Dr. Philip Turner House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Dr. Philip Turner House
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Location | 29 West Town Street, Norwich, Connecticut |
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Area | 1.5 acres (0.61 ha) |
Architectural style | Colonial, Saltbox |
NRHP reference No. | 70000729 |
Added to NRHP | October 15, 1970 |
The Dr. Philip Turner House is a very old and important house in Norwich, Connecticut. It was likely built in the late 1600s. This makes it one of the oldest homes in Norwich. It is a great example of early American building styles. During the American Revolutionary War, Dr. Philip Turner probably owned this house. He was a very important surgeon for the Continental Army. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1970. This list includes places that are important to American history.
Exploring the Dr. Philip Turner House
The Dr. Philip Turner House is in the Norwichtown area of Norwich. You can find it on the north side of West Town Street. It is a colonial-era "half house." This means it was built in a special style common long ago. The house is two and a half stories tall. It has three sections, called bays, across its front.
The outside of the house has wooden boards called clapboard siding. A large chimney is located behind the front door. The front door is on the right side of the house. A section added to the back gives the house a classic saltbox shape. This shape looks like a box with a sloped roof. Some of the outside wood is very old. It was put together with nails cut by hand. This shows how old the house truly is.
Inside, the ground floor has two main rooms. There is a living room, called a parlor, at the front. A kitchen is located at the back. Upstairs, you will find two bedrooms. These rooms have original wide pine floors. They also have special wooden panels on the walls called wainscoting.
The History of Dr. Philip Turner's Home
People believe this house was built in the late 1600s. We don't know much about its first owners. But we know that Dr. Philip Turner likely lived here. He was a key figure during the American Revolutionary War.
Dr. Turner served as a surgeon for the Continental Army. He helped many soldiers throughout the war. He worked as a surgeon during the Siege of Boston. Later, in 1777, he became the Surgeon General for the army's Eastern Department. This was a very important job. He held this position until the war ended. After the war, he continued to serve as a staff surgeon for the United States Army.