Ashbel Woodward House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Ashbel Woodward House
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Location | 387 CT 32, Franklin, Connecticut |
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Area | 1.6 acres (0.65 ha) |
Built | 1835 |
Architectural style | Greek Revival |
NRHP reference No. | 92000264 |
Added to NRHP | April 8, 1992 |
The Ashbel Woodward House is a special old building in Franklin, Connecticut. It's located at 387 Connecticut Route 32. Today, it's a historic house museum called the Dr. Ashbel Woodward House Museum. The town of Franklin takes care of it. This house was built around 1835. It's a great example of a Greek Revival style house in the countryside. Dr. Ashbel Woodward, a local doctor, lived here for many years. His family gave the house to the state in 1947. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 8, 1992.
Contents
About the House
The Ashbel Woodward House is found southeast of Franklin's town center. It stands on the east side of Connecticut Route 32. This house is two and a half stories tall. It is made of wood and has a classic design.
The house has a roof that slopes down on two sides. Its outside walls are covered with wooden boards called clapboard siding. The house sits on a strong granite foundation. There are also two brick chimneys.
Architectural Style
The front of the house has a main entrance in the middle. This entrance is set back a little. It has special decorations around it, like columns and a flat top part. These details are typical of the Greek Revival style. The corners of the house also have decorations that look like flat columns. The ends of the roof have half-circle windows.
What Else is There?
An extra part of the house, called an ell, extends to the back. This part seems to be as old as the main house. It shares the same foundation. The property also has two barns. There is another small building too. This building was probably used to store corn. Inside the house, you can find displays about local history. There is also an art gallery.
History of the House
The Ashbel Woodward House was built around 1835. Dr. Ashbel Woodward bought the land in 1834. He was a very important doctor in the area.
Who Was Dr. Ashbel Woodward?
Dr. Ashbel Woodward graduated from Bowdoin College. He moved to Franklin in 1829. He was the main doctor in town until he passed away in 1885. Dr. Woodward was also very interested in local history. He collected many old and ancient items. He even wrote a book about the history of Franklin. This book was published in 1869.
The House Today
In 1947, Dr. Woodward's family gave the property to the town. Today, it serves as a museum. It helps people learn about the history of Franklin and Dr. Woodward's life.