Junta for Progressive Action
Fair Haven is a neighborhood of New Haven located in the coast of Connecticut. Fair Haven was originally named "Dragon town" or "Dragon Point" after the "sea dragons" or harbor seals that inhabited the banks of the river when sailors first visited the area. Although a part of New Haven, its original farmers founded a separate village in the late 17th century.
Grand Avenue Bridge over the Quinnipiac River
A hundred years later, the first wooden bridge was built across the Quinnipiac river, bringing both sides together and offering to the people of Fair Haven a world of new possibilities. It is believed that Herman Hotchkiss, a young entrepreneurial settler, was the founder of Fair Haven. It was he who bought the first land at both the East and the West sides of the new bridge and built different dwellings, including a large barn and a horse stable.
During the early years the town proper was little more than a cluster of fishing huts along the Quinnipiac river. But with access to New Haven harbor, and bordered by two rivers, Fair Haven developed a maritime industry based on oysters. By the mid 1800´s the industry brought prosperity and the town was thriving. The residents of Dragon voted to change the name to Fair Haven after the legendary captain Richard Russell who upon seeing the port was so amazed by its beauty that he called it "Fayre Haven."
In the last years of the 19th century beautiful imposing churches and houses were built in Fair Haven including Grand Avenue Congregational Church (1853) across the river on the corner of Lenox Street, the Methodist Church (1871) on East Pearl Street, St. James Episcopal Church (1844) on East Grand Avenue and Saint Francis Roman Catholic Church (1867) on Ferry Street. In this same period, Junta's headquarters, at 169 Grand Avenue, were built. It was in 1853 when Lyman Woodward decided to build an Italian Villa-style house, with a large porch and classic lines, to serve as his home. 150 years later the building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is within the Quinnipiac River Historic District and Landmarks Preservation. The New Haven Preservation Trust describes it as "the last surviving true suburban villa in the district" and also states that "the 169 Grand Avenue house, also known as Lyman Woodward house, is a rare survival not only in the context of the section of Grand Avenue included in the district, but of the street as a whole."
Captain Lyman Woodward. Image courtesy of Mr. Richard W. Brown
During that period, fishermen remained successfully working on the oyster business. Junta's house was not the only one standing in the streets of Fair Haven. The area was filled with brand new and imposing Victorian Gothic, Italianate Villas, Greek Revival and Queen Anne style architecture, which were the homes of the wealthy sea captains and merchants. But the fishing industry prosperity didn't last. Pollution and the oyster's natural enemies brought the industry to bankruptcy, and by 1930 only one oyster company remained in the area. The world was going through the Second Industrial Revolution and Fair Haven was about to join.
The turn of the century brought different industries and long waves of immigrants to Fair Haven as it did to much of the Northeast of the United States. Irish, German, Polish Italian and other immigrants arrived to work in the factories and on the new railroads. The new immigrants and the new manufacturing facilities that located in the South of the town pulled the center of life away from the river and the old bridge. Grand and Ferry Streets became the center of Fair Haven. Meanwhile, on Grand Avenue and the adjoining streets, immigrants packed into three or four-story tenements along with new businesses and stores. The Avenue was a very exciting place to live; its many entertainment centers were an indicative of the size of the neighborhood: Bakeries, butcher shops, fish markets, bars and furniture stores lined the Avenue which was fast becoming the main artery connecting New Haven to the Quinnipiac River. People had parties along the river, celebrated and built a strong sense of community.
During the 1950´s and 60´s, the situation in Fair Haven changed dramatically. Many lower income African-Americans and Puerto Rican immigrants began settling in the neighborhood but unfortunately, what had attracted earlier immigrants, primarily jobs, declined during this period. Problems of pollution, unemployment, crime and overcrowded living conditions affected the community and for a while, neighborhoods started to deteriorate and many residents moved away.
Minister's House near Grand Avenue
However, since the early 1970's, Fair Haven has begun to redevelop, renew and preserve its pride. Today this unique community is a mix of cultures that enrich one another and share a strong community feeling: At the beginning of the 21st century, Fair Haven continues to thrive and maintain united with many residents working for a better and brighter future. Immigrants continue to settle in the neighborhood, adding to the rich diversity that makes up the community.