Historic Buildings of Connecticut

Exploring the Nutmeg State One Building at a Time

Houses

The First Dr. John Redfield House (1768)

Dr. John Redfield, who had studied medicine with Dr. Benjamin Gale of Clinton, settled in Guilford and in 1768 built the first of two houses he would occupy in the town. His first house was on Park Street and, in later years, a Victorian porch was attached in the front. In 1937, the house was disassembled to make way for a new town hall parking lot. In 1942, the house (without the Victorian porch) was rebuilt on Broad Street for Judge George C. Conway. The house has a particularly steep roof which provides enough space for two attic windows in the gable. Historic Buildings of Connecticut now has a page on Facebook. If you are a Facebook user, you can become a fan!!

Ralph Isham House (1820)

Around 1820, Ralph Isham, a merchant, built an impressive Federal style house on Colchester Green, next to the home of his father, Joseph Isham. The house was next owned by Henry Burr, a full partner in the Hayward Rubber Company, who had married Isham’s daughter, Lucretia. After her death in 1857, Burr continued to own the house, but rented it out. Among the tenants was the Justice of the Peace and house carpenter, Judge William Finley. The house had other residents over the years, but has more recently been used for commercial purposes.

The Joseph Parmelee House (1748)

The Joseph Parmelee House is on Water Street in Guilford and was built in 1748. Joseph Parmelee (1721-1804) was married three times, to Obedience Spencer, Abigail Cruttenden, and Mary Deming. At one time, the house had a lean-to, but this was later removed and other additions were then attached. The front door is surrounded by an impressive Greek Revival enframement, which was added later and has double pilasters on either side.

Wilton Little House (1888)

The Wilton Little House, at 122 Windham Street in Willimantic, was built around 1896 [edit (7/28/2014: 1888 according to the Willimantic Victorian Neighborhood Association] and is a fine example of the Queen Anne style. Addendum (7/28/2014): Little was an employee of of Hillhouse & Taylor. In 1896, Little sold the house to George P. Phenix, the second Principal of the Willimantic State Normal School (serving 1893 to 1904), which is now Eastern Connecticut State University. The property was next sold in 1904 to Henry T. Burr, who served as the school’s third Principal, from 1904 to 1918. Burr Hall at eastern was named in his honor.

The Elijah Hills House (1810)

Built around 1810 in the Hillstown section of East Hartford, the Elijah Hills House was where the Hillstown Grange #87 held its first meeting.

The Buckingham Memorial (1847)

William Alfred Buckingham was the governor of Connecticut from 1858 to 1866. A wealthy businessman, he entered politics as a Whig, serving several terms as mayor of Norwich. Buckingham later became a republican, winning election as governor in 1858. In 1860, he traveled with Abraham Lincoln as the Illinois Republican made six speeches throughout Connecticut. The two became friends and the governor responded quickly when Lincoln, as president, requested volunteers after the firing on Fort Sumter. Buckingham served throughout the ensuing Civil War, leaving the governorship in 1866 to return to his former business pursuits. He later served as a U.S. senator from 1869 until his death in 1875. Buckingham‘s house, on Main Street in Norwich, was built in 1847. After his death, it was purchased by the veterans group, Sedgwick Post No. 1 of the Grand Army of the Republic. The house, thereafter known as the Buckingham Memorial, has more recently been turned over to the Norwich Historical Society for use as offices and perhaps, in the future, a museum.

Coggshell House (1816)

UPDATE: This house has been demolished.

Update: The house is in danger of demolition!

In 1816, Nathaniel and Rebecca Coggeshall (Coggshell) purchased property on Broadway in Colchester from members of the Bulkley family. It is uncertain if the Coggshells or the previous owners built the house which is now on the site. Rebecca Cogshell died in 1848, at the age of 81 and her three daughters were owners of the house.