Ebenezer Gay House facts for kids
|
Ebenezer Gay House
|
|
|
U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
|
 |
|
 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 18 Main St., Sharon, Connecticut |
|---|---|
| Area | 2 acres (0.81 ha) |
| Built | 1775 |
| Part of | Sharon Historic District (ID93000257) |
| NRHP reference No. | 79002619 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | July 9, 1979 |
| Designated CP | April 15, 1993 |
The Ebenezer Gay House, also called the Gay-Hoyt House, is a very old and special building in Sharon, Connecticut. It was built in 1775. This house is a great example of Georgian colonial architecture, which was a popular style back then.
Today, the Ebenezer Gay House is a historic house museum. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. It is also part of the larger Sharon Historic District. The house is now home to the Sharon Historical Society.
Discovering the Ebenezer Gay House
The Ebenezer Gay House is located at 18 Main Street in Sharon. It sits at the south end of the town's long green area. You can find it right across from the First Congregational Church. It's easy to spot with its classic brick look.
What Does the House Look Like?
This house has two and a half stories. It is made of brick. The roof slopes down on the sides, which is called a side gable roof. There are chimneys on each end of the house. The foundation is made of rough stones.
The front of the house faces west. It has five sections across the front. The main door is in the middle. A small porch with a sloped roof covers the entrance. This porch has thin, round columns. Its style suggests it was added around 1820. Inside, the house has a central hallway. Many original parts are still there. This includes the wood panels around the fireplaces. There are also old cupboards.
Who Was Ebenezer Gay?
The house was built between 1775 and 1776. It was built for Ebenezer Gay. He was an important businessman in Sharon. He also led the local group of citizen soldiers. This group was called the militia. They played a part during the American Revolutionary War.
Ebenezer Gay helped support the war effort. He gave a lot of his own money. Sadly, this caused him to lose his wealth. He passed away in 1787. The house was then taken by the bank. Later, in 1951, Anne Hoyt gave the house to the Sharon Historical Society. Today, the society keeps its collections here. There is also a living space for a caretaker in the back part of the house.
