In the early 20th century, this corner formed one of New Britain's least disturbed urban spaces, where closely spaced buildings of different architectural styles served and complemented one another in a neighborhood where the post office, library, churches, commercial shops, and residences coexisted. Created when the city's industrialists were dedicated to the welfare of residents, the area became the Walnut Hill District, listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Architects William H. Cadwell and William F. Brooks lived in and designed buildings for the neighborhood, including Cadwell's own house and buildings that now compose the New Britain Public Library. Early 20th century architects and city leaders valued a pleasant, densely built environment in which churches, municipal buildings, residences, shops, and offices clustered around parks, while ornamental paving, fencing, trees, and building ornament softened the scale of larger buildings. The neo-classical Old Post Office at South High and West Main Streets served for many years as New Britain's main postal facility before being adapted for office use, and the New Britain Public Library evolved through the construction of its central building in 1901, its children's library in 1951, and a connecting addition in 1976. New Britain also became a leader in educational reform through the creation of the Normal School after the Connecticut General Assembly voted in 1849 to establish one, making it the sixth such school in the United States. Chosen over other towns partly through the efforts of industrialists and Major Seth North, the school first occupied a building at Main and Chestnut Streets, then outgrew it and moved to a new building on Hillside Place that opened in 1882 after state and local funding. As the school continued to expand, additional schools opened across the state, and under principal Marcus White, who took office in 1894 and served for 35 years, the institution developed practice schools, gained a new campus on Stanley Street with two buildings completed in 1925, and advanced the push for four-year programs. That effort helped lead to the 1933 creation of the Teachers College of Connecticut at New Britain, and in 1983 the institution became Central Connecticut State University, which remains prominent in education.