New London´s Early Streets: Green´s Alley

Tucked away feet from State Street and wedged between Green Street and Starr Street is Green´s Alley. A small road barely wide enough for 1 car to drive. A handful of old homes dot the street from Green Street to Union Street.

Green´s Alley was originally laid out in 1786 from the property of New London´s Revolutionary Printer Timothy Green´s property. Originally called "Cross Street" it immediately became an area of redevelopment after Arnold´s Burning of New London in 1781. It was later changed to "Green´s Alley" in the 1840s.

From the corner of Green Street and Green´s Alley is a grey 2 story colonial fronting Green Street. Dated to around 1800 it appears according to it´s owner and other local historians as it was likely moved from another area and could date to 1740-1760. This practice was relatively common during the first 150 years of this countries history. 

Historical rumor has it that this was a house built for Timothy Green´s mistress in the latter part of the 1700s. Green who operated a printing studio now the home of the State Street Saloon on State Street. Further up Green´s Alley is the home of the Reverend Samuel West the first Baptist Minister of the Baptist Church of New London (1804-1814). A stained glass window is dedicated to him in the church. The church was located originally at his home and later on "the rocks" near Union St.  

On Green and Green´s Alley is the Richard Douglass House... a blog on his house will come soon as it has too many stories to tell in a simple mentioning in this blog. There are stories yet to be told including two other houses on Green´s Alley that date from 1800-1840 or perhaps earlier. Across Green´s Alley and Union is an insurance agency but appears to be in a house from the late 1700s. Time will tell. 

Green´s Alley (Cross St.) was originally a dirt pathway until added to the cities rolls in 1787 (1 year after founding). Green´s Alley later housed actors, stagewrights and others. There is so much history to tell that if you just stopped by and looked at each street name, each house a new story would unfold with each stop.