Mid-19th Century Architecture in Hartford's West End South

The West End South Historic District encompasses a neighborhood of mid-19th to early 20th century residential architecture in western Hartford and eastern West Hartford, Connecticut. Roughly bounded by Prospect and South Whitney Streets, West Boulevard, and Farmington Avenue, the area includes a large number of Colonial Revival and Queen Anne houses, as well as numerous buildings in other period styles.

Most of the land on either side of Farmington Avenue belonged to owners like William B. Smith, a Hartford tailor. While the area was platted for development in the early 1870s, financial panics delayed substantial building until 1890. Development spurred significantly in 1889 when a streetcar line was extended westward on Farmington Avenue, with much of the area developed by 1909.

The historic district is about 46 acres in size and includes 177 historically significant buildings. Most structures are 2-1/2 stories in height and of wood frame construction, reflecting the period of most intensive development. The area is characterized by long rectangular blocks with mature tree plantings, uniform building setbacks, and porches as a regular feature of the houses regardless of their architectural style.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons