River Road-Mead Avenue Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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River Road-Mead Avenue Historic District
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A Second Empire house on River Rd.
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | Portions of River Rd. and Mead Ave., Greenwich, Connecticut |
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| Area | 9.667 acres (3.912 ha) |
| Built | 1830 |
| NRHP reference No. | 14000171 |
| Added to NRHP | April 28, 2014 |
The River Road-Mead Avenue Historic District is a special area in Greenwich, Connecticut, specifically in the Cos Cob part of town. It's like a time capsule, showing us what a fancy neighborhood looked like in the late 1800s. This district includes fourteen beautiful old houses, most of which were built between 1870 and 1907. It stretches along River Road and Mead Avenue. Because of its historical importance, this area was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
A Look Back in Time
Before the 1830s, the land around Mead Avenue was mostly farmland. Then, a man named William Mead decided to create one of Greenwich's first neighborhoods. He divided the land into half-acre plots, making Mead Avenue. This area was in a great spot, right between the busy centers of Mianus and Cos Cob. These places were important for trade before the railroad arrived in 1848.
Even with its good location, only one house was built there before the 1860s. This was the Greek Revival style house at 33 Mead Avenue. Before the American Civil War started, three more houses were built. These were all Italianate style homes, built for ship captains. Later in the 1800s, more houses were built on River Road. Many of these were used as summer homes.
The historic district includes five houses on the north side of River Road. These are found between Mead Avenue and Robertson Lane. The district also goes north along Mead Avenue. It stops where smaller, more modern Bungalow style houses begin. Some parts of the original large house lots are not included. This is because they were divided up and built on later in the 1900s. Some old carriage barns are also part of the district. These have been changed into homes.
