Wooster Square

The Wooster Square neighborhood consists of the area between the Amtrak railroad tracks (serving as the boundary with Downtown New Haven) and Interstate 91 (between Exits 1 and 3), bounded on the south by the Oak Street Connector. It is bordered on the west by Downtown New Haven, on the south by Long Wharf, on the east by the neighborhood of Mill River, and on the north by East Rock. == History ==

Wooster Square takes its name from General David Wooster, a hero of the American Revolutionary War who at one time owned a warehouse near the southern end of the area, near Water Street. In 1825 the land was purchased by the city of New Haven and incorporated into the city; the site had previously been open land. As a result, Wooster Square now includes a concentrated collection of distinctive 19th-century residential architecture, including several buildings by New Haven architect Henry Austin. Included are examples of the Federal, Greek Revival, Islamic Revival, and Italian Villa styles, Late Victorian Italianate row houses, and Second Empire and Queen Anne homes. By the late 19th century, increased industrial activity in the vicinity made Wooster Square less desirable as a residential neighborhood, and Italian immigrant families began to move in and operate small stores out of their homes. This commercial activity damaged the neighborhood's reputation. By the 1930s there were calls in the city to raze the neighborhood. ==Historic district==

The Wooster Square Historic District encompasses much of the Wooster Square. Centered on a rectangular park named in honor of General David Wooster, the area was developed as a residential neighborhood beginning in the 1820s, and was by the 1840s a desirable area to live, with many high-quality Greek Revival homes. In the 1950s the area was the subject of a major community-led preservation effort that drew national attention. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. The historic district does not encompass the entire Wooster Square neighborhood. It covers at the center, including the park and a ring of streets extending one block away. Prominent houses that have been attributed to architect Henry Austin include the Howland House at 42 Academy Street, the Willis Bristol House at 584 Chapel Street, and the Governor English House at 592 Chapel Street. The latter house was built for James E. English, a prominent politician who served as a United States Senator and as Governor of Connecticut. The most prominent non-residential building in the district is the Conte School on its eastern edge, built in 1965 during the rehabilitation period. ==Culture and commerce==

Wooster Square is home to restaurants and bakeries known for their pizza and Italian pastries, local businesses, and a weekly farmer's market, City Seed. Its walkable proximity to Downtown New Haven, its architecture, and its neighborhood feel, make it one of the most sought-after New Haven neighborhoods in which to live. It also has a thriving art scene. A sycamore tree on the west side of Wooster Square Park has been said by some observers to resemble an outline image of Jesus Christ. ==List of streets==

formerly located at Wooster Square in New Haven, Connecticut. The statue was removed by the city Parks Commission on June 24th, 2020 • Academy Street • Artizan Street • Bradley Street • Bridge Street • Brown Street • Chapel Street • Chestnut Street • Court Street • Depalma Court • East Street • Fair Street • Forbes Avenue • Franklin Street • Grand Avenue • Greene Street • Hamilton Street • Hughes Place • Ives Place • Jefferson Street • Lyon Street • New Street • Olive Street • Osborn Street • Saint John Street • Union Street • Wallace Street • Warren Street • Water Street • William Street • Wooster Place • Wooster Street (named for Revolutionary War hero David Wooster) == Notable people ==

• Hunter Biden (former resident) - lawyer, second son of President Joe Biden • Rosa DeLauro (born and raised) - U.S. Congresswoman ==Gallery==

File:Wooster Square Historic3.jpg|William Lewis House (1850), 613 Chapel St. File:Wooster Square Historic2.jpg|Second Nelson Hotchkiss House (1854), 607 Chapel St. File:Wooster Square Historic4.jpg|10 Academy St. File:Wooster Square Historic5.jpg|40 Academy St. (1846) File:Wooster Square Historic6.jpg|Edward Rowland House (1857), 42 Academy St. File:Wooster Square Historic8.jpg|323 Greene St. (about 1870). File:Wooster Square Historic7.jpg|Max Adler House (1879), 311 Greene St. Adler was owner of Strouse, Adler a block away on Olive St. File:Wooster Square Historic9.jpg|John Robertson House (about 1833), 37-39 Wooster Place. File:Wooster Square Historic10.jpg|Wooster Square Congregational Church, now St. Michael's Catholic Church (1855-1904), 29 Wooster Place. File:Wooster Square Historic1.jpg|Russell Hotchkiss House (1844), 7 Wooster Place. ==See also==