National Register of Historic Places

Crescent Area Historic District

Plainfield, Union County, New Jersey
Listed
December 12, 1980
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
80002523

About this property

The Crescent Area Historic District is a 47-acre (19 ha) historic district located in the city of Plainfield in Union County, New Jersey. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 12, 1980 for its significance in architecture, featuring Victorian houses built from 1870 to 1900. The district includes 111 contributing buildings. The area was initially developed by philanthropist Job Male, who moved to Plainfield in 1867, and would become the first major of the city in 1869. He designed and built several of the houses in the district and lived on Crescent Avenue. The Crescent Avenue Presbyterian Church is located at the intersection of Crescent Avenue, Watchung Avenue, and 7th Street on land donated by Male. It was built in 1871 with English Gothic style. Fire damaged the church in 1888 and 1931. Swains Galleries at 703 Watchung Avenue was built c. 1870 and features Second Empire style, as seen in its mansard roof. The Goddard House at 213 East Ninth Street was built c. 1890 and features a domed tower and a variety of styles, including Queen Anne and Richardsonian Romanesque. National Register of Historic Places listings in Union County, New Jersey Media related to Crescent Area Historic District at Wikimedia Commons

Location

Plainfield, Union County, New Jersey
40.61677, -74.41307

Categories

ARCHITECTURE
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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Everything a full report reveals about Crescent Area Historic District

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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

Plainfield Civic District
Listed
0.2 mi
All Souls Church
Industrial
0.2 mi
Grace Episcopal Church
Industrial
0.2 mi
Waring, Orville, T., House
Industrial
0.3 mi
Plainfield Station
Industrial
0.4 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Metuchen Meeting House (Short Hills)
1777Revolutionary War
4.8 mi
Battle of Connecticut Farms (1780)
1780Revolutionary War
4.9 mi

Questions about this property

When was Crescent Area Historic District listed on the National Register?

Crescent Area Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 12, 1980.

What type of historic resource is Crescent Area Historic District?

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

What is the period of significance for Crescent Area Historic District?

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

Can I research the history near Crescent Area Historic District?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Crescent Area Historic District will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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