The Trowbridge-Thoms House (1830)

The Trowbridge-Thoms House, on West Street in Litchfield, was built in 1830 by Henry Trowbridge, a tanner. In the early twentieth century, the barn on the property was used as a classroom for students of landscape painter Alexander Van Lear. The house and barn remained in the Trowbridge family until 1927, when they were sold to a Mr. Thoms, who open a restaurant, called the Canteen, in the barn. The restaurant served patrons of a nearby community playhouse that was later replaced by the current town hall building. Floyd Thoms later turned the barn into an antiques shop, which was continued by the next owner, Thomas McBride, who acquired the property in 1965. Mr. McBride is now retiring and the house and antiques will be sold in an on-site auction on June 5.