Water Street Historic District (Torrington, Connecticut) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Water Street Historic District
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Former Knights of Pythias building
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | Roughly along Water St., from Church St. to Prospect St., Torrington, Connecticut |
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| Area | 20 acres (8.1 ha) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Classical Revival, et al. |
| NRHP reference No. | 02001698 |
| Added to NRHP | January 15, 2003 |
The Water Street Historic District is a special area in downtown Torrington, Connecticut. It's filled with old shops and factory buildings. This district stretches along Water and Church Streets. It's located between the Naugatuck River and Prospect Street.
This area also includes the old Torrington Fire Department Headquarters. You can also find the Knights of Pythias building here. Most of these buildings were built between 1885 and 1920. The Water Street Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003. This means it's an important place to protect!
Contents
Exploring Water Street's Past
The Naugatuck River was very important for Torrington. People realized it could power machines. In 1751, a sawmill was built using the river's power. Water Street was one of the first roads here. It connected the sawmill to Main Street.
How Torrington Grew
In the 1800s, Torrington became known for making brass. The city grew even faster when the railroad arrived. In 1857, Charles Hotchkiss started a mill. It made parts for lumber. Later, it became a big company making window sashes and blinds.
From Homes to Businesses
At first, Water Street had both houses and shops. But between 1880 and 1920, it changed a lot. It became mostly an area for businesses and factories. The street you see today looks much like it did back then. Some old factory buildings were lost to fires or floods.
What You'll See in the District
The Water Street Historic District is next to the Downtown Torrington Historic District. Its southern edge is the Naugatuck River. It goes from the railroad bridge up to Church Street.
Important Buildings to See
The district includes some buildings on Church Street. It also has Railroad Square. This whole area is about 20 acres. There are 34 buildings here that are important to history.
One of the oldest buildings is the American Brass Company office. It was built in 1881. It has a beautiful design called Second Empire style. The old railroad depot was built in 1898. It's a great example of Renaissance Revival architecture.
