National Register of Historic Places

Plainfield Street Historic District

Plainfield, Windham County, Connecticut
Listed
April 10, 1991
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
91000350

About this property

Plainfield Street Historic District is a historic district in Plainfield, Connecticut that encompasses the historic area of Plainfield Village, the town center of Plainfield. The district is linear, being located along Route 12 between Railroad Avenue and Route 14A. It has been the center of the town's civic life since its settlement in the early 18th century, and includes two centuries of architectural styles. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. The town of Plainfield was settled by English colonists in the late 17th century and incorporated in 1699. A ridge east of the Quinebaug River was where the colonial meeting house was located, and is now where the First Congregational Church of Plainfield stands; it was built in 1816 to a design by Ithiel Town. The road along the ridge, now Route 12, developed as a major north-south route in eastern Connecticut, and was crossed by the road connecting Hartford with Providence, Rhode Island, now Route 14A and Cemetery Road. The town center flourished as a crossroads community into the early 19th century, after which its importance waned in comparison to the town's burgeoning textile mill villages. The district is now mostly residential with some commercial development at its north end. It consists of 30 buildings and 24 associated outbuildings, most dating from the late 18th to early 19th century. Buildings are typically one and two-story frame residences. Stylistically, they represent a cross section of styles popular between about 1790 and 1880, with only a few 20th-century buildings intruding. Non-residential buildings in addition to the church include the c. 1800 Italianate Union Hall. The name of the district comes from the original street name of what is now known as Norwich Road. National Register of Historic Places listings in Windham County, Connecticut

Location

Plainfield, Windham County, Connecticut
41.68386, -71.91429

Categories

EXPLORATION/SETTLEMENTARCHITECTURERELIGION
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
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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

First Congregational Church of Plainfield
Colonial
0.1 mi
Lawton Mills Historic District
Listed
0.5 mi
March Route of Rochambeau's Army: Old Canterbury Road
Colonial
1.9 mi
Packerville Bridge
Industrial
2.1 mi
March Route of Rochambeau's Army: Plainfield Pike
Early Republic
2.4 mi

Questions about this property

When was Plainfield Street Historic District listed on the National Register?

Plainfield Street Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 10, 1991.

What type of historic resource is Plainfield Street Historic District?

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

What is the period of significance for Plainfield Street Historic District?

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

Can I research the history near Plainfield Street Historic District?

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