Meriden Avenue–Oakland Road Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Meriden Avenue–Oakland Road Historic District
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Charles W. Beckley House
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | Roughly Oakland Rd. between Meriden and Berlin Aves., and Meriden Ave. between Oakland Rd. and Delhunty Dr., Southington, Connecticut |
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| Area | 43 acres (17 ha) |
| Architectural style | Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals, Bungalow/Craftsman, Late Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 88000580 |
| Added to NRHP | May 25, 1988 |
The Meriden Avenue–Oakland Road Historic District is a special neighborhood in Southington, Connecticut. It's a place where many old and important homes are protected. This area is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized by the United States government for its historical value.
When the district was first listed in 1988, it had 113 buildings. Most of these, 91 to be exact, are called contributing buildings. This means they help show the history and special character of the district. Buildings built after 1936 or changed a lot are called non-contributing. Only one building was considered non-contributing because it was changed too much.
Cool House Styles
This historic district is like a museum of different house styles! You can see many types of architecture from the past.
Here are some of the styles you might spot:
- Italianate: These homes often have low-pitched roofs, wide eaves with decorative brackets, and tall, narrow windows.
- Queen Anne: Look for homes with towers, turrets, patterned shingles, and wrap-around porches. They are often very detailed.
- American Four Square: These houses are usually square-shaped with a low-pitched roof and a large central dormer. They are simple and practical.
- Bungalow/Craftsman: These homes often have low-pitched roofs, wide porches, and natural materials like wood and stone.
- Georgian: These houses are usually symmetrical, with a simple, balanced design.
- Dutch Colonial: These homes are known for their unique gambrel roofs, which have two slopes on each side.
- Cape: These are small, rectangular homes with a steep, gabled roof.
Examples of Styles
Let's look at some examples of these cool styles in the district.
The Mary Gridley Stevens House, built in 1870 at 107 Meriden Avenue, is a great example of the Italianate style.
Some houses in the district mix different styles. The Byron & Ann Eliza Twiss House at 180–182 Meriden Avenue is one of these. It shows influences from both Queen Anne and Stick architectural styles. The original owner, Byron Twiss, owned a wood factory. This might be why the house has "exceptional millwork", which means really fancy wooden details.
Another mixed-style house is at 173 Meriden Avenue. It combines elements of Stick style, Queen Anne, and Colonial Revival.
The two Beckley houses are also good examples of mixed styles. The Moses W. Beckley House at 145 Meriden Avenue and the Charles W. Beckley House at 155 Meriden Avenue both combine Queen Anne and Colonial Revival styles.
You can find several other Italianate homes here. The house at 133 Meriden Avenue is a larger, cube-shaped version with a flat, hip roof.
The house at 104 Meriden Avenue, built in 1880, shows a common local version of the Queen Anne style.
The J. Frank Pratt House at 119 Meriden Avenue is a clear example of the American Four Square style.
Gallery
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Mary Gridley Stevens House
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Byron & Ann Eliza Twiss House
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173 Meriden Avenue
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Moses W. Beckley House
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133 Meriden Avenue
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104 Meriden Avenue
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J. Frank Pratt House
