Ashbel Woodward House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Ashbel Woodward House
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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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 home located at 387 Connecticut Route 32 in Franklin, Connecticut. It's not just a house; it's a historic house museum, which means it's kept like it was in the past to teach people about history. Today, the town of Franklin runs it as the Dr. Ashbel Woodward House Museum.
This house was built around 1835. It's a great example of a Greek Revival style house in the countryside. This style was popular because it looked like ancient Greek temples. For many years, the house was home to Dr. Ashbel Woodward, a local doctor. His family later gave the property to the state in 1947. The house was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 8, 1992, recognizing its importance.
Contents
About the House and Its History
The Ashbel Woodward House sits on the east side of Connecticut Route 32, a little southeast of Franklin's main village. It's a two-and-a-half-story building made of wood. It has a roof that slopes down on two sides and is covered with flat wooden boards called clapboard siding. The house sits on a strong granite foundation and has two brick chimneys.
Architectural Style and Features
The front of the house has five windows across. The main door is in the middle and is set back a bit. It has a special frame around it with tall, flat columns called pilasters and a decorative top part called an entablature. These details are typical of the Greek Revival style. The corners of the house also have these pilasters. On the sides, under the roof, there are half-circle windows. A part of the house, called an ell, extends to the back. This part seems to be as old as the main house because it shares the same foundation.
What Else is on the Property?
Besides the main house, there are two barns on the property. There's also another small building that was probably used as a corn crib, a place to store corn. Inside the house today, you can find displays about the local history of Franklin. There's also an art gallery where you can see different artworks.
Dr. Ashbel Woodward's Life
The house was built around 1835. Dr. Ashbel Woodward bought the land in 1834. He was a very important doctor in the area. Dr. Woodward went to Bowdoin College and then 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 history. He collected many old and ancient objects. He even wrote a book about the history of Franklin, which was published in 1869. His family gave the property to the town in 1947, so it could be preserved and shared with everyone.
Images for kids
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Rear view of the house
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A picture of Dr. Ashbel Woodward
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See Also
