South Main and Washington Streets Historic District facts for kids
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South Main and Washington Streets Historic District
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Buildings along Washington Street, April 2009
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | 68-139 Washington St. and 2-24 S. Main St., (original) 11-15 through 54-60 S. Main St., (increase I) Roughly along N. Main St. from Washington St. to Ann St. (increase II) Norwalk, Connecticut |
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| Area | 5.5 acres (2.2 ha) (original) 2.5 acres (1.0 ha) (first increase) 3 acres (1.2 ha) (second increase) |
| Built | 1870 |
| Architectural style | Second Empire, Romanesque, Italianate (original) Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals, Late Victorian (increase I) Late Victorian, Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals (increase II) |
| NRHP reference No. | 77001393 (original) 85003505 (increase 1) 99000449 (increase 2) |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | December 16, 1977 |
| Boundary increases | November 8, 1985 April 15, 1999 (increase II) |
The South Main and Washington Streets Historic District is a special area in South Norwalk, Connecticut. It's like a preserved neighborhood where many old buildings tell a story about the past. This district is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's recognized as important to American history.
The district covers about 11 acres and includes 35 buildings and two other structures. These buildings show off different architectural styles from the late 1800s and early 1900s. You can see styles like Romanesque Revival, Second Empire, and Italianate architecture.
What Makes This District Special?
This historic district is important because it has a large collection of commercial buildings from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These buildings were once shops, offices, and other businesses. They show how towns like South Norwalk grew and changed over time.
A Look at the Buildings
Many of the buildings in the district are "contributing structures." This means they help make the area historically important. They keep their original look and feel. The district is quite packed with these old buildings. Right in the middle, you'll find an old railroad bridge built in 1895. This bridge is a key part of the area's history and look.
How the District Grew Over Time
The South Main and Washington Streets Historic District didn't start out as big as it is today. It grew in stages:
- First Listing (1977): About 5.5 acres of the area first became part of the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. This first part included 26 buildings and two other structures.
- First Expansion (1985): The district grew in 1985 when about 2.5 more acres were added. This expansion brought nine more buildings into the historic area.
- Second Expansion (1999): The district got even bigger in 1999 with another 3 acres added. This final expansion included 10 more buildings, mostly along North Main Street.
Each time the district expanded, it added more buildings that helped tell the story of South Norwalk's past.
