Downtown New London Historic District

Downtown New London Historic District

New London Municipal Building
Location Roughly bounded by State, Bank, Tilley and Washington Sts. (original); along Huntington, Washington and Jay Sts.; SW corner of Meridan and Gov. Winthrop Blvd.; along Bank and Sparyard Sts. (boundary increase)
New London, Connecticut
Coordinates 41°21′10″N 72°5′47″W / 41.35278°N 72.09639°W / 41.35278; -72.09639Coordinates: 41°21′10″N 72°5′47″W / 41.35278°N 72.09639°W / 41.35278; -72.09639
Area 60 acres (24 ha) (original)
18 acres (7.3 ha) (increase)
Architect multiple
Architectural style multiple
NRHP Reference # 79002665[1] (original)
88000070 (increase)
Significant dates
Added to NRHP April 13, 1979
Boundary increase February 18, 1988

The Downtown New London Historic District, also known as the Waterfront Historic District,[2] refers to 78 acres (0.32 km2) with 223 contributing buildings along the waterfront of New London, Connecticut, an area roughly bounded by State Street (also referred to as "Captain's Walk"), to the northeast, Bank Street to the southeast, Tilley Street to the southwest, and Washington Street to the northwest. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 1979, with 190 buildings and 60 acres (240,000 m2). The district was expanded in 1988 to include Huntington, Washington and Jay Streets, the southwest corner of Meridian Street and Governor Winthrop Boulevard, and along Bank Street to Spar Yard Street, which added 18 acres (73,000 m2) and 33 buildings to the historic district.[1]

History and description

Bank Street

Running immediately along the Thames River is the area known as "The Bank", referring to the bank of the river.[3] Once dominated by fishing wharves and tall ships, Bank Street is one of New London's oldest sections. After the burning of New London by the British under the command of Benedict Arnold in 1781, the waterfront was rebuilt and the roadway raised to accommodate additional development and larger ships. The bank is now home to a number of restaurants, cafes and boutiques, and is dotted with a handful of 18th-century structures, including:

Bank Street also includes 19th-century buildings, including:

State Street

Running east-west through the District from Huntington Street to Water Street is State Street, lined with 19th-century buildings. Notable exceptions are the 1787 New London County Courthouse at the head of State Street, which was separately designated to the NRHP and is not part of the District,[3] and the 1740 Timothy Green printing studio off State and Green Streets. At one time the Nathan Hale School House built in 1774 was located on State Street,[3] but it has been moved to Atlantic Street north of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument.[5]

State Street is also the location of a number of notable buildings, such as:

The Thames Club (1905)

Also on State Street, at the corner of Huntington Street, is the New London Public Library, built in 1889-92 and designed by Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge in the Richardsonian Romanesque style, which was separately designated to the NRHP, and is not part of the District.[3][6]

Green Street is also part of the downtown historic area, just off State. Laid out officially in 1787, many of the buildings in this neighborhood date from 1760-1792 and survived the torch of Benedict Arnold. Eugene O'Neill's favorite watering spot, The Dutch (Dutch's Tavern) is here, housed in a 1760 building. The home at 79 Green, dating to around 1801, is known as The Richard Douglass House [8] a veteran of the American Revolution and still a private residence.

Also in the immediate area is the Starr Street District - a group of row houses built in the first two decades of the 1800s.

The New London Railroad Station is also within the physical confines of the district, but not part of it. Like the Courthouse, Customhouse and Public Library, it was separately listed on the NRHP.[1]

See also

References

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 National Park Service (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  2. ↑ "National Register Historic Districts" on the New London Landmarks website
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Downtown New London Historic District" on the Living Places website
  4. ↑ "Heritage Trail Plaque - 258 Bank St, 1833"
  5. ↑ Google Maps
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "Architects and Architecture" on the New London Landmarks website
  7. ↑ "Fill The Spot: Bank of America" New London Patch (August 21, 2012)
  8. ↑ "The Richard Douglass House"
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