Morris Cove Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Morris Cove Historic District
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Houses on Townsend Ave.
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | Between Dean & Myron Sts., Morris Causeway & Townsend Ave., New Haven, Connecticut |
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| Area | 61 acres (25 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 100002320 |
| Added to NRHP | April 19, 2018 |
The Morris Cove Historic District is a special area in eastern New Haven, Connecticut. It used to be a popular place for summer vacations. This district is located between Dean and Myron Streets, Morris Causeway, and Townsend Avenue.
This area started as a coastal summer community. Later, it changed into a "streetcar suburb." This means people could live there and easily travel to the city by streetcar. The district has many beautiful old houses built in the early 1900s. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985 because of its important history and architecture.
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Exploring Morris Cove's Past
Morris Cove was once a quiet farming area. It was part of East Haven, Connecticut. This was true until after the American Civil War. After the war, things started to change.
From Farms to Fun: Early Tourism
Around the 1870s, local landowners began to welcome visitors. They opened their homes or built small hotels. People came to enjoy the coast. One of the oldest surviving houses from this time is at 265 Townsend Avenue. It was built in the 1870s and was known as the Pioneer Guest House.
In 1881, Morris Cove became part of New Haven. Even so, it kept some control over its own local matters. By the early 1900s, not many people lived there all year. But the community had a school and a fire station. It even had its own police force!
Becoming a Year-Round Neighborhood
The area started to become a place for year-round residents in the early 1900s. This happened when a trolley line was built. The trolley ran down Townsend Avenue. This made it easier for people to live in Morris Cove and work in New Haven. More houses were built, and a small shopping area grew near the southern end of the cove.
What Makes Morris Cove Special?
The Morris Cove Historic District has streets that are laid out like a grid. They face the cove, which is on the western side. This area is full of interesting buildings and a nice park.
Homes and Architecture in the District
Most of the houses in the district are made of wood. They show popular styles from the early 20th century. You can see homes in the Colonial Revival, Craftsman, Bungalow, and Dutch Colonial styles.
There are also some older houses from the late 1800s. These include Italianate, Queen Anne, and Shingle style homes. The district covers about 61 acres. It has 341 buildings that are important to its history.
Pardee Seawall Park: A Place to Play
In the northern part of the district, between Townsend Avenue and the cove, is Pardee Seawall Park. This is a city park where people can relax and enjoy the views. The park stretches north towards Fort Nathan Hale, another historic site.
