Captain Benjamin Williams House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Captain Benjamin Williams House
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2016 photo
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | 27 Washington St., Middletown, Connecticut |
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| Area | 0.75 acres (0.30 ha) |
| Built | c. 1797 |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| NRHP reference No. | 09000143 |
| Added to NRHP | December 1, 1978 |
The Captain Benjamin Williams House, also known as the deKoven House or DeKoven Community Center, is a very old and special building in Middletown, Connecticut. Built around 1797, it is a great example of Georgian architecture. This historic house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. Today, the Rockfall Foundation owns and runs it as a busy community center.
Discover the Captain Benjamin Williams House
The Captain Benjamin Williams House is located just east of downtown Middletown. You can find it at the corner of Washington Street and deKoven Drive. This building is a key part of Middletown's history. It serves as a place for community events and gatherings.
What Does This Historic House Look Like?
The Captain Benjamin Williams House is a two-story building made of brick. It has an L-shape, with its main part facing north towards Washington Street. The roof is a "hip roof," which means all sides slope downwards to the walls. Two chimneys rise up from behind the main roof.
The front of the house has five sections, called bays. Windows are placed evenly around the main entrance in the middle. These windows have special brownstone tops called lintels. The corners of the building also have decorative brownstone blocks called quoining.
The main entrance is quite grand. It features a doorway with a half-round window above it, called a fanlight. A small, gabled porch, known as a portico, covers the entrance. This porch is held up by thin, round columns. The roof's edge, or cornice, has a decorative pattern called dentil moulding. Three dormer windows stick out from the front of the roof. These dormers have either pointed or rounded tops.
The House's Story: From Sea Captain to Community Center
This beautiful house was built in the 1790s for Benjamin Williams. He was a wealthy sea captain. At that time, Middletown was a major port. Ships traded goods with places like the West Indies. Captain Williams lived in this house until he passed away in 1812.
After Captain Williams, his family sold the house to Henry deKoven. The deKoven family owned the house until 1942. During their time, the house started to be used for professional offices. Before it was given to the Rockfall Foundation, a famous architectural historian named J. Frederick Kelly helped restore it. Later in the 20th century, architect Jeffrey Dale Bianco, AIA, also worked on renovations.
Today, the house is a vital community center. It is also known as "Middletown Heritage Trail Site 4." This means it's an important stop on a walking tour of Middletown's historic sites.
