Day House (Hartford, Connecticut) facts for kids
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Day House
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | 77 Forest Street, Hartford, Connecticut |
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| Area | 2 acres (0.81 ha) |
| Built | 1884 |
| Architect | Francis H. Kimball |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Part of | Nook Farm and Woodland Street District (ID79002674) |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000909 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 16, 1971 |
| Designated CP | November 29, 1979 |
The Katharine Seymour Day House is a special old house in Hartford, Connecticut. It is found in a historic area called Nook Farm. This house was built in 1884. It was made for a local businessman who wanted his home to look as grand as the famous Mark Twain House next door.
The house is a great example of Queen Anne architecture. This is a style of building that was popular a long time ago. Today, the Katharine Seymour Day House is the main office and library for the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center. This center helps keep the memory of author Harriet Beecher Stowe alive. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. This means it is an important historical building.
Contents
What Does the Day House Look Like?
The Katharine Seymour Day House is in the Nook Farm area of Hartford. It is very close to the Mark Twain House and the Harriet Beecher Stowe House. These three houses are like neighbors in history!
Outside the House
The house is two and a half stories tall. It is made from different colored stones, like brownstone and limestone. This gives it a unique look. It shows off the Queen Anne Victorian style very well. This style often has many interesting parts on the outside. You can see projecting gables, which are the pointy parts of the roof. There are also dormers, which are windows sticking out from the roof. Plus, it has pretty porches. All these details make the house look busy and colorful.
Inside the House
The inside of the house is just as special. It has beautiful woodwork, which means the wooden parts are carved and decorated. There is also fancy plasterwork on the walls and ceilings. And you can find lovely tiles throughout the house. These details show how much care went into building this home.
Who Lived in the Day House?
The famous architect Francis H. Kimball designed the Katharine Seymour Day House. It was finished in 1884 for a man named Franklin Chamberlin.
Franklin Chamberlin's Vision
Franklin Chamberlin built this house right next to the Mark Twain House. Many people believe he wanted his house to be just as impressive as Mark Twain's. Before building his own home, Chamberlin had actually sold the land to Mark Twain where Twain's house was built. So, they were neighbors in a unique way!
Later Owners
After Franklin Chamberlin, the house was owned by Willie Olcott Burr. He was the publisher of a newspaper called The Hartford Times.
Katharine Seymour Day's Legacy
In 1940, a woman named Katharine Seymour Day bought the house. She was the grandniece of the famous author Harriet Beecher Stowe. Katharine Seymour Day had a big plan. She wanted to protect the area around the Stowe House. The Stowe House was also originally built for Franklin Chamberlin. In 1941, Katharine Seymour Day started the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center. This group works to keep Harriet Beecher Stowe's history and legacy alive.
Today, the Katharine Seymour Day House holds the offices for the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center. It also has a special library. This library contains many important papers and items that belonged to Harriet Beecher Stowe.
