David Humphreys House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Gen. David Humphreys House
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 37 Elm St., Ansonia, Connecticut |
|---|---|
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1695-1698 |
| Architectural style | Colonial |
| NRHP reference No. | 72001321 |
| Added to NRHP | March 17, 1972 |
The General David Humphreys House is a special old house in Ansonia, Connecticut. It's located at 37 Elm Street. This house was built a long time ago, between 1695 and 1698. It is famous because it was the birthplace of David Humphreys. He was an important Colonel during the American Revolutionary War.
Today, the house is a historic house museum. This means it's a museum that looks like a house from a specific time period. The Derby Historical Society owns it, and it's their main office. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. This list includes important historical places in the United States.
About the General David Humphreys House
The Humphreys House is in southern Ansonia. You can find it on the east side of Elm Street, just north of Vose Street. It's a two-and-a-half-story house made of wood. It has a pointed roof and a chimney in the middle. The outside is covered with wooden boards called clapboards.
The front of the house has five sections, called bays. The windows are placed evenly around the main door. The door is set back a little, and it has a small, gabled roof over it. Inside, the house still has many original features from when it was built. These include a big fireplace in one of the back rooms. There are also hand-carved wooden panels on the walls. The house was carefully repaired and restored in the late 1900s.
Who Was David Humphreys?
David Humphreys was born in this house in 1752. At that time, this area was part of Derby. David Humphreys grew up to be a very important person. He was a close friend of General George Washington. Washington was the leader of the American army during the Revolutionary War. Humphreys also served as an aide de camp for General Washington. This means he was a personal assistant and helped Washington with important tasks.
Later, President George Washington chose David Humphreys for a very special job. He became the first ambassador from the United States to another country. An ambassador is a person who represents their country in a foreign land. David Humphreys was sent to Portugal.
David Humphreys also brought something new and important to Connecticut. When he was the United States Ambassador to Spain, he helped bring merino sheep to the area. Merino sheep are known for their very fine wool. This was a big deal for farming and making textiles in Connecticut.
Today, the General David Humphreys House looks like it did in the mid-1700s. It helps people learn about David Humphreys and life in early America. It also serves as the main office for the Derby Historical Society.
