Prospect Avenue Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Prospect Avenue Historic District
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The Connecticut Governor's Residence
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | Roughly bounded by Albany Ave., N. Branch Park River, Elizabeth & Fern Sts., Prospect & Asylum Aves. & Sycamore Rd., Hartford and West Hartford |
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| Area | 300 acres (120 ha) |
| Architect | Multiple |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals; French Norman Chateau; Bungalow/Craftsman |
| NRHP reference No. | 85001918 |
| Added to NRHP | August 29, 1985 |
The Prospect Avenue Historic District is a special area in Hartford and West Hartford, Connecticut. It's like a preserved neighborhood filled with old homes. This district covers about 300 acres. It stretches along Prospect Avenue, from Albany Avenue to Fern Street.
This historic area includes 240 important old buildings. These are called "contributing buildings" because they help show the history of the district. There are also 48 newer buildings that don't quite fit the old style. Most of these homes were built between 1880 and 1930. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. This means it's officially recognized as an important historical place.
Exploring the Prospect Avenue Historic District
The land for this district once belonged to the famous Goodwin family of Hartford. Many family members built their homes here. They chose large plots of land near the Park River. Some of these homes were even designed by architects who were also part of the Goodwin family.
Architectural Styles You'll See
In the early 1900s, many important people from Hartford also built houses in this area. You can see different styles of architecture here.
- Georgian Revival: There are 87 homes built in this style. It's a classic look, often with a balanced and grand design.
- Tudor Revival: You'll find 55 homes with this style. They often look like old English cottages, with steep roofs and decorative wood.
- French Norman Chateau: A few homes have this unique style. They look like charming French castles.
- Craftsman and Prairie Style: There's one building for each of these styles. Craftsman homes are known for their natural materials and handmade details. Prairie Style homes are often low and wide, blending with the landscape.
The Governor's Residence
A very important building in the district is the Connecticut Governor's Residence. This is where the governor of Connecticut lives! It's located at 990 Prospect Avenue.
The Governor's Residence is a beautiful Georgian Revival style home. It was built in 1908. The famous architects Andrews, Jacques, and Rantoul from Boston designed it. Some changes were made to the house in 1916. It's a great example of the historic homes in this special district.
