Dorrance Inn facts for kids
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Dorrance Inn
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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 | 748 Plainfield Pike, Sterling, Connecticut |
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| Area | 2 acres (0.81 ha) |
| Architectural style | Colonial |
| Part of | Sterling Hill Historic District (ID86000152) |
| MPS | Rochambeau's Army in Connecticut, 1780-1782 MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 02000867 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | August 23, 2002 |
| Designated CP | February 6, 1986 |
The Dorrance Inn, also known as the Samuel Dorrance House, is a very old building in Sterling, Connecticut. It was built around 1722. This historic inn is famous because important officers from the French Army stayed there during the American Revolutionary War. This was in 1781 and 1782. The inn was right along the path that French commander Rochambeau and his soldiers took on their way to Yorktown, Virginia.
The Dorrance Inn is one of the few places mentioned by name in several stories written by French officers. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002. This means it is a special place recognized for its history. It is also part of the Sterling Hill Historic District.
The Dorrance Inn: A Historic Stop
The old Dorrance Inn is located on the eastern side of Sterling's main village. It sits just east of the Congregational Church. You can find it on the north side of Plainfield Pike, which is also Connecticut Route 14A. This road was a very important route for travel through the town in the past.
What Does the Inn Look Like?
The house is a two-and-a-half-story building made of wood. It has five sections across the front. The roof slopes down on both sides, and there is a large chimney in the middle. The oldest part of the house was built around 1722. This part includes the three sections on the eastern side. Other sections were added later. In the 1800s, some fancy details were added to the front door and the corners of the house.
A Place for Heroes
The Dorrance Inn was the home and business of Samuel Dorrance during the American Revolutionary War. It is one of the few places that French soldiers wrote about by name in their journals. These journals describe the army's marches across Connecticut in 1781 and 1782.
Samuel Dorrance welcomed many important guests. One famous visitor was the Marquis de Chastellux. Commander Rochambeau himself even ate dinner here during his return march in 1782. It is also recorded that George Washington stayed at the inn in 1781. The inn is located along a well-preserved part of Rochambeau's march route. This route is known as the March Route of Rochambeau's Army.
