Burlington–Harmony Hill Roads Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Burlington–Harmony Hill Roads Historic District
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | Harmony Hill, Locust Grove, and Burlington Rds., Harwinton, Connecticut |
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| Area | 103 acres (42 ha) |
| Architect | multiple |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival, Queen Anne, Georgian |
| NRHP reference No. | 96001364 |
| Added to NRHP | December 6, 1996 |
The Burlington–Harmony Hill Roads Historic District is a special historical area in eastern Harwinton, Connecticut. It's like a preserved old village that grew around a busy crossroads. This district mainly follows Harmony Hill Road, just north of where it meets Burlington Road. Here, you can find old homes built between the mid-1700s and the late 1800s. Because of its importance, this district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. This means it's officially recognized as a place worth protecting for its history.
Exploring the History of Burlington–Harmony Hill
The town of Harwinton was created in 1737. It was formed from land that used to be part of Hartford and Windsor. Back then, Burlington Road, which is now Connecticut Route 4, was a very important path. It connected the towns of Farmington and Litchfield.
How the Village Grew
A small community center started where Harmony Hill Road and Locust Road meet. This spot was known as Catlin's Corners. It was named after Abraham Catlin, who was the first person to settle there. Abraham Catlin also ran a small shop, which was important for the early settlers.
Instead of farms being spread out, houses in this area were built close together. They stretched along Harmony Hill Road, north of the main crossroads. Six houses were built here before the year 1800. A school was also added in the late 1700s at the northeast corner of the crossroads.
What You Can See in the District
The historic district is shaped like a long line. It starts from a farm on the east side of Locust Street, just south of the main intersection. It then goes north to a group of three old houses on the west side of Harmony Hill Road.
The properties in the district are not too close together. They range in size, with some as large as 20 acres (8.1 ha). The entire district covers about 103 acres (42 ha). Most of the houses are two-and-a-half stories tall. They are built with a wooden frame.
The oldest house in the district belonged to Jonathan Brace. It was built around 1730. Some other interesting buildings include two that used to be barns in the 1800s. Another building was once the 1700s schoolhouse, which was changed into a home later. Two houses built by Abraham Catlin's son, Abijah, are still there. They stand right at the main intersection, showing how the area looked long ago.
