Elm Street
Running east and west between Main Street and Weed Street, began its life in the winter of 1848-49 when a highway was laid eastward from Park Street to Main Street. In 1858 it was extended westward from Park Street to the intersection to Seminary Street, and in 1868 it was renamed Railroad Avenue. Not until 1935 was the earlier name of Elm Street restored. According to story, Elm Street was first named by William E. Dann, who came here in 1851 from Stamford and acquired a grocery story and a livery stable on the south side of the block from Main Street to South Avenue. Wishing to impress his two clienteles, Mr. Dann went to New York to order announcement cards and coined Elm Street when the printer insisted his business should have street addresses. (Source: New Canaan Historical Society)
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NewCanaanite.com has partnered with the New Canaan Historical Society on a digital Street Names Database that lets readers look up the origins of local street names online.
With information drawn from a 1960 annual of the member-supported Historical Society, the searchable database is a drop-down menu that captures information on how New Canaan street names got their names, in a snapshot from that year.
The Historical Society has taken the further step of building out a completely updated list—should residents seek information that’s missing from the database (such as more modern street names) or want to review in greater detail what’s included in it—and that’s all available in the organization’s research library at 13 Oenoke Ridge Road (top of God’s Acre).
We’ve created a new category, all the way on the right on the main navigation bar on the homepage called “Bookmarks” where we’ve filed this Street Name Database, so you can find it easily next time you’re looking:
This is a fluid database: If you have any memories, photos or information to share about street name history in New Canaan, please feel free to post a comment on this article or email editor@newcanaanite.com and we’ll incorporate it into the appropriate entry.