West End South Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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West End South Historic District
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | Roughly bounded by Farmington Ave., Whitney and S. Whitney Sts., West Blvd. and Prospect Ave., Hartford and West Hartford, Connecticut |
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| Area | 46 acres (19 ha) |
| Architect | Scoville, William H.; Et al. |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival, Queen Anne, Shingle Style |
| NRHP reference No. | 85000763 |
| Added to NRHP | April 11, 1985 |
The West End South Historic District is a special neighborhood. It's located in parts of Hartford, Connecticut and West Hartford, Connecticut. This area is famous for its beautiful old houses. Most of these homes were built between the mid-1800s and the early 1900s. You can see many different styles, especially Colonial Revival and Queen Anne. This district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. This means it's recognized as an important historical place.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
For a long time, the land west of the Park River was mostly farms. This changed in the 1870s. People started building more homes there. Much of the land belonged to three owners. One was William B. Smith, a tailor and cattle breeder. His house, built around 1855, is the oldest in the district.
How the Neighborhood Grew
Plans for building homes were made in the early 1870s. But money problems slowed things down. Big development didn't really start until 1890. A new streetcar line helped a lot. It was extended along Farmington Avenue in 1889. This made it easier for people to live there and travel. By 1909, most of the area was filled with houses.
Famous Residents
Many interesting people lived in the West End South Historic District. One important person was Moses Fox. He was the president of Hartford's main department store, G. Fox & Co..
Exploring the District's Homes
The historic district covers about 46 acres (19 ha). It includes 177 buildings that are important to history. The area is bordered by four main roads. These include the Park River to the east.
What the Houses Look Like
The streets in the district are long and rectangular. They have many mature trees. The houses are set back from the road in a similar way. Most homes have porches, no matter their style. They are usually 2-1/2 stories tall. Most are made of wood.
Popular House Styles
The most common house styles show when the area grew the most. You will see many homes in the Queen Anne style. There are also houses in the Shingle style. The Colonial Revival style is very popular too. These styles make the neighborhood unique and beautiful.
