The Horace Bushnell Memorial Hall (1930)

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Strongly influenced by many features of the Old State House, the Horace Bushnell Memorial Hall was built in 1930 in the Georgian Revival style. It was constructed in Hartford, near the State Capitol, as a gift to the community from Dotha Bushnell Hillyer in honor of her father, the Rev. Horace Bushnell. The building was designed by the architectural firm of Corbett, Harrison and MacMurray, which also worked on Rockefeller Center. While the exterior reflects Colonial influence, the interior is in the Art Deco style. Today, the expanded Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts remains Hartford’s main venue for concerts and can also serve as a public auditorium.

The Frank Cheney, Jr. House (1900)

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One of the mansions of the Cheney family of silk manufacturers in Manchester is the house constructed around 1900 for Frank Cheney, Jr. on Hartford Road. A Colonial Revival structure, designed by Charles Adams Platt, it includes such features as a hipped roof, a prominent palladian window and portico with Ionic columns. Purchased in 1958 by the nearby South United Methodist Church, it has been used for various purposes and currently houses the offices of the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce and New Hope Manor.

Sarah Porter Memorial (1902)

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Miss Sarah Porter, born in 1813, was the daughter of Noah Porter, pastor of First Church in Farmington, 1806-1866. In 1843 she founded the school for girls which is associated with her name. After her death, in 1900, former students of Miss Porter’s School contributed money for the building of the Sarah Porter Memorial House. Dedicated in 1902, it serves First Church, which is located just across the Village Green. The building is also used as a community center, hosting other local groups.

Academy Hall (1803)

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Rocky Hill’s Academy Hall was built in 1803 as a navigation school for sailors at time when the town was still an active port and students might hope to become sea captains in the future. Construction was funded by public and private contributions, but the builder, Abraham Jaggers, still ended up bankrupt! It later served as a primary school until 1940. Damaged by fire in 1839, the interior was rebuilt. The building has also been altered in other ways, including the removal of the two original end chimneys. Currently owned by the town, the Academy Hall is currently leased to the Rocky Hill Historical Society and serves as a museum and historical library.

Elishama Brandegee House (1845)

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Around 1845, Elishama Brandegee, Jr., a Berlin merchant with a strong interest in education, built a Greek Revival-style house on Worthington Ridge to serve as housing for the teacher at the Worthington Academy next door. It was later the home of his son, Dr. Elishama Brandegee. The Brandegees contributed to industry, founding East Berlin’s first silk and cotton thread company. Elishama Brandegee’s mother was also fascinated by the silk industry: she planted mulberry trees and raised silkworms.

Josiah Wright House (1799)

Around 1799, Simeon Wright made significant changes to a house originally built in the 1760s on Main Street in Wethersfield by his father, Josiah Wright. The alterations, perhaps influenced by the construction of the nearby Robbins and Bunce Houses, updated the home in the Federal style by the addition of semicircular windows. He also added a new gable roof, which allowed a larger attic. The Joseph Wright House, now a business, forms part of a row of three Wright family houses, which includs the David Wright and Ashbel Wright Houses.

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