History of Westville - an overview

Whalley & Fountain(c1925)

Whalley & Central(1930)

Whalley & Blake(c1900)

The Westville neighborhood comprises the western most area of New Haven and its development goes back as far as the city’s itself. Home to West Rock, the basalt cliff that rises 400 feet above the West River, Westville remained a small hamlet of mills and manufacturers well into the 19^th century. Its growth as a residential suburb helped make the neighborhood one of the most desirable in the city.

Although the earliest known inhabitants were the Wepawaug and Quinnipiac tribes, the first inhabitant of record was Sherriff Joshua Hotchkiss in 1658. The Hotchkiss family prospered and eventually the area, first known as Westfield, was called Hotchkisstown. Richard Sperry became an important resident and in 1660 he assisted William Goffe and Edward Whalley while they were hiding in Judge’s Cave on West Rock.

Numerous mills were established along the West River and other streams. Shortly after the city’s founding mills and a mill race were constructed along Whalley Avenue near Dayton Street . Later mills were established essay along Valley Street, Blake Street, Fitch Street, Litchfield Turnpike and just about everywhere in between. The western part of Westville into Woodbridge was contiguous with the Amity Township .

The 18^th century claimed numerous occasions in this burgeoning village. Captain Thunderbolt, called the Pirate of Westville, made Westville his watering hole in the 1770s. He was known to have terrorized residents with his brute behavior and his fiery appetite. The British marched through Westville in 1779 during their attack on New Haven. They were met with some resistance along the way, taking casualties and prisoners. One of their targets was a powder mill located near Valley Street.

During the 19^th century mills expanded to become factories and the farmland slowly gave way to residential development. One of Westville’s most famous residents was Donald Grant Mitchell, pen named Ik Marvel. He developed city parks, including Edgewood Park, and numerous hundreds of acres around Westville. Factories like the Joseph Parker & Co., Greist Manufacturing Co., Pond Lily Co., Diamond Match Factory and the Westville Wheel and Wagon Works dominated the workforce. By the middle of the century Westville’s man route was paved and accessible by street railroad.

After Donald Grant Mitchell’s death in 1908 much of the farms had been subdivided for residential development. Officially part of the City of New Haven, Westville began to grow more rapidly. By the middle of the 20^th century the hills under West Rock and the swampy land behind it was developed affordable and low income housing. Eventually all of the manufacturing would disappear and Westville center would become a hub for antique shops.

Courtesy of Colin Caplan

Colin Caplan books: Local architectural historian and author has written several books on New Haven including "Westville: Tales from A Connecticut Hamlet" (2009); "101 Glimpses of New Haven;" "New Haven (CT) Then and Now;" "A Guide to Historic New haven, Connecticut"

Magrisso Forte, LLC
96 Blake Street
New Haven, CT

T: (203) 397-2002
E: ccaplan@magrissoforte.com
W: Website