares). Within this area, there are 66 important buildings and structures that help tell the story of the district's past. These buildings show how architecture changed over many years.
A Journey Through Time
This historic district is very special because it shows how a quiet farming village from the 1700s changed into a busy town in the 1900s. You can see examples of almost every major building style from 1750 to 1935. It's like walking through different periods of history just by looking at the buildings!
Cromwell's Early Days
How the Town Began
Cromwell was first settled a long time ago, in the 1600s. For many years, it was mostly a farming community. People grew crops and raised animals.
The River's Importance
Cromwell also had a small but important port on the Connecticut River. This port was used for trade and transportation. However, its importance slowly faded in the 1800s. After that, Main Street became the most important area for business and town activities.
Main Street's Role
Main Street was once part of a major road that connected Hartford and Old Saybrook. This made it a central place for travel and trade. Many of the town's first important buildings, like government offices, were built along Main Street.
Images for kids
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A historic home in the Main Street Historic District of Cromwell, CT
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The Valour Green between Main Street and Prospect Hill Roads
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Trees on the Town Green between Main Street and Prospect Hill Roads
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Riley-Gridley House in the Main Street Historic District of Cromwell, CT
