Colebrook Center Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Colebrook Center Historic District
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Samuel Rockwell House
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | Roughly, jct. of Rockwell, Colebrook, Schoolhouse and Smith Hill Rds. and CT 183, Colebrook, Connecticut |
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| Area | 110 acres (45 ha) |
| Architectural style | Colonial, Greek Revival, Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 91000953 |
| Added to NRHP | July 26, 1991 |
The Colebrook Center Historic District is a special area in the middle of Colebrook, Connecticut. It's like a snapshot of history! This village is found in a quiet valley where Connecticut Route 183 meets Rockwell and Smith Hill Roads. The town started way back in 1767. What's cool is that it hasn't changed much since around 1860. Because of its history, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.
Discovering Colebrook Center
The town of Colebrook is located in the hills of northwestern Connecticut. It's just south of the Massachusetts state line. People first explored this area in the mid-1700s. Settlers from Windsor and East Windsor arrived in 1765. The town officially became a town in 1779.
The oldest part of a house still standing in Colebrook village is from this early time. It's an addition to the Samuel Rockwell House. Deciding where the town center should be was a big discussion. A spot near the current village church was likely chosen around 1790.
Life in Old Colebrook
Colebrook didn't have much land good for farming. So, in the 1800s, the town's main business was raising sheep and cattle. People also ran businesses that supported this, like tanneries. Tanneries are places where animal hides are turned into leather. Some of these were just north of the main intersection, by Center Brook.
Since 1860, the village center has looked much the same. Today, the town's economy mostly relies on summer visitors. People come to enjoy the quiet and history.
Exploring the Historic District
The historic district is centered around a triangular common. This common is a grassy area where Route 183, Smith Hill Road, and Thompson Road meet. At the southern end of this common is a beautiful Greek Revival church. It was built in 1842.
North of the common, you'll find many old homes and public buildings. The new town hall is one of the few newer buildings in the district. Across from the town hall is the Colebrook Store, built in 1812. This store is a great example of Federal architecture. This style was popular in the United States after the American Revolution.
North of the store is the Samuel Rockwell House. Beyond that, the district goes down towards Center Brook. Most of the main buildings in the district were built before 1880. Buildings like garages, barns, and other smaller structures were built later.
