Historic Buildings of Connecticut - Exploring the Nutmeg State One Building at a Time

Abraham Coan House (1808)

Abraham Coan, a Guilford builder-architect, built his house at 29 Broad Street on the foundation of the earlier Chittenden House. Its design was influenced by the work of builder-architect Peter Banner, who was designing the house of Yale’s president and other buildings on the Yale campus at the time. Banner later designed the Park Street Church in Boston. Coan had a joiner’s shop near his home. The house was purchased by Simon Chittenden in 1857 and named “Mapleside.” The entrance was then moved from the front to the west side of the house.

Matthew Miller House (1786)

The house at 1846 Main Street in Glastonbury was built in 1786 for Matthew Miller, the grandson of William Miller, whose 1704 house is nearby at 1855 Main Street. A brick from the house’s chimney bears the impression of both sides of a Piece of Eight, a Spanish coin. It was probably a ballast brick, carried on a ship traveling from South America or the West Indies. The brick is on display at Glastonbury’s Museum on the Green.

Asbury United Methodist Church (1900)

A Methodist church in the Forestville section of Bristol was established in 1855. The Forestville Methodist Church purchased a former Episcopal church building on Maple Street in 1864 and moved it to Forestville. This building was later enlarged to make room for an organ. On May 3, 1900, the church was struck by lightning during a severe thunderstorm and destroyed in the ensuing fire. The corner stone for a new church was laid on September 12, 1900 and it was dedicated on December 27, 1900. The church, designed by George W. Kramer of New York, is a brick edifice with a brownstone foundation. The name of the church, which is located at 90 Church Avenue in Forestville, was later changed to Asbury United Methodist Church.

Terryville Trust Company (1928)

Update: As per the comment below, this building was demolished in 2016. At 228 Main Street in Terryville is the former building of the Terryville Trust Company. Opened for business on Monday, October 22, 1928, the building has been vacant for some time and is in a state of deterioration due to lack of maintenance over the years. It is currently up for sale.

Edward Parker House (1870)

In the nineteenth century, Edward (or Edwin) Parker was a machinist who lived in the house at 716 Main Street in Plymouth. The house is a late vernacular version of the Italianate, built in 1870 and retaining some decorative features of that architectural style. Behind the house is a carriage house/barn with a small cupola.

4 S Maple Street, Hazardville (1870)

At 4 S Maple Street in Hazardville in Enfield is a Gothic Revival cottage which dates to 1870. The house has decorative bargeboards and on both sides of the house are recessed porches under flush boarding that extends from the eaves.

Tolland Inn (1800)

The Steele House at 63 Tolland Green in Tolland dates back to around 1800, although there is evidence it may have started as a late eighteenth-century saltbox. The house was once owned by Benjamin Ashley and later by Lucius Fuller. Several residents served as cashier at the Tolland Bank. The house was enlarged in the mid-nineteenth century and the original central chimney was eventually removed. The Steele House was the last of a series of inns and hotels that had served visitors on Tolland’s village Green. Run by John H. and Alice Webster Steele, it began taking guests in 1914. The Steeles operated the guest house until 1942 and owned it until 1958. Susan and Steve Beeching bought the property in 1985, renovated it and opened it in 1987 as the Tolland Inn, a bed and breakfast.