Marion, Connecticut
Encyclopedia
Marion is a neighborhood in the town
of Southington
in Hartford County
, Connecticut
, United States
. It is generally the area in the vicinity of the intersection of Route 322 and Marion Avenue just north of the Cheshire
town line.
The neighborhood includes the Marion Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
in Marion, assigned the ZIP code
06444. When the post office was established in the 19th century, it was given the name "Marion" in reference to Marion, Alabama
, where some children of prominent local residents had settled. The Marion ZIP code refers only to post office box addresses. Regular mail in the Marion neighborhood is addressed as Plantsville, Connecticut
(06479).
ing community in the 18th century, beginning in 1739 when land in the Marion area was survey
ed and divided. Southington was then part of the town
of Farmington
. The area now known as Marion was called "Little Plain" and extended south from the bluff now named French Hill to the Cheshire
town line
, which was south of its current position. Little Plain's location near the foot of a high ridge made its soil
desirable for agriculture. The community's 18th-century farms were located along a north-south road from Bristol
to New Haven
(now Marion Avenue) that passed through the area.
During the American Revolutionary War
, the Marion community was the site of an encampment by French
general Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau
and his troops. In June 1781, French troops under Rochambeau's command left Farmington
and marched 13 miles (20.9 km) to Marion, where they made their eighth camp along their route through Connecticut. They remained in the area for four days. Rochambeau and his officers took shelter in Asa Barnes's Tavern, and the troops set up camp on a hill on the other side of the road. The area of the encampment has since become known as French Hill, and a marker on the east side of Marion Avenue commemorates the French campsite. Rochambeau revisited Asa Barnes's Tavern again on the return march on October 27, 1782. In 1987, the Asa Barnes's Tavern (also known as the Levi B. Frost House
) was added to the National Register of Historic Places
for its architectural and historical significance.
The Meriden-Waterbury Turnpike, an east-west road, was extended through Marion in 1813, making the community a crossroads. Small-scale industrial activity began in the 19th century, including the manufacture of carriage bolts and nuts in the factory
of L.B. Frost and Son, which began operation in Marion in 1842, using the water power of Humiston Brook.
In modern times, Marion has primarily been a suburb
an community. Suburban development began in 1914, when a trolley line was built between Marion and the city of Waterbury
. Suburban growth continued in the subsequent decades. The period from the late 1960s through the late 1980s was one of particularly strong growth.
. Architectural styles in the district include Greek Revival, Italianate and Federal. Some of the more significant properties include:
New England town
The New England town is the basic unit of local government in each of the six New England states. Without a direct counterpart in most other U.S. states, New England towns are conceptually similar to civil townships in other states, but are incorporated, possessing powers like cities in other...
of Southington
Southington, Connecticut
Southington is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It is part of Connecticut's 1st congressional district. It is situated about 20 miles southwest of Hartford, about 80 miles northeast of New York City, 105 miles southwest of Boston and 77 miles west of Providence...
in Hartford County
Hartford County, Connecticut
Hartford County is a county located in the north central part of the US state of Connecticut. The 2010 Census records show that the county population is at 894,014 making it the second most populated county in Connecticut....
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is generally the area in the vicinity of the intersection of Route 322 and Marion Avenue just north of the Cheshire
Cheshire, Connecticut
Cheshire is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 28,543 at the 2000 census. The center of population of Connecticut is located in Cheshire. In 2009 Cheshire was ranked 72 in Money Magazine's 100 Best Places to Live.Likewise, in 2011 Cheshire was ranked 73 in...
town line.
The neighborhood includes the Marion Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
Post office
There is a post officePost office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
in Marion, assigned the ZIP code
ZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
06444. When the post office was established in the 19th century, it was given the name "Marion" in reference to Marion, Alabama
Marion, Alabama
Marion is the county seat of Perry County, Alabama. As of the 2000 census, the population of the city is 3,511. First called Muckle Ridge, the city was renamed after a hero of the American Revolution, Francis Marion.-Geography:...
, where some children of prominent local residents had settled. The Marion ZIP code refers only to post office box addresses. Regular mail in the Marion neighborhood is addressed as Plantsville, Connecticut
Plantsville, Connecticut
Plantsville is a neighborhood and census-designated place in the town of Southington, Hartford County, Connecticut. It is centered at the merger between South Main Street and West Main Street...
(06479).
History
Marion was first settled as a farmFarm
A farm is an area of land, or, for aquaculture, lake, river or sea, including various structures, devoted primarily to the practice of producing and managing food , fibres and, increasingly, fuel. It is the basic production facility in food production. Farms may be owned and operated by a single...
ing community in the 18th century, beginning in 1739 when land in the Marion area was survey
Surveying
See Also: Public Land Survey SystemSurveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional position of points and the distances and angles between them...
ed and divided. Southington was then part of the town
New England town
The New England town is the basic unit of local government in each of the six New England states. Without a direct counterpart in most other U.S. states, New England towns are conceptually similar to civil townships in other states, but are incorporated, possessing powers like cities in other...
of Farmington
Farmington, Connecticut
Farmington is a town located in Hartford County in the Farmington Valley area of central Connecticut in the United States. The population was 25,340 at the 2010 census. It is home to the world headquarters of several large corporations including Carrier Corporation, Otis Elevator Company, and Carvel...
. The area now known as Marion was called "Little Plain" and extended south from the bluff now named French Hill to the Cheshire
Cheshire, Connecticut
Cheshire is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 28,543 at the 2000 census. The center of population of Connecticut is located in Cheshire. In 2009 Cheshire was ranked 72 in Money Magazine's 100 Best Places to Live.Likewise, in 2011 Cheshire was ranked 73 in...
town line
Border
Borders define geographic boundaries of political entities or legal jurisdictions, such as governments, sovereign states, federated states and other subnational entities. Some borders—such as a state's internal administrative borders, or inter-state borders within the Schengen Area—are open and...
, which was south of its current position. Little Plain's location near the foot of a high ridge made its soil
Soil
Soil is a natural body consisting of layers of mineral constituents of variable thicknesses, which differ from the parent materials in their morphological, physical, chemical, and mineralogical characteristics...
desirable for agriculture. The community's 18th-century farms were located along a north-south road from Bristol
Bristol, Connecticut
Bristol is a suburban city located in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States southwest of Hartford. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 61,353. Bristol is primarily known as the home of ESPN, whose central studios are in the city. Bristol is also home to...
to New Haven
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
(now Marion Avenue) that passed through the area.
During the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
, the Marion community was the site of an encampment by French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
general Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau
Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau
Marshal of France Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau was a French nobleman and general who participated in the American Revolutionary War as the commander-in-chief of the French Expeditionary Force which came to help the American Continental Army...
and his troops. In June 1781, French troops under Rochambeau's command left Farmington
Farmington, Connecticut
Farmington is a town located in Hartford County in the Farmington Valley area of central Connecticut in the United States. The population was 25,340 at the 2010 census. It is home to the world headquarters of several large corporations including Carrier Corporation, Otis Elevator Company, and Carvel...
and marched 13 miles (20.9 km) to Marion, where they made their eighth camp along their route through Connecticut. They remained in the area for four days. Rochambeau and his officers took shelter in Asa Barnes's Tavern, and the troops set up camp on a hill on the other side of the road. The area of the encampment has since become known as French Hill, and a marker on the east side of Marion Avenue commemorates the French campsite. Rochambeau revisited Asa Barnes's Tavern again on the return march on October 27, 1782. In 1987, the Asa Barnes's Tavern (also known as the Levi B. Frost House
Levi B. Frost House
The Levi B. Frost House, also known as Asa Barnes Tavern, is an historic house at 1089 Marion Avenue in the Marion section of Southington, Connecticut, that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its architectural and historic significance.Asa Barnes established a tavern in this...
) was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
for its architectural and historical significance.
The Meriden-Waterbury Turnpike, an east-west road, was extended through Marion in 1813, making the community a crossroads. Small-scale industrial activity began in the 19th century, including the manufacture of carriage bolts and nuts in the factory
Factory
A factory or manufacturing plant is an industrial building where laborers manufacture goods or supervise machines processing one product into another. Most modern factories have large warehouses or warehouse-like facilities that contain heavy equipment used for assembly line production...
of L.B. Frost and Son, which began operation in Marion in 1842, using the water power of Humiston Brook.
In modern times, Marion has primarily been a suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
an community. Suburban development began in 1914, when a trolley line was built between Marion and the city of Waterbury
Waterbury, Connecticut
Waterbury is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, on the Naugatuck River, 33 miles southwest of Hartford and 77 miles northeast of New York City...
. Suburban growth continued in the subsequent decades. The period from the late 1960s through the late 1980s was one of particularly strong growth.
Historic district designation
The Marion Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 21, 1988, as a result of a nomination submitted by the Connecticut Historical Commission in July 1988. The nomination described the district as being architecturally significant "as a collection of well-preserved buildings dating from the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries which together reflect the historical development of the Marion community of Southington." Contributing properties in the district were described as representing three distinct periods on Marion's history: "early agricultural development" from about 1770 to 1842, "19th-century industrial activity and community growth" from 1842 to 1900, and "early suburban growth" from 1914 to 1938.Significant properties
The historic district includes 34 primary contributing properties, two of which are across the town line in the town of CheshireCheshire, Connecticut
Cheshire is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 28,543 at the 2000 census. The center of population of Connecticut is located in Cheshire. In 2009 Cheshire was ranked 72 in Money Magazine's 100 Best Places to Live.Likewise, in 2011 Cheshire was ranked 73 in...
. Architectural styles in the district include Greek Revival, Italianate and Federal. Some of the more significant properties include:
- Levi B. Frost HouseLevi B. Frost HouseThe Levi B. Frost House, also known as Asa Barnes Tavern, is an historic house at 1089 Marion Avenue in the Marion section of Southington, Connecticut, that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its architectural and historic significance.Asa Barnes established a tavern in this...
(also known as Asa Barnes Tavern), 1089 Marion Avenue, is now a private residence and in 1987 was added to the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic PlacesThe National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. - Barnes-Frost HouseBarnes-Frost HouseThe Barnes-Frost House in Marion section of Southington, Connecticut, was built in 1795. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.It was included as a contributing building in the Marion Historic District....
- Miles Upson House, 1316 Marion Avenue, a one-story gable front Colonial example, "perhaps the oldest house in the district to retain its original form" (See photo #3 in photos accompanying NRHP nomination)
- The Lester Beecher House, 1166 Marion Avenue, has been termed a Queen Anne style house for its irregular massing and 3 story tower.