Historic Buildings of Connecticut

Exploring the Nutmeg State One Building at a Time

Groton

Capt. Waterman Clift House (1837)

Clift Street in Mystic was developed by Col. Amos Clift III (1805-1878), a local builder, and his mother Thankful Denison Clift (1780-1861). The house at 2 Clift Street, at the corner of Gravel Street, was built by Amos in 1837 for his brother, Capt. Waterman Clift (1809-1890). A shipmaster, Waterman Clift commanded the vessels Atlantic, Phume and Coasting Trader, as well as the U.S. transport Haze, which made regular trips between New York City and New Bern, North Carolina during the Civil War. He was later a harbor pilot in Apalachicola, Florida. The house has an east wing added in the 1920s. The front and side porch, which replaced an earlier entry portico, were added in the last few years.

Capt. Pardon T. Brown House (1840)

The nomination for the Noank Historic District in Groton gives two names for the house at 45 Front Street: Capt. Pardon T. Brown and Luther Rathbun. The latter may be Captain Luther Morgan Rathbun (1805-1889), a fisherman. The sign on the house, built c. 1840, only gives the name Captain Pardon Brown, who was also a fisherman. A petition from 1845 concerning the Town of Groton’s purchase of an old church on Fort Hill for use as a town house was signed by Pardon T. Brown and other prominent men of Mystic and Noank. He was also one of the complainants in a claim for damages from the Court of Commissioners of Alabama Claims relating to an incident from the Civil War: the fishing smack L.A. Macomber was lying at anchor off Nantucket shoals on June 17, 1863 when she was captured and burned by the Confederate Bark Tacony.

John Palmer House (1859)

The house at 18 Church Street in the village of Noank in Groton was built in 1859. It is known as the John Palmer House. This was possibly the John Palmer whose father, John Palmer (1787-1859), started the shipbuilding business in Noank that his sons, John and Robert, would develop into the highly successful Noank Shipyard, known as the Palmer Yard.

Noank Baptist Church (1962)

Located at the highest point in the village of Noank in Groton (18 Cathedral Heights) is the Noank Baptist Church. The congregation dates back to 1843. An early meetinghouse was replaced by a new an Italianate-style church with two spires. The church was destroyed in a fire on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1959. It was rebuilt and the first service in the new building was on Easter Sunday, April 22, 1962, followed by the dedication service and a recital with the new organ on September 16, 1962.

Henry Holdredge House (1835)

The house at 17 Gravel Street in Mystic was built in 1835 by Henry Holdredge. The doorway retains the original Greek Revival pilasters and cornice, while the rest of the house was later “Victorianized” through the addition of bay windows, a Gothic-influenced pointed gable, and an elaborate canopy over the front door.

Grace Episcopal Church – Noank Museum (1902)

The building at 17-21 Sylvan Street in Noank was built in 1902 as Grace Episcopal Church. Since 1967 it has been the Noank Historical Museum, operated by the Noank Historical Society.

John T. Wheeler House (1846)

Built c. 1846, the house at 11 Pearl Street in the village of Noank in Groton is an interesting variation on the Greek Revival style. It is known as the John T. Wheeler House.