Benjamin Bushnell Farm facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Benjamin Bushnell Farm
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | 52 Ingham Hill Rd., Essex, Connecticut |
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| Area | 11 acres (4.5 ha) |
| Built | c. 1790 |
| Architectural style | Colonial and Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 90000761 |
| Added to NRHP | May 10, 1990 |
The Benjamin Bushnell Farm is a really old and special farm property located in Essex, Connecticut. It was first developed around the year 1790. This historic farm has a beautiful old farmhouse from the Federal period. It also has a very rare building called a cranberry house. Because it's so important, the farm was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.
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Exploring the Historic Benjamin Bushnell Farm
The Benjamin Bushnell Farm is found in a quiet, rural part of southern Essex. It covers about 11 acres (4.5 hectares) of land. This land is located between Ingham Hill Road and Connecticut Route 153. The farm has five main buildings that tell its story.
What Makes This Farm Special?
The farm is special because it shows us how people lived and farmed long ago. It has several buildings that are very old and well-preserved. These buildings help us understand the history of farming in Connecticut.
The Old Farmhouse
The main house on the farm was built around 1790. It is designed in the Federal style, which was popular at that time. The house is five bays wide, meaning it has five sections across the front. It also has a large chimney in the center. The front door is very fancy, with thin columns called pilasters. These pilasters hold up a decorated top part called a corniced entablature.
Other Cool Buildings
Besides the main house, there's also a barn with a silo attached. These were built in the 1800s. The farm also has three smaller buildings. One of these is a very rare and special building: a cranberry house. This building is important because it shows that the people who lived here actually grew cranberries. They didn't just pick wild ones.
A Look Back in Time: The Farm's History
The land where the farm sits has a long history. It was owned by the Bushnell family starting in the late 1600s. They were some of the first settlers in nearby Old Saybrook, Connecticut.
The Bushnell Family's Legacy
The main farmhouse was built by Benjamin Bushnell himself. It's a great example of a "vernacular colonial" house. This means it was built using local styles and materials. However, it also has fancy Federal details. These details were probably inspired by popular design books of the time. The Bushnell family owned the farm until 1879.
Growing Cranberries: The Sisson Family's Impact
In 1879, William Sisson bought the farm from the Bushnell family. He is known for being the first person to start growing cranberries in this area. He used special wet areas on the farm called bogs. He even built dams to flood two ponds. This allowed him to flood the cranberry bogs at certain times of the year, which is how cranberries are grown.
