Litchfield Historic District
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Litchfield Historic District, in Litchfield, Connecticut, is a National Historic Landmark District designated in 1968 as a notable and well-preserved example of a typical late 18th century New England village. and   As a National Historic Landmark, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). It is the core area of a larger NRHP-listed historic district (United States), historic district that includes the entire Litchfield (borough), Connecticut, borough of Litchfield and was designated a state historic district in 1959. and Borough of Litchfield Historic District Commission
Town of Litchfield website, accessed January 28, 2010
This residential district is anchored by the First Congregational Church of Litchfield, Litchfield meetinghouse (1829) and is predominantly Georgian architecture, Georgian with clapboarding, gables and hipped roofs.


Litchfield Town Green

At the center of the district is the Litchfield Town Green in the area of the intersection between U.S. Route 202 (Connecticut), U.S. Route 202 and Route 63 (Connecticut), Route 63, the main through routes of the town of Litchfield. The village green was originally established in 1720 and was primarily used as a common pasture ground, in addition to being the site of the first town meetinghouse, which was constructed in 1723. In the following years, other buildings were built on the green, including the first schoolhouse in the area in 1732, and the county courthouse in 1751, when Litchfield became the county seat of newly constituted Litchfield County. The use of the green as pasture ceased after the Revolutionary War and became used as a military parade ground. Its transformation into a park began in 1836, when it was officially designated by the town as such. The green was used as the center for recruitment during the Civil War and was also the place returning soldiers were welcomed. In the 20th century, various trees and shrubs were planted, and benches added as well. Several war monuments as well as a memorial fountain were also constructed.


South Street

Along South Street are many houses. On South Street is the Tapping Reeve House and Law School, also known as Litchfield Law School, a one-room schoolhouse that was the first law school in the United States and where Aaron Burr, John C. Calhoun and others studied.


North Street

Sheldon Tavern, on North Street, is one of the contributing properties. It was previously the home of Revolutionary War colonel Elisha Sheldon, for whom Sheldon was named.Colonel Elisha Sheldon - Sheldon
at Waymarking.com.


East Street

The district includes historic houses on East Street descending a hill away from the church and downtown area.


See also

*List of National Historic Landmarks in Connecticut *National Register of Historic Places listings in Litchfield County, Connecticut


References


External links


First Congregational Church, Litchfield, CT
home page All of the following Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) documentation is filed under Litchfield, Litchfield County, CT: * * * * * * * {{Authority control Litchfield, Connecticut National Historic Landmarks in Connecticut New England town greens Historic districts in Litchfield County, Connecticut Historic American Buildings Survey in Connecticut National Register of Historic Places in Litchfield County, Connecticut Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Connecticut