Alexander King House facts for kids
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Alexander King 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 | 232 S. Main St., Suffield, Connecticut |
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| Area | 2 acres (0.81 ha) |
| Built | 1764 |
| Part of | Suffield Historic District (ID79003750) |
| NRHP reference No. | 76001993 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 26, 1976 |
| Designated CP | September 25, 1979 |
The Alexander King House is a really old and special home located at 232 South Main Street in Suffield, Connecticut. This house was built way back in 1764. Inside, you can find some of the best examples of 18th-century "Georgian woodwork" in Connecticut. This means the wooden decorations and details are from a specific style popular during that time.
Because it's so important, the Alexander King House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. This is a list of places in the United States that are worth protecting because of their history. Today, it's a historic house museum. This means you can visit it to learn about life long ago. The Suffield Historical Society takes care of it.
Contents
What Does the House Look Like?
The Alexander King House is found near the southern part of Suffield's main village area. It sits on the east side of South Main Street, across from Willow Creek Avenue. It's a two-and-a-half-story building made of wood. It has a pointed roof (called a gabled roof) and a chimney right in the middle. The outside walls are covered with overlapping wooden boards called clapboards.
House Layout and Special Features
A smaller, one-story section with a gabled roof sticks out from the back of the house. There's also a porch with a slanted roof attached to the right side. The front of the house has five windows and a door. The main entrance is in the middle. It has decorative columns (pilasters) on each side, a window above the door (transom window), and a fancy frame (corniced entablature).
Inside, the house has a common layout for homes from that time. There's an entrance area with a winding staircase right in front. On either side of the central chimney, there are two main rooms called parlors. In the back, you'll find the kitchen with smaller rooms in the corners.
The room on the left side, the left parlor, is the most beautiful. One entire wall around the fireplace is covered in fancy wood panels. There's also a special corner cabinet with columns reaching up to an arch. The parlor on the right side also has its original wood panels and cabinets. The staircase in the entrance hall has finely carved railings (balusters). Even the kitchen walls are mostly paneled, though with a simpler style.
Who Was Alexander King?
The house was built in 1764 by Alexander King himself. He was a very important person in Suffield during his time. Alexander King went to Yale College, which is a famous university. After college, he became a doctor and practiced medicine in the town.
Alexander King's Role in History
Besides being a doctor, Alexander King was also very active in politics. He served as a "town selectman" for many years. A selectman is like a town council member who helps run the local government. He also served in the state legislature, which means he helped make laws for the entire state.
Alexander King strongly supported the American Revolution. This was the big fight for America's independence from Great Britain. He was also chosen to be a delegate (a representative) to the state meeting in 1788. At this meeting, Connecticut decided to approve the United States Constitution. This important document set up the government of the United States as we know it today.
See also
