National Register of Historic Places

Norfolk Historic District

Norfolk, Litchfield County, Connecticut
Listed
October 14, 1979
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
79003749

About this property

The Norfolk Historic District encompasses the historic civic and commercial center of Norfolk, Connecticut. Centered around a triangular green at the junction of United States Route 44 and Connecticut Route 272, it is a well-preserved late 19th to early 20th-century town center, with a number of architecturally distinctive buildings and structures. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. It remains on the register to this day. The town of Norfolk was incorporated in 1758. Early growth was due in part to industry that developed on the Blackberry River near the town center, of which no significant traces remain. Its main period of growth began with the arrival in 1871 of the railroad, which led to the town's growth as a summer resort, marketed for its high elevation and fresh air. The town center benefited architecturally from the philanthropic activities of the interrelated Robbins-Battell-Stoeckel families, who contributed churches, civic buildings, and memorials to the town center. The major element of the town center, the former Stoeckel estate, is now home to the Yale Music School's summer programs. The historic district covers about 90 acres (36 ha), most of which consists of the Stoeckel estate, located west of the town green. The triangular town green is the district's main focal point, with two churches (one early 19th century Federal style, the other later Romanesque) facing it from the west, the Norfolk Public Library (a handsome Shingle style building designed by George Keller in 1888) facing it from the north, and mainly older homes facing it from the east. At its southern tip is a memorial fountain designed by architect Stanford White. North of the green is a small business district, also included in the historic district. Several buildings in this area were designed by the noted New York architect Alfredo S.G. Taylor, who summered in Norfolk. National Register of Historic Places listings in Litchfield County, Connecticut

Location

Norfolk, Litchfield County, Connecticut
41.98944, -73.20025

Categories

ARCHITECTURESOCIAL HISTORY
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Nearby Historic Sites

Stoeckel, Robbins, House
Industrial
0.2 mi
World War I Memorial
Industrial
0.4 mi
Rectory and Church of the Immaculate Conception
Industrial
0.4 mi
Shepard, John, House
Industrial
0.4 mi
Farnum House
Industrial
0.4 mi

Questions about this property

When was Norfolk Historic District listed on the National Register?

Norfolk Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 14, 1979.

What type of historic resource is Norfolk Historic District?

Norfolk Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Norfolk Historic District?

The period of significance for Norfolk Historic District is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Norfolk Historic District?

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