Historic Buildings of Connecticut

Exploring the Nutmeg State One Building at a Time

Houses

526-534 East Washington Street, Bridgeport (1882)

The 3-unit row houses at 526–534 East Washington Street, facing Washington Park, in East Bridgeport, were built in 1882 to designs by Palliser & Palliser.

Urbana Woodruff House (1784)

The Urbana Woodruff House is at 1096 East Street in Southington. As recorded in Timlow’s Ecclesiastical and Other Sketches of Southington, Conn. (1875):

(247) Urbane Woodruff, son of Isaac (149), b. Aug. 26, 1799; m. Eliza Bartholomew, of Northford; d. Dec. 7, 1873. He lived on the place owned by his father and grandfather, on East street. A farmer by occupation, he was President of the Southington Savings Bank, and held a high place in the confidence of the public.

His father was Isaac Woodruff. Again quoting Timlow:

(149) Isaac Woodruff, son of Isaac (97), b. 1773; To. Nov. 29, 1798, Abigail, daughter of Enos and Elizabeth (Parker) Clark. He occupied the house where his grandson [sic, actually son], the late Urbane Woodruff, lived, and here died Aug. 27, 1807.

The house was built by Isaac’s father and Urbane’s grandfather, Isaac Woodruff. Again Timlow:

(97) Isaac Woodbdff, son of Samuel (24), bap. Oct. 16, 1737; m. Feb. 11, 1762, Mary Bristol, of Cheshire; d. Dec. 13, 1813. She died March 17, 1818, aged 76. He lived on East street, in the house lately occupied by his grandson, Urbane Woodruff, deceased.

Isaac Woodruff (97) also had a son named Urbana Woodruff. As recorded in Timlow’s Ecclesiastical and Other Sketches of Southington, Conn. (1875):

(146) Urbana Woodruff, son of Isaac (97), b. 1776; m. Silence, daughter of Capt. Daniel and Rachel (Langdon) Sloper. He lived on East street, on the corner lately owned by George B. Woodruff, where he died Nov. 11, 1798.

The house was later owned (c. 1901) by John Jamieson, Southington’s ice man. From 1905 to the 1930s, he harvested ice at nearby Sloper Pond (pdf). In 1918, Jamieson married Minnie Moore and moved to her home at 469 Andrews Street.

Samuel Durand House (1725)

Some sources (including the sign on the house) state that the house at 24 North Street in Milford is the Samuel Durand House, built around 1725, while others say it is the site of the house. This colonial house has a later Victorian-era front porch.

Thomas Sanford House (1789)

Built c. 1789-1790, the Thomas Sanford House, at 111-113 North Street in Milford, was doubled around 1850 (it’s been called a “double dutch house”). The long front porch was added about 1880.

Amaziah Humphrey House (1775)

The Amaziah Humphrey House, at 42 East Weatogue Street in Simsbury, was built in 1775. Capt. Amaziah Humphrey (1754-1822) married Elizabeth Harris in 1774. The couple had seven children.

Samuel Andrews, Jr. House (1870)

The Samuel Andrews, Jr. House is at 105 N Main Street in Southington. The Second Empire-style House, which has lost its roof dormers, was built in 1870. Since 1958 it has been owned by the Wolak family. Shortly after purchasing it, the Wolaks began to take in boarders and the house continues today as Wolak’s Guest House.

70 Central Avenue, Waterbury (1890)

The house at 70 Central Avenue in Waterbury was built between 1890 and 1896. It was originally a Queen Anne house, but was converted into the Colonial Revival style by W.S. Rushmore Wake, owner of the Boston Furniture Company. In 1923, the house was bought by Idris Alderson, who founded Alderson Funeral Home. Today it is the McAuliffe Center, opened in 2009 by Connecticut Renaissance.