The young people in my art classes live in the Fair Haven neighborhood of New Haven. From this neighborhood the young people receive a continuous amount of sensory information regarding the architecture of their homes and other buildings. Homes in Fair Haven will be emphasized with a set of slides that presents examples of houses as extensions of the human body. This concept is discussed above in the
Metaphor of the House
.
The Fair Haven community lies in the eastern area of New Haven bounded by the Mill River on the West and the Quinnipiac River on the East. Fair Haven was first settled around 1640. With the construction of the Dragon Bridge in 1793 over the Quinnipiac River and the Barneaville Bridge in 1819 across the Mill River, Fair Haven became more accessible. Early Fair Haven was inhabited by people involved in the oyster business. Oystering became a major industry by the middle of the nineteenth century. Many immigrants began to inhabit Fair Haven during this time as well as necessitating the building of many homes. Growth continued until the early twentieth century. During recent years redevelopment and renovation have rescued some of the homes built during the nineteenth century. The Historic Commission is involved in creating an historic district along the Quinnipiac River.
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