North Beacon, Oxford, and Cone Streets History & Architecture
Introduction
The West End North Historic District is a fascinating story of 19th and early 20th century homes that are outstanding examples of the architectural styles popular during that period of time, including Second Empire, Queen Anne, Shingle, Bungalow/Craftsman, Western Stick, Romanesque Revival, and Colonial Revival. There are nearly 300 buildings within the area, of which 291 contribute to the area’s rich historic and architectural significance. Many of the homes were built between 1895 and 1910, and have features that demonstrate each of the various architectural styles. The District was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.
During the decade following the Civil War, much of the west end of Hartford remained open farmland just west of the Park River; most of the land was owned by farmers and real estate investors. The first three streets in the district: Kenyon, Thrall (now Girard Avenue), and Cone Street would form the foundation of further development in the area. As economic conditions improved during the latter part of the 1880s, the development of the West End North District began to take shape. By 1895, Hartford was booming and the demand for new housing in the area was strong. In fact, during the 15 years between 1895 and 1910, the West End North District saw 182 new homes being designed and built, and nearly all of the remaining open space in the area was gone.
As mentioned earlier, many of these homes built during this period combined several different architectural styles with no one style clearly standing out. While a total of 25 architects designed most of the houses throughout the district, self-taught architects and brothers, William and Albert Scoville, were the most prolific in Hartford at the turn of the century and many of the homes in the West End, mainly on North Beacon and Oxford Streets, served as their canvases.
North Beacon, Oxford, and Cone Streets History & Architecture Tour – Start at the corner of Farmington Avenue and North Beacon Street
Please note: The homes featured on this tour were selected primarily due to the stories about the people who lived in them in the past. Not because they are the largest or most grand.
Architectural Styles
Colonial Revival
The Colonial Revival style strives to revive elements of American colonial architecture and became popular following the Centennial Exposition of 1876. Colonial Revival residences in the West End show classical detailing and symmetrical facades, are usually one or two stories, include a formal entrance door, and their exteriors often feature wood shingles, brick, or stucco.
Bungalow/Craftsman
The Bungalow style traces its origins to the Bengal region of South Asia and is best described as a small house or cottage either single or two-story built into a sloping roof with a wide veranda. It was most popular between 1900 and 1918. The Craftsman style became popular during the Arts and Crafts Movement of the late 19th century and focuses on the applied and decorative arts.
Tudor Revival
As the name suggests, this design emerged in the U.K. during the latter part of the 19th century and is characterized by steeply pitched roofs, pillared porches, and tall, somewhat narrow windows.
Shingle
The most prominent feature of this style is the use of wood shingles on the facade. It is a close relative of the Queen Anne style and is really popular in the coastals areas of New England and, as you can see, in the West End North Historic District.
Shingle Style/Colonial Revival
Many of the Shingle Style/Colonial Revival houses in the area were designed by William Scoville. Again, his designs often showed a combination of architectural elements that include flared roofs, oriel-style windows (a type of Bay window), dormer peaks, and oversized detailing. Several examples of his designs can also be found on Lorraine Street, a few blocks over.
Mediterranean Revival
This was introduced to North America from Spain and Italy during the late 19th century and peaked in popularity during the 1920s and 1930s. It draws heavily on the palaces and seaside villas in these areas and became really popular in Florida and California.
The Tour
40 North Beacon Street (1928) Colonial Revival. This large brick house designed by Carl Malmfeldt features a facade with a distinctive entrance pavilion. This ten-room home cost $52,000 to build in 1928 and, for many years, was owned by Mr. and Mrs. William R.C. Corson. Mr. Corson served as president of the Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company and the couple was quite active in Hartford civic affairs. Former Mayor Thomas Spellacy once described Mr. Corson as, “Hartford’s first citizen…the man who has done as much for Hartford as any man who ever lived in this city.” The Corsons were married for nearly 50 years and had two daughters, both of whom were raised in this house.
53 North Beacon Street (1903) Bungalow/Craftsman. This Albert Scoville-designed home also shows elements of the Romanesque Revival and Neoclassical styles with its arcaded corbel table and wave molding and floral pattern paneling. It also conjures up images of a Swiss Chalet. This home was owned for many years by Mr. and Mrs. Caleb Mills Saville. Mr. Saville served as the chief engineer and designer of the Metropolitan District Commission and their son Thorndike became Dean of the School of Engineering at New York University. The Saville home and its landscape was featured in the August 25, 1929 edition of the Hartford Courant (see news clip). The elder Mr. Saville was described as a pioneer in water systems and design and passed away in 1960 at the age of 94.
103 North Beacon Street (1909) Bungalow/Craftsman. This Albert Scoville-designed house is more typical of the Bungalow style with its broad roofline and large front-porch columns. This was the home of the Fenn family for several years. Mr. Fenn and his son were the founders of the Fenn Machine Manufacturing Company, which was located on Broad Street.
107 North Beacon Street (1908) Colonial Revival – Bungalow/Craftsman. This modest house designed by Albert Scoville displays elements of a Colonial Revival layout and Bungalow/Craftsman details.
115 North Beacon Street (1905) Tudor Revival/Shingle/Western Stick. When this Albert Scoville-designed home was listed for sale in 1915, the advertisement noted, “No. 115 North Beacon Street, Noah Webster School District, west side of this beautiful street of homes, 10 rooms, two baths, front and rear porches, hot water heat, electric lights, hardwood floors, with garage. At price offered, very attractive.” Note the stucco infill visible on the steep gable roof and the cross gable that accentuates the front facade and the entrance area.
236 Oxford Street (1900) Shingle Style. This home is notable because it was the original site of the Kingswood-Oxford School. Founded in September 1909 by Mary Martin, the Oxford School for Girls was one of the nation’s first independent day schools. One of its most famous students was the legendary actress Katherine Hepburn, who attended the school until she left following the death of her older brother Tom. In 1926, Ms. Martin moved the school out of her home on Oxford Street to a new site located a few blocks away at 695 Prospect Avenue in West Hartford. Notice the distinctive palladian window below the roof pitch with the interesting diamond-shaped muntins and the Queen Anne style veranda.
60 Cone Street (1895). Shingle Style/Colonial Revival. This house was designed and built by George Keller (1842-1935) an Irish immigrant who is perhaps known as the designer of the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch in Bushnell Park and the James A. Garfield Memorial in Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. Keller was a self-taught architect and designer who focused his work primarily on public buildings and memorials throughout the United States. He also designed the original G. Fox Department Store on Main Street, worked on one of the later additions to Hartford’s Christ Church Cathedral and played a role in the design and construction of Union Station in Hartford.
54 Cone Street (1897) Shingle Style. Take note of the distinctive corner tower and polygonal dormer that stand out in this beautiful home. You may also notice the interesting diamond-shaped muntins that make up the windows on the second floor. Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Hickey lived here for several years and raised two sons, Raymond Jr. and Charles. Capt. Raymond Hickey Jr. served in the Army Air Corps in the Pacific Theater during WWII and his younger brother Charles earned a M.A. from Syracuse. Can anyone take a guess at what this house sold for in November of 1960? If you guessed $12,800 you are correct!
150 Oxford Street (1916) Mediterranean Revival. This grand home was designed by A. Raymond Ellis and includes many elements of Colonial Revival style, particularly with its front entrance, windows, and cornices. Notice the segmental arch above the windows overlooking the front entrance and the distinctive keystones. This was the residence of Mr. Benjamin Haas, a noted Hartford philanthropist and the president of L.B. Haas & Co., a tobacco firm located downtown on State Street. Mr. Haas also served as a city park commissioner and was credited with the development of Riverside Park in Hartford. He was devoted to the city’s underprivileged youth, and, when he passed away in January 1941, he donated $32,000 (about $688K in 2023) to hospitals and Jewish organizations located throughout the city.
132 Oxford Street (1903) Colonial Revival. Like many of the homes in the district, this house combines several architectural styles. Note the stucco exterior, which was popular at the time and the palladian window over the entrance. It was owned for many years by Mr. James D. Wells, who worked at the Connecticut Trust Company for over 50 years. He started at the bank as a messenger and teller in 1893 and rose through the ranks to eventually become the bank’s treasurer. He was a veteran of the Spanish-American War and, in 1921, embarked upon a four-month sailing voyage to the far northern tip of Labrador.
William H. Scoville and Albert W. Scoville, Architects: The Scoville brothers were the most prolific designers in Hartford at the turn of the 20th century, and the West End of Hartford is a lasting product of their efforts. The interesting thing about the brothers is that neither of them had any formal training in architecture. William was a carpenter by trade and a draftsman. As he became more successful, he became active in Hartford civic affairs, serving a few terms on the city council and on the building committees for the construction of Weaver High School and the expansion of the first Hartford Public High School.