National Register of Historic Places

Post Hill Historic District

New London, New London County, Connecticut
Listed
August 4, 1993
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
93000812

About this property

The Post Hill Historic District encompasses the oldest settled area of New London, Connecticut. Post Hill Historic District is located just west of its commercial and civic center, the district is on high ground with a commanding view of the Thames River to the east. The roadways that run through the district include Channing, Vauxhall, and Granite Streets. Most of the districts more than 200 buildings were built much later, between about 1840 and 1925, even though it is home to the Antientest Burial Ground, the city's first cemetery (c. 1650). Williams Park, the southernmost point in the district was laid out in 1858, and was a significant spur to the area's growth. The houses in the district are in a wide variety of styles, but tend to be of similar scale and setting. The district includes the Nathan A. Woodworth House, previously listed on the National Register. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 5, 1993. New London was settled in 1645 by English colonists led by John Winthrop Jr. Post Hill, named for Richard Post, an early landowner, was where the town's civic center was laid out at that time. In addition to the cemetery (the only element of the early settlement period to survive), land was allocated for a meeting house. The area's major roads also date to this early settlement period: Williams Street ran from the town center to a mill, and Vauxhall Street was the main road to Colchester. The economic importance of the waterfront rapidly came to dominate, and the town's civic center moved near to it by the mid-18th century. Post Hill retained a rural character until the mid-19th century, when pressure for residential housing near the city center prompted its development. Thomas Fitch, a prominent local businessman, acquired much of the land in the area and platted streets for residential development. The area was mostly built out by the late 19th century, with only a small number of plots built out in the early 20th century. National Register of Historic Places listings in New London County, Connecticut

Location

New London, New London County, Connecticut
41.36046, -72.10395

Categories

ARTARCHITECTUREEXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT
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
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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

Woodworth, Nathan A., House
Industrial
0.1 mi
Harris, Jonathan Newton, House
Industrial
0.2 mi
Williams Memorial Institute
Industrial
0.2 mi
Bulkeley School
Industrial
0.2 mi
Prospect Street Historic District
Listed
0.2 mi

Questions about this property

When was Post Hill Historic District listed on the National Register?

Post Hill Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 4, 1993.

What type of historic resource is Post Hill Historic District?

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

What is the period of significance for Post Hill Historic District?

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

Can I research the history near Post Hill Historic District?

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