Court Street Row Houses
6-30 Court Street, New Haven, CT 06511
Unique among many residential streets in New Haven, Court Street is a narrow, one-way
street that primarily encourages pedestrian traffic. The street runs directly from the New Haven Green to the Wooster Square Green, beginning and ending at two significant public locations in New Haven. Thus, Court Street truly is a street that exists for the purpose of community, rather than simply for thoroughfare. The neighborhood of Wooster Square, where the row houses are situated, was historically an upper-class neighborhood, boasting many large homes directly around the historic square.7 Not unlike most neighborhoods, though, it underwent great change as a result of the increased industrialization of New Haven, and the Court Street Row Houses were built to extend the neighborhood to accommodate a broader range of economic demographics. With the advent of middle-income housing in Wooster Square, a great population of immigrants were ushered into the neighborhood representing many demographics, especially Italian immigrants. Thus, they were intended to be humble structures amidst an affluent neighborhood, although further, more recent gentrification of Wooster Square has made the block an exclusive address.
street that primarily encourages pedestrian traffic. The street runs directly from the New Haven Green to the Wooster Square Green, beginning and ending at two significant public locations in New Haven. Thus, Court Street truly is a street that exists for the purpose of community, rather than simply for thoroughfare. The neighborhood of Wooster Square, where the row houses are situated, was historically an upper-class neighborhood, boasting many large homes directly around the historic square.7 Not unlike most neighborhoods, though, it underwent great change as a result of the increased industrialization of New Haven, and the Court Street Row Houses were built to extend the neighborhood to accommodate a broader range of economic demographics. With the advent of middle-income housing in Wooster Square, a great population of immigrants were ushered into the neighborhood representing many demographics, especially Italian immigrants. Thus, they were intended to be humble structures amidst an affluent neighborhood, although further, more recent gentrification of Wooster Square has made the block an exclusive address.
13 Court Street 1924-1925 Single-family residential
13 Court Street 1945-1946 Furnished rooms (rooming
house)
13 Court Street 1969 Apartments - two residents,
one vacant unit
13 Court Street 1983 Apartments - two residents
13 Court Street 1945-1946 Furnished rooms (rooming
house)
13 Court Street 1969 Apartments - two residents,
one vacant unit
13 Court Street 1983 Apartments - two residents
Before Court Street was constructed and designated as residential territory, the land
where the row houses were built was occupied by a multi-purpose community space known as “Mix’s Museum,” which featured various activities, including a wax statue museum, an ice
cream parlor, and a beer garden.9 Mix’s Museum sadly burned down in 1851, leaving a sad,
empty lot in its absence. Besides the museum was a lush community garden known as “the
Columbian Gardens,” the land which was later subdivided and sold to the Home Insurance
Company for development into the Court Street Row Houses. The longstanding history of
community on the land beneath the row houses perhaps contributes to the ongoing sense of pride and community that residents of Wooster Square and Court Street share to this day.
where the row houses were built was occupied by a multi-purpose community space known as “Mix’s Museum,” which featured various activities, including a wax statue museum, an ice
cream parlor, and a beer garden.9 Mix’s Museum sadly burned down in 1851, leaving a sad,
empty lot in its absence. Besides the museum was a lush community garden known as “the
Columbian Gardens,” the land which was later subdivided and sold to the Home Insurance
Company for development into the Court Street Row Houses. The longstanding history of
community on the land beneath the row houses perhaps contributes to the ongoing sense of pride and community that residents of Wooster Square and Court Street share to this day.
Following a period of economic prosperity in New Haven, the Home Insurance
Company, in a grand gesture of urban investment, bought the block of Court Street and
constructed the Court Street Row Houses to provide middle-income housing amidst the affluent Wooster Square neighborhood. Yet, as the city became more industrialized, there became an increasing need for shorter-term, affordable housing, so the homeowners of the Court Street Row Houses converted them into furnished rooms, or rooming houses. Tenants of these units were predominantly new immigrants of Irish, Italian, German, or Jewish descent.8 When the Great Depression struck the United States, poverty overtook Wooster Square, and the rooming district that had emerged became derogatorily known as a “skid row,” as there was a great increase in crime. In the 1960s, the city of New Haven invested in the revitalization of the block, converting each home into two apartment units and creating strict laws surrounding renovation of the buildings in order to maintain their historical accuracy. Now, the residents of the Court Street Row Houses are a close-knit community of neighbors, representing a diverse racial demographic, but a similar economic level, and many occupants are associated with Yale University, a reminder of Yale’s fingerprints of gentrification all throughout the city of New Haven.
Company, in a grand gesture of urban investment, bought the block of Court Street and
constructed the Court Street Row Houses to provide middle-income housing amidst the affluent Wooster Square neighborhood. Yet, as the city became more industrialized, there became an increasing need for shorter-term, affordable housing, so the homeowners of the Court Street Row Houses converted them into furnished rooms, or rooming houses. Tenants of these units were predominantly new immigrants of Irish, Italian, German, or Jewish descent.8 When the Great Depression struck the United States, poverty overtook Wooster Square, and the rooming district that had emerged became derogatorily known as a “skid row,” as there was a great increase in crime. In the 1960s, the city of New Haven invested in the revitalization of the block, converting each home into two apartment units and creating strict laws surrounding renovation of the buildings in order to maintain their historical accuracy. Now, the residents of the Court Street Row Houses are a close-knit community of neighbors, representing a diverse racial demographic, but a similar economic level, and many occupants are associated with Yale University, a reminder of Yale’s fingerprints of gentrification all throughout the city of New Haven.
Unique among many residential streets in New Haven, Court Street is a narrow, one-way
street that primarily encourages pedestrian traffic. The street runs directly from the New Haven Green to the Wooster Square Green, beginning and ending at two significant public locations in New Haven. Thus, Court Street truly is a street that exists for the purpose of community, rather than simply for thoroughfare. The neighborhood of Wooster Square, where the row houses are situated, was historically an upper-class neighborhood, boasting many large homes directly around the historic square.7 Not unlike most neighborhoods, though, it underwent great change as a result of the increased industrialization of New Haven, and the Court Street Row Houses were built to extend the neighborhood to accommodate a broader range of economic demographics. With the advent of middle-income housing in Wooster Square, a great population of immigrants were ushered into the neighborhood representing many demographics, especially Italian immigrants. Thus, they were intended to be humble structures amidst an affluent neighborhood, although further, more recent gentrification of Wooster Square has made the block an exclusive address.
street that primarily encourages pedestrian traffic. The street runs directly from the New Haven Green to the Wooster Square Green, beginning and ending at two significant public locations in New Haven. Thus, Court Street truly is a street that exists for the purpose of community, rather than simply for thoroughfare. The neighborhood of Wooster Square, where the row houses are situated, was historically an upper-class neighborhood, boasting many large homes directly around the historic square.7 Not unlike most neighborhoods, though, it underwent great change as a result of the increased industrialization of New Haven, and the Court Street Row Houses were built to extend the neighborhood to accommodate a broader range of economic demographics. With the advent of middle-income housing in Wooster Square, a great population of immigrants were ushered into the neighborhood representing many demographics, especially Italian immigrants. Thus, they were intended to be humble structures amidst an affluent neighborhood, although further, more recent gentrification of Wooster Square has made the block an exclusive address.
The Court Street Row Houses are a series of 22 connected homes. They are homogenous
in their dimensions: each is approximately 20 feet wide and 30 feet deep, three-stories tall, and features a basement (and in some cases, a sub-basement). The backyards are small, only containing enough room for a patio, and the front of the houses feature a small, decorative wooden portico, which complements the brick facades. They are built in the Italianate architectural style, a more decorative version of the preceding Greek Revival style.3 Aside from the occasional paint job, the facades of the houses have not changed in appearance since their construction in the late nineteenth century.
4 A reflection of the industrial era in which they were constructed, the Court Street Row Houses appear as though they were in an assembly line. Yet, despite their large-scale uniformity, they each have unique details, especially in such customizable features as the entryways and windows.5 Each doorway is accessible by a staircase lined with cast iron railings, the front portico giving residents a superior vantagepoint to the street. Inside, the buildings have undergone individual renovations and reconstructions. Most notably was the widespread renovation of the Court Street Row Houses in the 1960s into apartment units. The open floorplan lent itself to an easy reconfiguration of space, as renters simply had to close off or open up existing doorways in order to create more private living
quarters for tenants.6
in their dimensions: each is approximately 20 feet wide and 30 feet deep, three-stories tall, and features a basement (and in some cases, a sub-basement). The backyards are small, only containing enough room for a patio, and the front of the houses feature a small, decorative wooden portico, which complements the brick facades. They are built in the Italianate architectural style, a more decorative version of the preceding Greek Revival style.3 Aside from the occasional paint job, the facades of the houses have not changed in appearance since their construction in the late nineteenth century.
4 A reflection of the industrial era in which they were constructed, the Court Street Row Houses appear as though they were in an assembly line. Yet, despite their large-scale uniformity, they each have unique details, especially in such customizable features as the entryways and windows.5 Each doorway is accessible by a staircase lined with cast iron railings, the front portico giving residents a superior vantagepoint to the street. Inside, the buildings have undergone individual renovations and reconstructions. Most notably was the widespread renovation of the Court Street Row Houses in the 1960s into apartment units. The open floorplan lent itself to an easy reconfiguration of space, as renters simply had to close off or open up existing doorways in order to create more private living
quarters for tenants.6
Brainard, G. (2001). Party Walls: Understanding Urban Change Through a Block of New Haven
Row Houses, 1870-1979. Journal of the New Haven Colony Historical Society , 48(1),
3–29.
Brown, E. M. (1969). The Historic Houses of Wooster Square: An introduction to the history of
Wooster Square and its architecture: A portfolio of houses built before 1880. New Haven
Preservation Trust.
New Haven’s court street is ‘like its own little town.’ (n.d.).
https://www.nhregister.com/connecticut/article/New-Haven-s-Court-Street-is-likeits-own-11361806.php
U.S. Department of the Interior. (n.d.). Italianate style 1850s. National Parks Service.
https://www.nps.gov/articles/italianate-style-architecture.htm#:~:text=
Italianate%20buildings%20were%20more%20playful,newly%2Davailable%
20building%20pattern%20books
Www.duodickinson.com. (n.d.-b). +
http://www.duodickinson.com/NHMag-May2012-RowHouseRenaissance.pdf
Row Houses, 1870-1979. Journal of the New Haven Colony Historical Society , 48(1),
3–29.
Brown, E. M. (1969). The Historic Houses of Wooster Square: An introduction to the history of
Wooster Square and its architecture: A portfolio of houses built before 1880. New Haven
Preservation Trust.
New Haven’s court street is ‘like its own little town.’ (n.d.).
https://www.nhregister.com/connecticut/article/New-Haven-s-Court-Street-is-likeits-own-11361806.php
U.S. Department of the Interior. (n.d.). Italianate style 1850s. National Parks Service.
https://www.nps.gov/articles/italianate-style-architecture.htm#:~:text=
Italianate%20buildings%20were%20more%20playful,newly%2Davailable%
20building%20pattern%20books
Www.duodickinson.com. (n.d.-b). +
http://www.duodickinson.com/NHMag-May2012-RowHouseRenaissance.pdf
Researcher
Date Researched
Entry Created
N/A Date
Last Updated
N/A Date
Historic Name
Style
ItalianateCurrent Use
RowhouseMultiple Unit DwellingApartment HouseEra
1860-1910Neighborhood
Wooster SquareTours
Year Built
1870
Architect
The Court Street Row Houses were built by the Home Insurance company, a fire insurance firm that helped fuel the development of residential New Haven in the 1860s by investing in real estate. The individual architect is not recorded, though they were likely associated with the Home Insurance Company.
Current Tenant
13 Court Street 1924-1925 Single-family residential 13 Court Street 1945-1946 Furnished rooms (rooming house) 13 Court Street 1969 Apartments - two residents, one vacant unit 13 Court Street 1983 Apartments - two residents
Roof Types
FlatStructural Conditions
Street Visibilities
Yes
Threats
None knownExternal Conditions
Dimensions
20 feet wide, 30 feet deep, 3 stories high
Street Visibilities
Yes
Owner
Hill, Kenneth; Coyle, George J.; Dzeda, Joseph; Luo, Bin & Guo, Lei; McTiernan, Jennifer; Bidolli, Brian T.; Keane, Ellen; Mendez, Lourdes; Kahn, Howard & Barbara; Cyriac, Mary; Benoit, Cordalie; Godleski, Nancy M; Winiarskyj, Adrian; Simmons, Camille; Jacovino, Elizabeth A.; Downey, Heidi J.; Jacovino, Elizabeth A.; Salazar, Sean; Chambers, Ronald F. (revocable trust); Wack, Carl J; Stevens, Seth A.; Knight, George C. & Meghan W F;
Ownernishp Type
Private
Client
The buildings were constructed by the Home Insurance Company, the largest fire insurance firm in New Haven, CT in the 1960s-70s. They intended to create a special sort of residential oasis amidst the Wooster Square neighborhood, even naming the community “Home Place,” alluding to aspirations of creating an excluded and separate neighborhood development within a preformed neighborhood.
Historic Uses
ResidentialComments
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