River Street Historic District (New Haven, Connecticut) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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River Street Historic District
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River Street, Fair Haven
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | Roughly bounded by Chapel St., Blatchley Ave., New Haven Harbor, and James St., New Haven, Connecticut |
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| Area | 8.5 acres (3.4 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 88003213 |
| Added to NRHP | January 26, 1989 |
The River Street Historic District is a special historical area in New Haven, Connecticut. It's in the Fair Haven part of the city. This district has old factory buildings. These factories were built when New Haven was growing fast. This was between the American Civil War and World War I. Many businesses here worked with metal. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. This means it's an important historical site.
Contents
What is the River Street Historic District?
The River Street Historic District covers about 8.5 acres. It is located on the southern tip of the Fair Haven Peninsula. This area is right next to the harbor. The district has three big factory areas. These factories were built between the 1870s and the 1910s. Most of the buildings are made from strong brick.
Why is this area important?
This district is very important to New Haven's history. It was a major center for making things out of metal. Many different companies operated here. These included a car plant, a nail factory, and the National Pipe Bending Company.
How did the district grow?
This area became a big industrial spot after the American Civil War. New Haven was a major railroad hub. This meant factories could easily get materials and send out products. There were also many skilled and unskilled workers available. People moved to the city for jobs.
Key businesses and growth
In 1869, Hobart Bigelow moved his boiler-making business to Fair Haven. Boilers are like big water heaters. In 1883, he started National Pipe Bending. This company made parts for his boilers. The area grew even more during World War I. Factories made many things needed for the war. After the war, the area became less busy. The buildings were designed to be close to railroad tracks. This made it easy to move goods in and out.
Images for kids
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Bigelow Boiler Co. (1902-1921), River and Lloyd Streets, Fair Haven.
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Bigelow Boiler Co. (1902-1921), River and Lloyd Streets, Fair Haven.
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National Pipe Bending Co. (1890–93), River and Lloyd Streets, Fair Haven.
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River Street, Fair Haven.
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River Street, Fair Haven.
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Industrial building now Fairhaven Furniture, River Street and Blatchley Avenue, Fair Haven.
