Woodbridge Green Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Woodbridge Green Historic District
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | 3,4,7,11 Meetinghouse Ln.; 4, 10 Newton Rd., Woodbridge, Connecticut |
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| Area | 18 acres (7.3 ha) |
| Architect | Smith, Dwight E. |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 03000233 |
| Added to NRHP | April 18, 2003 |
Imagine a special area in Woodbridge, Connecticut, that's like a time capsule! This area is called the Woodbridge Green Historic District. It's a special place that keeps the old town center looking just like it used to.
This district is found in a block of land. It's bordered by Center Road (also known as Route 114) on the south. Newton Road is on its east side. Meetinghouse Lane forms its north and west borders. This town center is a great example of how towns were planned in the early 1900s. It also shows off beautiful buildings built in the Colonial and Classical Revival styles. This important district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003. This means it's officially recognized as a place worth protecting.
What is the Woodbridge Green Historic District?
The town green in Woodbridge is on the north side of Connecticut Route 114. Meetinghouse Lane is the main road that goes around it. At the northern end of this district, you'll find the First Congregational Church. This church was built in 1832 and is a classic example of Greek Revival style. Next to it is a parish house built in the Colonial Revival style.
The church buildings are separated from Meetinghouse Lane by a green area owned by the church. To the west of the church is Woodbridge's town hall. South of the church, there's a group of buildings. These include an old school, which is now a community center and police station. You'll also find the town library and an old fire station there. All these buildings were constructed between World War I and World War II. They all have a strong Colonial Revival look.
How the Woodbridge Town Green Started
Woodbridge was first known as Amity Parish. It was part of New Haven a long time ago. In 1784, the town of Woodbridge was officially created. This happened when Amity and Bethany separated from New Haven.
The very first town center of Woodbridge was located north of where it is today. It slowly faded away after Bethany became its own town in 1832. In that same year, the First Congregational Church of Woodbridge was built at its current spot. This church was the beginning of what would become the town center we see today.
Woodbridge stayed a small farming community for many years. But then, cars became popular in the early 1900s. This started to change Woodbridge into a more suburban area. As the town grew, people wanted a clear center for town activities. This led to most of the buildings around the green being built.
