New Haven Green
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The New Haven Green is a 16-acre public park and recreation area located in the downtown district of the city of New Haven, Connecticut. It comprises the central square of the nine square settlement plan of the original Puritan colonists, and was designed and surveyed by colonist John Brockett.[1] Today the Green is bordered by the modern paved roads of College, Chapel, Church, and Elm streets. Temple Street bisects the Green. The green is host to numerous public events, such as the Festival of Arts and Ideas, summer jazz and classical music concerts that can draw hundreds of thousands of people, as well as typical daily park activities.
The green is a traditional town green and was originally known as "the marketplace". It became a National Historic District on December 30, 1970. The Puritans were said to have designed the green large enough to hold the number of people who they believed would be spared in the Second Coming of Christ: 100,000.
Although the green is now owned and maintained by the city of New Haven, descendents of the city's original settlers maintained ownership until 1805, when they nominated five of their number to form a committee to oversee the property. Today's committee members -- called proprietors -- are drawn from the ranks of prominent city residents. Members are appointed for life, and when one dies the four remaining members convene in private to select a replacement.
Located on the green are three historic 17th century churches which reflect the city's theocratic roots[2]:
- North Church, or the United Congregational Church is built in Federal style.
- Center Church, or The First Church of Christ (Congregational United Church of Christ) established in 1639. The current church, designed in Georgian style by architect Ithiel Town, was built in 1812. Benedict Arnold's first wife is buried in its crypt (which is open to tours), and regicide John Dixwell is buried behind the church[3].
- Trinity Church, which is an Episcopal congregation founded in 1752, was also designed by Ithiel Town, in Gothic Revival style. It was consecrated in 1816.
In the southeast quadrant of the green are the Bennett Fountain and the World War I flagpole and fountain.
In its early years, the green held a watch house, a prison and a school[1]. The upper green also once held a succession of statehouses, dating from the time when New Haven was joint capital of Connecticut with Hartford. The most recent state house was erected in 1837, designed by Ithiel Town in a greek revival style. Ultimately, Hartford was declared the sole capital and the building was demolished in 1889 [4].
The Green was used as the main burial grounds for the residents of New Haven during its first 150 years, but by 1821 the practice was abolished and many of the headstones were moved to the Grove Street Cemetery. However, the remains of the dead were not moved, and thus still remain below the soil of the Green.
Bordering the green are municipal, commercial and university structures. On the southeast side of the green, across Church Street, is New Haven's City Hall and the adjacent Federal Courthouse. The Amistad (case) Memorial is next to City Hall. On the northwest side of the green, across College Street, stands Phelps Gate, entryway into Yale University Old Campus. On the northeast side along Elm Street is the New Haven Free Public Library, the Yale University Visitor Center, and Connecticut Superior Court. On the southwest side along Chapel Street are stores, bars, and other commercial properties.
[edit] References
- ^ a b Not a Park or Mere Pleasure Ground: a Case Study of the New Haven Green, James Sexton
- ^ New Haven: The Elm City, towngreens.com
- ^ New Haven Center Church official site
- ^ When we were Kings, Business New Haven, Priscilla Searles, 1998.
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