Oswegatchie Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Oswegatchie Historic District
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A house on Park Drive in Oswegatchie
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | East St., Riverside, Plant, Park Drs., and Shawandassee and Oswegatchie Rds, Waterford, Connecticut |
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| Area | 63 acres (25 ha) |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival, Classical Revival, et al. |
| NRHP reference No. | 05001043 |
| Added to NRHP | September 15, 2005 |
The Oswegatchie Historic District is a special area in Waterford, Connecticut, United States. It's called a historic district because it has many old buildings and places that tell a story about the past. This district is on a piece of land that sticks out into the Niantic River.
This area shows how people used the land over time. It started as farms, then became a place for summer homes, and now it's a neighborhood where people live all year. The Oswegatchie Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005. This means it's officially recognized as an important historical site.
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What is the Oswegatchie Historic District?
The Oswegatchie Historic District is a unique part of Waterford, Connecticut. It covers about 63 acres of land. Most of the buildings here are homes. They were built during two main periods: between 1900 and 1920, and then again in the 1940s and 1950s.
A Look Back: Early Days and Summer Fun
The Oswegatchie area was first settled by English colonists. They started farming here in the late 1600s. Later, in the mid-1800s, a local farmer named John Manwaring began to host workers from nearby granite quarries. These quarries were places where large stones were dug out of the ground.
After the quarries closed in the 1870s, John Manwaring kept taking in summer guests. His son continued this business around 1900. He even built a hotel called the Oswegatchie House. This made the area a popular spot for people to visit during the summer.
The Trolley Era and Changes
The Oswegatchie area became even more popular when a trolley service started. Trolleys are like electric streetcars. This trolley ran from New London down Oswegatchie Street. Because of the easy travel, many beautiful summer homes were built. These homes were on the best parts of the land, especially at the southern end.
However, the trolley service stopped in the 1930s. Around the same time, the Great Depression happened. This was a very difficult time when many people lost their jobs and money. The Oswegatchie House hotel could not stay open and sadly burned down in 1935.
After World War II, there was a big need for more homes. So, new houses were built in the northern part of the area. These were for people to live in all year round.
What You See Today
The historic district has a special U-shape. It follows the shoreline along the eastern side of the Niantic River. It also goes along the west and north sides of Keeny Cove. The district starts at East Drive in the northwest. From there, it goes south around Sandy Point. Then it continues along Oswegatchie Road almost to the end of Keeny Cove.
Most of the buildings you see in the district are homes. The only building that isn't a home is the Oswegatchie Church. It was built in 1929. This church was made to serve the people who came to Oswegatchie for their summer vacations.
