Acadian House (Guilford, Connecticut) facts for kids
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Acadian House
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | Union St., Guilford, Connecticut |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | ca. 1670 |
| Built by | Clay, Joseph |
| Architectural style | Saltbox |
| Part of | Guilford Historic Town Center (ID76001988) |
| NRHP reference No. | 75001928 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | September 05, 1975 |
| Designated CP | July 6, 1976 |
The Acadian House is a very old and special house in Guilford, Connecticut. It was built around 1670, making it one of the oldest homes still standing in Connecticut! This house is famous because a group of people called Acadians lived there after they were forced to leave their homes in Nova Scotia in 1755. The Acadian House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975, which means it's an important historical landmark.
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What Does the Acadian House Look Like?
The Acadian House is located in a quiet neighborhood in Guilford. It's a two-and-a-half-story building made of wood. It has a pointed roof and a large chimney in the middle. The outside of the house is covered with wooden boards called clapboards.
The front of the house faces the street at an angle. It has three sections with a main door in the middle. The door has simple decorations around it. Above the door, there's a small window with four panes of glass. The windows on either side of the door are not placed exactly the same way.
Why is it Called a Saltbox House?
The back roof of the house slopes down very far. It goes all the way to the first floor. This gives the house a unique shape, like an old-fashioned wooden box used to store salt. That's why this style of building is called a saltbox house. The chimney inside the house is also unusual. It has a "T" shape because it was made bigger after the house was first built.
A Glimpse into the House's History
The oldest part of the Acadian House was built around 1670. A man named Joseph Clay was the original builder. His grandson later inherited the property in the 1700s. However, the grandson moved out in 1726 to live in a more modern house.
Who Were the Acadians?
The house got its name because of the Acadians. These were French-speaking people who lived in Grand Pré, a region in Nova Scotia, Canada. In 1755, during a time of war, the British government forced many Acadians to leave their homes. This event is known as the Great Expulsion.
Some Acadian families were sent to different places, including Connecticut. One of these families found a new home in this very house in Guilford. This makes the Acadian House a special reminder of their journey and history.
