Roof Collapses At Star Supply

I always wondered what the story is with this place... seems like it should/could be developed easilly - it's a prime location for small retail/apartments.

The building sits in a wedge between Mechanic and State Streets, between the residential East Rock neighborhood, the commercial State Street corridor, and the Blake Field park. The warehouse, at 1040-1070 State St. and 49-53 Mechanic St.,

The above describes to a tee the neighborhood I grew up in. I delivered newspapers to many homes and business in that neighborhood. I played sports at Blake Field and played in the summer recreation league. I walked and fished along the banks of the nearby Mill River. The 49-53 Mechanic Street building was known as the American Tube Bending company. The only difference in describing the neighborhood would be - it was known as "Goatville". It seems every time a story is written about that community no one refers to it as Goatville. WHY?

Goatville! That's awesome! I wonder where that originated from. Sadly, I think most people just clump it together with the East Rock or State Street names, but I'd be happy to help in the campaign to reinstate the "Goatville" name!

Goatville is a term used to describe the area bounded by State, Edwards, Orange and the Mill River. The term originated in the 1880s with the arrival of Irish immigrants into the neighborhood, many of whom kept goats that liked to wander around the streets. The name stuck throughout much of the 20th Century.

SoHu (South of Humphrey Street) is a new term used to describe the area bounded by State, Trumbull, Orange and Humphrey Streets. While the name is new, the area was actually developed in the early-to-mid 19th Century in a quasi-village pattern.

Upper State Street refers to neighborhoods that flank State Street north of Trumbull to the Hamden line. These neighborhoods include SoHu, Jocelyn Square, Goatville and Cedar Hill. Upper State Street basically refers to the more working class areas that developed along State Street and the railroad in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries.

There is also the Whitney-Orange corridor that refers to the 1870s-era upper middle class enclave located north of downtown, between those two streets.

East Rock is a real estate term that is used to describe Goatville, SoHu and the Whitney-Orange corridor. The merging of these three neighborhoods is the result of the construction of I-91, the blurring of neighborhood boundaries due to development, and the real estate market's desire to raise property values in the traditionally working class area of Goatville, and the older SoHu area to be more in line with the values of the Whitney-Orange corridor.

Johnathon Hopkins hit the nail on the head in describing the boundaries of the Goatville and surrounding neighborhoods. In reality all one has to do is correct the person who uses the term East Rock when talking about any of the areas Johnathon described. I do it all the time because it is part of New Havens history. Now codjol and perhaps New Haven Independent writers can refer the name "Goatville" even if it is in parenthesis. It's no big deal - but its the right thing to do.

Thanks for the history lesson, guys! I had been under the impression that Goatville was used only in the past, not the present. I've added the category and, as you suggested, will plan to list the area as both Goatville and East Rock in the future (since I do think many people do call the area part of East Rock, too). Please remind us if we forget to list it in the future.

Some of us in the neighborhood call it Goatville and have for years. I think I've commented on this at the NHI -- in response to Edward Francis -- before. It wasn't that long ago that Cara Malavolti had her store, Goatville Trading Co., on State Street. And when the Upper State Street Farmer's Market got started, I suggested on numerous occasions that it be named the Goatville Farmer's Market. Ben Berkowitz thought it was a good idea, but Bob Frew didn't, and that was that. Ben took pity on me though, and made a goat part of the market's logo. Which, Mr. Francis, you should regard as proof that some people do know what you're talking about, and haven't let Goatville die.

I hear people use the term Goatville almost everyday, so maybe it's making a comeback. I'm surprised to see Edwards named as a "boundary," since I always thought of Lawrence St., Nicoll, & Mechanic as very much part of Goatville. Maybe these streets weren't part of the "original" Goatville, but came to be understood as part of the neighborhood over time?

How do I know if I live in Goatville? All or portions of the following streets are part of the "real Goatville section of New Haven". Edwards, Lawrence, Mechanic, Nash, Eagle, Willow, Nicoll, Foster, Orange, Cottage, Avon, Linden, Mitchell Drive, Anderson, Canner, North Bank, State, Hine Place & yes even Bishop Street. Included are Blake Field and the land along the banks of the Mill River. Those are the streets that the old timers of yesteryear saw it. The Westville neighborhood has it Westville Village. Should'nt we refer to the business section of State Street as "Goatville Village"? Just asking!