Ridgefield Center Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Ridgefield Center Historic District
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Thomas Hawley House in 1937
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | Roughly bounded by Pound St., Fairview Ave., Prospect, Ridge, and Whipstick Rds., Ridgefield, Connecticut |
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| Area | 395 acres (160 ha) |
| Architect | Gilbert, Cass; Et al. |
| Architectural style | Mid 19th Century Revival, Late Victorian, Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 84000817 |
| Added to NRHP | September 07, 1984 |
The Ridgefield Center Historic District is a special area in the town of Ridgefield, Connecticut. It's like a protected neighborhood filled with old buildings that tell stories about the past. This district was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. Being on this list means the area is important to American history and deserves to be preserved.
The district covers about 395 acres, which is roughly the size of 300 football fields! It's not a perfect square or circle, but winds around streets like Pound Street, Fairview Avenue, Prospect, Ridge, and Whipstick Roads. In 1984, when it was listed, there were 241 buildings and one other structure that were considered "contributing." This means they were old enough and important enough to help show the history of the area.
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What Makes Ridgefield Center Special?
The Ridgefield Center Historic District is known for its beautiful old buildings. Many of these buildings show different styles of architecture from the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries. Walking through the district is like taking a trip back in time!
Famous Historic Buildings
Some buildings in the district are so important that they were listed on the National Register of Historic Places even before the whole district was recognized.
- The Phineas Chapman Lounsbury House is one of these. It was once a grand home and is now used as a community center where people can gather for events.
- The Keeler Tavern is another famous spot. This old tavern was bought and fixed up by a well-known architect named Cass Gilbert. Today, it's a museum where you can learn about its long history.
Other Important Properties
Besides the two famous ones, many other buildings in the district have their own unique stories:
- The Reverend Thomas Hawley House was built around 1715, making it one of the oldest homes in the area.
- The Nathan Scott House at 5 Catoonah Street has an interesting past because it was moved to its current spot in 1922.
- The former Episcopal Rectory dates back to 1790 and was also moved to a new location at 23 Catoonah Street.
- The Benedict House, built around 1790, is another example of the old homes in the district.
- The E. P. Dutton House and the Elizabeth W. Morris Memorial Building are also part of this historic area. The Morris Building used to be home to the Ridgefield Library and Historical Association.
- The Maynard House at 2 Peaceable Street was built around 1900 in a style called Neo-Georgian. People in Ridgefield believe it might have been designed by a famous architecture firm called McKim, Meade & White.
- A Colonial house at 14 Barry Avenue, built around 1740, shows how older homes were sometimes updated with new additions in the early 1900s.
Images for kids
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Thomas Hawley House in 1937
