Boothe Memorial Park and Museum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Boothe Homestead
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The Boothe Homestead
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| Location | 5774 Main St., Stratford, Connecticut |
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| Built | 1914 |
| Architect | Boothe, David & Stephen |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Queen Anne, Shingle Style |
| Website | boothememorialpark.org |
| NRHP reference No. | 85000951 |
| Added to NRHP | May 1, 1985 |
Boothe Memorial Park and Museum is a special place in Stratford, Connecticut. It covers about 32 acres (13 hectares) in the Putney area. This park is home to many unique buildings and a museum.
The main house, called the Boothe Homestead, was built around 1840. It was updated in 1914. People say it's "The Oldest Homestead in America." This is because it stands on the foundations of a house from 1663. The land has been lived on continuously since then.
Around 1914, two brothers, David Beach Boothe and Stephen Nichols Boothe, created the Boothe Memorial Museum. They collected twenty different buildings. These buildings have unique designs. Some of them include a carriage house, a miniature lighthouse, and a windmill. There is also a clock tower museum, a trolley station, a chapel, and a blacksmith shop. The town of Stratford took over the property in 1949. It then became a public park for everyone to enjoy.
Boothe Memorial Park and Museum was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 1, 1985. This list recognizes important historical sites in the United States.
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Exploring Boothe Park's Unique Features
Boothe Memorial Park offers many interesting things to see. You can explore different buildings and learn about history. The park is a great place for families and students.
The Park's Observatory
The BMAS (Boothe Memorial Astronomical Society) Observatory is located in the park. It was built in 1957 near the cemetery. This observatory is a place where people can look at the stars. It has two large telescopes. One is a 16-inch Cassegrain telescope from 1960. The other is a 4-inch Unitron refractor telescope.
The Historic Putney Chapel
The Putney Chapel was first built in 1844. It was used for Congregationalist church services. In 1968, the chapel was moved to Boothe Park. It came from a nearby street called Chapel Street. Today, the chapel is open to all faiths. It is also accessible for people with disabilities. You can still use it for worship or rent it for special events.
Connecticut's Last Toll Booth
The park also has something very rare: Connecticut's last remaining highway toll booth. A toll booth is a small building where drivers used to pay a fee to use a road or bridge. This specific booth was moved from the Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Bridge. This bridge is near Milford, Connecticut. All state toll booths were removed in June 1988. This toll booth is made of wooden logs. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
See also
