Converse Heights Historic District
National Register Listing
Street Address:
SE of E. Main and NE of Pine St. Containing properties along portions of Clifton, Connecticut, & Glendalyn Aves., Hale and Maple Sts., Mills Ave., Norwood St., Otis Blvd., Palmetto, Plume, Poplar, & Rutledge Sts., S. Fairview Ave. and Woodland St., Spartanburg, SC (Spartanburg County)
NRHP Nomination
Record Number:
S10817742061
Description and Narrative:
The Converse Heights Historic District is significant as an intact collection of residential architecture documenting architectural styles from ca. 1900 through the 1940s. The district documents the prevalent housing types for middle and upper class citizens in the early to mid-twentieth century and demonstrates the pattern of suburban development as automobile use became prevalent and as social views of housing shifted. The location of the neighborhood—close to the fast-growing business district—and the construction of a streetcar line that ran to the neighborhood entrance made the district and ideal location for local businessmen and professionals working in downtown Spartanburg. Within Converse Heights, restrictions were placed on new homebuilders mandating that homeowners spend at least $1500 on the construction of their homes which also attracted a certain level of Spartanburg’s business elite. The overall development of the Converse Heights neighborhood truly reflects the economic and social changes that Spartanburg was experiencing in the early to mid-twentieth century. The neighborhood is what many would call a “streetcar suburb”, a precursor to the modern-day suburban neighborhood. The Converse Heights neighborhood showcases each of the key architectural styles used throughout the twentieth century. The district, which was developed continuously from 1906 through the 1950s, includes single and multi-family residential buildings in the Queen Anne, American Foursquare, Craftsman, Spanish Mission, Tudor, Colonial Revival, Neo-Classical and Minimal Traditional styles. The district includes 461 contributing buildings and 65 non-contributing buildings. Listed in the National Register September 25, 2007.
Period of Significance:
circa 1900 – 1950
Level of Significance:
Local
Area of Significance:
Architecture;Social History;Community Planning and Development
National Register Determination:
listed
Date of Certification:
September 25 2007
