By Jenahn Dawson Whalley Avenue in New Haven, which connects Downtown to the Town of Woodbridge through six city neighborhoods, is one of the most important roads in the city.   Named after the celebrated regicide Edward Whalley, the Westville section of this vital route was home to many commercial businesses, halls, taverns, shops and the location of the infamous raid by the British Army. Whalley Avenue was first laid out in 1797 to connect Broadway and Downtown with the Litchfield Turnpike. Much of the Avenue went undeveloped until the late-19th century when the horse-drawn streetcar made residential development possible beyond the c ity core.   One notable early resident was Sherriff Joshua Hotchkiss, who along with his prominent family moved to the area of present day Whalley and Blake streets in 1677. (Caplan 9) With a large family, the small hamlet was titled Hotchkisstown. Prior to the construction of the Westville Bridge on Whalley Avenue, which occurr...