National Register of Historic Places

River Street Historic District

New Haven, New Haven County, Connecticut
Listed
January 26, 1989
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
88003213

About this property

The River Street Historic District encompasses a historic industrial area in the Fair Haven section of New Haven, Connecticut. Located south of Chapel Street between James Street and Blatchley Avenue, the industrial buildings here date to New Haven's growth as a major industrial center between the American Civil War and World War I, with significant emphasis on metalworking businesses. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. The River Street Historic District occupies about 8.5 acres (3.4 ha) on the southern end of the Fair Haven Peninsula, with harbor frontage to the south. It includes three large industrial complexes dating from the 1870s to the 1910s, with most buildings constructed out of load-bearing brick or masonry. It is significant in New Haven's industrial history as the site of several metals-related manufacturing enterprises. It includes the Dutee Wilcox Flint auto plant, a nail manufacturing plant, the complex of the National Pipe Bending Company, and others. The area developed as a major industrial area after the Civil War due to New Haven's status as a major railroad junction, with ready access to nearby railroads and a supply of both skilled and unskilled labor from immigration and the city's earlier industries. In 1869, Hobart Bigelow expanded his boiler manufacturing operation to a new location in Fair Haven, and in 1883 he established National Pipe Bending, which manufactured parts for use in his boilers. The area reached its largest extent due to war-related manufacturing in World War I, and declined thereafter. The layout of the buildings was made to maximize access to railroad access spurs that ran along what are now some of the area's roads. National Register of Historic Places listings in New Haven, Connecticut

Location

New Haven, New Haven County, Connecticut
41.30228, -72.90063

Categories

INDUSTRYARCHITECTURE
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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The Civil War
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The Soldiers
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Native Heritage
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Settlement
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Nearby Historic Sites

Quinnipiac Brewery
Industrial
0.4 mi
Nicoll, Caroline, House
Industrial
0.6 mi
Armstrong, M. and Company Carriage Factory
Industrial
0.6 mi
New Haven Clock Company Factory
Industrial
0.7 mi
Quinnipiac River Historic District
Listed
0.9 mi

Nearby Battles

Burning of New Haven
1779Revolutionary War
1.5 mi
Raid on New Haven (Connecticut)
1779Revolutionary War
1.5 mi

Questions about this property

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

River Street Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 26, 1989.

What type of historic resource is River Street Historic District?

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

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

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

Can I research the history near River Street Historic District?

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